Ezekiel 11:1

Moreover. The events of ch. 11 do not follow chronologically those of chs. 9, 10. The vision appears to return to give further details regarding the moral condition of Jerusalem’s leaders.

East gate. The place to which Ezekiel had seen the cherubim go (ch. 10:19).

Five and twenty men. The same number that he had seen worshiping the sun in the inner court (ch. 8:16), but probably not the same group. Those were possibly priests (see on ch. 8:16), whereas these seem to have been secular leaders. However, the evidence of a distinction is not conclusive.

Jaazaniah. The name means “ Yahweh hears.” Some have suggested that because of their significance the names here given were intended to bring out the false hopes with which the people deluded themselves. Azur possibly means “one helped”; Pelatiah means “Yahweh sets free”; and Benaiah, “Yahweh builds.” If the significance of names is the point of emphasis, the sudden death of Pelatiah (v. 13) would be strikingly impressive. On the other hand, Jaazaniah and Pelatiah may have been singled out simply because they were well-known leaders of apostasy.