Ezekiel 5:1

Barber’s razor. The passage reads literally, “take to thee a sharp sword, a razor of barbers thou shalt take it to thee.” Obviously the idea is that the prophet is to take a sword because of its symbolism, and to use it as a razor. On the figure of the razor see Isa. 7:20, where the instrument is used as a symbol of the devastation wrought by an invading army.

Note that ch. 5 continues the prophetic narrative begun in ch. 4:1, without interruption.

Upon thine head. Ezekiel is instructed to perform a forbidden act as a symbolic representation. It was unlawful for the priest to shave either his head or his beard (Lev. 21:5). This time Ezekiel makes no protest (see Ezek. 4:14). He knows when it is legitimate for him to request a modification or a reversal of a divine command and when to render unquestioning obedience.

Balances. Possibly representing the fairness and carefulness with which God deals with every soul. So carefully will every soul be weighed, and the rewards be assigned, that when at the end of the age the judgments of God are revealed, not a single voice of dissent will be heard in all the vast creation. From the least to the greatest all will be forced to confess, “Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints” (Rev. 15:3; see GC 669).