What was in a "writing kit"? (Ezekiel 9:2)
Context: Ezekiel 9 New International Version (NIV) Judgment on the Idolaters 9 Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, “Bring near those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.” 2 And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar. 3 Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side 4 and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.” 5 As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. 6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.”
Ezekiel 9:2
ESV - 2 And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.
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Asked October 08 2019
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
My understanding of the Hebrew word used in this passage is that it refers to a container for ink (often the hollowed-out horn of an animal), into which a scribe could dip a writing implement (such as a quill or stylus) for use in putting the words he wanted to record on whatever writing surface (such as, in the passage cited in the question, the foreheads of those who were designated to be spared when Jerusalerm would be destroyed) that he was using. (Ezekiel is apparently the only book in the Bible where this exact term is mentioned.)
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