40 They shall also bring up a company against you, and they shall stone you with stones, and thrust you through with their swords.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Since what Ezekiel has hitherto brought forward was incredible, he now explains the manner of its accomplishment -- that the Chaldmans and Assyrians should bring a large army and bury the whole of Judea with stones, and pierce it through with swords. By these figures he simply means that there should be such slaughter that the whole region should be made desolate, just as if the enemy should slay all that they met with stones and swords. Some think that he alludes to stones which were thrown by engines of war; but I doubt whether the Prophet thought of this. What I have stated is more simple, that the Jews had no cause to think themselves free from that final slaughter of which the Prophet spoke, since numerous and powerful armies should come and overwhelm them with stones, and pierce them through with swords. It follows --
They shall also bring up a company against thee,.... An army, so the Targum; the Chaldean army:
and they shall stone thee with stones: cast out of their engines and slings, by which they battered the walls, as well as killed the inhabitants; and so the Targum renders it, with sling stones; the allusion is to the stoning of adulterous persons, Deuteronomy 22:24;
and thrust thee through with their swords; such as attempted to escape out of the city, or fell into the hands of the enemy when it was taken, were slain with the sword.
(Ezekiel 23:10, Ezekiel 23:47). Compare as to the destruction under Titus, Luke 19:43-44.
*More commentary available at chapter level.