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New Defender's Study Bible Notes
5:1 divide the hair. The threefold division of the prophet’s hair was to indicate that approximately a third of the population would die in the fire when the city would be burned, a third would die by the sword, and a third would be scattered. See also Ezekiel 5:12.
5:3 few in number. These few hairs were to symbolize the few that would be sent into captivity, but even some of these would be slain, leaving only a small remnant.
5:5 midst of the nations. It is remarkable that modern computer studies have shown that Jerusalem is, indeed, very near the geographical center of all the earth’s land areas and, therefore, the midst of the nations.
5:10 eat the sons. The siege and resulting dearth of food in the city would even lead to cannibalizing the flesh of those who died of starvation, young and old.
5:14 reproach among the nations. This frequent prophecy concerning Israel (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:37) has been abundantly fulfilled through the centuries.