Begin at my sanctuary - The first to be punished were those who had brought idolatry nearest to the holy place. The “ancient men,” i. e., the 25 men who had stood with their backs to the altar Ezekiel 8:16 were the first to be slain.
Related Commentaries of Ezekiel 9:6
Ezekiel 9:6
6 Slay utterlyd old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.