Ezekiel 5:16 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

I shall send; it is a messenger that goes not till God sends, and ever goes when he sendeth; he sends cleanness of teeth. The evil arrows; either because thunder, tempests, locusts, blastings, &c., which cause famine, are sent by him, and fly like arrows; or because, like arrows shot forth, they pierce deep and kill. Shall be for their destruction; is mortal and destructive in its nature. To destroy you; that it may be sure to destroy and attain that effect, I design it for that very end. To make sure work against such, I will increase the famine, either by sweeping away the little supplies expected, or continuing it longer than ordinary. Or, I will summon in penury as an army against you. Break your staff of bread; withdraw the strengthening property of your bread. See Ezekiel 4:16.