Y V 38:1-3. Gog.
W 38:4-7. Repulsed.
X x 38:8-16-. Invasion.
y 38:-16. Purpose.
x 38:17-22. Invasion.
y 38:23. Purpose.
V 39:1. Gog.
W 39:2,3. Repulse.
X z 39:4-6. Fall.
a 39:7. Purpose.
z 39:8-21. Spoliation.
a 39:22-29. Purpose.
477 B.C.
Ezekiel 38)
1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 "Son of man, set your face against Gog (a symbolical name for the nations north and east of Palestine, or the nations as a whole. That the prophecies of ch. 38 &3 9 are still future is clear from 38:8,14,16; 39:9,25,26; as Israel will have then already been "gathered", and complete restoration enjoyed immediately following the destruction of Gog: "Now will I again bring the captivity of Israel": it must therefore precede the Millennium; and on that account must be distinguished from Rev. 20:8,10; and may therefore perhaps be identified with Rev. 16:14; 17:14; 19:17-21. Cp. Matt. 24:13-30. Zech. 12:1-4. It marks the climax of Satin's effort to destroy Israel from being a People, and clearly belongs to the close of a yet future kingdom age. The name is connected with "Og" [Deut. 3:1-13], and "Agag" [Num. 24:7]. The historical interpretation of this prophecy is confessedly impossible), of the land of Magog (if "Gog" denotes and symbolizes all that is powerful, gigantic, and proud, then "Magog" is symbolical of the same lands and peoples. Magog was a son of Japheth), the chief prince (= the head, or leader of Rosh, which points to Russia. Cp. Gorbachev and see Gen. 25:22-34) of Meshech and Tubal (occupying regions about the Caucasus [i.e. Caucasians of which U.S.A]. All the nations are are distant from Palestine: not near nations, or nations connected consanguinity. They were also descended from Japheth [Gen. 10:2]), and prophesy against him,
3 And say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD; 'Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
4 And I will turn you back, and put hooks into your jaws (cp. Isa. 37:29), and I will bring you forth, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great gathered host with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
5 Persia, Ethiopia (= Cush), and Libya (= Phut) with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (These were descended from Ham [10:6.])
6 Gomer (north of Asia Minor; also descended from Japheth [Gen. 10:3]), and all his bands; the house of Togarmah (= Armenia. cp. 27:14. Also descended from Japheth) of the north quarters, and all his hordes: and many peoples with you.
7 Be you prepared, and prepare for yourself, you, and all your company that are assembled to thee, and be you a guard ("you will be for Me a guard") to them.
8 After many days (pointing to a then, and yet future time, when Israel shall have been recently "gathered", and before the Restoration is perfected) you shall be visited: in the latter years you shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell confidently all of them.
9 You shall ascend and come like a storm, you shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you, and all your hords, and many people with you.'
10 Thus says the Lord GOD; 'It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall words (or matters) come into your mind, and you shall devise a mischievous devise (Cp. Dan. 11:44,45):
11 And you shall say, 'I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, (Cp. to the United States.)
12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn your hand against the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the People (i.e. Israel, as in 39:13) that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst (Heb. = navel, put for the middle) of the earth. (Heb. 'eretz. Of which Palestine is in the center, politically and morally, if not exactly geographically.)
13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish (these are some who protest), with all the young lions thereof, shall say to you, 'Are you come to take a spoil? have you gathered your company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?' ' '
14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, 'Thus says the Lord GOD; 'In that day when My People of Israel dwells safely, shall you not know it?
15 And you shall come from your place out of the north parts, you, and many people with you, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:
16 And you shall come up against My People of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the end of days, and I will bring you against My land,
that the nations may know Me, when I shall be sanctified in you, O Gog, before their eyes.'
17 Thus says the Lord GOD; 'Are you he of whom I have spoken in old time by My servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring you against them?
18 And it shall come to pass at that day when Gog shall come against on the soil of Israel, says the Lord GOD, that My fury shall come up in My face.
19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great trembling in the soil of Israel;
20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall tremble at My presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall sink down to the ground.
21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all My mountains, says the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother.
22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones (as in Josh. 10:11), fire, and brimstone.
23 Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.' '