Ezekiel 38

The prophecy contained in this and the following chapter concerning Israel’s victory over Gog and Magog, with- • out question relates to the latter ages of the world, when the whole house of Israel shall return into their own land, (xxxix. 25, 26.) And the expressions we meet with in this chapter, (ver. 8. 16.) that this should come to pass in the latter days, and after many days, or a considerable number of years, and that God had of old prophesied concerning this transaction: these and other circumstances of this prophecy, are a proof that the event was to happen a great while after the several predictions of the prophets concerning it. So that this must be looked upon as one of those obscure prophecies of Scripture, the fulfilling whereof will best explain their meaning.

Ezekiel 38:2

&ET thy face (see vi. 2.) against Gog, the land of Magog. Or, of the land of Magog. Magog was the son of Japheth, (Gen.x. 2.) from whence the Scythians are generally supposed to be derived. The Mogul Tartars, a people of the Scythian Tace, are still called so by the Arabian writers, as Dr. Hyde informs us, in his epistle, De Mcnsuris Syncnsibus. By Gog and Magog may most probably DicjitizGu by wii here be meant the Turks, who wctc originally natives of Tartary, called Turcheston by ♦be eastern writers; and whose language is derived from that of the Tartars. The land of Canaan hath been, for several years, in the possession of the Turks: several texts in Ezekiel foretell tlio Jews’ settlement in that country again; and some of the expressions in this and the following chapter intimate, that the people called here by the name of Gog, and their allies, will attempt to recover it again out of the hands of the Jews, its Tightful owners: this may probably occasion the war and victory here spoken of. But this is what cannot be positively affirmed; only thus much one may venture to say, that since the whole strength of Europe was so unsuccessful in their attempts to recover that land out of the hands of the infidels in the holy war, it looks as if God had reserved that work to some farther time of his own appointment, when that country should be the scene of some extraordinary event of Providence. We may farther observe, that the second woe, mentioned Rev. ix. 12. xi. 14. is by many learned men understood of the Turkish empire; and in consequence of that interpretation, the putting an end to that tyranny, will be an introduction to some extraordinary changes in the Christian paTt of the world. The chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.] The king or head of all those northern nations which lie upon theEuxine Sea. (See the notes upon xxvii. 13.) The Turk is called the king of the north in Daniel, xi.40. as several commentators interpret that place. The LXX. interpreters take the word Rosh, commonly translated chief for a proper name; so they render the sentence thus, The prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. Rosh, taken as a proper name, signifies those inhabitants of Scythia, from whence the Russians derive their name and original.

Ezekiel 38:4

And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws. I will disappoint all thy designs, and turn thee about as easily as a fisherman masters a great fish, when he hath once fastened the hook into his jaws. (See xxix. 4.) And I will bring thee forth, and all thine amy, &c] The sense would be plainer, if the w r ords were thus translated, After I have brought thee forth, &c. In w r hich sense the copulative van is sometimes used. (See Noldius’s Concordance, p. 291.) Horses and horsemen.] See ver. 15.

Ezekiel 38:5

Persia, Ethiopia, and Lybia with them. Their allies, Ethiopia and Lybia, are called Cush and Phut in the Hebrew, and are joined together as allies, xxx. 5. (See the note there.) Persians are joined in like manner with Africans, xxvii. 10. All of them with shield and helmet.] So the Lybians, or people of Phut, are described, Jer. xlvi. 9. as handling the shield; i. e. being remarkable for their great arid large shields, as Zenophon relates of them, (Cyropred. lib. vi.)

Ezekiel 38:6

Gomer, and all his bands, the house of TogarmaJt of the north quarters. Gomer is joined with Magog, Gen. x. 2. and probably signifies Galatia, Phrygia, arid Bithynia, which, with Cappadocia, denoted by’Togarmah, comprehends all the northern parts of Asia Minor, which border upon the Euxine Sea. (See the meaning of Togarmah explained in the note upon xxvii. 14.) And many people with thee.] Those of Cilicia, Paraphilia, and other nations inhabiting Asia Minor.

Ezekiel 38:7

Be thou prepared — thou and all thy company that ) ctosoft ® CHAP. XXXVIII. UPON EZEKIEL. are assembled ivitlt thee.’] The prophet ironically encourages Gog to make all warlike preparations, and muster all his forces together, that God may gain the greater honour by their signal defeat. (See ver. 16. and compare Jer.xlvi. 2, 3. 14. li. 12.) And be thou a guard unto them.] Let them rely upon thy prowess and conduct as their leader.

Ezekiel 38:8

After many days thou shalt be visited, &c. This judgment’shall be inflicted by God upon thee, (compare Isa. xxix. 6.) after a succession of many generations: In the latter years, or days, as it follows here, and ver. 16.?. e. towards the end of the world; (compare Dan. viii. 26.) particularly the expression of latter days, or years, is used to denote the times of the general restoration of the Jewish nation. (See Deut. iv. 30. Jer. xxx. 24. Hos. iii. 5.) Thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword.] The landis put for the people of the land, who are said to be brought back from the sword, as they are elsewhere styled a remnant; i. e. those that should survive after the hardships they had suffered in their several dispersions, and the judgments that should fall upon the disobedient in their return home. (See the notes upon xx. 34. 38. and upon Isa. iv. 2.) And perhaps those words of Jeremiah, xxxi. 2. may be best explained to this sense, The people that were left of the sword found grace in the ivilderness. The whole chapter relates to the general conversion and restoration of the Jews; and the prophet speaks in that verse of the favours God would shew to those that should.escape the severe judgments that should destroy the disobedient in their passage home to their own country, called the desert, or wilderness, by Isaiah, xl. 3. and by Ezekiel, the wilderness of the people, or nations, xx. 35. (See the notes upon that place.) And gathered out of many people.] See the note upon xxxiv. 13. Against the mountains of Israel, [sec xxxvi. 1. 4.j which have been always waste.] Or rather, altogether waste, as the LXX. rightly translate it. But it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.’] Or, And they have dwelt safely all of them; the future tense being often put for the pretcr-perfect. The sense is, that after the return of the people of Israel into their own country, and their having lived there for some time in peace and safety, this enemy will think to take advantage of their security, and fall upon them unexpectedly. (Compare ver. 11.)

Ezekiel 38:9

TJiou shalt ascend and come like a storm. A comparison elsewhere made use of to express the devastations which attend a destroying army. (Sec xiii. 11. Isa. xxviii. 2.) Thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land.] Thou shalt overspread the land like a dark cloud, which makes every thing look melancholy and dismal. (Sec xxx. 3. Jcr. iv. 13.)

Ezekiel 38:11

I will go to the land ofunwalled villages, &c. A description of a people, that live securely without any apprehension of danger. (Compare Jcr. xlix. 31.) To them that are at rest and dwell safely.] According to the promise often repeated in the prophet, that in those days Israel should dwell safely, and none should make them afraid. (Sec xxxiv. 28. Jcr. xxiii. 6. and the note there.)

Ezekiel 38:12

To turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited. Judea is described as a country that lay desolate before the Jews’ return into.it. (Sec xxxvi. 34, 35.) After it had been for some time reinhabited, Gog and his associates designed to fall upon it with all their forces; in. that sense to turn the hand is taken, Isa. i. 25. (See the note there.) That dwell in the midst of the land.] In the navel of the land, as the Hebrew reads, t. e. in Jerusalem, because that stood near the middle of the holy land, and likewise was situate upon a rising ground, which the Hebrew meta-, phorically expresses by the navel. (See Judg. ix. 37.)

Ezekiel 38:13

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish- -shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil?. These were people that dealt much in trade: the two former dwelling in the east, the latter often sailing from the Spanish coasts into the eastern parts: they are mentioned xxvii. 12. 15. 20. 22. as having commerce with Tyre, which bordered upon Judea. Those merchants, as soon as they heard of this intended invasion, came into Gog’s camp as to a market, to buy both persons and goods which should come into the conqueror’s power. (See the note upon xxvi. 2.) With all the young lions thereof] The Targum understands it of their kings, i. e. their chief merchants, who are described as so many princes, Isa. xxiii. 8. and are called lions, because of the injustice and oppression they too commonly practised in their commerce. (See xxviii. 16.,) But the LXX. translate the word kephirim, towns or villages; in which sense it is taken, Nehem. vi. 2. and in other places.

Ezekiel 38:14

In that day. At that remarkable time, when God shall bring again the captivity of Israel and Judah, so often spoken of by the prophets. (See the note upon Isa. iv. 2.) Wlien my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt not thou know it? &c] As soon as the news of their being settled in their own country comes to thy knowledge, thou wilt certainly make preparations to invade them.

Ezekiel 38:15

And thou shalt come from thy place out of the northparts. See ver. 6. Tliou and many people with thee, all. of them riding upon horses, &c] The character here given of this people, may properly be applied to the Turks, the chief strength of whose armies consists in their cavalry, and the great numbers of them which they bring into the field, as the writers of the Turkish history observe: compare Rev. ix. 16. which place several interpreters expound of the Turks. “We may not improbably apply those words of the prophet Zechariah to the event here spoken of, xii.4./‘I will smile every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness; and will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah.”

Ezekiel 38:16

As a cloud to cover the land. See ver. 9. That the heathen may know me, &c] This signal victory over Gog and his associates, shall be a means of bringing infidels to give glory unto me. (Compare xxxix. 21. and see the note upon xxxvi. 23.)

Ezekiel 38:17

Art thou he?. The words would be more significant if they were translated, Art thou not he? A sense which he the particle of interrogation often imports. (See the note upon xx. 4.) Of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets, who have prophesied in those days many years.] Or, and years. The prophet is speaking here of some tcr-

And David my servant shall be king over them, &c;. See xxxiv. 23. They shall also walk in my judgments, &c] See xxxvi. 27.

And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob my servant. A promise often repeated in this prophecy. (See ver. 12. 21. and the note on xxviii. 25.) Ver. 2G. Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace ivith them, &c.] See xxxiv. 25. The words may likewise be understood in a spiritual sense, that God will be reconciled to them through Christ, and admit them into that covenant of peace, of which he is the Mediator, and therefore is called our peace, Eph. ii. 14. And then the following words, It shall be an everlasting covenant ivith them, may fitly be explained of the gospel, being such a covenant as shall never be abolished, or give way to any new dispensation. (Compare Isa. Iv. 3. Jer. xxxii. 40.) Ibid, and

And will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be ivith them. Gods placing first his tabernacle, and then his temple among the* Jews, was a pledge and token of his presence among them, and protection over them. (See Lev. xxvi. 11, 12. and the note upon xi. 16.. of this prophecy.) And here he promises new and more valuable tokens of his presence among them, by the graces of his Holy Spirit, and the efficacy of his word and sacraments: (compare 2 Cor. vi. 16.) and perhaps will vouchsafe them some extraordinary appearance of the Divine Majesty. (See xliii. 4, 5. 7. Zech. ii. 5.) Yea, I will be their God, &c] See xi. 20.

And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel. The conversion of the Jewish nation, and their being restored to their former state of favour and acceptance with God, will be a work of providence taken notice of by the heathens themselves, who shall join themselves to the Jews, as the church of God and temple of truth. (See xxxvi. 23.)