Ezekiel 38

Ezekiel 38:1-2

Ezekiel 38:1-2. In this paragraph I shall endeavor to identify the persons and places that are mentioned, particularly Gog and Magog. On such a subject it is necessary to refer to authentic secular authors. The first quotation will be from Thayer’ s Greek Lexicon: Gog,..indeclinable proper name, Gog, king of the land of Magog, who it is said in Ezekiel 38 will come from the remote north, with innumerable hosts of his own nation as well as of allies, and will attack the people of Israel, reestablished after the exile: but by divine interposition he will he utterly destroyed." Funk and Wag- nails’ New Standard Bible Dictionary says the following: “ Gog a name given to a race or people inhabiting some part of the ’ northern’ region. … In Ezekiel 38, 39 God is associated with Meshech, etc., as Magog is in Genesis 10:5, and probably both refer to the same people." Some other authors make reference to this matter but I believe this is sufficient for our purpose. These people were evidently some wild or uncivilized ruffians from a territory far from the land Of Israel.

After the people of Cod were brought back to Palestine following the captivity, these barbarous people invaded the land and thought to do it tnueh harm, associating with them certain other heathen groups as allies. It is against these people that Ezekiel is now instructed to write a series of predictions.

Ezekiel 38:3

Ezekiel 38:3. When considered as an individual. Gog refers to the leader among these barbarous people, or perhaps a line of kings with that common title, such as the Pharaohs in Egypt or the Edwards in England. I-Ie is singled out here as the one to whom the prophet is to address his predictions.

Ezekiel 38:4

Ezekiel 38:4. This verse predicts the counterattack that God will make against this army from the northern territory. After having rescued His people from captivity and settled them in their own land, certainly a rude force like this rough and uncivil horde will not be permitted to interfere with the peace of the country.

Ezekiel 38:5-6

Ezekiel 38:5-6, These verses are grouped into one paragraph because they contain many of the allies of Magog that will join in attacking the land of Israel.

Ezekiel 38:7

Ezekiel 38:7. This verse is a form of challenge to Magog lo make the best preparation possible. It is suggested (by way of taunt) that all these foreign allies stand by each other in the attack upon Palestine if they want to be sure of success.

Ezekiel 38:8

Ezekiel 38:8. After many days refers specifically to the days of the Babylonian captivity, and the latter years means the same, Land that is brought back denotes the restoration of the land of Palestine to the possession of Israel. Against the mountains of Israel means the hostile attack of Magog upon Israel’ s land, Which have been always waste refers to the condition of Palestine during the captivity. They shall dwell safely is the assurance from God that Israel shall mainiain the possession of the land in spite of the invasion of Magog and its allies.

Ezekiel 38:9

Ezekiel 38:9. Thou refers to Gog or Magog: one is the country and the other is its king. The verse repeats the prediction previously made that Palestine was going to be invaded by this barbarous company, likened to a storm and large cloud.

Ezekiel 38:10

Ezekiel 38:10. The movements of this band of heathen from the north will not be from a sudden impulse, but will be tbe result of things come into t.hy mind; will be deliberate.

Ezekiel 38:11

Ezekiel 38:11. Unwalled villages means the unfortified towns in which the people of Israel will be living with a feeling of security. They will have reason to feel that way after the captivity because God has promised them the security. The people of Magog (or Gog, as I use the terms interchangeably) will imagine they can take advantag,’ of this apparent defenseless condition of the Israelites.

Ezekiel 38:12

Ezekiel 38:12. This verse tells the subject of the deliberations which the people of Magog had as stated In the preceding one. The Israelites will have acquired cattle and goods after their return from Babylon and these invaders will plot to get them. That is, it is here predicted they will do so at the time following the return.

Ezekiel 38:13

Ezekiel 38:13. Shelia, Dedan and Tar- shish were mercantile people and v. ere heathenish as were the people of Magog. For that reason they would be sympathetic toward any movement attempted against the people of God. This verse represents them as inquiring of the people of Magog about then- purpose in coming into the land of Israel. The language is in question form but tbe thought is that they hoped the invaders would take these things from the people of Israel. Being merchants themselves, they were envious of the prosperous condition of the Israelites and took delight in the prospect of seeing them spoiled, The young lions is figurative and means the princes and other leading men of these merchant nations.

Ezekiel 38:14

Ezekiel 38:14. Therefore . . . prophesy is the proper form of speech because the things that Ezekiel is to write are to take place many years in the future. Shalt thou not know it is another expression in question form, but the thought is that the good condition of Israel will be known by Gog. We know that such is the meaning, for the following verse proceeds with the activity the heathen country will manifest on account of that knowledge.

Ezekiel 38:15

Ezekiel 38:15, These hostile people will come equipped with a strong force, consisting of both horsemen and foot soldiers. They will also he accompanied with many people which means their allies, some of whom are named in verses 5 and 6.

Ezekiel 38:16

Ezekiel 38:16. In the latter days agrees with “ prophecy” in verse 14, and means that the things predicted will be later than the period of Israel’ s exile. I will bring thee agaitist my land. God never forces a good man to become a bad one, but He does sometimes use an evil person to carry out a divine purpose. In this sense these wild people of tbe northern country were to be used in the way described that the heathen (other peoples) might know the Lord. Be sanctified, in thee means that the Lord’s goodness will be made manifest to these other countries when they see how He deals with this wicked army. (See the definition of “ sanctified” at chapter 36: 23.)

Ezekiel 38:17

Ezekiel 38:17. Of whom I have spoken in old time. At the time Ezekiel is writing this passage, no prediction had been made specifically against God, but similar writing had been done against other heathen nations. Moreover, the statement italicized will be in the past tense when the time of its fulfillment comes.

Ezekiel 38:18

Ezekiel 38:18. Fury come up in m.y face means God’s fury will be manifest to those concerned. It will be made evident before their eyes by the things He does to the abominable invaders into the home land of Israel.

Ezekiel 38:19

Ezekiel 38:19. A good parent will chastise his child very severely when his conduct deserves it, but he will not tolerate any criticism (even though it is correct) from outside persons. Likewise the Lord will not endure the attacks or even sneers of the heathen directed against I-Iis people. Shaking in the land of Israel. Not that the people of Israel will be shaken, but tbe invaders will be thus treated who will then be trespassers in the land of Israel.

Ezekiel 38:20

Ezekiel 38:20. We know the predictions are still against Gog and the allies that will be with him when he comes to attack the land of Israel. Much of the language, therefore, must be taken figuratively. IE the fishes, fowls and beasts were literally disturbed, and tbe mountains were demolished in the land of Palestine, then the people of Israel would suffer as well as Gog. The conclusion is therefore reasonable that it is all an ideal picture of the disturbances which God will cause Gog to encounter with reference to his own situation.

Ezekiel 38:21

Ezekiel 38:21. One means of bringing defeat to an unrighteous group is to cause its own members to attack each other. (See Judges 7:22; Isaiah 19:2.)

Ezekiel 38:22

Ezekiel 38:22. Such calamities as are described here could be poured out upon Gog and liis associates without disturbing the people o£ Israel or Palestine in general.

Ezekiel 38:23

Ezekiel 38:23. The most important point to be made in these divine demonstrations will be to make all men know the Lord and to distinguish Him from all false gods.