CHAPTER 38
. THE ASSAULT
OF GOG, AND GOD'S
JUDGMENT ON HIM.
The objections to a literal
interpretation of the prophecy are—(1) The ideal nature of the name
Gog, which is the root of Magog, the only kindred name found in
Scripture or history. (2) The nations congregated are selected from
places most distant from Israel, and from one another, and therefore
most unlikely to act in concert (Persians and Libyans, c.). (3) The
whole spoil of Israel could not have given a handful to a tithe of
their number, or maintained the myriads of invaders a single day
(Ezekiel 38:12 Ezekiel 38:13).
(4) The wood of their invaders' weapons was to serve for fuel to
Israel for seven years! And all Israel were to take seven
months in burying the dead! Supposing a million of Israelites to bury
each two corpses a day, the aggregate buried in the hundred eighty
working days of the seven months would be three hundred sixty
millions of corpses! Then the pestilential vapors from such masses of
victims before they were all buried! What Israelite could live in
such an atmosphere? (5) The scene of the Lord's controversy here is
different from that in Isaiah 34:6,
Edom, which creates a discrepancy. (But probably a different judgment
is alluded to). (6) The gross carnality of the representation of
God's dealings with His adversaries is inconsistent with Messianic
times. It therefore requires a non-literal interpretation. The
prophetical delineations of the divine principles of government are
thrown into the familiar forms of Old Testament relations. The final
triumph of Messiah's truth over the most distant and barbarous
nations is represented as a literal conflict on a gigantic scale,
Israel being the battlefield, ending in the complete triumph of
Israel's anointed King, the Saviour of the world. It is a prophetical
parable [FAIRBAIRN].
However, though the details are not literal, the
distinctiveness in this picture, characterizing also parallel
descriptions in writers less ideally picturesque than Ezekiel, gives
probability to a more definite and generally literal interpretation.
The awful desolations caused in Judea by Antiochus Epiphanes, of
Syria (1 Maccabees; and PORPHYRY,
quoted by JEROME on
Ezekiel), his defilement of Jehovah's temple by sacrificing swine and
sprinkling the altar with the broth, and setting up the altar of
Jupiter Olympius, seem to be an earnest of the final desolations to
be caused by Antichrist in Israel, previous to His overthrow by the
Lord Himself, coming to reign (compare Daniel 8:10-26;
Daniel 11:21-45; Daniel 12:1;
Zechariah 13:9; Zechariah 14:2;
Zechariah 14:3). GROTIUS
explains Gog as a name taken from Gyges, king of Lydia; and Magog as
Syria, in which was a city called Magog [PLINY,
5.28]. What Ezekiel stated more generally, Zechariah 14:3 states more definitely as to the anti-Christian
confederacy which is to assail the beloved city.
2. Gog—the prince of the land
of Magog. The title was probably a common one of the kings of the
country, as "Pharaoh" in Egypt. Chakan was the name given
by the Northern Asiatics to their king, and is still a title of the
Turkish sultan: "Gog" may be a contraction of this. In
Ezekiel's time a horde of northern Asiatics, termed by the Greeks
"Scythians," and probably including the Moschi and
Tibareni, near the Caucasus, here ("Meshech . . . Tubal")
undertook an expedition against Egypt [HERODOTUS,
1.103-106]. These names might be adopted by Ezekiel from the
historical fact familiar to men at the time, as ideal titles for the
great last anti-Christian confederacy.
Magog— (Genesis 10:2;
1 Chronicles 1:5). The name of a land
belonging to Japheth's posterity. Maha, in Sanskrit, means
"land." Gog is the ideal political head of the region. In
Revelation 20:8, Gog and Magog are two
peoples.
the chief prince—rather,
"prince of Rosh," or "Rhos"
[Septuagint]. The Scythian Tauri in the Crimea were so called.
The Araxes also was called "Rhos." The modern Russians may
have hence assumed their name, as Moscow and Tobolsk from
Meshech and Tubal, though their proper ancient name was Slavi,
or Wends. HENGSTENBERG
supports English Version, as "Rosh" is not found in
the Bible. "Magog was Gog's original kingdom, though he acquired
also Meshech and Tubal, so as to be called their chief prince."
3. His high-sounding titles are
repeated to imply the haughty self-confidence of the invader as if
invincible.
4. turn thee back—as a
refractory wild beast, which thinks to take its own way, but is bent
by a superior power to turn on a course which must end in its
destruction. Satan shall be, by overruling Providence, permitted to
deceive them to their ruin (Revelation 20:7;
Revelation 20:8).
hooks into thy jaws—
(Ezekiel 29:4; 2 Kings 19:28).
5. Persia . . . Libya—expressly
specified by APPIAN as
supplying the ranks of Antiochus' army.
6. Gomer—the Celtic Cimmerians
of Crim-Tartary.
Togarmah—the Armenians
of the Caucasus, south of Iberia.
7. Irony. Prepare thee and all
thine with all needful accoutrements for war—that ye may perish
together.
be . . . a guard unto
them—that is, if thou canst.
8. thou shall be visited—in
wrath, by God (Isaiah 29:6).
Probably there is allusion to Isaiah 24:21;
Isaiah 24:22, "The host of the
high ones . . . shall be gathered . . . as prisoners . . . in the pit
. . . and after many days shall they be visited." I
therefore prefer English Version to GROTIUS
rendering, "Thou shalt get the command" of the
expedition. The "after many days" is defined by "in
the latter years," that is, in the times just before the coming
of Messiah, namely, under Antiochus, before His first coming; under
Antichrist, before His second coming.
the mountains of Israel . . .
always waste—that is, waste during the long period of the
captivity, the earnest of the much longer period of Judea's present
desolation (to which the language "always waste" more fully
applies). This marks the impious atrocity of the act, to assail God's
people, who had only begun to recover from their protracted
calamities.
but it is brought . . . and
they shall dwell—rather, "And they (the Israelites) were
brought . . . dwelt safely" [FAIRBAIRN].
English Version means, "Against Israel, which has been
waste, but which (that is, whose people) is now (at the time of the
invasion) brought forth out of the nations where they were dispersed,
and shall be found by the invader dwelling securely, so as to seem an
easy prey to him."
9. cloud to cover the land—with
the multitude of thy forces.
10. an evil thought—as to
attacking God's people in their defenseless state.
11. dwell safely—that is,
securely, without fear of danger (compare ). Antiochus, the type of Antichrist, took Jerusalem without
a blow.
12. midst of the land—literally,
"the navel" of the land (, Margin). So, in , Israel is said to be set "in the midst of the nations";
not physically, but morally, a central position for being a blessing
to the world: so (as the favored or "beloved city," ) an object of envy. GROTIUS
translates, "In the height of the land" (so ), "the mountains of Israel," Israel being morally
elevated above the rest of the world.
13. Sheba, &c.—These
mercantile peoples, though not taking an active part against the
cause of God, are well pleased to see others do it. Worldliness makes
them ready to deal in the ill-gotten spoil of the invaders of God's
people. Gain is before godliness with them (1 Maccabees 3:41).
young lions—daring
princes and leaders.
14. shalt thou not know it?—to
thy cost, being visited with punishment, while Israel dwells safely.
16. I will bring thee against my
land, that the heathen may know me—So in , God tells Pharaoh, "For this cause have I raised thee
up, for to show in thee My power; and that My name may be declared
throughout all the earth."
18. fury shall come up in my
face—literally, "nose"; in Hebrew, the
idiomatic expression for anger, as men in anger breathe
strongly through the nostrils. Anthropopathy: God stooping to human
modes of thought (Psalms 18:8).
20. fishes—disturbed by the
fleets which I will bring.
fowls, c.—frightened at
the sight of so many men: an ideal picture.
mountains—that is, the
fortresses on the mountains.
steep places—literally,
"stairs" (Song of Solomon 2:14)
steep terraces for vines on the sides of hills, to prevent the earth
being washed down by the rains.
every wall—of towns.
21. every man's sword . . . against
his brother—I will destroy them partly by My people's sword,
partly by their swords being turned against one another (compare ).
22. plead—a forensic term;
because God in His inflictions acts on the principles of His own
immutable justice, not by arbitrary impulse (Isaiah 66:16;
Jeremiah 25:31).
blood . . . hailstones, fire—
(Revelation 8:7; Revelation 16:21).
The imagery is taken from the destruction of Sodom and the plagues of
Egypt (compare Psalms 11:6).
Antiochus died by "pestilence" (2 Maccabees 9:5).
CHAPTER 38
. THE ASSAULT OF GOG, AND GOD'S JUDGMENT ON HIM.
The objections to a literal interpretation of the prophecy are—(1) The ideal nature of the name Gog, which is the root of Magog, the only kindred name found in Scripture or history. (2) The nations congregated are selected from places most distant from Israel, and from one another, and therefore most unlikely to act in concert (Persians and Libyans, c.). (3) The whole spoil of Israel could not have given a handful to a tithe of their number, or maintained the myriads of invaders a single day (Ezekiel 38:12 Ezekiel 38:13). (4) The wood of their invaders' weapons was to serve for fuel to Israel for seven years! And all Israel were to take seven months in burying the dead! Supposing a million of Israelites to bury each two corpses a day, the aggregate buried in the hundred eighty working days of the seven months would be three hundred sixty millions of corpses! Then the pestilential vapors from such masses of victims before they were all buried! What Israelite could live in such an atmosphere? (5) The scene of the Lord's controversy here is different from that in Isaiah 34:6, Edom, which creates a discrepancy. (But probably a different judgment is alluded to). (6) The gross carnality of the representation of God's dealings with His adversaries is inconsistent with Messianic times. It therefore requires a non-literal interpretation. The prophetical delineations of the divine principles of government are thrown into the familiar forms of Old Testament relations. The final triumph of Messiah's truth over the most distant and barbarous nations is represented as a literal conflict on a gigantic scale, Israel being the battlefield, ending in the complete triumph of Israel's anointed King, the Saviour of the world. It is a prophetical parable [FAIRBAIRN]. However, though the details are not literal, the distinctiveness in this picture, characterizing also parallel descriptions in writers less ideally picturesque than Ezekiel, gives probability to a more definite and generally literal interpretation. The awful desolations caused in Judea by Antiochus Epiphanes, of Syria (1 Maccabees; and PORPHYRY, quoted by JEROME on Ezekiel), his defilement of Jehovah's temple by sacrificing swine and sprinkling the altar with the broth, and setting up the altar of Jupiter Olympius, seem to be an earnest of the final desolations to be caused by Antichrist in Israel, previous to His overthrow by the Lord Himself, coming to reign (compare Daniel 8:10-26; Daniel 11:21-45; Daniel 12:1; Zechariah 13:9; Zechariah 14:2; Zechariah 14:3). GROTIUS explains Gog as a name taken from Gyges, king of Lydia; and Magog as Syria, in which was a city called Magog [PLINY, 5.28]. What Ezekiel stated more generally, Zechariah 14:3 states more definitely as to the anti-Christian confederacy which is to assail the beloved city.
2. Gog—the prince of the land of Magog. The title was probably a common one of the kings of the country, as "Pharaoh" in Egypt. Chakan was the name given by the Northern Asiatics to their king, and is still a title of the Turkish sultan: "Gog" may be a contraction of this. In Ezekiel's time a horde of northern Asiatics, termed by the Greeks "Scythians," and probably including the Moschi and Tibareni, near the Caucasus, here ("Meshech . . . Tubal") undertook an expedition against Egypt [HERODOTUS, 1.103-106]. These names might be adopted by Ezekiel from the historical fact familiar to men at the time, as ideal titles for the great last anti-Christian confederacy.
Magog— (Genesis 10:2; 1 Chronicles 1:5). The name of a land belonging to Japheth's posterity. Maha, in Sanskrit, means "land." Gog is the ideal political head of the region. In Revelation 20:8, Gog and Magog are two peoples.
the chief prince—rather, "prince of Rosh," or "Rhos" [Septuagint]. The Scythian Tauri in the Crimea were so called. The Araxes also was called "Rhos." The modern Russians may have hence assumed their name, as Moscow and Tobolsk from Meshech and Tubal, though their proper ancient name was Slavi, or Wends. HENGSTENBERG supports English Version, as "Rosh" is not found in the Bible. "Magog was Gog's original kingdom, though he acquired also Meshech and Tubal, so as to be called their chief prince."
3. His high-sounding titles are repeated to imply the haughty self-confidence of the invader as if invincible.
4. turn thee back—as a refractory wild beast, which thinks to take its own way, but is bent by a superior power to turn on a course which must end in its destruction. Satan shall be, by overruling Providence, permitted to deceive them to their ruin (Revelation 20:7; Revelation 20:8).
hooks into thy jaws— (Ezekiel 29:4; 2 Kings 19:28).
5. Persia . . . Libya—expressly specified by APPIAN as supplying the ranks of Antiochus' army.
6. Gomer—the Celtic Cimmerians of Crim-Tartary.
Togarmah—the Armenians of the Caucasus, south of Iberia.
7. Irony. Prepare thee and all thine with all needful accoutrements for war—that ye may perish together.
be . . . a guard unto them—that is, if thou canst.
8. thou shall be visited—in wrath, by God (Isaiah 29:6). Probably there is allusion to Isaiah 24:21; Isaiah 24:22, "The host of the high ones . . . shall be gathered . . . as prisoners . . . in the pit . . . and after many days shall they be visited." I therefore prefer English Version to GROTIUS rendering, "Thou shalt get the command" of the expedition. The "after many days" is defined by "in the latter years," that is, in the times just before the coming of Messiah, namely, under Antiochus, before His first coming; under Antichrist, before His second coming.
the mountains of Israel . . . always waste—that is, waste during the long period of the captivity, the earnest of the much longer period of Judea's present desolation (to which the language "always waste" more fully applies). This marks the impious atrocity of the act, to assail God's people, who had only begun to recover from their protracted calamities.
but it is brought . . . and they shall dwell—rather, "And they (the Israelites) were brought . . . dwelt safely" [FAIRBAIRN]. English Version means, "Against Israel, which has been waste, but which (that is, whose people) is now (at the time of the invasion) brought forth out of the nations where they were dispersed, and shall be found by the invader dwelling securely, so as to seem an easy prey to him."
9. cloud to cover the land—with the multitude of thy forces.
10. an evil thought—as to attacking God's people in their defenseless state.
11. dwell safely—that is, securely, without fear of danger (compare ). Antiochus, the type of Antichrist, took Jerusalem without a blow.
12. midst of the land—literally, "the navel" of the land (, Margin). So, in , Israel is said to be set "in the midst of the nations"; not physically, but morally, a central position for being a blessing to the world: so (as the favored or "beloved city," ) an object of envy. GROTIUS translates, "In the height of the land" (so ), "the mountains of Israel," Israel being morally elevated above the rest of the world.
13. Sheba, &c.—These mercantile peoples, though not taking an active part against the cause of God, are well pleased to see others do it. Worldliness makes them ready to deal in the ill-gotten spoil of the invaders of God's people. Gain is before godliness with them (1 Maccabees 3:41).
young lions—daring princes and leaders.
14. shalt thou not know it?—to thy cost, being visited with punishment, while Israel dwells safely.
16. I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me—So in , God tells Pharaoh, "For this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee My power; and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth."
17. thou he of whom I have spoken in old time—Gog, c. are here identified with the enemies spoken of in other prophecies (Numbers 24:17-24 Isaiah 27:1; compare Isaiah 26:20; Isaiah 26:21; Jeremiah 30:23; Jeremiah 30:24; Joel 3:1; Micah 5:5; Micah 5:6; Isaiah 14:12-14; Isaiah 59:19). God is represented as addressing Gog at the time of his assault; therefore, the "old time" is the time long prior, when Ezekiel uttered these prophecies; so, he also, as well as Daniel (Isaiah 59:19) and Zechariah (Isaiah 59:19) are included among "the prophets of Israel" here.
many years—ago.
18. fury shall come up in my face—literally, "nose"; in Hebrew, the idiomatic expression for anger, as men in anger breathe strongly through the nostrils. Anthropopathy: God stooping to human modes of thought (Psalms 18:8).
19. great shaking—an earthquake: physical agitations after accompanying social and moral revolutions. Foretold also in ; (compare Haggai 2:6; Haggai 2:7; Matthew 24:7; Matthew 24:29; Revelation 16:18).
20. fishes—disturbed by the fleets which I will bring.
fowls, c.—frightened at the sight of so many men: an ideal picture.
mountains—that is, the fortresses on the mountains.
steep places—literally, "stairs" (Song of Solomon 2:14) steep terraces for vines on the sides of hills, to prevent the earth being washed down by the rains.
every wall—of towns.
21. every man's sword . . . against his brother—I will destroy them partly by My people's sword, partly by their swords being turned against one another (compare ).
22. plead—a forensic term; because God in His inflictions acts on the principles of His own immutable justice, not by arbitrary impulse (Isaiah 66:16; Jeremiah 25:31).
blood . . . hailstones, fire— (Revelation 8:7; Revelation 16:21). The imagery is taken from the destruction of Sodom and the plagues of Egypt (compare Psalms 11:6). Antiochus died by "pestilence" (2 Maccabees 9:5).