Ezekiel 39 - Introduction
_GOD'S JUDGMENT UPON GOG. ISRAEL'S VICTORY. GOG'S BURIAL IN HAMON-GOG. THE FEAST OF THE FOWLS. ISRAEL, HAVING BEEN PLAGUED FOR THEIR SINS, SHALL BE GATHERED AGAIN._ _Before Christ 587._... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOD'S JUDGMENT UPON GOG. ISRAEL'S VICTORY. GOG'S BURIAL IN HAMON-GOG. THE FEAST OF THE FOWLS. ISRAEL, HAVING BEEN PLAGUED FOR THEIR SINS, SHALL BE GATHERED AGAIN._ _Before Christ 587._... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SEND A FIRE, &C.— That is, into the country of Gog. _Gog_ is supposed to dwell or to have dwelt between the Caspian and the Euxine sea; which is referred to by the expression _in the isles,_ or on the maritime coasts. This _fire_ seems to signify that the land, after the army of Gog had left... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, IT IS COME— The prophet, as is very frequent, speaks, in the rapture of prophesy, of this event as if already completed. See Revelation 16:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL BURN THEM, &C.— That is, for a long time; a certain for an uncertain number. There shall be in the country so great a quantity of military weapons, that they shall serve them for a long time for fuel. We should remember, that they do not make very large fires in those hot countries. M... [ Continue Reading ]
AT PLACE THERE OF GRAVES— _An illustrious place for sepulchre; the valley of passengers, opposite to the sea; through which the travellers shall pass stopping their noses._ Houbigant. According to the Chaldee, the _sea_ here spoken of was that of Gennezareth. The _valley_ near this lake or sea is ca... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THE END OF SEVEN MONTHS— Houbigant reads this, _And they shall search for them even to the seventh month._... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK UNTO EVERY FEATHERED FOWL— It was the custom for persons who offered sacrifices to invite their friends to the feast, which was made of the remainder. So here the prophet, by God's command, invites the beasts and fowls to partake of the sacrifice of his enemies. Whoever compares Psalms 78:48.... [ Continue Reading ]
DRINK THE BLOOD OF THE PRINCES OF THE EARTH— That is, the fowls and beasts mentioned before, _shall drink,_ &c. There cannot be a greater instance of disingenuousness, and of inveterate malice to the Scriptures and the people of God, than Voltaire has shewn by his infamous misrepresentation of the p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAVE LEFT NONE OF THEM, &C.— Amid the variety of conjectures passed upon these Chapter s, may we not be allowed to add one more;—proposed merely as a quaere to the learned, and as a subject of investigation? namely, that this prophesy _primarily_ refers to the judgment of God by Cyrus upon the B... [ Continue Reading ]