§ 1. THE RESTORATION (EZEKIEL 33-39) After an introductory passage (Ezekiel 33:1), and two short prophecies against the wicked survivors of Jerusalem and the careless exiles (Ezekiel 33:21), this section describes the restoration in connexion with the Ruler, the Land and the People successively. As... [ Continue Reading ]
GOG, the LAND OF MAGOG] RV 'Gog, of the land of Magog.' The exact reference of the names is unknown. Magog is the land ruled over by Gog. The conjecture that 'Magog' (Mgg = Ggm = Bbl) is a cryptogram for 'Babel' (Babylon) has no probability. Gog in any case is the representative of remote heathendor... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN THEE BACK] RV 'turn thee about.' Perhaps we should read, 'lead thee,' and so in Ezekiel 39:2. God directs the movements even of the enemies of His kingdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
PERSIA] a doubtful rendering. ETHIOPIA, AND LIBYA] RV 'Cush and Put': see on Ezekiel 27:10; Ezekiel 30:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOMER] (Genesis 10:2), a people in the N. of Asia Minor, usually identified with the Cimmerians. TOGARMAH] Armenia: see on Ezekiel 27:14; THE NORTH QUARTERS] RV 'the uttermost parts of the north.' BANDS] RV 'hordes,' and so throughout. PEOPLE] RV 'peoples,' and so throughout, except in Ezekiel 38:1... [ Continue Reading ]
BE THOU A GUARD UNTO THEM] LXX reads, 'hold thyself in reserve for me.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LATTER YEARS] The invasion of Gog is in the distant future. THE LAND _that is.._ GATHERED, etc.] The sense requires 'the nation' to be supplied before 'that is gathered': see Ezekiel 38:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
The peaceful state of the restored Israel is here described.... [ Continue Reading ]
MIDST of the LAND] RV 'middle of the earth,' the supposed geographical position of Palestine.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEBA.. DEDAN.. TARSHISH] see on Ezekiel 22:23; Ezekiel 22:25; Ezekiel 27:15; Ezekiel 27:20. YOUNG LIONS] does not give a clear sense. Other suggested readings are, 'Canaanites,' 'Cyprians,' or 'traffickers.' The nations mentioned were spectators of Gog's invasion, and inquired what commercial adva... [ Continue Reading ]
NORTH PARTS] RV 'uttermost parts of the north.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Certain older prophecies were understood by Ezekiel to refer, though not by name, tö the coming invasion of Gog. Perhaps he had in view Zephaniah 1:14.; Zephaniah 3:8; Jeremiah 3-6.... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE SAME TIME] RV 'in that day.' IN MY FACE] RV 'into my nostrils.'... [ Continue Reading ]
SHAKING] or, 'earthquake.' GOD'S FINAL VICTORY OVER THE HEATHEN Ezekiel's earlier group of prophecies against the nations (Ezekiel 25-32) was concerned with Israel's nearer neighbours, which had interfered more or less in former times with her prosperity; and their humiliation was regarded as a nec... [ Continue Reading ]