INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 38 This chapter gives an account of an enemy of the Jews, under the name of Gog, that shall invade their land, and disturb their peace, after they are settled in it; who is described by the countries over which he rules; and against whom the prophet is bid to set his face, a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME,.... At the same time as the preceding prophecy did, as the copulative and shows; which predicts the restoration and conversion of the Jews; the union of their tribes under the King Messiah; and their settlement in their own land: and this respects some disturba... [ Continue Reading ]
SON OF MAN, SET THY FACE AGAINST GOG,.... Of the phrase, "setting the face towards", or "against", Ezekiel 6:2 Ezekiel 21:2 Ezekiel 25:2 but who this Gog is the prophet is bid boldly to face, and intrepidly declare the wrath of God against, interpreters are divided about. Calmet m thinks that Cambys... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAY, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, BEHOLD, I AM AGAINST THEE, O GOG, THE CHIEF PRINCE OF MESHECH AND TUBAL. Which is repeated for the confirmation of it, that so it would certainly be; that the Lord, the mighty God, and King of kings, would in his providence frown upon him, and appear against him; an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL TURN THEE BACK, AND PUT HOOKS INTO THY JAWS,.... Or, I will put hooks in thy jaws, and with them turn thee back; or rather, "turn thee about" f; and lead thee where and as I please; for this is not to be understood of God's putting hooks into his jaws, and leading him back from his enterp... [ Continue Reading ]
PERSIA, ETHIOPIA, AND LYBIA WITH THEM,.... These are the confederates or auxiliaries of the Turks, which shall join with them in this expedition. Persia is a neighbouring kingdom to the Turks, and may fall into their hands before this comes to pass; and is in a fair way for it at this time, through... [ Continue Reading ]
GOMER, AND ALL HIS BANDS,.... Or all his army, as the Targum. Gomer was the eldest son of Japheth, Genesis 10:2, from whom descended the people called by the Greeks Galatians, or Galio-Grecians, as Josephus i says, who before were from him called Gomarians: others think that Phrygia, and the inhabit... [ Continue Reading ]
BE THOU PREPARED, AND PREPARE FOR THYSELF,.... All warlike stores and provisions: this is ironically said; and suggests that he would do so, and yet all would be in vain, and to no purpose: THOU AND ALL THY COMPANY, THAT ARE ASSEMBLED UNTO THEE; or all thine armies, as the Targum, gathered out of h... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER MANY DAYS THOU SHALT BE VISITED,.... After the Ottoman empire has stood a long time, as it has already; when the many days will be ended that Israel should be without a king and a prince, c. Hosea 3:4, then shall Gog or the Turk be visited of God, not in a way of grace, but vengeance he shall... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALL ASCEND AND COME LIKE A STORM,.... That comes suddenly, looks black and terrible, and causes darkness and horror; makes a great noise, and is very threatening of danger; signifying, that the Turks will come into the land of Judea suddenly to surprise it, and with great wrath and fury, and... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD, IT SHALL ALSO COME TO PASS,.... Who is the Lord God omniscient, and knows the thoughts of men's hearts afar off; which, though they are contingent and voluntary, yet certain to the foreknowledge of God; who knows them before they are conceived, and can foretell what they will be... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALL SAY,.... What came into his mind, and what he thought of; this he shall say to his privy counsellors and ministers of state; or to the generals and officers of his army; or to his confederates and allies, and even to them all, to have their opinion and approbation of it; and to encour... [ Continue Reading ]
TO TAKE A SPOIL, AND TO TAKE A PREY,.... These are the words of Gog continued; suggesting that he should have no occasion to fight; should have nothing else to do but to seize upon the goods and plunder the substance of these people: TO TURN THINE HAND UPON THE DESOLATE PLACES THAT ARE NOW INHABITE... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEBA, AND DEDAN, AND THE MERCHANTS OF TARSHISH,.... These are not any of the people that shall come along with Gog on his expedition; but some neighbouring nations bordering on Judea, who will address him in the following manner, as he passes through them, or by them. Sheba and Dedan design the Ara... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, SON OF MAN, PROPHESY, AND SAY UNTO GOG,.... Since these are his thoughts and designs, and those his big words, and which he will endeavour to put in practice, and be applauded for it by others; deliver this prophecy to him, or concerning him: THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, IN THAT DAY WHEN MY... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT COME FROM THY PLACE OUT OF THE NORTH PARTS,.... Whose original was from Scythia, or Cathaia in Tartary, that lies to the north of China; and who will bring with him many people from the Euxine and Caspian seas, and from the northern parts of lesser Asia; and the Turk is, by many inter... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALL COME UP AGAINST MY PEOPLE OF ISRAEL,.... Which is repeated for the certainty of it; and not for his comfort, but his ruin; not to the terror of Israel, but for the glory of God: AS A CLOUD TO COVER THE LAND; the land of Israel, so great should be his army; Ezekiel 38:9, IT SHALL BE... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... Putting the question that follows: ART THOU HE OF WHOM I HAVE SPOKEN OF OLD TIME BY MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL, WHICH PROPHESIED IN THOSE DAYS MANY YEARS THAT I WILL BRING THEE AGAINST THEM? certainly thou art he: but who were the prophets that prophesied of Gog... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN GOG SHALL COME AGAINST THE LAND OF ISRAEL, SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... As before prophesied of and described: THAT MY FURY SHALL COME UP IN MY FACE; as a man's blood rises up in his face, and his colour appears, when he is wroth and angry: or, "in my nos... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN MY JEALOUSY, AND IN THE FIRE OF MY WRATH, HAVE I SPOKEN,.... Not against his people Israel, but against Gog, who had thought evil against them, and now was about to put it in practice; and therefore in zeal for his own glory, and for the good of his people, and in indignation against his and... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT THE FISHES OF THE SEA SHALL SHAKE AT MY PRESENCE,.... From whence it appears that this great shaking shall not be on account of the army of Gog, and the devastations that it shall make; but on account of the powerful presence of God, which will be manifest in the destruction of his army: and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL CALL FOR A SWORD AGAINST HIM,.... That is, against Gog; or, as I would choose to render the words, "for I will call for a sword", so the particle is rendered, Ezekiel 38:19 and which Noldius u agrees to; and this gives a reason why there should be such a commotion in the land of Israel; b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL PLEAD AGAINST HIM WITH PESTILENCE AND WITH BLOOD,.... Not only the sword of the Jews and the sword of Christian princes shall be drawn against him, and the sword of Gog's soldiers against one another; but the Lord himself would plead with him by his judgments, or take vengeance on him, as... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS WILL L MAGNIFY MYSELF, AND SANCTIFY MYSELF,.... Show the greatness of his power, and the strictness of his justice and holiness, and glorify these, and all other of his perfections, in the destruction of the enemies of his people: AND I WILL BE KNOWN IN THE EYES OF MANY NATIONS, AND THEY SHALL... [ Continue Reading ]