Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 38:17
Thus saith the Lord GOD; [Art] thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days [many] years that I would bring thee against them?
17. The question gives vividness to the fact of Gog’s invasion having been long predicted, and identifies him with the subject of these predictions. These former prophecies had not named Gog; the identification is matter of inference.
those days many years ] The construction is peculiar, but this is probably the sense. Gog, though not by name, had formed the subject of repeated predictions by many prophets. The prophecies referred to are probably such as Zephaniah 1 (Eze 3:8), which agrees with Ezek. Eze 38:20 in mentioning the fishes of the sea (again only Hos 4:3), and Jeremiah 3-6 (Isa 17:12 seq.). The age of Joel may be later than Ezek., and passages like Joel 3, Zechariah 14, possibly repose rather on him, or at all events shew the continued prevalence of the same ideas, which indeed passed as current conceptions into the Apocalyptic prophecy dating from this age. The passage Mic 4:11 seq. is also of uncertain date. It is possible that the invasion of the Scythians may have suggested the prophecies of Zeph. and Jer., though the supposition is less necessary in the case of the latter prophet. It is not likely, however, that Ezekiel’s renewal of the prophecy was occasioned by any fresh movements among these northern nations occurring in his time (Sm. Kuen.), because he regards the inroad of Gog as an event to happen in the far distant future.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
17 23. This invasion of Gog has been long predicted. It shall be the occasion of a final manifestation of himself by Jehovah to creation and the nations, which shall inspire universal awe, and leave in the minds of all mankind the knowledge of Jehovah, and that which he is.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Gog – is not mentioned by name in any existing prophecy before Ezekiels time. The reference here shows
(1) that the conflict with Gog does not represent a particular event, but one of which the prophets in general had to speak;
(2) that in the interpretation of Old Testament prophecy we are to look beyond special fulfillments.
Events in the worlds history come within a prophets ken as parts of the divine administration whereby evil struggles against but is overcome by good. As every such conflict is a prelude to the final struggle, so its prediction has reference ultimately to the consummation here foretold.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time] This prophecy concerning Antiochus and the Jews was delievered about four hundred years before the events took place. – Martin. Calmet maintains that Cambyses is spoken of, and refers to ancient prophecies, especially Isa 14, Isa 15, Isa 20, Isa 21.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Art thou he? either by way of contempt from God, upon him and all his preparations, or by way of monition: All these enterprises I foresaw, have spoken of them, and I will as well defeat as I did foretell them.
Of whom I have spoken: it is not said it is written, though that be true also, but it was more spoken of.
In old time; in the days of those years past, or of their years, in the times when those prophets lived.
The prophets of Israel; not by prognostication or soothsayers, but by true prophets, my servants whom I sent, Da 11; Zec 14. Now, though they had not foretold this when Ezekiel did, yet when the question shall be asked by the church, it will be so many hundreds of years past, it may well refer to these two prophets; beside Isa 26:20,21, with Isa 27:1; Jer 30:23,24; Joe 3:1,15,16; and Mic 5:5,6, are prophets cited, as those who spake of this mighty enemy and his coming, and from which an understanding reader may soon collect that this foe was intended as well as others in those places.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. thou he of whom I have spoken inold timeGog, c. are here identified with the enemies spoken ofin other prophecies (Num 24:17-24Isa 27:1; compare Isa 26:20;Isa 26:21; Jer 30:23;Jer 30:24; Joe 3:1;Mic 5:5; Mic 5:6;Isa 14:12-14; Isa 59:19).God is represented as addressing Gog at the time of his assault;therefore, the “old time” is the time long prior, whenEzekiel uttered these prophecies; so, he also, as well as Daniel (Da11:1-45) and Zechariah (Zec14:1-21) are included among “the prophets of Israel”here.
many yearsago.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 before Ezekiel, since he is the first that makes mention of him? to this it may be replied, that though he is not mentioned by name, yet he might be prophesied of under other names, as by Isaiah under the name of Leviathan, Isa 27:1 and by Micah under the name of the Assyrian, Mic 5:5. The Jews r say that Eldad and Medad prophesied of him, which Jarchi, Kimchi, and Abendana remark; who all observe, agreeably to the Talmudists in the place referred to, that these two are the prophets meant; and therefore it is directed to be read not “shanim”, years, but “shenaim”, two; namely, those two prophets prophesied one prophecy at one time, or together; but this is not to be depended upon: it should be observed, that this must be considered as spoken at the time of the accomplishment of this prophecy, and so may have respect to the Prophet Ezekiel himself, or to Joel, Joe 3:1, and to Zechariah, Zec 14:1, and even to the book of the Revelation, Re 16:14.
r T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 17. 1. & Gloss. in ib.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Announcement of the Wrathful Judgment upon Gog, as a Proof of the Holiness of the Lord
Eze 38:17. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Art thou he of whom I spoke in the former days through my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days, that I would bring thee over them? Eze 38:18. And it cometh to pass in that day, in the day when Gog cometh into the land of Israel, is the saying of the Lord Jehovah, that my wrath will ascend into my nose. Eze 38:19. And in my jealousy, in the fire of my anger, have I spoken, Truly in that day will a great trembling come over the land of Israel; Eze 38:20. The fishes of the sea, and the birds of heaven, and the beasts of the field, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the ground, and all the men that are upon the ground, will tremble before me; and the mountains will be destroyed, and the rocky heights fall, and every wall will fall to the ground. Eze 38:21. I will call the sword against him to all my holy mountains, is the saying of the Lord Jehovah: the sword of the one will be against the other. Eze 38:22. And I will strive with him by pestilence and by blood, and overflowing rain-torrents and hailstones; fire and brimstone will I rain upon him and all his hosts, and upon the many peoples that are with him; Eze 38:23. And will prove myself great and holy, and will make myself known before the eyes of many nations, that they may know that I am Jehovah. – The announcement of the way in which the Lord will sanctify Himself upon Gog (Eze 38:16) commences with the statement in Eze 38:17, that Gog is he of whom God has already spoken by the earlier prophets. This assertion is clothed in the form of a question: , not , which is the interrogative form used for an emphatic assurance; whereas does not set down the point in question as indisputably certain, but suggests the inquiry for the purpose of giving a definite answer. The affirmative reply to the question asked is contained in the last clause of the verse: “to bring thee upon them;” so that really means, thou art truly he. The statement, that Gog is he of whom God had already spoken by the earlier prophets, does not mean that those prophets had actually mentioned Gog, but simply that Gog was the enemy of whose rising up against the people of God the prophets of the former time had prophesied, as well as of his destruction by a wrathful judgment of the Lord. (for years, or years long) is an accusative of measure, not asyndeton to ba , as the lxx and many of the commentators down to Hvernick have taken it to be. The design of this remark is not to accredit the prophecy by referring to the utterances of earlier prophets, but to show that the attack of the peoples gathered together by Gog, upon the land and people of the Lord, is not an unexpected event, or one at variance with the promise of the restoration of Israel as a kingdom of peace. To what utterances of the older prophets these words refer is a question difficult to answer. Zechariah (Zec 12:2-3; Zec 14:2-3) is of course not to be thought of, as Zechariah himself did not prophesy till after the captivity, and therefore not till after Ezekiel. But we may recall Joel 4:2 and 11ff.; Isa 25:5, Isa 25:10., Eze 26:21; Jer 30:23 and 25; and, in fact, all the earlier prophets who prophesied of Jehovah’s day of judgment upon all the heathen.
(Note: Aug. Kueper ( Jeremias librr. sacrr., interpr. atque vindex , p. 82) has correctly observed concerning this verse, that “it is evident enough that there is no reference here to prophecies concerning Gog and Magog, which have been lost; but those general prophecies, which are met with on every hand directed against the enemies of the church, are here referred to Gog.” And before him, J. F. Starck had already said: “In my opinion, we are to understand all those passages in the prophets which treat of the enemies of the church and its persecutions…these afflictions were preludes and shadows of the bloody persecution of Gog.”)
Eze 38:18 and Eze 38:19 do not contain words which Jehovah spoke through the ancient prophets, and which Ezekiel now transfers to Gog and the time of his appearing (Hitzig and Kliefoth). The perfect in Eze 38:19 by no means warrants such an assumption; for this is purely prophetic, expressing the certainty of the divine determination as a thing clearly proved. Still less can ‘ in Eze 38:18 be taken as a preterite, as Kliefoth supposes; nor can Eze 38:18 and Eze 38:19 be regarded as a thing long predicted, and so be separated from Eze 38:20-23 as a word of God which is now for the first time uttered. For the anthropopathetic expression, “my wrath ascends in my nose,” compare Psa 18:9, “smoke ascends in His nose.” The outburst of wrath shows itself in the vehement breath which the wrathful man inhales and exhales through his nose (see the comm. on the Psalm, l.c.). The bursting out of the wrath of God is literally explained in Eze 38:19. In the jealousy of His wrath God has spoken, i.e., determined, to inflict a great trembling upon the land of Israel. (cf. Eze 5:13) is strengthened by (cf. Ezekiel 21:36; Eze 22:21). The trembling which will come upon the land of Israel, so that all creatures in the sea, in the air, and upon the ground, tremble before Jehovah ( ), who appears to judgment, will rise in nature into an actual earthquake, which overthrows mountains, hills, and walls. are steep heights, which can only be ascended by steps (Son 2:14). This picture of the trembling of the whole world, with all the creatures, before the Lord who is coming to judgment, both here and in Joel 4:16, Zec 14:4-5, rests upon the fact which actually occurred in connection with the revelation of God upon Sinai, when the whole mountain was made to quake (Exo 19:16.). The inhabitants of the land of Israel tremble at the terrible phenomena attending the revelation of the wrath of God, although the wrathful judgment does not apply to them, but to their enemies, Gog and his hosts. The Lord calls the sword against Gog, that his hosts may wound and slay one another. This feature of the destruction of the enemy by wounds inflicted by itself, which we meet with again in Zec 14:13, has its typical exemplar in the defeat of the Midianites in the time of Gideon (Jdg 7:22), and also in that of the enemy invading Judah in the reign of Jehoshaphat (2Ch 20:23). In the is not distributive, but indicates the direction: “to all my mountains.” The overthrow of the enemy is intensified by marvellous plagues inflicted by God – pestilence and blood (cf. Eze 28:23), torrents of rain and hailstones (cf. Eze 13:11), and the raining of fire and brimstone upon Gog, as formerly upon Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:24). – Thus will Jehovah prove Himself to be the almighty God by judgment upon His enemies, and sanctify Himself before all the nations (Eze 38:23, compare Eze 38:16 and Eze 36:23).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(17) Of whom I have spoken in old time.This is put in that interrogative form which is often used for emphatic assurance. The word many before years is not in the original, but is correctly inserted to mark the accusative of duration. The statement is then an emphatic one, that God had of old and for a long time foretold by His prophets this attack of Gog. But the name of Gog is not mentioned in any earlier prophecy now extant, nor is it likely that any such, far less that any long series of such prophecies, have been lost. This concurs with many other indications in the prophecy to show that it does not relate to any particular event, but that Gog and his allies represent the enemies of the Church in general, and that the prophet is here depicting the same great and prolonged struggle between evil and good, between the powers of the world and the kingdom of God, which has formed the burden of so much of both earlier and later prophecy.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. Of whom I have spoken No extant ancient prophecy names Gog. Doubtless the predictions referred to are all such as represent the hostility of the world powers concentrating itself in one last tremendous attack (for example, Zep 3:8; Zec 12:7; Zechariah 14; Joe 3:2; Joe 3:4-17; Isa 54:15; Isa 54:17; compare Rev 20:7-10).
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Are you he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for years that I would bring you against them?”
This question brings home that we are dealing here with something very unusual. God does not usually so speak to His instruments. And of all that the prophets had said, this is what is highlighted. The belligerent attack of Gog was something greater and beyond the usual judgments on God’s people. It was so important that the prophets had spoken about it ‘for years’. Compare Isa 29:1-8; Jer 4:6-31; Joe 1:2 to Joe 2:14; Joe 3:9-14; Amo 5:18-20; Zep 1:7-18; Zec 14:2. In the end, whatever its connection with the kings of Persia, this is the last enemy.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 38:17. Of whom I have spoken in old time? It is doubtful by what prophets God foretold the irruption of Magog; but though nothing of this kind is found in the prophets that remain, it is clear, that Ezekiel was not the first who foretold these things. Many of the sacred pages are lost, which might probably be extant when Ezekiel delivered this prophesy. Houbigant; who renders the last clause thus, That I would bring thee against them in those days and years.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 38:17 Thus saith the Lord GOD; [Art] thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days [many] years that I would bring thee against them?
Ver. 17. Art thou he? ] It is sure enough thou art he; for I cannot be deceived in thee, nor shall fail to suppress thee.
By my servants the prophets.
Which prophesied of thee.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eze 38:17-23
17’Thus says the Lord God, Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? 18It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, that My fury will mount up in My anger. 19In My zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on that day there will surely be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20The fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground. 21I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains, declares the Lord GOD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone. 23I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD.’
Eze 38:17 This may allude to Psalms 2 or 83, but more probably Isa 34:1-6; Isa 63:1-6 (if Edom is a symbol of all rebellious nations; this would also explain Ezekiel 35). This same theme is also found in Joe 3:9-16 (which I think is early post-exilic).
Eze 38:18-23 Note the metaphors of God’s passion for His people and their enemies.
1. My fury, Eze 38:18
2. My anger, Eze 38:18
3. My zeal, Eze 38:19
4. My blazing wrath, Eze 38:19 (cf. Eze 22:21; Eze 22:31)
5. the earth will shake at My presence, Eze 38:20
6. a sword, Eze 38:21 (cf. Ezekiel 21; Ezek. 32:33)
Also notice the other metaphors.
A. cosmic upheavels (as YHWH approaches)
1. earthquake, Eze 38:19
2. animals tremble, Eze 38:20
3. mountains fall, Eze 38:20
4. walls fall, Eze 38:20
5. pestilence, Eze 38:22
6. torrential rain, Eze 38:22 (cf. Eze 13:11; Eze 13:13)
7. hailstones, Eze 38:22
8. fire, Eze 38:22
9. brimstone, Eze 38:22
B. war motifs of a zealous (jealous) Covenant God
1. humans tremble, Eze 38:20
2. a sword is loosed, Eze 38:21
3. blood, Eze 38:22
Many of these will later be amplified into apocalyptic metaphors and phrases. I still think this literary unit in Ezekiel is a precursor of apocalyptic language (cf. Cracking OT Codes, by Sandy and Geise, p. 190), not one of its first examples, as Isaiah 40-48 (i.e. no angel guides, no number symbolism, no use of colors, no secret messages).
Eze 38:20 the mountains also will be thrown down This phrase can be seen in two ways.
1. The convulsing of nature at the coming of its creator (i.e., stars fall, sun darkened, moon turned to blood, cf. Isa 24:23; Isa 64:1; Isa 64:3; Joe 2:30-31).
2. An allusion to the trembling of the pagan gods (cf. Zep 2:11). The gods of Mesopotamia (Enlil and Ashur) and Canaan (El and Ba’al) are mountain gods. This may explain the strange references of Psa 48:2; Isa 14:13; and Eze 28:14; Eze 28:16.
This may explain how YHWH is tied to Mt. Sinai/Horeb and Mt. Zion. The culmination of history is at a mountain (cf. Isa 2:2-4; Isa 11:9; Isa 24:23; Isa 25:6-12; Isa 65:25; Mic 4:1-5).
the steep pathways will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground The key term in the first phrase steep pathways (BDB 201) in Son 2:14 means a secret, inaccessible hiding place. Therefore these two phrases are parallel and mean there will be no hiding places from YHWH’s personal presence, no place for humans to seek refuge (cf. Rev 6:15-16).
Eze 38:21 Every man’s sword will be against his brother This is an interesting phrase. Jdg 7:22 and 2Ch 20:23 describe an invading army destroying itself. 1Sa 14:20 describes metaphorically a great confusion. But Hag 2:22 describes an act of God whereby Israel’s now post-exilic leaders (Zerubbabel and Joshua) are established. This may be the thrust of Ezekiel 38-39!
Eze 38:22 As God has fought on Israel’s behalf (i.e., the Exodus, cf. Exo 14:14; Exo 15:3; Deu 1:30 and the Conquest, cf. Deu 3:22; Jos 10:14; Jos 10:42) and used the forces of nature, so too, again. Israel is at peace and has no army (this surely does not fit modern Israel) or walled cities! God will act on their behalf (covenant promises). Now the destroyed army will not be Israel’s (i.e, Ezekiel 37), but the pagan evil, unbelieving nations on the fringes of the Mediterranean world, who had no contact with God’s people (or His word) before this time.
Eze 38:23 and make Myself known in the sight of many nations This could be understood in two ways.
1. YHWH’s judgment on sinful nations (cf. Psa 9:4; Psa 9:16; Isaiah 34; Isa 43:8-13)
2. YHWH’s desire for the nations to know Him and come to Him (cf. Eze 37:28; Eze 38:16; Eze 39:27)
Israel was meant to be a kingdom of priests because all the world belongs to YHWH (Exo 19:5-6). Abraham’s call included a blessing for all the nations (cf. Gen 12:3). The initial good news (cf. Gen 3:15) was to humanity, not Israel. Even the Law of Moses mentions God’s purpose of informing the nations (cf. Deu 4:5-8). Also several passages in Isaiah address the nations being included (i.e., Isa 42:6; Isa 49:6; Isa 51:4-8; Isa 66:18-21).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Eze 38:17-23
Eze 38:17-23
“Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Art thou he of whom I spake in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, that prophesied in those days, that I would bring thee against them? And it shall come to pass in that day when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, that my wrath shall come up into my nostrils. For in my jealousy, and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken. Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; so that the fishes of the sea, and the birds of the heavens, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him unto all my mountains, saith the Lord Jehovah: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. And with pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain upon him and upon his hordes, and upon many peoples that are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. And I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.”
GOD ANNOUNCES THE OVERTHROW OF GOG
(Eze 38:17-23)
“Art thou he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel …” (Eze 38:17). Note that this verse teaches that the prophets of Israel spoke, not their own words, but the Word of God.
“That prophesied that I would bring thee (Gog) against them (Israel) …” (Eze 38:17). Some believe this is a reference to prophecies that may have been lost; but Keil stated that, “It is evident enough that there is no reference here to lost prophecies about Gog and Magog, but to general prophecies that are met with throughout the Old Testament. Moses, the greatest of the Old Testament prophets specifically prophesied of the overthrow of Israel in case of their apostasy (Deuteronomy 28); and there are many other examples of God’s prophecies to bring the heathen against Israel in case of their disobedience. Among these are the following cited by Alexander: Deu 30:7; Isa 26:20-21, and Jer 30:18-24. Cooke has stated concerning this prophecy of Gog’s overthrow that “the writer may have been thinking of Zep 1:3. Such a comment points up the difference in thinking between the authors of the International Critical Commentary and those of this writer. We believe that God is the one who had Zephaniah in mind here; and it is by no means certain that Ezekiel fully understood exactly what God was saying. The apostle Peter states categorically in 1 Peter 10-12 that such prophets did not understand the full meaning of their prophecies; and we feel certain this applies especially to Ezekiel in this chapter.
Yes indeed, Zephaniah is a prophecy of the final judgment day; and that passage is supplementary and parallel to this prophecy through Ezekiel in Ezekiel 38-39. If there had been any doubt of it, Eze 38:17-23 make it obvious.
“There shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel …” (Eze 38:19). “Of course, this refers to an actual earthquake, often referred to in both the Old Testament and the New Testament as an invariable accompaniment of the Final Judgment Day (Rev 6:12-17).
“The fishes … the birds … the beasts …” (Eze 38:20). The prophet Zephaniah spoke of the destruction of all of these, along with mankind as a feature of “The Day of Jehovah,” that is the Great and Final Day of God’s judgment of the rebellious and apostate race of Adam (Zep 1:3-5).
“The mountains shall be thrown down, etc. …” (Eze 38:21). See again the passage in Rev 6:12-17.
“With pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him …” (Eze 38:22). This is one of several ways in which God will destroy the whole heathen world (Gog and Magog) at the end of probation for the human family, at which time God will execute his wrath upon evil; and there will be fulfilled and carried out the sentence against Adam and Eve, the parents of all living, which God passed upon them in consequence of their eating of the forbidden tree in Eden. That sentence shall be executed upon Adam and Eve “in the same day they sinned,” namely, the seventh day of Creation, the day that is still going on and has not ended yet. The sentence shall result in the death of Adam and Eve in the person of their total posterity, the sole exceptions being the redeemed of all ages and dispensations “in Jesus Christ.”
“Every man’s sword shall be against his brother …” (Eze 38:21). As Cooke noted, “This refers to a situation as in a panic, such as that in Jdg 7:22. The panic mentioned there, it will be remembered, resulted in the victory of Gideon over the Midianites.
“With pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him …” (Eze 38:22). Medical scientists are striving constantly to deliver mankind from the scourge of all kinds of diseases; but, as any medical doctor knows, there are hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of potential diseases, any one of which could develop in epidemic proportions at any time. Back in the middle of this century, Dr. Hans Victor Reisser, writing in An American Doctor’s Odyssey, very convincingly stressed this potential development of diseases. As soon as Medical science triumphs over one disease, another suddenly appears, as, for example, in the development of AIDS in our own generation. At the proper time, God will call forth just the correct disease for destroying Gog and Magog.
“Hailstones, fire, and brimstone …” (Eze 38:22). These also are usually cited in scripture as appearing in connection with the Final Judgment of Adam’s race (Rev 16:20-21).
“And I shall make myself known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am Jehovah …” (Eze 38:23). This also fits into the Final Judgment scene. See Rev 6:12-17, where the kings, the princes, the chief captains, the rich and the poor, every bondman and every freeman cried for the rocks and the mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. Thirty seconds after the onset of the Eternal Judgment Day, there will remain no more in the whole world, either an agnostic or an infidel.
A Prophecy against Gog – Eze 38:1 to Eze 39:29
Open It
1. What character, historical or fictional, is the personification of evil in your mind?
2. What is your favorite story of the triumph of an underdog?
Explore It
3. To whom was Ezekiel told to address his next prophecy? (Eze 38:1-3)
4. What gathering of the enemies of Israel would be accomplished by God “pulling them together”? (Eze 38:4-6)
5. What great invasion would be plotted by Gog? (Eze 38:7-9)
6. For what purpose would the various nations arrive at an evil scheme? (Eze 38:10-13)
7. Why was God going to allow a great assault on Israel? (Eze 38:14-16)
8. For what response would God be poised when Gog threatened Israel? (Eze 38:18-23)
9. What did God intend to do to the homeland of the aggressors while they fell in battle on the mountains of Israel? (Eze 39:1-6)
10. What is God prepared to defend in the great battle of the nations? (Eze 39:7-8)
11. After Gods intervention in their behalf, what unusual provisions would Israel have for years to come? (Eze 39:9-10)
12. How does Ezekiel describe the magnitude of the death and destruction wrought against the forces of Gog? (Eze 39:11-16)
13. What gory “sacrifice” would the birds and wild beasts have set before them? (Eze 39:17-20)
14. In this demonstration of His glory, what would the nations see and what would Israel understand? (Eze 39:21-22)
15. Why did God want the rest of the nations to be clear on His reasons for turning against Israel in the past? (Eze 39:23-24)
16. What are the various ways in which God will show compassion on His people in the future? (Eze 39:25-29)
Get It
17. Where should the people of God turn for help in times of trouble?
18. Of what nations of the earth is God the Lord?
19. In what way is God the Lord of every nation on earth?
20. What comfort can Gods people take in knowing how God will use evil for His purposes?
21. How should we react if the enemies of God rise up to challenge blessings that He has given to us?
22. Why would the land need to be cleansed after the great battle in which Gog is defeated?
23. In your opinion, of all the blessings promised to Gods people in this prophecy, which is the greatest? Why?
Apply It
24. How can you tell at least one other person this week of the Lords gracious blessings in your life?
25. What frightening evil power in your life or in your world can remind you throughout the week to praise God for His omnipotence?
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
whom: Eze 38:10, Eze 38:11, Eze 38:16, Psa 110:5, Psa 110:6, Isa 27:1, Isa 34:1-6, Isa 63:1-6, Isa 66:15, Isa 66:16, Dan 11:40-45, Joe 3:9-14, Zec 12:2-8, Zec 14:1-21
by: Heb. the hands of
Reciprocal: Exo 14:3 – Pharaoh 2Ki 14:10 – thine heart Psa 139:2 – afar off Isa 25:1 – thy counsels Isa 44:26 – confirmeth Jer 26:5 – my Eze 39:8 – this Rev 17:17 – until
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 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.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 38:17. Art thou he? This would be better translated, Art thou not he? a sense which the Hebrew particle of interrogation often imports; of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets It is doubtful by what prophets God foretold the irruption of Gog; but though nothing of this kind be found in the prophets that remain, it is enough that Ezekiel did not first foretel these things. Many of the sacred pages are lost, which might probably be extant when Ezekiel delivered this prophecy. Houbigant. The expressions here used, of old time, and which prophesied in those days, many years, plainly imply that there was to be a succession of many ages between the publishing of these prophecies, and this event foretold by them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
38:17 Thus saith the Lord GOD; [Art] thou he of whom I have spoken of old {m} by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days [many] years that I would bring thee against them?
(m) By this he declares that no affliction can come to the Church of which they have not been advertised before to teach them to endure all things with more patience when they know that God has so ordained.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Yahweh’s judgment of the enemy 38:17-23
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
The Lord asked rhetorically if it was Gog about whom He had spoken through His other servants the prophets many years earlier. "Are you he of whom the prophets spoke?" Yes, he was. This was not the first revelation of a powerful enemy whom God would bring against the Israelites (cf. Deu 31:17; Psa 2:1-3; Isa 14:24-25; Isa 26:20-21; Isa 29:1-8; Jer 4:5; Jer 6:26; Jer 30:18-24; Joe 2:20; Joe 3:9-21; Zep 1:14-18; Zep 3:8; Zep 3:15-20; Zec 12:2-3; Zec 14:2).