Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 38:22
And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
22. I will plead ] i.e. contend. Jehovah’s pleadings are often great acts of judgment, Isa 66:16; Jer 25:31. Cf. Eze 5:17; Eze 14:19; Isa 29:6; Isa 30:30; Psa 11:6, for similar judgments.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 22. Great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.] These are probably figurative expressions, to signify that the whole tide of the war should be against him, and that his defeat and slaughter should be great. Abp. Newcome supposes all the above prophecy remains yet to be fulfilled. Where such eminent scribes are divided, who shall decide!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I will plead, as judge and avenger, and in most dreadful manner, whether you take the words figuratively or literally. I slew others, Sennacheribs army, by pestilence, probably this was the angels sword; others, as Ammon, Moab, Mount Seir, with blood by their own swords; the Amorites with hailstones, Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone, the old world with an overflowing flood. Each single was dreadful, but all meet in the destruction of Gog to make it most terrible. Whether these things are enigmatical or literal, I will not determine, but I am sure they tell us how great the final ruin of the enemies of God and his church shall be.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
22. pleada forensic term;because God in His inflictions acts on the principles of His ownimmutable justice, not by arbitrary impulse (Isa 66:16;Jer 25:31).
blood . . . hailstones, fire(Rev 8:7; Rev 16:21).The imagery is taken from the destruction of Sodom and the plagues ofEgypt (compare Ps 11:6).Antiochus died by “pestilence” (2 Maccabees 9:5).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 the Targum; and send a pestilence in his army, which should destroy vast numbers of it; as the army of Sennacherib was destroyed by one when before Jerusalem; and make a great slaughter among them by that and other judgments:
and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain; a horrible tempest of divine wrath, Ps 11:6 as he came into the land of Israel like a storm, so he shall be destroyed by one much more terrible:
and great hailstones; such as were cast upon the Canaanites,
Jos 10:11 and as there will be on men, the enemies of the church of God, at the pouring out of the seventh vial, Re 16:21:
fire and brimstone; as God rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah,
Ge 19:24, signifying that in like manner will God deal with those enemies of his people; so at the battle of Armageddon, which seems to be the same with this here, the beast and the false prophet will be taken alive, and cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone, Re 19:20, and to this rain or tempest of fire and brimstone upon Gog there is an allusion in Re 20:9.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Eze 38:22. Fire, &c. vacish. 3 MSS. Syr. According to this reading we may translate, “And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood: and an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, and fire, and brimstone, will I rain upon him.” Compare Rev 20:8-9 where see Lowman, that the event may be literally fulfilled by a combination of enemies to the Christian name. It is plain, that the extraordinary circumstances mentioned Eze 38:19-22 remain to be accomplished on the future enemies of the Jews, when his people are as a nation reinstated in God’s favour.
REFLECTIONS.1st, Various have been the conjectures concerning Gog and Magog; the former the king, the latter probably the kingdom: and as uncertain are the countries of Meshech and Tubal. Some suppose that they have a particular reference to the ravages of Antiochus, and other enemies of Israel, after their return from their captivity, &c. whilst others interpret them of the later enemies of God’s church, particularly of the Turks and Tartars: (see the Annotations.) Whoever they are, their attempts shall issue in their own confusion, and God will glorify himself in judgment upon them.
1. God resolves to blast their enterprizes, great as their forces are, and terrible as their armament appears; and therefore his people need not fear, however threatening the danger. Note; They who have an omnipotent God for them, need not be concerned who are against them.
2. The confederacy against God’s Israel is strong, and the army furnished with every weapon of war. Persia, Ethiopia, Lybia, Gomer, are auxiliaries; and under the conduct of Gog, their mighty general, as their guard and leader, are bidden, ironically, to prepare for the battle. The armament is directed against the land of Israel, against those who are brought back from the sword, recovered from their dispersion, and now dwelling safely, without fear of evil, without walls or gates, and therefore seem to be an easy prey to the invaders. Not doubting of his success, the neighbouring nations of Sheba and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish shall congratulate Gog on his certain victory, or it may be envying him the spoil that he is about to seize; or, as young lions, desirous to share it with him. Like a rising storm, he threatens to sweep all before him, and, sure of his prey, thinks of nothing but reducing the land to the former desolations from which it has now recovered. Such are the evil thoughts of this proud enemy, which God takes notice of, and for which he will punish him severely. Note; (1.) The beginning of all evil is from within; out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, and they produce wicked works. (2.) They who are most confident of success, are often most fearfully disappointed.
3. Whatever success may at first seem to follow the enemy, the issue will be fatal: after many days thou shalt be visited. Thus Antiochus, though he prevailed far, was at last brought low; and the Ottoman empire, which has arisen to such a height of power, but now begins to totter, will also soon be destroyed.
2nd, The prophesy is repeated to shew the certainty of the event.
1. The enemy shall hear of the peace and plenty that God’s Israel enjoy, and how securely they dwell; and that shall induce him to come up, as secure of success; or, it may signify the vanity of his attempt: God will make him know that no foe can disturb those whom he causeth to dwell in safety. When God therefore brings him up, it is not for spoil, but to be himself for a prey; that the heathen may know the jealousy of the Lord over his people, and be confounded: and in judgment he will be glorified in the destruction of his enemies and theirs. Note; (1.) All must contribute to advance the glory of the divine perfections; even the wicked shall cause his righteousness to be exalted in their sufferings. (2.) He who touches God’s believing people, touches the apple of his eye; and he will avenge their wrongs,
2. God hath of old time foretold the invasion, that his people might not count it strange when it should come in the latter days. Many things, probably, the prophet spoke by divine inspiration, which are not recorded: and by another name the same enemy here spoken of may have been intended, as Deu 32:42. Isa 27:1. Joe 3:1. Note; Into whatever troubles the church may fall, there is effectual security given in the prophetic word for the continuation of the work of God to the end of time.
3. The enemy shall be utterly destroyed: and terrible is the scene of havock here described. God’s indignation rises at this insolent invader of his people, and flames of wrath flash from his eyes; in terrors at his frown the earth trembles; even the birds and beasts, as well as men, affrighted, quake; the mountains and precipices fall, and every fortress is laid in the dust: the swords of this terrible host shall be turned against each other, pestilence shall devour them, and blood in rivers flow; a storm of vengeance shall descend from heaven upon them, as upon Sodom; hailstones, fire and brimstone, and ruin, utter and fearful, shall overtake them. Note; (1.) They who have been a terror to others, God can easily make a terror to themselves. (2.) God cannot want instruments of vengeance: the very sword of his enemies shall turn its point against them when he so ordains, and they shall become their own executioners.
4. God will be glorified in the execution of these his judgments, and will display his power, justice, and truth, to the conviction of many nations, who shall be brought, by what they behold, to acknowledge him the only true God, and to ascribe to him the glory due unto his name.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 38:22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
Ver. 22. An overflowing rain, and great hailstones. ] As once at the general deluge, destruction of Sodom, discomfiture of the kings of Canaan in Joshua’s days. Jos 10:11 Some think that these judgments here threatened shall, towards the end of the world, be executed upon antichrist and his adherents according to the letter. See Rev 16:21 . See Trapp on “ Rev 16:21 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
great hailstones. As in Jos 10:11.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I will plead: Isa 66:16, Jer 25:31, Zec 14:12-15
with pestilence: Eze 5:17
an overflowing: Eze 13:11, Gen 19:24, Exo 9:22-25, Jos 10:11, Psa 11:6, Psa 18:12-14, Psa 77:16-18, Isa 28:17, Isa 29:6, Isa 30:30-33, Mat 7:27, Rev 16:21
Reciprocal: Exo 9:23 – and hail Deu 32:42 – make mine Psa 110:6 – fill Isa 64:2 – to make Eze 14:17 – I bring Eze 14:19 – if I Eze 17:20 – plead Eze 20:35 – and there Eze 28:23 – I will send Eze 36:23 – sanctify Dan 11:45 – he shall come Joe 3:2 – will plead Rev 8:7 – hail Rev 11:19 – and great Rev 19:20 – burning Rev 20:9 – and fire
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 38:22. Such calamities as are described here could be poured out upon Gog and liis associates without disturbing the people o Israel or Palestine in general.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The Lord would shower hailstones, lightning, and burning sulfur, probably from erupting volcanoes, on Gog and his allies (cf. Gen 19:24; Rev 19:21). He would also attack his armies causing bloodshed and disease (cf. Rev 19:15). This would result in great glory for God among the nations (cf. Rev 19:6). They would recognize Him as the only true God when He revealed Himself this way. The Lord had used Nebuchadnezzar as His sword against Israel, but He would wield this sword against Gog Himself.