Eze 38:10

Shall things come into thy mind?

The Prince of Meshech; or, thought and sterling character

There is much mystery about the Prince of Meshech. Anyhow, there was much terror spread by him and his people when they overran Israel. Malicious intentions were fostered by the prince. Many things came into his mind, and among them a special evil thought. His intention was to go up against the defenceless, to take a spoil and to take a prey. God rebuked him and threatened that Divine fury should come in his face. Evil thoughts reveal our characters and bring Divine condemnation. God looks at the thoughts, and measures the man by his thoughts. All men have a character of some sort. It is something that attaches itself to us as closely as our shadow. We cannot separate ourselves from the one any more than from the other. The general tone of the thoughts determines the real character, whether of the Prince of Meshech or a peasant of the mountains.

I. The constituents of a really sterling character.

1. In a man of real worth there will be transparency of life. He will be easily seen through,–not in the sense of being detected, but of being so upright that there shall be nothing wrong to detect. Some only pretend to be transparent, like the cobwebbed, unwashed, dust-covered window, opening into some close alley. These affect an openness of life, and yield to practices of which it would be a shame to speak. Others are transparent, because pure; and are like the beautiful rose window in the Cathedral at Amiens, where there is such a charming combination of colours that even the suns rays passing through it are tinged with a brighter glory.

2. In the man of sterling character there will be a ready recognition of the supremacy of conscience. Too many have double consciences, one for church life, the other for commerce; one for the sanctuary, the other for the shop and the counting house. They forget that that which they approve in the one must be carried out in the other. If they have principles, let them cling to them; if they claim to be men of sterling worth, let them bow ever before conscience.

3. In the man of sterling character there must ever be a recognition of the value, and the actual possession of real piety. Morality apart from reverence for God is self-glory. It may even produce pride. Pride generally takes up its abode where piety is not enshrined. Pride hides from us our real state in Gods sight. Pride hinders from the acceptance of the Gospel of love and mercy.

4. The man of sterling character must love truth and purity for their own sake. To be good because it brings gain, or pious because it pays, or religious because it is respectable, is hypocrisy. There are inseparable advantages attaching to the possession of good character. Solomon said, A good name is better than precious ointment. The Divine approval will be followed by mens approval, and in this the reward of character will come. But apart from this, we should seek to be true, noble, and pious, for the sake of goodness and truth itself.

II. The way in which true piety of character may be obtained. The desired possession will not be obtained as by some lucky stroke of business. It must grow. To obtain it among our fellows is easy when we deserve it. A steady course of uprightness and purity will bring it. We must not be spasmodic in our goodness. We must watch little things, avoid habits that offend in the slightest degree. Getting rid of these things, we must retain our individuality. We must not measure ourselves by other persons, and think because we live just after the same manner, and on the same moral plane as some others, that therefore we are good enough. There are higher possibilities in the nature of each. There is room for, and should be enthusiasm–enthusiasm for the truth, for the welfare of humanity, for the glory of God our Father, and of Christ our Saviour. The Prince of Meshech had those around him who were ready to approve his dastardly intention, when he said, I will go up, etc. The mind is coloured by the thoughts and sayings of those surrounding us, even as the lake is blue or greyish according to the qualities of the mountains down the sides of which the streams and torrents flow that fill it. How important then that we should seek to associate chiefly with Christians, and ever keep ourselves surrounded by Christian influences. There is a Persian fable which tells us that a man one day picked up a piece of scented clay, and said to it, What are you; are you musk? No, I am only a poor piece of clay, but I have been near a beautiful rose, and it has given me its own sweet smell. Keep, therefore, in the society of the good, and live as near as possible to Christ, and then you will gain such purity and nobility of nature that the world will take knowledge of you that you have been with Him. Let me say that we should beware of seeking to build up character in our own strength. Christs example, Christs sacrifice, Christs pardon, Christs help, Christs love, Christ Himself, in the fulness of His power, these form the only true and safe foundation. (F. Hastings, M. A.)

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Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 10. Shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought] Antiochus purposed to invade and destroy Egypt, as well as Judea; see Da 11:31-32; Da 11:36. This Calmet interprets of Cambyses, his cruelties in Egypt, and his evil design to destroy the Israelites.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

At the same time that the people are gathered together, settling in peace, before they have secured themselves, much like the dragon waiting on the child-bearing woman with purpose to devour her child.

Things come into thy mind; projects or designs for mischief, as appears Eze 38:11.

Thou shalt think an evil thought; and these mischievous thoughts thou shalt so manage, as to forecast how they may, and to set on the execution till they do, take effect. If Antiochus Epiphanes be this Gag, Daniel, in Eze 11:24,25, foretells the like thing of him against Egypt.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

10. an evil thoughtas toattacking God’s people in their defenseless state.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

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, and which come to pass accordingly: it is now above two thousand years ago since this was said, and as yet is not fulfilled, but certainly will be: that

at the same time shall things come into thy mind; when the Jews shall be in their own land, dwelling in great security; and when Gog or the Turk shall make preparation to disturb them, and shall enter into their land suddenly and furiously; many thoughts shall come into his mind, many schemes and devices, but not good ones:

and thou shall think an evil thought; to do mischief to the Jews; to disturb their peace, to dispossess them of their land, and plunder their substance.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Account of the motive by which Gog was induced to undertake his warlike expedition, and incurred guilt, notwithstanding the fact that he was led by God, and in consequence of which he brought upon himself the judgment of destruction that was about to fall upon him. – Eze 38:10. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, It shall come to pass in that day, that things will come up in thy heart, and thou wilt devise an evil design, Eze 38:11. And say, I will go up into the open country, I will come upon the peaceful ones, who are all dwelling in safety, who dwell without walls, and have not bars and gates, Eze 38:12. To take plunder and to gather spoil, to bring back thy hand against the ruins that are inhabited again, and against a people gathered out of the nations, carrying on trade and commerce, who dwell on the navel of the earth. Eze 38:13. Sabaea and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, and all her young lions, will say to thee, Dost thou come to take plunder? Hast thou gathered thy multitude of people to take spoil? Is it to carry away gold and silver, to take possession and gain, to plunder a great spoil? Eze 38:14. Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Is it not so? On that day, when my people Israel dwelleth in security, thou wilt observe it, Eze 38:15. And come from thy place from the extreme north, thou and many peoples with thee, all riding upon horses, a great crowd and a numerous army, Eze 38:16. And wilt march against my people Israel, to cover the land like a cloud; at the end of the days it will take place; then shall I lead thee against my land, that the nations may know me, when I sanctify myself upon thee before their eyes, O Gog. – In Eze 38:10 are not words, but things which come into his mind. What things these are, we learn from Eze 38:11 and Eze 38:12; but first of all, these things are described as evil thoughts or designs. Gog resolves to fall upon Israel, now living in peace and security, and dwelling in open unfortified places, and to rob and plunder it. , literally, land of plains, i.e., a land which has no fortified towns, but only places lying quite exposed (see the comm. on Zec 2:8); because its inhabitants are living in undisturbed peace and safe repose, and therefore dwell in places that have no walls with gates and bars (cf. Jdg 18:7; Jer 49:31). This description of Israel’s mode of life also points beyond the times succeeding the Babylonian captivity to the Messianic days, when the Lord will have destroyed the horses and war-chariots and fortresses (Mic 5:9), and Jerusalem will be inhabited as an open country because of the multitude of the men and cattle, and the Lord will be a wall of fire round about her (Zec 2:8-9). For Eze 38:12, compare Isa 10:6. is not dependent upon , like the preceding infinitives, but is subordinate to : “thou sayest, I will go up…to turn thy hand.” , to bring back, is to be explained from the fact that the heathen had already at an earlier period turned their hand against the towns of Israel, and plundered their possessions and goods. in this connection are desolate places which are inhabited again, and therefore have been rebuilt (cf. Eze 12:20; Eze 26:19). and are synonyms; and does not mean flocks or herds, but gain, possession (cf. Gen 36:6; Gen 31:18; Gen 34:23). One motive of Gog for making the attack was to be found in the possessions of Israel; a second is given in the words: who dwell upon the navel of the earth. This figurative expression is to be explained from Eze 5:5: “Jerusalem in the midst of the nations.” This navel is not a figure denoting the high land, but signifies the land situated in the middle of the earth, and therefore the land most glorious and most richly blessed; so that they who dwell there occupy the most exalted position among the nations. A covetous desire for the possessions of the people of God, and envy at his exalted position in the centre of the world, are therefore the motives by which Gog is impelled to enter upon his predatory expedition against the people living in the depth of peace. This covetousness is so great, that even the rich trading populations of Sabaea, Dedan, and Tarshish (cf. Eze 27:22, Eze 27:20, and Eze 27:12) perceive it, and declare that it is this alone which has determined Gog to undertake his expedition. The words of these peoples (Eze 38:13) are not to be taken as expressing their sympathies (Kliefoth), but serve to give prominence to the obvious thirst for booty which characterizes the multitude led by Gog. , their young lions, are the rapacious rulers of these trading communities, according to Eze 19:3 and Eze 32:2. – Eze 38:14 introduces the announcement of the punishment, which consists of another summary account of the daring enterprise of Gog and his hosts (cf. Eze 38:14, Eze 38:15, and Eze 38:16 with Eze 38:4-9), and a clear statement of the design of God in leading him against His people and land. (Eze 38:14, close), of which different renderings have been given, does not mean, thou wilt experience, or be aware of, the punishment; but the object is to be taken from the context: thou wilt know, or perceive, sc. that Israel dwells securely, not expecting any hostile invasion. The rendering of the lxx ( ) does not furnish any satisfactory ground for altering into = (Ewald, Hitzig). With the words ‘ ( Eze 38:16) the opening thought of the whole picture ( Eze 38:4) is resumed and defined with greater precision, for the purpose of attaching to it the declaration of the design of the Lord in bringing Gog, namely, to sanctify Himself upon him before the eyes of the nations (cf. Eze 38:23 and Eze 36:23).

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

(10) Think an evil thought.In Eze. 38:10-14 the motives of Gog in his attack upon Israel are fully exposed. It is to be remembered that in Eze. 38:4, and again in Eze. 38:16, the leading of this foe against the Church is represented as Gods own act; here it is explained that God did this by allowing him to follow out the devices of his own heart.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

“Thus says the Lord Yahweh, It will come about in that day that things will come to your mind, and you will devise an evil device, and you will say, ‘I will go up to the land of unwalled villages, I will go to those who are at rest (quiet), who dwell securely all of them, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, to take the spoil and to take the prey’, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered out of the nations, who have obtained for themselves cattle and goods, who dwell in the navel of the earth.”

The thought is expanding. The approaching hordes have descended on what they see as a defenceless land to ‘take the spoil, to take the prey’. The king of Persia may well have seen his journey southwards against Egypt as a suitable time for collecting tribute. But the devising of an evil device by this evil, mysterious king, may also be seen as bringing to mind the deceitfulness of Satan. He too is constantly thought of as a crafty deceiver in all his forms (Gen 3:1; Gen 3:13 ; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14; 2Co 2:11; Eph 4:14; Eph 6:11; Joh 8:44). There is something especially evil about all this. For the people are not in a position to defend themselves or aware of the threat that is coming. They are so confident in God and so at rest that they have not built up defences. They have not seen the need.

‘The land of unwalled villages.’ Prior to the building of the walls of Jerusalem by Nehemiah, this was an apt description of Judah. It was defenceless. But it may also be seen as an apt picture of the church of Jesus Christ, surrounded by the world. It may also be seen as a picture of final perfection when Yahweh will provide all the protection that is needed (see Zec 2:4-5). This is a ‘land’ of people who did not look for war or attack. They were gathered out of the nations, they had prospered, they had made fruitfulness out of waste conditions, and they dwelt in the navel of the earth, the very lifespring of the world. The navel was seen as the source of the life force (Job 40:16).

It is a splendid picture of the new Israel, the church, who had responded to the Messiah, had turned from wasted lives to full fruitfulness, and lived out their lives before Him under the Kingly Rule of God, seemingly safe from the dark forces. Their citizenship was in Heaven (Php 3:20), and they dwelt in heavenly places (Eph 2:6), transferred to the kingdom of His Beloved Son (Col 1:13). But they were in the world even though they were not of it. And they were outwardly to become a spoil and a prey to these evil forces. As Paul would later declare, ‘we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places’ (Eph 6:12).

‘Who have obtained for themselves cattle and goods.’ Prior to the time of Nehemiah the new people of Judah my well have begun to prosper. Whilst under the hand of God the righteous have also prospered and this has here caused the jealousy of Gog and the nations.

‘The navel of the earth.’ The Rabbis seized on this expression and utilised it, considering that it referred to Jerusalem, but Jerusalem is not mentioned here. The conception has more spiritual implications indicating the special position of these people, the new people of God, as the centre of the world and having the life of God. The navel was seen as the source of the life force (Job 40:16).

We must recognise that Ezekiel was probably himself thinking of the land of Israel as the site of all this. How could he see what we have seen and what lay ahead? He could not. And we should recognise that in a sense the dark forces did gather against restored Israel (Zec 3:1-2). But we should also see that God is intent on revealing an idea here, couched in earthly but apocalyptic language, in terms of the new Israel, the church of Jesus the Messiah, founded in Him, with each person in it born again, and each resting in Him, but under constant pressure from the dark enemy (Eph 6:12).

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

The Sentence of Destruction upon Gog

v. 10. Thus saith the Lord God, It shall also come to pass that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, wicked counsels aganist the people of God, and thou shalt think an evil thought, proposing a plan to attack the children of the Lord in their apparently defenseless state,

v. 11. and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages, for the people of God seem to the enemies to be occupying dwelling-places that are not fortified; I will go to them that are at rest, quietly, seemingly without apprehending any danger, that dwell safely, as though secure from every enemy, all of them dwelling without walls and having neither bars nor gates, depending upon the fact that the Lord Himself is their Tower of defense,

v. 12. to take a spoil and to take a prey, the Hebrew text, at this point, showing a fine play on words which emphasize the grasping nature of the enemies, to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, the many congregations that would be assembled in Messianic times, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, the picture of the restoration being still employed, which have gotten cattle and goods and dwell in the midst of the land, literally, “upon the navel of the earth,” in an elevated and fruitful country.

v. 13. Sheba, or Arabia Felix, and Dedan, Arabian merchant tribes, and the merchants of Tarshish, of Tartessus in Spain, with all the young lions therof, the trading nations known for their covetousness, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? Hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? That is what the enemies of the Lord constantly have in mind: to bring harm and destruction upon the congregations of the Lord’s Church, to deprive them of the blessings which the Lord gave them.

v. 14. Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, to the aggregation of all the enemies of the Lord and of His holy Church, Thus saith the Lord God, the supreme Ruler of the universe, In that day when My people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? The enemies would indeed find out that the merchant nations had spoken truly, that the spiritual Israel was open to spoil and robbery.

v. 15. And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou and many people with thee, as described in the first part of the chapter, all of them riding upon horses, a great company and a mighty army;

v. 16. and thou shalt come up against My people of Israel, in an attack intended to overthrow the power of the Church, as a cloud to cover the land,

v. 9. ; it shall be in the latter days, in the Messianic era and in that particular period preceding the Last Judgment, and I will bring thee against My land, the Lord expressly permitting this attack upon His children, that the heathen may know Me when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes, for the judgment of the Lord in the overthrow of the enemies of His Church will reveal His almighty power to all men, as He also said to Pharaoh. Cf Exo 9:16.

v. 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? It is a most emphatic way of affirming that the attack of the forces of unbelief was not unexpected, but was altogether in line with various statements of earlier prophets concerning the day of Jehovah’s judgment upon the heathen. Cf Isa 25:5-10; Isa 26:21; Jer 30:23-24.

v. 18. And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, at the time of the last great apostasy, saith the Lord God, that My fury shall come up in My face, as in the heavy breathing of an angry person.

v. 19. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking, a mighty quaking, in the land of Israel, wherever His spiritual children are living in the assembly of the saints,

v. 20. so that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, 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, as He appears for His great Judgment, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places, the cliffs, shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground, everything that rose up in opposition to the Lord,

v. 21. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all My mountains, saith the Lord God, so that the enemy would be overthrown in the Lord’s specific domain, in the Church into which he has presumed to penetrate; every man’s sword shall be against his brother, so that the enemies would really conquer themselves.

v. 22. And I will plead against him with pestilence, the second great scourge of war, and with blood, the description in this verse being reminiscent of the plagues of Egypt; and I will rain upon him and upon his bands and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, as in a mighty cloudburst, sweeping everything before it, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone, as in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

v. 23. Thus will I magnify Myself, proving His greatness and His power, and sanctify Myself, for in the final analysis all this would redound to the glory of his holy name; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord. While it is true that the enemies of the Church are mighty and terrible, it remains true, on the other hand, that the Lord of the Church is far mightier and will eventually overthrow all the hosts that try to break and hinder This gracious and good will on earth.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

It will not militate against may humble thoughts on the foregoing verses, to suppose, that the Lord is speaking here of his people and of the enemies of Israel in the former. The transition from one to another, and that suddenly made, is not uncommon in the sacred writings. The presumptuous boast of the enemies of God is strongly expressed. We have a similar passage, Exo 15:9 . There is a great beauty in the expression, unwalled villages, in allusion to the Lord’s Israel. For the Church of Jesus, though the perfection of beauty, and joy of the whole earth, is in the eyes of the heathen, but a poor contemptible village. Is this Zion (say they) whom no man looked after, and none regarded? Nevertheless, Jerusalem though unwalled, and having no frontiers, no garrisons, no fortress, yet was in herself invulnerable, because the Lord himself was her wall of fire round about, and glory in the midst. Psa 48:2 ; Isa 33:21-22 . What is said in this passage, concerning Judea, as in the midst of the land; (or as the margin of our old Bibles very properly hath it, the navel of the land,) may serve to teach us the vast propriety of the Lord Jesus making his appearance in substance of our flesh, when he came to redeem our nature in this centre of the world. For as all Geographers, both ancient and modern, have shown, the holy land is the navel, that is, the middle of the whole earth. Thus, therefore, by the Lord’s appearing in the centre, it meant to show, that like the Sun at mid-day, whose rays of light extend in every direction, to illumine the whole hemisphere; so the Lord Jesus Christ, in his blessed influence, reached both East and West, and North, and South. The Reader of gracious views will, I am sure, forgive me if I add, that in a yet higher view we may consider the subject, and behold Christ as the centre or middle person of the Godhead, thus standing between the person of the Father, and of the Holy Ghost. For here Christ is as the land of unwalled villages, in whom his people rest; and to whom there is no obstruction to approach. He is indeed the centre of the whole Church on earth, and the centre of all glory in heaven, for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and his people, his Church, are complete in him, Col 2:9-10 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Eze 38:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, [that] at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:

Ver. 10. Things shall come into thy mind. ] Ascendent verba super cor tuum. Thou shalt machinate mischief, but it shall fall on thine own pate. Oh pray, pray, said a holy man once, Pontifex enim Romanus et Concilium Tridentinum mira moliuntur, for the Pope and his Council of Trent are hatching strange businesses.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eze 38:10-13

10’Thus says the Lord GOD, It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan, 11and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, 12to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.’ 13Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will say to you, ‘Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?”

Eze 38:10-13 YHWH allows the evil greed of fallen humanity to gain control of the leaders of this northern army.

Is this literal? Is this future? John uses this scenario in Revelation 20 for a rebellion at the close of the golden age (i.e., millennium). Does YHWH need to be vindicated in history beyond the Second Coming of Christ? My study of the genre of prophecy and apocalyptic and my NT understanding tends to relegate this type of OT passage to symbolism and metaphor of God’s total defeat of evil, accomplished at the cross, the empty tomb, and the second coming!

Eze 38:12

NASB, NRSVat the center of the world

NKJVin the midst of the land

TEVat the crossroads of the world

NJBat the navel of the world

The Hebrew term translated center (BDB 371, KB 367) can mean highest point or central. The second term world (BDB 75) can mean land or world. This refers either to

1. Palestine’s geographical position as the only land connection between the powers of the Nile and the Tigris/Euphrates (cf. Eze 5:5; TEV)

2. the people living in the hill country (NKJV)

3. Palestine as the special location of God’s covenant people who are so special to Him (NJB). In Summerian/Babylonian mythology the temple in Nippur was the site where Enlil cut the navel cord that united heaven and earth (NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 333).

Eze 38:13 Sheba and Dedan These were brothers listed in Gen 10:7. They are connected to Arabia and the trade routes (cf. Eze 27:20; Isa 21:13). That is why they are linked to Edom in Eze 25:13; Jer 49:8.

Tarshish See note at Eze 27:25.

Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley

things = words, or matters.

think an evil thought = devise a mischievous device. Compare Dan 11:44, Dan 11:45.

evil. Hebrew. ra`a` App-44.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Eze 38:10-16

Eze 38:10-16

“Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: It shall come to pass in that day, that things shall come into thy mind, and thou shalt devise an evil device: and shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages, I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates; to take the spoil and to take the prey, to turn thy hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and against the people that are gathered out of the nations, that have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the middle of the earth. Sheba, and Dealart, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take the spoil? hast thou assembled thy company to take the prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take great prey? Therefore, Son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah; In that day when my people Israel dwelleth securely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the uttermost parts of the north, thou, and many peoples with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: and thou shalt come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring thee against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.”

THE MOTIVATION FOR GOG’S ATTACK (Eze 38:10-16)

At this point, we should inquire as to the reason why God desired that Satan through Gog and associates should come up against his people; and the reasons are clear enough as stated in this paragraph. God’s people had allowed themselves to become defenseless. They were without walls, gates, bars, or any other means of protection. This has no reference whatever to earthly fortifications. What is meant is that the church has left off the whole armor of God, They have forsaken the holy doctrines of the Church of Christ; worldliness, licentiousness, drunkenness, and the works of the flesh are freely indulged by them. They no longer believe in a personal God; they do not accept the Holy Bible as God’s Word; they have accepted a New Morality; they propose to be saved by Faith alone; and they have abandoned doing any work at all in the kingdom of God.

“I will go to them that are at rest …” (Eze 38:11). Is resting the work of God’s church on earth? No! His people are not fighting the good fight of faith; they are not working in the vineyard of the Lord; they are not preaching the gospel to the whole creation; they have forgotten the admonition of the Lord who said, “Work for the night is coming when no man can work.” On no! They are at rest!

“The spoil … silver, gold … cattle and goods … the prey … the great spoil …” (Eze 38:12-13). Notice the abundant use of this type of terminology in this paragraph. It is not hard to see what has aroused the cupidity, the avarice, and the jealous greed of the heathen. The so-called Christian world is the most affluent, the richest, wealthiest and most blessed of all the inhabited earth; but the Christians have lavished it all upon their own comforts, convenience, and luxurious preferences instead of evangelizing the world with it, as God commanded.

Thus, the three reasons why God announced in this prophecy that he would bring upon them Gog and Magog are:

(1) they have forsaken God’s Word which alone was their defense;

(2) they are doing nothing for God, but merely resting in ease and luxury, and

(3) they have grown wealthy and complacent. Anyone who is familiar with the religious picture in America today can hardly miss seeing this.

“That dwell in the middle of the earth …” (Eze 38:12). The literal Hebrew here has “the navel of the earth.” The ancients thought that the middle part of the earth was naturally the best part of it. Not merely Israel, but other nations also claimed the same location for their land.

“Things shall come into thy mind …” (Eze 38:10). “We learn in Eze 38:12-13 what those evil designs were. Gog would behold the defenseless church, their incomparable wealth, their idleness and complacency in God’s service; and he proposed to go into the land (a metaphor for entering the Church), to rob and plunder it; and did he do it!

Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary

that at: Psa 83:3, Psa 83:4, Psa 139:2, Pro 19:21, Isa 10:7, Mar 7:21, Joh 13:2, Act 5:3, Act 5:9, Act 8:22, 1Co 4:5

think an evil thought: or, conceive a mischievous purpose, Psa 36:4, Pro 6:14, Pro 6:18, Pro 12:2, Mic 2:1

Reciprocal: Exo 14:3 – Pharaoh Num 20:12 – sanctify Deu 31:21 – I know Jdg 4:7 – And I 1Ch 28:9 – the imaginations Job 42:2 – no Psa 28:4 – and Psa 33:11 – The counsel Psa 49:11 – Their inward Pro 24:8 – General Ecc 1:16 – communed Isa 54:17 – weapon Isa 66:18 – their thoughts Jer 19:5 – neither Eze 11:5 – for Eze 20:32 – that which Eze 38:17 – whom Dan 2:29 – came into thy mind Dan 11:24 – forecast his devices Nah 1:9 – do Mat 2:7 – General Mat 9:4 – Wherefore Mar 2:8 – Why Luk 5:22 – perceived Act 5:4 – why 1Th 5:9 – not Rev 17:13 – shall

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Eze 38:10. The movements of this band of heathen from the north will

not be from a sudden impulse, but will be tbe result of things come into t.hy mind; will be deliberate.

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary

Eze 38:10-13. It shall come to pass at the same time The time when my people are gathered together, settled in peace in their own land, and think themselves secure; shall things come into thy mind Mischievous things; and thou shalt think an evil thought Shalt entertain a malicious design for the destruction of my people. And thou shalt say Wilt resolve in thyself; I will go up I will invade with all my forces; the land of unwalled villages A people weak, and destitute of any considerable defences. To them that are at rest Who would willingly be quiet, and suspect as little evil from others as they intend against others, and who trust in the protection of their God, who hath promised they shall dwell safely. Dwelling without walls, &c. That is, having no sufficient fortifications to defend them against the force of an enemy. To take a spoil, &c. With the thoughts of taking a large spoil without any difficulty. To turn thy hand upon the desolate places To go against, or fall upon, a country which had lain a long time desolate, but which has been peopled again, and come into a flourishing condition. Judea is very plainly marked out by this land, which Gog is here represented as designing to attack, because it lay open to be invaded. That dwell in the midst of the land Hebrew, in the navel of the land, that is, in Jerusalem, which stood nearly in the middle of Judea, and was situate upon a rising ground, which the Hebrew metaphorically expresses by the navel. Sheba and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish These were people that traded much, the two former dwelling in the east, and the merchants of Tarshish often sailing from the Spanish coasts into the eastern parts, as having commerce with Tyre, which bordered upon Judea. These merchants, as soon as they heard of this intended invasion, came into Gogs camp as to a market, to buy both persons and goods which should come into the conquerors power.

With all the young lions thereof Their kings and princes, as the Targum understands it; or their chief merchants, who are described as so many princes, (Isa 23:8,) and are called lions because of the injustice and oppression they too commonly practised in their commerce.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

38:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, [that] at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an {f} evil thought:

(f) That is, to molest and destroy the Church.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes

The enemy’s intention 38:10-13

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)

At that time Gog would devise an evil plan against the Israelites. He would plan to invade the Israelites while they are at rest and plunder them. Israel would seem to be completely defenseless relying on her God to protect her and not fortifying herself. Israel has never in her past or present history enjoyed such an ideally peaceful situation. She would be living then at the center of the world as far as God’s purposes for the world are concerned (cf. Eze 5:5; Deu 32:8), namely, the Promised Land.

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)