Ezekiel 38:1-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 38:1-13

The critical expositors have enough to do here to enquire out Gog and Magog. We cannot pretend either to add to their observations or to determine their controversies. Gog seems to be the king and Magog the kingdom; so that Gog and Magog are like Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Some think they find them afar off, in Scythia, Tartary, and Russia. Others think they find them nearer the land of Israel, in Syria, and Asia the Less. Ezekiel is appointed to prophesy against Gog, and to tell him that God... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 38:14-23

This latter part of the chapter is a repetition of the former; the dream is doubled, for the thing is certain and to be very carefully regarded. I. It is here again foretold that this spiteful enemy should make a formidable descent upon the land of Israel (Ezek. 38:15): ?Thou shalt come out of the north parts (Syria lay on the north of Canaan) with a mighty army, shalt come like a cloud, and cover the land of my people Israel,? Ezek. 38:16. These words (Ezek. 38:14), When my people Israel... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 38:1

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 disturbance they should meet with upon it, for a short time, by a powerful enemy hereafter described: saying ; as follows: read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 38:2

Son of man, set thy face against Gog ,.... Of the phrase, "setting the face towards", or "against"; see Gill on 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 F13 Dictionary in the words "Gog" and "Magog". thinks that Cambyses and his army are meant by Gog and Magog, which to mention is enough; and it is the opinion of St. Ambrose F14 "De... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 38:3

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; and his titles are repeated also, to show that all his greatness, grandeur, and power, would not protect him from the vengeance of God. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 38:4

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" F6 שובבתיך "circumducam te", Piscator; "circumagam te", Grotius. ; 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 enterprise of invading the land of Judea; as he put a hook in the nose and a bridle in the lips of the king of Assyria, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 38:5

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 the internal divisions in it; however, it will be confederate with them. Ethiopia or Cush does not design the country of the Abyssines in the dominions of the Great Mogul, but Arabia Chusea,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 38:6

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 F9 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 6. sect. 1. says, who before were from him called Gomarians: others think that Phrygia, and the inhabitants of it, are meant; but, whether one or the other, they were both people of the lesser Asia, which is now in the hands of the Turks: the house of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 38:7

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 his dominions, and made up of his auxiliaries and allies; let them all be furnished with arms, and everything proper for the expedition designed: and be thou a guard unto them ; the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 38:8

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 be punished for all his iniquities, and his punishment or destruction will be brought about in the following manner: in the latter years thou shall come into the land that is brought... read more

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