Ezekiel 39

[Ezekiel 39:1] THEREFORE, THOU SON OF MAN, PROPHESY AGAINST GOG, AND SAY, THUS SAITH THE  LORD GOD; BEHOLD, I AM AGAINST THEE, O GOG, THE CHIEF PRINCE OF MESHECH AND TUBAL:
For the identifications of these peoples see our commentary to the previous chapter.

  [Ezekiel 39:2] AND I WILL TURN THEE BACK, AND LEAVE BUT THE SIXTH PART OF THEE, AND WILL CAUSE  THEE TO COME UP FROM THE NORTH PARTS, AND WILL BRING THEE UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL:
<<AND LEAVE BUT THE SIXTH PART OF THEE>>: Only 1/6 (14-15%) of these
peoples will remain.  The Hebrew however says, veSheshaytechawhich is an
unusual form and some commentators say has another meaning such as, gather in.

   [Ezekiel 39:3] AND I WILL SMITE THY BOW OUT OF THY LEFT HAND, AND WILL CAUSE THINE ARROWS TO FALL OUT OF THY RIGHT HAND.
The prophets spoke in terms that were actualities in their own time and transposed them to the future.

   [Ezekiel 39:4] THOU SHALT FALL UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL, THOU, AND ALL THY BANDS, AND THE PEOPLE THAT IS WITH THEE: I WILL GIVE THEE UNTO THE RAVENOUS BIRDS OF EVERY SORT, AND TO THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD TO BE DEVOURED.
  <<ALL THY BANDS>>: In Hebrew, Agapechah, all your flanks, all those come
up alongside of you, who are with you protecting your sides.
  <<AND THE PEOPLE THAT IS WITH THEE>>: in Hebrew it says, amim, i.e.
peoples in the plural. All the nations that join up with Gog will suffer
the same fate of destruction.

[Ezekiel 39:5] THOU SHALT FALL UPON THE OPEN FIELD: FOR I HAVE SPOKEN IT, SAITH THE LORD GOD.

  [Ezekiel 39:6] AND I WILL SEND A FIRE ON MAGOG, AND AMONG THEM THAT DWELL CARELESSLY IN THE ISLES: AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.
<<IN THE ISLES>>: Japanese?

   [Ezekiel 39:7] SO WILL I MAKE MY HOLY NAME KNOWN IN THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL; AND I WILL NOT LET THEM POLLUTE MY HOLY NAME ANY MORE: AND THE HEATHEN SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE  LORD, THE HOLY ONE IN ISRAEL.
<<I WILL NOT LET THEM POLLUTE MY HOLY NAME ANY MORE>>: The name of the God
of Israel is on the Jewish people. When Jews suffer or the State of Israel
suffers a calamity it is as if the name of the God of Israel is being
defiled. Similarly nowadays even though in our public lives and values the
USA, Britain, Australia, etc deny the values of the Bible in a paradoxical
way in the eyes of the world these nations and their kin still represent
Biblical values. When these nations are less successful than they should be
or suffer disaster then it is as if Biblical values and the cause of
goodness are dishonored. For all our many faults in the eyes of other
peoples we represent the values and honor of the God of the Bible. When
through our sins we do not succeed not only are we punished but through
this punishment we incur extra guilt because we did not sanctify the name
of the God of Israel that is called upon us.
<<AND THE HEATHEN SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE  LORD, THE HOLY ONE IN ISRAEL>>:
The non-Israelite nations will recognize that the God of Israel who spoke
to mankind through the Bible is the One God, Creator of all, who is
actively involved in the affairs of men, rewards the good and punishes the
evil yet always concerns Himself with the fate of HIS people and through
HIS peoples HE makes HIMSELF known. This is what the Bible says. It may not
be consistent with modern notions of international equality but it is the
reality of existence as the Bible tells us.

[Ezekiel 39:8] BEHOLD, IT IS COME, AND IT IS DONE, SAITH THE LORD GOD; THIS IS THE DAY WHEREOF I HAVE SPOKEN.

  [Ezekiel 39:9] AND THEY THAT DWELL IN THE CITIES OF ISRAEL SHALL GO FORTH, AND SHALL SET ON FIRE AND BURN THE WEAPONS, BOTH THE SHIELDS AND THE BUCKLERS, THE BOWS AND THE ARROWS, AND THE HANDSTAVES, AND THE SPEARS, AND THEY SHALL BURN THEM WITH FIRE SEVEN YEARS:

[Ezekiel 39:10] SO THAT THEY SHALL TAKE NO WOOD OUT OF THE FIELD, NEITHER CUT DOWN ANY OUT OF THE FORESTS; FOR THEY SHALL BURN THE WEAPONS WITH FIRE: AND THEY SHALL SPOIL THOSE THAT SPOILED THEM, AND ROB THOSE THAT ROBBED THEM, SAITH THE LORD GOD.
They will not need to use the weaponry for their own defence needs since
there will be no more war in the world. Industries, products, and service
that were once dedicated to warfare will know be converted to productive
causes,
<<AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, THAT THE MOUNTAIN OF THE
LORD'S HOUSE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED IN THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS, AND SHALL BE
EXALTED ABOVE THE HILLS; AND ALL  NATIONS SHALL FLOW UNTO IT.
<< AND MANY PEOPLES SHALL GO AND SAY, COME YE, AND LET US GO UP TO THE
MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD, TO THE HOUSE OF THE GOD OF JACOB; AND HE WILL TEACH
US OF HIS WAYS, AND WE WILL WALK IN HIS PATHS: FOR OUT OF ZION SHALL GO
FORTH THE LAW, AND THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM JERUSALEM.
<< AND HE SHALL JUDGE AMONG THE NATIONS, AND SHALL REBUKE MANY PEOPLE: AND
THEY SHALL BEAT THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES, AND THEIR SPEARS INTO
PRUNINGHOOKS: NATION SHALL NOT LIFT UP SWORD AGAINST NATION, NEITHER SHALL
THEY LEARN WAR ANY MORE>> [Isaiah 2:2-4].

<<AND MANY NATIONS SHALL COME, AND SAY, COME, AND LET US GO UP TO THE
MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD, AND TO THE HOUSE OF THE GOD OF JACOB; AND HE WILL
TEACH US OF HIS WAYS, AND WE WILL WALK IN HIS PATHS:
FOR THE LAW SHALL GO FORTH OF ZION, AND THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM
JERUSALEM.
<<AND HE SHALL JUDGE AMONG MANY PEOPLE, AND REBUKE STRONG NATIONS AFAR OFF;
AND THEY SHALL BEAT THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES, AND THEIR SPEARS INTO
PRUNINGHOOKS: NATION SHALL NOT LIFT  UP A SWORD AGAINST NATION, NEITHER
SHALL THEY LEARN WAR ANY MORE>> [Micah 4:2-3].

   [Ezekiel 39:11] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT I WILL GIVE UNTO GOG A PLACE THERE OF GRAVES IN ISRAEL, THE VALLEY OF THE PASSENGERS ON THE EAST OF THE SEA: AND IT SHALL STOP THE NOSES OF THE PASSENGERS: AND THERE SHALL THEY BURY GOG AND ALL HIS MULTITUDE: AND THEY SHALL CALL IT THE VALLEY OF HAMONGOG.
<<ON THE EAST OF THE SEA>>: The place of the burial of the hosts of Gog is
unknown. Some say it will be on the eastern shores of the Sea of Galilee,
others say east of the Dead Sea.
<<HAMONGOG>>: i.e. The multitude [HAMON] of GOG.

   [Ezekiel 39:12] AND SEVEN MONTHS SHALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL BE BURYING OF THEM, THAT THEY MAY CLEANSE THE LAND.
The people of Israel will engage in a national mission to bury all the dead
bodies of the host of Gog. This will take seven months. Even when the seven
months are over there will still remain unburied bodies scattered around
and so full-time workers will be appointed to patrol the land and bring to
burial any bodies they find.

   [Ezekiel 39:13] YEA, ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND SHALL BURY THEM; AND IT SHALL BE TO THEM A RENOWN THE DAY THAT I SHALL BE GLORIFIED, SAITH THE LORD GOD.

[Ezekiel 39:14] AND THEY SHALL SEVER OUT MEN OF CONTINUAL EMPLOYMENT, PASSING THROUGH THE LAND TO BURY WITH THE PASSENGERS THOSE THAT REMAIN UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, TO CLEANSE IT:  AFTER THE END OF SEVEN MONTHS SHALL THEY SEARCH.
<<OF CONTINUAL EMPLOYMENT>>: This will be their profession, to seek out
corpses left over from the hosts of Gog and bury them.

  [Ezekiel 39:15] AND THE PASSENGERS THAT PASS THROUGH THE LAND, WHEN ANY SEETH A MAN'S BONE, THEN SHALL HE SET UP A SIGN BY IT, TILL THE BURIERS HAVE BURIED IT IN THE VALLEY OF HAMONGOG.

  [Ezekiel 39:16] AND ALSO THE NAME OF THE CITY SHALL BE HAMONAH. THUS SHALL THEY CLEANSE THE LAND.
Unburied bodies or human corpses that are treated with disrespect pollute
the country. Likewise bad behavior does not affect only the people
practicing it but also everybody else.

  [Ezekiel 39:17] AND, THOU SON OF MAN, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; SPEAK UNTO EVERY FEATHERED FOWL, AND TO EVERY BEAST OF THE FIELD, ASSEMBLE YOURSELVES, AND COME; GATHER YOURSELVES ON EVERY SIDE TO MY SACRIFICE THAT I DO SACRIFICE FOR YOU, EVEN A GREAT SACRIFICE UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL, THAT YE MAY EAT FLESH, AND DRINK BLOOD.

   [Ezekiel 39:18] YE SHALL EAT THE FLESH OF THE MIGHTY, AND DRINK THE BLOOD OF THE PRINCES OF THE EARTH, OF RAMS, OF LAMBS, AND OF GOATS, OF BULLOCKS, ALL OF THEM FATLINGS OF BASHAN.

  [Ezekiel 39:19] AND YE SHALL EAT FAT TILL YE BE FULL, AND DRINK BLOOD TILL YE BE DRUNKEN, OF MY SACRIFICE WHICH I HAVE SACRIFICED FOR YOU.

  [Ezekiel 39:20] THUS YE SHALL BE FILLED AT MY TABLE WITH HORSES AND CHARIOTS, WITH MIGHTY MEN, AND WITH ALL MEN OF WAR, SAITH THE LORD GOD.

   [Ezekiel 39:21] AND I WILL SET MY GLORY AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND ALL THE HEATHEN SHALL SEE MY JUDGMENT THAT I HAVE EXECUTED, AND MY HAND THAT I HAVE LAID UPON THEM.

[Ezekiel 39:22] SO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD THEIR GOD FROM THAT DAY AND FORWARD.
 From then on the House of Israel will know that God is their ruler and will aknowledge Him.

  [Ezekiel 39:23] AND THE HEATHEN SHALL KNOW THAT THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WENT INTO CAPTIVITY FOR THEIR INIQUITY: BECAUSE THEY TRESPASSED AGAINST ME, THEREFORE HID I MY FACE FROM THEM, AND GAVE THEM INTO THE HAND OF THEIR ENEMIES: SO FELL THEY ALL BY THE SWORD.
  <<WENT INTO CAPTIVITY FOR THEIR INIQUITY>>: Is this referring to the
captivity of the past? Or will there be a new captivity? The disgrace and
defeat of Israelite peoples is interpreted by non-Israelite nations as a
justification for their not acknowledging the god of the Bible. The Moslems
have some kind of belief in One God but not really in the God of the Bible.

   [Ezekiel 39:24] ACCORDING TO THEIR UNCLEANNESS AND ACCORDING TO THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS HAVE I DONE UNTO THEM, AND HID MY FACE FROM THEM.

  [Ezekiel 39:25] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; NOW WILL I BRING AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF JACOB, AND HAVE MERCY UPON THE WHOLE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND WILL BE JEALOUS FOR MY HOLY NAME;
These verses appear to support the opinion of those who believe that the
wars of Gog and Magog and all the final wars of the End Times described in
the Bible are all referring to the same events. We understood them until
now to be referring to separate events that unfold in stages.  There is an
opinion that Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 are speaking of separate events and
that the prophecies concerning Gog and Magog deal with three separate
events. Our aim in this commentary is mainly just to obtain an overall
concept of the simple meaning with some emphasis on matters that facilitate
our understanding of how the Lost Ten Tribes may be identified. Maimonides
says that we must believe that events predicted in Prophecy will take place
since we must believe in the Bible but exactly how the matters occur will
not be known until after they actually happen. The Rabbis were very
critical of people making predictions and estimating dates of future events
connected to the End Times. We should act according to the still quiet
voice inside us.

  [Ezekiel 39:26] AFTER THAT THEY HAVE BORNE THEIR SHAME, AND ALL THEIR TRESPASSES WHEREBY THEY HAVE TRESPASSED AGAINST ME, WHEN THEY DWELT SAFELY IN THEIR LAND, AND NONE MADE THEM AFRAID.

   [Ezekiel 39:27] WHEN I HAVE BROUGHT THEM AGAIN FROM THE PEOPLE, AND GATHERED THEM OUT OF THEIR ENEMIES' LANDS, AND AM SANCTIFIED IN THEM IN THE SIGHT OF MANY NATIONS;

  [Ezekiel 39:28] THEN SHALL THEY KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD THEIR GOD, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO BE LED INTO CAPTIVITY AMONG THE HEATHEN: BUT I HAVE GATHERED THEM UNTO THEIR OWN LAND, AND HAVE LEFT NONE OF THEM ANY MORE THERE.

[Ezekiel 39:29] NEITHER WILL I HIDE MY FACE ANY MORE FROM THEM: FOR I HAVE POURED OUT MY SPIRIT UPON THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, SAITH THE LORD GOD.
God will return and give HIS spirit unto us. HE will no longer hide HIS
presence from us.
EZEKIEL INDEX

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