Ezekiel 38:8

8 After a long time you will be called to service. In the years to come, you will attack a land that has been rebuilt after a war. Its people have been gathered from many nations and brought to the mountains of Israel, mountains that have been ruined for a long time. These people were brought there from the nations, and all of them live there safely.

Ezekiel 38:8 Meaning and 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 ( 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 back
from the sword;
that is, into the land of Judea, the right owners of which shall now be returned unto it; who have been for many years drove and kept out of it by the sword of their enemies; see ( Jeremiah 31:2 ) and these "latter years" are the same with the "latter days", in which these people shall seek the Lord and the Messiah, and fear him and his goodness, and return to their own land, ( Hosea 3:5 ) ( 1:11 ) , when the Turks, enraged at it, will raise a numerous army, and enter it, in order to repossess it. The description of the Jews, who are most manifestly pointed at, is continued: and is gathered out of many people against the mountains of Israel;
or rather, "to the mountains of Israel" F15; for it seems to design the land of Judea, that is, the people of it; who shall be gathered out of the several nations where they are now dispersed, and brought into their own land; described by the mountains of Israel, because a mountainous country, and a very fruitful one; ( Ezekiel 34:13 Ezekiel 34:14 ) , and not the army of Gog gathered out of many nations, as before observed, to march against the people of the Jews; though this seems to be the sense of the Targum,

``in the end of years thou shalt come into the land, against which are turned those that slay with the sword, who are gathered out of many people against the mountains of the land of Israel:''
which have been always waste:
of a longer time than the seventy years' captivity, even ever since the destruction of it by the Romans; and if the time of the carrying captive of the ten tribes by Salmanezer is respected, it is longer still: but it brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely
all of them;
that is, the people of the Jews, the proprietors of the land of Israel, shall now be brought forth out of each the nations where they are scattered, and shall inhabit their own land, and dwell in the utmost security, having nothing to fear from their most potent enemies, even Gog himself; and though he shall come against them in the following manner.
FOOTNOTES:

F15 (larvy yrh le) "ad montes Israel", Pagninus, Cocceius, Starckius.

Ezekiel 38:8 In-Context

6 Gomer will come with all its troops and with the nation of Togarmah from the far north. There will be many armies with you.
7 "'Be prepared! Be prepared, you and all the soldiers assembled around you. You will be their leader.
8 After a long time you will be called to service. In the years to come, you will attack a land that has been rebuilt after a war. Its people have been gathered from many nations and brought to the mountains of Israel, mountains that have been ruined for a long time. These people were brought there from the nations, and all of them live there safely.
9 You will attack like a storm and cover the land like a cloud. Your troops and the many armies will be with you.
10 "'This is what the Almighty LORD says: At that time ideas will enter your head, and you will make wicked plans.
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