Ezekiel 38:8

8 After many years you will be called together to fight. Later, you will march into a land that has not had war for a while. Its people were gathered together from many nations. They came to the mountains of Israel. No one had lived in those mountains for a long time. So the people had been brought back from other nations. Now all of the people live in safety.

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Ezekiel 38:8 In-Context

6 Gomer and all of its troops will be there too. Beth Togarmah from the far north will also come with all of its troops. Many nations will help you.

7 " ' "Get ready. Be prepared. Take command of the huge armies that are gathered around you.

8 After many years you will be called together to fight. Later, you will march into a land that has not had war for a while. Its people were gathered together from many nations. They came to the mountains of Israel. No one had lived in those mountains for a long time. So the people had been brought back from other nations. Now all of the people live in safety.

9 You, all of your troops and the many nations with you will march up to attack them. All of you will advance like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering their land."

10 " 'The LORD and King says, "At that time some ideas will come to you. You will make evil plans.