Ezekiel 38:17

17 The Lord God saith these things, Therefore thou art he of whom I spake in eld days, in the hand of my servants, prophets of Israel, that prophesied in the days of those times, that I should bring thee on them. (The Lord God saith these things, And so thou art he of whom I spoke in the old days, or long ago, by my servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in the days of those times, that I would bring thee against them.)

Ezekiel 38:17 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 38:17

Thus saith the Lord God
Putting the question that follows: art thou he of whom I have spoken of old time by my servants the
prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I
will bring thee against them?
certainly thou art he: but who were the prophets that prophesied of Gog before Ezekiel, since he is the first that makes mention of him? to this it may be replied, that though he is not mentioned by name, yet he might be prophesied of under other names, as by Isaiah under the name of Leviathan, ( Isaiah 27:1 ) and by Micah under the name of the Assyrian, ( Micah 5:5 ) . The Jews ^F18 say that Eldad and Medad prophesied of him, which Jarchi, Kimchi, and Abendana remark; who all observe, agreeably to the Talmudists in the place referred to, that these two are the prophets meant; and therefore it is directed to be read not "shanim", years, but "shenaim", two; namely, those two prophets prophesied one prophecy at one time, or together; but this is not to be depended upon: it should be observed, that this must be considered as spoken at the time of the accomplishment of this prophecy, and so may have respect to the Prophet Ezekiel himself, or to Joel, ( Joel 3:1 Joel 3:2 ) , and to Zechariah, ( Zechariah 14:1 Zechariah 14:2 ) , and even to the book of the Revelation, ( Revelation 16:14 Revelation 16:16 ) ( 19:19 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 17. 1. & Gloss. in ib.

Ezekiel 38:17 In-Context

15 and (thou) shalt come from thy place, from the sides of the north, thou, and many peoples with thee, all (the) riders of horses, a great company, and an huge host (and a large army);

16 and thou as a cloud shalt ascend on my people Israel, that thou cover the earth? Thou shalt be in the last days, and I shall bring thee on my land, that my folks know, when I shall be hallowed in thee, thou Gog, before the eyes of them. (and thou shalt ascend against my people Israel, and like a cloud thou shalt cover the earth. It shall be in the latter days, and I shall bring thee against my land, so that the peoples, or the nations, can know me, when I shall be shown to be holy, by what I shall do through thee, O Gog, before their eyes.)

17 The Lord God saith these things, Therefore thou art he of whom I spake in eld days, in the hand of my servants, prophets of Israel, that prophesied in the days of those times, that I should bring thee on them. (The Lord God saith these things, And so thou art he of whom I spoke in the old days, or long ago, by my servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in the days of those times, that I would bring thee against them.)

18 And it shall be, in that day, in the day of the coming of Gog on the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, mine indignation shall ascend in my strong vengeance, (And it shall be, on that day, on the day of the coming of Gog against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, my indignation shall ascend in my strong vengeance,)

19 and in my fervor; I spake in the fire of my wrath. For in that day shall be (a) great (earth-)moving on the land of Israel; (and in my jealousy; I spoke in the fire of my anger. For on that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel;)