Ezequiel 38:20

20 'Y los peces del mar, las aves del cielo, las bestias del campo y todos los animales que se arrastran sobre la tierra, y todos los hombres sobre la faz de la tierra temblarán en mi presencia; también se derrumbarán los montes, se desplomarán los precipicios y todo muro caerá por tierra.

Ezequiel 38:20 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 38:20

So that the fishes of the sea shall shake at my presence
From whence it appears that this great shaking shall not be on account of the army of Gog, and the devastations that it shall make; but on account of the powerful presence of God, which will be manifest in the destruction of his army: and what is here said of the shaking of the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beast of the field, and all
creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are
upon the earth,
must be understood figuratively and hyperbolically, as Kimchi observes, and in allusion to earthquakes, which both shake and terrify all kind of creatures; the blow given to Gog will be so terrible, that all nature will seem to be thrown into a convulsion and agitation by it; see ( Jeremiah 4:24 Jeremiah 4:25 ) : and the mountains shall be thrown down;
as they are sometimes by earthquakes; and as the mount of Olives will at this time cleave asunder; and perhaps other mountains will, as Kimchi observes, see ( Zechariah 14:2-4 ) ( Isaiah 2:12-15 ) ( 30:25 ) : and the steep places shall fall;
the Targum renders the word "towers"; and so the Syriac version, and Piscator: the word signifies stairs or steps ^F20, such as in a ladder; and is translated "stairs", ( Song of Solomon 2:14 ) it seems to me to design such mounts as are raised by besiegers of a city, by means of which they may be able to scale the walls of it, which Jarchi suggests; though he says he had heard it said that these, are rocks bending over and hanging, and appear as if they were falling; which agrees with our version; and it may be observed, in some of those precipices, there are like stairs or steps to go up them: and every wall shall fall to the ground:
this shows that the words are not to be taken literally, but figuratively; only to express how sensibly the power of God should be felt and perceived by all creatures, and in all parts of the land; since now the Jews will dwell in a land of unwalled villages, and in cities without walls, bars, and gates; see ( Ezekiel 38:11 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (twgrdmh) "gradus", Munster, Pagninus, Montanus.

Ezequiel 38:20 In-Context

18 'Sucederá en aquel día cuando venga Gog contra la tierra de Israel'declara el Señor DIOS"que subirá mi furor y mi ira.

19 'Y en mi celo y en el fuego de mi furor declaro que ciertamente en aquel día habrá un gran terremoto en la tierra de Israel.

20 'Y los peces del mar, las aves del cielo, las bestias del campo y todos los animales que se arrastran sobre la tierra, y todos los hombres sobre la faz de la tierra temblarán en mi presencia; también se derrumbarán los montes, se desplomarán los precipicios y todo muro caerá por tierra.

21 'Y en todos mis montes llamaré contra él la espada'declara el Señor DIOS. 'La espada de cada cual se volverá contra su hermano.

22 'Con pestilencia y con sangre haré juicio contra él; haré caer una lluvia torrencial, de piedras de granizo, fuego y azufre sobre él, sobre sus tropas, y sobre los muchos pueblos que están con él.