Ezekiel 39:9-16

9 Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, kindle fires, and burn up the weapons—the bucklers and shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.

10 They will not gather wood from the countryside or cut it from the forests, for they will use the weapons for fuel. They will loot those who looted them and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord GOD.

11 And on that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Sea. ^[a] It will block those who travel through, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog. ^[b]

12 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land.

13 All the people of the land will bury them, and it will bring them renown on the day I display My glory, ^[c] declares the Lord GOD.

14 And men will be employed to continually pass through the land to cleanse it by burying the invaders who remain on the ground. At the end of the seven months they will begin their search.

15 As they pass through the land, anyone who sees a human bone will set up a pillar next to it, until the gravediggers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog.

16 (Even the city will be named Hamonah. ^[d]) And so they will cleanse the land.

Ezekiel 39:9-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 39

This chapter is a continuation of the prophecy of the destruction of Gog, which is both repeated, and more largely described, Eze 39:1-8, then follows an account of the burning of his weapons of war, which will last seven years in burning, during which time there will be no need of the use of wood, Eze 39:9,10, and of the burial of him, and many of his army; the place where, and the time that will be taken up in doing this, even seven months, are observed, Eze 39:11-16, and every feathered fowl and beast of the field are called upon to feed on the flesh of those that are left unburied, Eze 39:17-20 and by all this the glory of the Lord will be seen, known, and acknowledged, both by the Heathens, and by the house of Israel, Eze 39:21,22, and the former will also be informed that the present captivity of the Jews has been for their sins and transgressions, Eze 39:23,24, and the chapter is concluded with a promise of their return from captivity, when they shall know the Lord, and their interest in him; who will after this no more hide his face from them, but pour out his Spirit upon them, under whose influence they shall ever continue, Eze 39:25-29.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally, the Sea
• [b] Hamon-gog means multitude of Gog.
• [c] Or and the day I display My glory will be a day of renown
• [d] Hamonah means multitude or horde.