Ezekiel 38 Footnotes

38:4-7 These verses identify a northern confederacy of Gog’s allies, nine nations that make up Gog’s army amassed to obliterate Israel from the land. It is called a “huge assembly” (v. 4) with soldiers from Persia (Iran), Cush (Ethiopia), Put (Libya), Gomer (Armenia), Togarmah (Armenia)—all of whom will join the armies of Gog (Iraq?), Magog (Western Asia, Scythians?) Meshech (Armenia, Azerbaijan), and Tubal (Armenia, Azerbaijan, v. 7).

38:8-16 This battle is to take place “after a long time” and “in the last years”—both consistent references to the end time (see Jr 4:6,13,24-26; 5:15; 6:1,22; 10:22; 23:20; Dn 8:26; 10:14). The confederacy will come into the land “that has been restored from war and regathered from many peoples,” a reference to regathered Israel. Gog will devise an evil plan against Israel. According to Rv 20:1-10, this battle may be in two parts: one at the end of history (Rv 19:17-21) and one after a thousand years of peace (Rv 20:1-3). Gog and Magog, along with Satan, will be fully and finally defeated (Rv 20:7-10). Ezekiel’s battle may be the first battle, or the second, or both. Gog will loot and plunder those who dwell in “open villages” at “the center” (Hb tabor), possibly the region around Mount Tabor just north of the valley of Jezreel, site of the battle of Armageddon (Rv 16:16). Motivated by vengeance and greed, Gog will attempt the annihilation of Israel (Ezk 38:16).

38:17 Identification of the prophecies of “former times” (v. 17) has been an issue of debate. Interpreters have compared them, inconclusively, with Is 14:24-25; 26:20-21; Jr 4:5; 6:26; 30:18-24; Jl 3:9-21; Zph 1:14-18. The exact translation of the question itself, “Are you the one I spoke about in former times through my servants?” is also in doubt. Some amend it to read “You are he . . .” assuming the introductory particle halo’ (“are you not . . . ?”) which is absent from the text. Whatever the case, it was a rhetorical question anticipating a positive answer. This would mean that Gog is not a divinely commissioned agent of judgment, but a perennial enemy of God and his people, an interpretation consistent with the identification of Babylon and Satan.

38:18-23 The battle is resolved through God’s direct, wrathful intervention by means of a great earthquake (vv. 19-20), the sword, pestilence, bloodshed, flooding rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone (vv. 21-22). The Lord says that he will “reveal myself in the sight of many nations,” and by this judgment all will know that “I am the LORD” (Yahweh, v. 23).