Ezekiel 38

11. dwell safely--that is, securely, without fear of danger (compare Esther 9:19 ). Antiochus, the type of Antichrist, took Jerusalem without a blow.

12. midst of the land--literally, "the navel" of the land ( Judges 9:37 , Margin). So, in Ezekiel 5:5 , Israel is said to be set "in the midst of the nations"; not physically, but morally, a central position for being a blessing to the world: so (as the favored or "beloved city," Revelation 20:9 ) an object of envy. GROTIUS translates, "In the height of the land" (so Ezekiel 38:8 ), "the mountains of Israel," Israel being morally elevated above the rest of the world.

13. Sheba, &c.--These mercantile peoples, though not taking an active part against the cause of God, are well pleased to see others do it. Worldliness makes them ready to deal in the ill-gotten spoil of the invaders of God's people. Gain is before godliness with them (I Maccabees 3:41).
young lions--daring princes and leaders.

14. shalt thou not know it?--to thy cost, being visited with punishment, while Israel dwells safely.

16. I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me--So in Exodus 9:16 , God tells Pharaoh, "For this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee My power; and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth."

17. thou he of whom I have spoken in old time--Gog, &c. are here identified with the enemies spoken of in other prophecies ( Numbers 24:17-24 , Isaiah 27:1 ; compare Isaiah 26:20 Isaiah 26:21 , Jeremiah 30:23 Jeremiah 30:24 , Joel 3:1 , Micah 5:5 Micah 5:6 , Isaiah 14:12-14 , 59:19 ). God is represented as addressing Gog at the time of his assault; therefore, the "old time" is the time long prior, when Ezekiel uttered these prophecies; so, he also, as well as Daniel ( Daniel 11:1-45 ) and Zechariah ( Zechariah 14:1-21 ) are included among "the prophets of Israel" here.
many years--ago.

18. fury shall come up in my face--literally, "nose"; in Hebrew, the idiomatic expression for anger, as men in anger breathe strongly through the nostrils. Anthropopathy: God stooping to human modes of thought ( Psalms 18:8 ).

19. great shaking--an earthquake: physical agitations after accompanying social and moral revolutions. Foretold also in Joel 3:16 ; (compare Haggai 2:6 Haggai 2:7 , Matthew 24:7 Matthew 24:29 , Revelation 16:18 ).

20. fishes--disturbed by the fleets which I will bring.
fowls, &c.--frightened at the sight of so many men: an ideal picture.
mountains--that is, the fortresses on the mountains.
steep places--literally, "stairs" ( Solomon 2:14 ); steep terraces for vines on the sides of hills, to prevent the earth being washed down by the rains.
every wall--of towns.

21. every man's sword . . . against his brother--I will destroy them partly by My people's sword, partly by their swords being turned against one another (compare 2 Chronicles 20:23 ).

22. plead--a forensic term; because God in His inflictions acts on the principles of His own immutable justice, not by arbitrary impulse ( Isaiah 66:16 , Jeremiah 25:31 ).
blood . . . hailstones, fire--( Revelation 8:7 , 16:21 ). The imagery is taken from the destruction of Sodom and the plagues of Egypt (compare Psalms 11:6 ). Antiochus died by "pestilence" (II Maccabees 9:5).