Ezekiel 39

15. First "all the people of the land" engaged in the burying for seven months; then special men were employed, at the end of the seven months, to search for any still left unburied. The passers-by helped them by setting up a mark near any such bones, in order to keep others from being defiled by casually touching them, and that the buriers might come and remove them. Denoting the minute care to put away every relic of heathen pollution from the Holy Land.

16. A city in the neighborhood was to receive the name Hamonah, "multitude," to commemorate the overthrow of the multitudes of the foe [HENDERSON]. The multitude of the slain shall give a name to the city of Jerusalem after the land shall have been cleansed [GROTIUS]. Jerusalem shall be famed as the conqueror of multitudes.

17. ( Revelation 19:17 ).
sacrifice--Anciently worshippers feasted on the sacrifices. The birds and beasts of prey are invited to the sacrificial feast provided by God (compare Isaiah 18:6 , 34:6 , Zephaniah 1:7 , 9:49 ). Here this sacrifice holds only a subordinate place in the picture, and so is put last. Not only shall their bones lie long unburied, but they shall be stripped of the flesh by beasts and birds of prey.

18. rams . . . lambs . . . goats--By these various animal victims used in sacrifices are meant various ranks of men, princes, generals, and soldiers (compare Isaiah 34:6 ).
fatlings of Bashan--ungodly men of might ( Psalms 22:12 ). Bashan, beyond Jordan, was famed for its fat cattle. Fat implies prosperity which often makes men refractory towards God ( Deuteronomy 32:14 Deuteronomy 32:15 ).

20. my table--the field of battle on the mountains of Israel ( Ezekiel 38:8 Ezekiel 38:20 ).
chariots--that is, charioteers.

22. So the house of Israel shall know . . . Lord--by My interposition for them. So, too, the heathen shall be led to fear the name of the Lord ( Psalms 102:15 ).

23. hid I my face--( Deuteronomy 31:17 , Isaiah 59:2 ).

25. bring again the captivity--restore from calamity to prosperity.
the whole house of Israel--so "all Israel" ( Romans 11:26 ). The restorations of Israel heretofore have been partial; there must be one yet future that is to be universal ( Hosea 1:11 ).

26. After that they have borne their shame--the punishment of their sin: after they have become sensible of their guilt, and ashamed of it ( Ezekiel 20:43 , 36:31 ).

27. sanctified in them--vindicated as holy in My dealings with them.

28. The Jews, having no dominion, settled country, or fixed property to detain them, may return at any time without difficulty (compare Hosea 3:4 Hosea 3:5 ).

29. poured out my Spirit upon . . . Israel--the sure forerunner of their conversion ( Joel 2:28 , Zechariah 12:10 ). The pouring out of His Spirit is a pledge that He will hide His face no more ( 2 Corinthians 1:22 , Ephesians 1:14 , Philippians 1:6 ).