Ezekiel 38:17

17 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Art thou not he of whom I have spoken in old time through my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days, for [many] years, that I would bring thee against them?

Ezekiel 38:17 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 38:17

Thus saith the Lord God
Putting the question that follows: art thou he of whom I have spoken of old time by my servants the
prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I
will bring thee against them?
certainly thou art he: but who were the prophets that prophesied of Gog before Ezekiel, since he is the first that makes mention of him? to this it may be replied, that though he is not mentioned by name, yet he might be prophesied of under other names, as by Isaiah under the name of Leviathan, ( Isaiah 27:1 ) and by Micah under the name of the Assyrian, ( Micah 5:5 ) . The Jews ^F18 say that Eldad and Medad prophesied of him, which Jarchi, Kimchi, and Abendana remark; who all observe, agreeably to the Talmudists in the place referred to, that these two are the prophets meant; and therefore it is directed to be read not "shanim", years, but "shenaim", two; namely, those two prophets prophesied one prophecy at one time, or together; but this is not to be depended upon: it should be observed, that this must be considered as spoken at the time of the accomplishment of this prophecy, and so may have respect to the Prophet Ezekiel himself, or to Joel, ( Joel 3:1 Joel 3:2 ) , and to Zechariah, ( Zechariah 14:1 Zechariah 14:2 ) , and even to the book of the Revelation, ( Revelation 16:14 Revelation 16:16 ) ( 19:19 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 17. 1. & Gloss. in ib.

Ezekiel 38:17 In-Context

15 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the uttermost north, thou and many peoples with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great assemblage and a mighty army.

16 And thou shalt come up against my people Israel as a cloud to cover the land -- it shall be at the end of days -- and I will bring thee against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be hallowed in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

17 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Art thou not he of whom I have spoken in old time through my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days, for [many] years, that I would bring thee against them?

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, in the day when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, [that] my fury shall come up in my face;

19 for in my jealousy, in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Verily in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;