Ezekiel 38:17

17 Thus hath the Lord GOD said: Art thou not he of whom I have spoken in days past by my slaves the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those times that I would have to bring thee upon 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 ) .


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 north parts, thou, and many peoples with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:
16 and thou shalt come up against my people of Israel as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be at the end of the days, and I will bring thee upon my land, that the Gentiles may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
17 Thus hath the Lord GOD said: Art thou not he of whom I have spoken in days past by my slaves the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those times that I would have to bring thee upon them?
18 And it shall come to pass in that time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, said the Lord GOD, that my fury shall rise up in my anger.
19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath I have spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking upon the land of Israel,
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010