Ezekiel 38:7

7 Be ready, and prepare {yourselves}, you and all of your assembly, the assembling around you, and you must be for them as a guard.

Ezekiel 38:7 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 38:7

Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself
All warlike stores and provisions: this is ironically said; and suggests that he would do so, and yet all would be in vain, and to no purpose: thou and all thy company, that are assembled unto thee;
or all thine armies, as the Targum, gathered out of his dominions, and made up of his auxiliaries and allies; let them all be furnished with arms, and everything proper for the expedition designed: and be thou a guard unto them;
the general of them; let them observe and obey thy word of command; guide and direct, guard and protect them in their march; and take care of them when entered the land of Judea, that they are not exposed to any unnecessary danger, or cut off by any stratagem or ambush: this is also sarcastically said; signifying that let him use all the care and caution that a wise and prudent general can do, yet he and his army should perish.

Ezekiel 38:7 In-Context

5 Persia, Cush, and Put [are] with them, all of them, with [a] small shield and helmet.

6 Gomer and all of its troops, Beth Togarmah, the remote areas of the north, and with all of its troops and many peoples with them.

7 Be ready, and prepare {yourselves}, you and all of your assembly, the assembling around you, and you must be for them as a guard.

8 After many days you will be mustered; {in the last years} you will come to a restored land from [the] sword, gathered from many peoples on the mountains of Israel which were as {permanent ruins} [but] from peoples it was brought out, and they will dwell {in safety}, all of them.

9 And you will advance like a storm; you will come, [and] you will be like a cloud {covering} the land, and all of your troops and many nations [along] with you."

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "for you"
• [b] Or "battalions" or "hoards"
• [c] Or "assemblies"
• [d] Or "serve"