Ezekiel 38

Ezekiel 38:1

ANd the word of the LORD came] That these two Chapters following belong to the same thing, all confesse. In the Chapters before, the Prophet foretold two things: First, the restoring of his people from the Babylonish captivitie. Secondly, their uniting in Christs kingdome: but after their returne, and before the coming of the Messiah and setting up of his kingdome, God shewed them aforehand, that many calamities should happen to them, and many judgements from God should fall upon the enemies of the Church. The like anticipation is used, Jeremiah 31:15.

Ezekiel 38:2

set thy face against] This prophecie may be referred to the desolations that should come upon the Jews after their return from Babylon, Daniel 8:23. & Daniel 11:31.

Gog] Revelation 20:8. That is, the Kings of Asia minor and Syria, whose history is in the books of the Maccabees, where it is shewed how it came to passe that they and their armies fell in Judea: and these two names, God and Magog, largely note Seleucus kingdome, as doth Meshech, Tubal, Paras, Gomer and Togarmah.

the land of Magog] Or, in the land.

the chief prince] Or, prince of the chief. That is, a province, which shall rule over others, or governour of many: for the Prophet reciteth the names of certaine nations, by whom are to be understood, all they, whose endeavour and help the kings of Syria used to invade Judea, as appears verse the 5. and in the following.

of Meshech] See Genesis 10:2.

Ezekiel 38:3

O Gog] That is, all the nations ministers to the king of Syria, to overthrow my people. Gog properly, was servant to Candaules king of Lydia, whom the Queen would have killed, because the king had set him where he might see her naked going to bed to her husband, except he would agree with her to kill his Master Candaules and marry her, which he did performe; and to root out Candaules his name, who came of Lydus (of whom the countrey was named Lydia) it he called Gygea, or Gogs land: Croesus Gogs successour was conquered by Cyrus: the Persians were conquered by the Greeks, who holding that land are called Gog and Magog.

Ezekiel 38:4

I will turn thee back] Chap. 39. 2. After thou hast assaulted my people, thou shalt turn into Syria to thine own place: for the Syrian kings made many incursions into Judea.

and put hooks into thy chaws] 2 Kings 19:28. Ezekiel 29:4.

I will bring thee forth] That is, I will bring thee and the nations which are named in the following verses, forth out of their countreys: shewing that the enemies should bend themselves against the Church, but it should be to their own destruction.

all of them] Chap. 23. 12.

clothed with all sorts of armour] That is, compleatly furnished with military necessaries.

Ezekiel 38:5

Persia] Whereof part paid tribute to Antiochus Epiphanes, 1 Mac. 3. 31.

Ethiopia] In Hebrew Cush: he was the first born of Cham, Genesis 10:6. The Ethiopians came of him: and here, as divers times elsewhere, the first fathers are put for the posteritie arising from them.

Libya with them] Or, Phut. The third sonne of Ham, Genesis 10:6. of whom came the Cyrenaeans. By the help of the Ethiopians (spoken of before) and the Cyrenaeans, Alexander was put to flight, and Demetrius restored to the kingdome by Ptolemey Euergetes, 1Ma 10:11. Chapters.

Ezekiel 38:6

Gomer] Gomer was Japhets first sonne, and Togarmah the third sonne of Gomer, Gen. 10. 2, 3. and are thought to be they that inhabite Asia minor, whose posteritie were subject to Seleucidae.

Ezekiel 38:7

prepare for thy self] Signifying that all the people of these countries should assemble themselves against the Church of the Jews, and that the land of Gog and Magog by Grecians should afflict them, with great helps from many countreys.

a guard unto them] That is, be thou their Emperour to keep them from hostile assault. Some say that Gog should compasse the mountains of Israel, as in the next verse, with the multitude of his armies, and think to hold all the Jews as shut in prison or inclosed in a pit, and that the kings of Syria have done so, all histories testifie, so verse the 9. Others say, an ironicall speech, as if he should say, Defend them, if it may be, from my power, and battell which I will give them.

Ezekiel 38:8

After many dayes] To wit, in the times of the Maccabees, above two hundred yeares after this prophecie: In the parted kingdome of the Greeks, under the Seleucidae and Lagidae, the kings of the North and South, Dan. 11. this fell out.

visited] That is, in anger: Or God will punish thee ô Gog: and from the times of Seleucus Nicanor, the wonderfull judgements of God began to be executed for the defence of his people against the Grecian kings.

in the latter yeares] A little before the coming of Christ in the flesh: whence there should begin a new world.

brought back from the sword] Saved from the precedent ruines of warre: a description of the land of Israel, but by the land, is to be understood the inhabitants, because it is said to be brought back, as it was promised, Chap. 37.

against] Or, upon.

alwayes waste] That is, a long time, and which seemed never to have been restored to it former state.

Ezekiel 38:10

think an evil thought] Or, conceive a mischievous purpose. To molest and destroy the Jews.

Ezekiel 38:11

unwalled villages] Meaning Judea, which was destroyed, and not yet built again: and this black face or sad condition befell her from the vastation wrought by the Chaldeans under king Nebuchadnezzar, who destroyed the cities and defenced places, leaving them but unwalled towns.

rest] Declaring hereby the simplicitie of the godly, who seeke not so much to fortifie themselves by outward force, as to depend on the providence and goodnesse of God.

safely] Or, confidently: or, securely.

Ezekiel 38:12

To take a spoil] Heb. to spoil the spoil, and to prey the prey.

to turn thine hand upon the desolate places] Renewing the ancient desolations of this poore countrey restored from its ruines.

midst of the land] In Hebrew, upon the navel of the land. That is, in the higher places, as mountains and hils; or in the heart or middle, where there is more securitie then in the confines: a Metaphor such as is Judges 9:37.

Ezekiel 38:13

Sheba and Dedan] The Arabians, Sheba and Dedans posteritie: they came of Chush. Genesis 10:7.

merchants of Tarshish] Here chiefly are to be understood they of Tyrus and Sidon, and others passing the seas for gain: meaning the Arabians and marine nations will come to thee to partake in thy spoils.

young lions thereof] The pirates and robbers at sea, which are as it were the sea beasts: others say, merchants that lye in wait for gain, as the lion doth for his prey.

Art thou come] As if they should say, if therefore thou comest, we will joyn with thee. Others, one enemy shall envy another, because every one shall thinke to have the spoile of the Church.

Ezekiel 38:14

dwelleth safely] Or, securely. Shalt not thou spie thine occasions to come against my Church when they suspect nothing?

shalt thou not know it] That is, thou shalt surely know my judgement against thee for this, as may appeare by comparing the 16. 18. and following verses.

Ezekiel 38:16

latter dayes] Meaning, in the latter age, before the coming of the Messiah.

be sanctified in thee] When in punishing thee, O Gog, I shall manifest my self to be a holy and powerfull God: see Leviticus 10:3. Chap. 28. 22.

Ezekiel 38:17

Art thou he] Meaning, surely thou art he.

old time] There is no footsteps of this prediction before Ezekiels time: And therefore this word, old, should be understood in comparison, not of the Prophets age, but of the time of execution, which fell out above two hundred yeares after this Prophet.

by my servants] Heb. by the hands. Hereby God declareth, that no affliction can come to the Church, whereof they have not been advertised afore time, to teach them to endure all things with more patience, when they know that God hath so ordained it: and this affliction is foretold by this Prophet Ezekiel in this and the next Chapter, and by Dan. Chap. 11. & Zach. 14.

Ezekiel 38:18

fury shall come up in my face] Psalms 18:8. A speech after the manner of men: taken from them that puffe in the nose when they are exceeding angry.

Ezekiel 38:19

great shaking] All creatures shall be astonished and afraid at the presence of my glorious Majestie, in the punishment of my enemies.

Ezekiel 38:20

So that the fishes of the sea] By these strange expressions God setteth forth the grievousnesse of his anger that was to come.

steep places shall fall] Or, towres, or stairs. All means whereby man might thinke to save himself shall faile, the afflictions in those dayes shall be so great, and the destruction of the enemies shall be so terrible.

Ezekiel 38:21

I will call for a sword] This was in part fulfilled in the civill warres of the Grecian kings, whence the ruine of that Empire did arise.

every mans sword] That is, of the souldiers of Gog, as it happened to the Midianites, Judges 7:22. 2 Chronicles 20:22-23.

Ezekiel 38:22

I will plead against him] That is, with many and great judgements will I destroy him.

I will rain upon him] I will make a miraculous discomfiture and destruction. These tearmes seeme to be borrowed from the fire of Sodom, and the hailstones of Joshua, Joshua 10:11.

Ezekiel 38:23

I will magnifie my self] Chap. 36. 23. & 37. 28.