Ezek. 38 The army of Gog, Ezek. 38:1–7. His evil attempts in the latter years, Ezek. 38:8–13. God’s judgment against him, Ezek. 38:14–23.

Since the two former chapters had assured so great and wonderful blessings to the Jews, after the return out of Babylon, and the gathering them together in their own land; it is more than probable the Jews would expect a full accomplishment of all these things quickly after their return, and if…

I will turn thee back: the words seem to imply a diverting him from some other enterprise, or else intimate to us, when that mighty power come out, that they are still under God’s control, and he will turn them back from what they intended, that they shall not effect it.

Persia; the land for the people who a Mahometans, and enemies to the name of Christ. Ethiopia; not the African, which is Abyssinia, or Nubia, or both the old Macrobii, but the Asiatic or Arabian Ethiopia, posterity of Cush, Mahometans too.

Gomer; inhabitants of Galatia, called formerly Gallograeci, Phrygians, and Bithynians, also these descended of Gomer. Togarmah; Paphlagonia and Cappadocia: see Ezek. 27:14.

Be thou prepared: it is an irony; God, the prophet, and the church deride this mighty preparation, as once the daughter of Zion laughed Sennacherib, that proud Assyrian, to scorn, and the scoff is doubled.

After many days: some refer this to the time of the Maccabees; about two hundred years after their return, and finishing the repairs of the city wall; others say after the expiring of the thousand years spoken of Rev. 20:7.

Thou shalt: sometimes such phrase declares duty and is perceptive, but here it declares the event and is predictive, Gog will, though he should not. The Hebrew might be read thus, Thou shalt ascend as a storm, thou shalt come as a cloud.

At the same time that the people are gathered together, settling in peace, before they have secured themselves, much like the dragon waiting on the child-bearing woman with purpose to devour her child. Things come into thy mind; projects or designs for mischief, as appears Ezek. 38:11.

Thou shalt say; thou wilt resolve in thyself, and declare it to thy council. Go up; invade with all thy puissance. Of unwalled villages; weak, and without any considerable defences: a scattered people, that dwell in villages, can make little if any resistance.

To take a spoil: the Scythians, and those other nations in this army, were from their original a violent, unjust, and thievish people, addicted to robberies; and they now, under this Gog, follow the old trade. To take a prey; the same repeated.

Sheba: see Ezek. 27:22; this Sheba was southward, and contains all of that coast which assisted Gog. Dedan; Idumeans, or the most easterly parts of Arabia Deserta: by these are noted the eastern nations that assisted, say some.

In that day: see Ezek. 38:8. Dwelleth safely: see Ezek. 38:11, Ezek. 34:25. Shalt thou not know it? thou wilt be informed how weak, yet how rich, how easy it is to make them a prey, and thou wilt believe and try it.

Thou shalt: see Ezek. 38:9. From thy place; out of thine own land. Out of the north parts; from Scythia, from the Euxine and Caspian seas, and countries thereabouts. Thou; the leader and chieftain. Many people; mighty and numerous, as Ezek. 38:6, Ezek. 38:9. Riding upon horses: see Ezek. 38:4.

On the first part of the verse, see Ezek. 38:9. In the latter days: see Ezek. 38:8. I will bring thee: see Ezek. 38:4. That the heathen may know me: Gog gathers all from all quarters to be with him to take the spoil, God brings them together to do that among them which may make he heathen see and…

Art thou he? either by way of contempt from God, upon him and all his preparations, or by way of monition: All these enterprises I foresaw, have spoken of them, and I will as well defeat as I did foretell them.

Gog cometh up in fury against Israel, and God’s fury, i.e. hot yet just displeasure, comes up in his face against both the attempt and the attempters, against Gog and all his power, who think to find a weak people, but they shall meet with an angry God.

In my jealousy for my own people, that I may preserve them, and for mine own glory, to vindicate that, as Ezek. 39:25, Zech. 1:14. In the fire of my wrath against mine enemies, Gog and all his herds. Surely: it is in the Hebrew after the form of an oath, as Ezek. 36:5.

Here is a lofty strain indeed, giving us the description of the tokens of God’s presence against his enemies; the effects of his displeasure against them are seen on all the creatures, sensible that their Maker is angry, though they know not with whom or for what.

Call; summon and awaken. A sword; my army, the people of Israel. Against him; Gog and his powers. Throughout all my mountains; from all parts of the land, called here mountains, because it was full of mountains.

I will plead, as judge and avenger, and in most dreadful manner, whether you take the words figuratively or literally. I slew others, Sennacherib’s army, by pestilence, probably this was the angel’s sword; others, as Ammon, Moab, Mount Seir, with blood by their own swords; the Amorites with…

Thus, in this most dreadful manner, will I magnify myself; undeniably prove that I am the mighty, just, faithful, wise, holy, and merciful God toward my people, and that I am the great, just, and terrible One against mine and my church’s enemies.