EZEKIEL 38

This chapter is really closely tied to the following one in the arrangement shown below:

CYCLE 1

Introduction (38:1-6)

        A. Readiness for attack on Israel (38:7-13)

                B. The attack (38:14-16)

                        C. Judgment on Gog (38:17-23)

CYCLE 2

Introduction (39:1-3)

                B. The attack (39:4a)

                        C. Judgment on Gog (39:4b-20)

                                D. Restoration of Israel (39:21-29)

As you can see, this type of organization takes the form of what is called “progressive parallelism” in which the same basic territory is covered twice, with the second version advancing the action somewhat chronologically. This identical structure is seen in the Book of Revelation, another eschatological writing.

Andersen and Freedman note: “The whole of [Micah 4,] vv. 11-13 is eschatological...Ezekiel 38-39 can be seen as an elaboration of the theme of vv. 11-13.”

Ezekiel 38:1-3 – “Following an exceptionally lengthy introduction, the challenge formula leaves no doubt about where the lines are drawn in this oracle. The conflict will inevitably touch Israel, but what Ezekiel envisages is essentially a duel between Yahweh and Gog.” (Block)

Most commentaries spend an inordinate amount of space trying to explain where each of the place names is located, but I will leave it to Chisholm to adequately summarize the situation: “Attempts to identify these proper names with modern Russian place names are anachronistic. The names Magog, Meshech, and Tubal (as well as Gomer and Togarmah; see v. 6) appear in Genesis 10:2-3 as descendants of Japheth. Some translations take the Hebrew word rosh in 38:2 as a proper name...However, it is far more likely that the word is appositional [i.e. parallel] to 'prince.'”

Chishholm adds that the coalition of nations includes those from the distant east, the distant south and the distant north. “Also the fact there are exactly seven such nations suggest both totality and completeness. Ezekiel's description of this battle was contextualized for his sixth-century B.C. audience. These distant, mysterious nations, located on the very perimeter of Israel's world, made apt archetypes because of their 'foreignness.'”

“Gog's invasion cannot be identified with any known historical event; the attempt to interpret the passage with reference to Alexander the Great (Browne, 1952) founders on the undoubted fact that Alexander and his followers did not meet their end on the 'mountains of Israel' (39:4).” (Bruce)

Ezekiel 38:4-6 – This reads, “I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws.” For this thought, Bruce refers the reader to “the language addressed to Pharaoh in 29:4, but the warning to Sennacherib in Isa. 37:29 provides a closer parallel.”
Rogers states, “In Ezek 38:6,15 and 39:2 the prophecy concerns nations that will march against Israel...The identification of this 'foe' is difficult because the context has eschatological overtones. Some hold that these people will occupy the geographical areas in the 'last days'...Others see in the structural development of Ezek 36-39 God's assurance that regardless of the opposition, represented by the enemies from the north, God will restore his people, console them, and establish his kingdom.”

“The account of Gog's attack (38:1-39:29) provides an example of apocalyptic, with a battle involving supernatural intervention at the end of the age and, significantly, after the coming of the Davidic ruler [the Messiah?]. The geographical identification of Gomer (38:6) with the Cimmerians suggest that Ezekiel has transposed the threat from the north, with its constant eruptions into Middle Eastern history, to the end-times and made it represent the powers of evil in general.” (J.B. Job)

Ezekiel 38:7-9 – “It is evident that Israel had begun to despair over the delay of the Day of the Lord for the nations (38:8; 39:8)...so chapters 38-39 function as encouragement...” (Bullock)

Beasley-Murray explains that the phrase 'After many days' indicates that “the invasion is not to occur for a long time. Cf. Is. 24:22.” Also, “'The latter years' indicates the period of the kingdom (cf. Is. 2:2).”

Block: “Yahweh's marching orders for God are spelled out. Although Jeremiah had also spoken of the enemy advancing from the north like storm clouds...at Yahweh's command (4:12-13), Ezekiel's use of so'a, 'storm', points to inspiration from Isa. 10:3. 'What will you do on the day of punishment (pequdda) in the storm (so'a) that will cover the land?' so'a means literally 'devastation,' but its pairing with 'anan suggests a destructive 'storm cloud,' a metaphor for a sudden invasion by vast numbers of troops.”

Ezekiel 38:10-12 – “The nom. perazot occurs only 3x (Esth 9:19; Ezk 38:11; Zech 2:4) and signifies villages without walls...Ezekiel (Ezek 38:10-11) warns of a future day when Gog will devise an attack against restored Israel...In all three cases, the Jews who lived in unwalled villages or cities were exposed to more peril than inhabitants of walled cities. However, in each instance Yahweh provides the necessary protection.” (Grisanti)

Verse 10 reads, “Thoughts will come into your mind.” Bruce interprets this as indicating “that the invasion as planned by Gog does not conflict with his being brought against the land by the divine overruling (v. 16f.); his thoughts as well as his actions are foreordained.”

Ezekiel 38:13-16 – Wakely says, “When Gog's huge army (...Ezek 38:15), which will come to oppress Israel, is eradicated by Yahweh, the slaughter will be considered a sacrifice to God's glory.”

“Since the normal deity-nation-land relationships are operative, for Gog to attack his people and invade his land is to hit their/its patron.” (Block)

Ezekiel 38:17 – Beasley-Murray: “ The reference to the earlier prophets in v. 17 would be to such passages as Zp. 3:8; Je. 3:6; and perhaps, seeing that the prophets spoke 'in former days', to prophecies known to Ezekiel but which have since perished.”

“The key to understanding the oracles is 38:17, 'Are you not the one...?' Most interpret this as a question to be answered positively, but this raises many difficulties...Others make it a positive statement, 'You are the one...'; Ezekiel is then seen to refer to earlier prophecies of a 'foe from the north' (e.g., Jer 1:13-15; 4:6), fulfilled by other invaders, now reapplied to Gog. If the verse is interpreted as a question to be answered negatively, as D. Block has perceived, the problems diminish. Gog could not assault Israel as God's agent to inflict merited punishment, like Sennacherib or Nebuchadnezzar; his onslaught would be directed wholly at his own self-aggrandizement, arrogant and cruel.” (Millard)

Ezekiel 38:18-23 – “Gog's destruction will be by earthquake (vv. 19,20), mutual strife (v. 21) and plagues like those on Egypt at the Exodus (vv. 22,23); it is presumed that Israel will be brought safely through these calamities as in that former time.” (Beasley-Murray)

J.B. Job: “Gog and his hordes, the archetypical enemies of Israel gathered from the four corners of the earth (chs. 38-39), are puppets brought in by the divine hand to prove Yahweh's enduring commitment to the safety of his people. By eliminating them he magnifies himself (gdl; 38:23), makes himself known...and sets his glory (39:21) among the nations. He is indeed concerned that all the world recognizes his person and his presence in their affairs, but his agenda is always focused on Israel.”

Peterson notes that while rain is withheld in Ezek. 22:24 as a judgment on Judah, in 38:22 it pours down excessively as a judgment against Gog and his army.