In this final installment of looking at Ezekiel’s prophecy about Gog and Magog, we’re going to look at the defeat of the attackers and God’s judgment upon these nations, even though it is God who will, Sovereignly, draw them into this battle.
The Defeat of Gog (38:17–39:8).
Ezekiel 38:17–23.
It will be God, Himself, who crushes Gog’s attack. In these initial verses, God asked Gog, “Are you not the one I spoke of in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel?” This has caused some confusion among interpreters because there is no direct reference to Gog made by any of the previous writing prophets. It could be that earlier prophets had predicted the coming of some invading armies, against Israel in the last days, which Ezekiel is just now linking to Gog (see, Joel 3:9–14; Zeph. 3:15–20).
When the armies finally reach Israel, God will be angry with them. He will cause a massiveearthquake in Israel that will interrupt Gog’s invasion plans and spread fear and confusion throughout the ranks of the invading forces. In the chaos, communication between the all the invading armies will break down and they will begin attacking each other, “Every man’s sword will be against his brother”(Ezek. 38:21). Fear and panic will sweep through the ranks in such a way that each army will shoot, indiscriminately, at the others. The slaughter of theses armies will be aided by “natural” catastrophes, including torrents of rain, hailstones, and burning sulphur (v. 22). The rain will combine with dirt and debris from the earthquake to produce massive mudslides and floods. Large hailstones will bombard the survivors, killing many. The burning sulphur could well be volcanic ash.
39:1–8. The invading armies will be totally destroyed by God. Having brought them against the mountains of Israel, God will weaken them and strike them down. This once-mighty army will then be food for birds and wild animals.
God will also punish the homelands of the invaders: “I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in safety in the coastlands.” Sending fire implies destruction and military devastation. The nations that will initiate the invasion will, themselves, be destroyed. The “coastlands,” already mentioned several times by Ezekiel, imply the farthest reaches of the known world. Through all of this, God will teach Israel that He is holy and is not to be disrespected or blasphemed by their sins. Also, the nations will see that God is the Holy One in Israel.
The Aftermath of the Battle(39:9–20).
39:9-11. Those who will come to plunder Israel will be plundered. Israelites will use the fallen soldiers’ weapons for fuel for seven years. Should the weapons of war—horses, swords, shields, bows, arrows, clubs, and spears—be understood literally, or do they refer, figuratively, to modern-day weaponry? The text itself can allow for both interpretations, but the normal meaning of the words would lead one to see Ezekiel referring to literal horses, swords, shields, bows, arrows, clubs, and spears. Withthe other worldwide catastrophes taking place during the first three and one-half years of Daniel’s 70th Week, a reversion to more primitive methods of warfare might become, not only possible, but also necessary.
Throughout the remainder of the Tribulation period, and going into the beginning of the Millennium, as Israel will be burning those weapons, she will not need to cut down any trees. At this point, there will be an amazing reversal of Gog’s fortunes. Israel will, instead, plunder those who have plundered her and loot those who have looted her.
After the battle, Israel will also bury Gog’s dead. The burials will take place in the valley of those who travel east toward the Sea. “This translation is somewhat confusing as ‘toward’ was supplied by the translators, and the word ‘east’ should be translated on the east of.’ The valley where Gog’s army will be buried is ‘on the east side of’ the Dead Sea in what is today the country of Jordan. The phrase ‘those who travel east,’ could be taken as a proper name. It might refer to the ‘mountains of Abarim,’ east of the Dead Sea, that Israel traversed on her way to the Promised Land (Num. 33:48). If so, Gog’s burial will be in the Valley of Abarim, just across the Dead Sea from Israel proper in the land of Moab. Yet the burial will be in Israel because Israel controlled that area during some periods of her history (see 2 Sam. 8:2; Ps. 60:8).”
“The number of corpses will be so great that the way of travelers will be blocked. ‘The way of travelers’ could again be translated as ‘Abarim.’ The valley will be clogged with the bodies of soldiers. The name of the valley will be changed to the ‘Valley of Hamon Gog, meaning ‘the Valley of the hordes of Gog.’”
39:12–16. The number of soldiers killed will be so great that for seven monthsthe nation of Israel will be burying them. Even after the initial cleanup, squads of men will be employed to search the land for additional remains. As they go through the land and one of them sees a human bone, he will set up a marker beside it. Then, as gravediggers see the markers, they will take the remains to the Valley of Hamon Gog for burial. The operation will be so vast that a town will be set up in the valley at the gravesites to accommodate those cleansing the land. It will be named Hamonah, a form of the word “hordes.”
39:17-20. Another result of Gog’s defeat will be a feastfor the wild animals. These verses expand v. 4, where God announced that the corpses of those who fall will end up as food for birds and beasts. God will reverse the roles of animals and people. Usually people slaughtered and ate sacrificed animals. Here, however, the men of Gog’s armies will be the sacrifices and they will be eaten by animals. In addressing the birds and animals, God said that at this great sacrifice they will eat the flesh and drink the blood, as if they were fattened animals from Bashan. Bashan, which is east and northeast of the Sea of Kinnereth (later known as the Sea of Galilee), was known for its fertile land and fat cows (see Amos 4:1). At God’stable, the animals will eat their fill of horses and riders, mighty men and soldiers of every kind.
The Effects of the Battle on Israel.(39:21-29).
39:21-24. Two results will come from the battle: (1) the nations will see God’s glory; (2) Israel will turn back to her God. God’s spectacular defeat of Gog will force Israel to acknowledge His power.
39:25-29. The defeat of Gog will also quicken God’s plans to restore Israelites from other nations. Verses 25-29 look ahead to the end of the Tribulation, when God will restore the nation from her final dispersion. God will bring His chosen people back from captivity and will have compassion on all the people of Israel. God will show Himself holy through them, once again, acknowledging them as His people. He will also pour out His Spirit on the house of Israel. The ultimate result of the battle with Gog will be Israel’s national repentance and spiritual restoration. This will, ultimately, be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom.
May the Lord bless you and keep you as you await the Rapture, His coming in the air for His Church (1 Thess. 4:13-18).
By His Grace,
Gary T. Dromi, Ph.D., D.Min.
(NOTE: Some of this information has been taken from The Bible Knowledge Commentary,by Roy Zuck and John Walvoord).
