1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that [is] with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and [to] the beasts of the field to be devoured.
5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken [it], saith the Lord GOD.
6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.
7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not [let them] pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I [am] the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this [is] the day whereof I have spoken.
9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:
10 So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down [any] out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the [noses] of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call [it] The valley of Hamongog.
12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.
13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury [them]; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.
14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
15 And the passengers [that] pass through the land, when [any] seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog.
16 And also the name of the city [shall be] Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.
17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, [even] a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.
18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
19 And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.
20 Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.
21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
22 So the house of Israel shall know that I [am] the LORD their God from that day and forward.
23 And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.
24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made [them] afraid.
27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
28 Then shall they know that I [am] the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
Overview of Ezekiel Chapter 39
Ezekiel 39 is a prophetic chapter that focuses on the ultimate defeat of Gog and the restoration of Israel. It presents a vivid portrayal of God’s judgment against the enemies of Israel and emphasizes themes of divine retribution, restoration, and the reaffirmation of God’s covenant with His people.
Key Themes
- Divine Judgment: The chapter emphasizes God’s power to judge nations and individuals who oppose Him and His people.
- Restoration of Israel: It highlights God’s promise to restore Israel, both spiritually and physically, after their trials.
- Covenant Faithfulness: The chapter reaffirms God’s commitment to His covenant with Israel, ensuring their future security and prosperity.
Structure of the Chapter
- Prophecy Against Gog (Verses 1-6):
God declares His intention to bring Gog, the leader of a coalition of nations, to judgment. This section emphasizes the certainty of Gog’s defeat and the divine intervention that will occur.
- Destruction of Gog’s Forces (Verses 7-10):
God will make His name known among the nations through the destruction of Gog. The spoils of war will be used to benefit the people of Israel, signifying their restoration.
- Burial of Gog (Verses 11-16):
The chapter describes the burial of Gog and his armies in a valley, symbolizing their complete defeat and the end of their threat to Israel.
- God’s Glory Revealed (Verses 17-21):
God calls for the birds and beasts to feast on the fallen armies, illustrating the totality of the destruction and the glory of God being revealed through these events.
- Restoration of Israel (Verses 22-29):
The final verses speak of the restoration of Israel, where God will pour out His Spirit on His people, leading them to recognize His sovereignty and faithfulness.
Detailed Analysis
Verses 1-6: Prophecy Against Gog
In these opening verses, God directly addresses Gog, indicating that He will turn him back and bring him down. This sets the tone for the chapter, establishing that the battle is not just a physical confrontation but a spiritual one, where God is the ultimate victor. The phrase “I will send fire on Magog” signifies divine judgment not only against Gog but also against his allies, reinforcing the idea of comprehensive judgment against those who oppose God’s people.
Verses 7-10: Destruction and Spoils
God’s name will be sanctified among the nations through this act of judgment. The spoils of Gog’s armies will be used to benefit the people of Israel, indicating a shift in fortunes. This serves as a metaphor for the reversal of Israel’s situation, where they will no longer be victims but beneficiaries of God’s justice.
Verses 11-16: Burial of Gog
The burial of Gog in a valley called “the valley of those who pass by” symbolizes the utter defeat and disgrace of the enemy. The extensive burial process described emphasizes the thoroughness of God’s judgment, leaving no trace of Gog’s power. This act serves as a warning to all nations about the consequences of opposing God.
Verses 17-21: God’s Glory Revealed
In a dramatic imagery, God calls for birds and beasts to feast on the slain, showcasing the totality of the destruction. This imagery serves to highlight God’s sovereignty over all creation, as even the natural world participates in the divine judgment. The gathering of nations to witness this event underscores the public nature of God’s glory being revealed.
Verses 22-29: Restoration of Israel
The chapter concludes with a powerful promise of restoration for Israel. God will pour out His Spirit upon them, leading to a renewed relationship characterized by recognition of His sovereignty. This restoration is not merely physical but spiritual, indicating a deep transformation within the hearts of the people. The final verses serve as a reminder of God’s faithfulness to His covenant, ensuring that Israel will never again be forsaken.
Conclusion
Ezekiel 39 encapsulates a profound message of hope and judgment. It reassures Israel of God’s unwavering commitment to their future while simultaneously serving as a stark warning to those who oppose Him. The chapter is a testament to the power of divine intervention and the ultimate triumph of God’s purposes in history.
