Ezekiel Chapter 38

Ezekiel 38

The Defeat of Gog and Defense of Israel

Ezekiel 38 follows the restoration promises of Ezekiel 36–37. Israel has been gathered, restored to the land, and pictured as a living nation under God’s covenant purpose. Now Ezekiel sees a future invasion against restored Israel by Gog, of the land of Magog, leading a vast northern confederacy with allies from every direction. This attack comes in the latter years, against Israel dwelling in the land after being gathered from the nations. Gog comes with evil intent, seeking spoil and conquest, but the LORD draws him out in order to defeat him publicly and sanctify His name before the nations. The uploaded notes emphasize the difficulty of identifying Gog and Magog, the far-northern character of the invasion, the evil motive of plunder, the timing in the latter days, and the supernatural judgment by which God defends Israel and makes Himself known.

A. Yahweh draws Gog to attack Israel.

1. Ezekiel 38:1-3, God against Gog of the land of Magog.

Ezekiel 38:1, And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 38:2, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

Ezekiel 38:3, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

The word of the LORD came unto me shows that this prophecy is not speculation from Ezekiel. The subject is difficult, and many have debated the identity of Gog, Magog, Meshech, Tubal, and the timing of this war. Yet the prophecy itself begins with the word of the LORD. God knows the enemies of Israel before they arise, and He declares their defeat before they attack.

Set thy face against Gog means Ezekiel is commanded to turn in prophetic opposition against a future ruler. Gog is a person or title of a ruler, while Magog is connected to his land or people. Unlike Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Edom, Moab, or Tyre, Gog appears as a strange and future enemy, not one of Israel’s familiar ancient opponents.

The land of Magog takes us back to the table of nations, where Magog is listed among the sons of Japheth.

Genesis 10:1, Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.

Genesis 10:2, The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

Magog is also listed in Chronicles.

1 Chronicles 1:5, The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

The chief prince of Meshech and Tubal identifies Gog as ruler over peoples associated with the regions north of Israel. Meshech and Tubal were also sons of Japheth in Genesis 10. The exact modern identification is debated. Some connect these peoples with regions in or near modern Turkey and the broader Black Sea/Caspian area. Others have historically tried to connect the names with Russia, Moscow, or Tobolsk, but sound similarity alone is not enough to prove that. What the text makes clear is that this is a far-northern hostile power leading a major confederacy against Israel.

Prophesy against him means Gog is under divine indictment before he even acts. The LORD knows his future rebellion and commands Ezekiel to announce judgment.

Behold, I am against thee, O Gog is the central reality. Gog may gather a vast coalition, but the LORD Himself is against him. This is the same dreadful formula used against other proud enemies of God’s people. When God says, I am against thee, no army, alliance, geography, wealth, or strategy can save.

Thus saith the Lord GOD gives the prophecy its authority. Gog’s future assault on Israel will not be settled by human military power alone. It will be settled by the sovereign word of the Lord GOD.

2. Ezekiel 38:4-6, God promises to turn and pull Gog to attack Israel.

Ezekiel 38:4, And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all-thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with-bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:

Ezekiel 38:5, Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:

Ezekiel 38:6, Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands:-and many people with thee.

I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws shows God’s sovereignty over Gog. Gog will have his own evil motives, but God will overrule those motives and draw him into judgment. The picture is of a beast being hooked and dragged where God wants him to go.

This same imagery was used of Pharaoh in Egypt.

Ezekiel 29:3, Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of-Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine-own, and I have made it for myself.

Ezekiel 29:4, But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to-stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the-fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.

As God dragged Pharaoh out of his rivers, He will draw Gog out of his place. Human pride becomes the hook by which God brings rebels to judgment.

I will bring thee forth, and all thine army means Gog will not come alone. He comes with a massive military force.

Horses and horsemen describes swift military power in terms Ezekiel and his hearers would understand. The prophecy communicates a mobile, equipped, organized invasion force.

All of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords emphasizes the size, readiness, and military confidence of Gog’s army. They come prepared for conquest, but not prepared for the LORD.

Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them identifies major allied powers. Persia corresponds to the ancient region associated with modern Iran. Ethiopia is Cush, south of Egypt. Libya is Put, west of Egypt. These allies show a broad coalition reaching in multiple directions around Israel.

Persia was later known as a great empire in Daniel’s day.

Daniel 10:13, But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael,-one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

All of them with shield and helmet means the allies are also armed and ready for war.

Gomer, and all his bands likely points to peoples from the north or northwest, often connected with the Cimmerians or regions around Asia Minor and the Black Sea area.

The house of Togarmah of the north quarters also points northward, often associated with regions near Armenia or eastern Anatolia.

And many people with thee shows the coalition is larger than the named nations alone. Gog leads a broad confederacy. The list gives the impression of a complete and surrounding hostility against Israel.

3. Ezekiel 38:7-9, Magog’s armies come into the land of Israel.

Ezekiel 38:7, Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and-be thou a guard unto them.

Ezekiel 38:8, After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is-brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been-always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

Ezekiel 38:9, Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou,-and all thy bands, and many people with thee.

Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself is spoken ironically and sovereignly. Gog is told to prepare because his invasion will serve God’s purpose. He thinks he is preparing for victory, but he is preparing for judgment.

Thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee shows the gathering of the coalition. Many peoples will assemble under Gog’s leadership.

Be thou a guard unto them means Gog functions as leader, protector, and commander of the coalition. He is the organizing head of this hostile confederacy.

After many days thou shalt be visited places the prophecy in the future, distant from Ezekiel’s immediate time. This is not a near-term Babylonian event.

In the latter years gives the eschatological setting. This invasion belongs to the latter years, the closing phase of God’s prophetic dealings as history moves toward the kingdom. The exact placement is debated, but the text clearly pushes the event far beyond Ezekiel’s day.

Similar language can point to the latter days of God’s prophetic plan.

Daniel 8:26, And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the-vision; for it shall be for many days.

Hosea 3:4, For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and-without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

Hosea 3:5, Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king;-and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword means Gog attacks a restored Israel. Israel had suffered the sword, exile, and desolation, but God brought the nation back.

Gathered out of many people connects directly to Ezekiel 36–37. The invasion happens after Israel has been gathered from the nations.

Ezekiel 36:24, For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring-you into your own land.

Ezekiel 37:21, And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from-among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their-own land:

Against the mountains of Israel again emphasizes the literal land. Gog invades the actual mountains of Israel, the same mountains addressed in Ezekiel 36.

Which have been always waste means the land had endured long desolation and reproach.

But it is brought forth out of the nations means the people have returned from exile and dispersion.

They shall dwell safely all of them indicates the condition of Israel at the time of the attack. Gog comes when Israel is dwelling in security. The exact nature and timing of that security is debated, but it is clearly part of the prophetic setting.

Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm pictures sudden, overwhelming invasion. Gog comes violently and destructively.

Thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land means the army will be massive, dark, and threatening. The land will seem covered by the invading force.

Thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee repeats the size of the confederacy. This is not a small border raid. It is a massive international assault on Israel.

4. Ezekiel 38:10-13, Gog’s evil plan.

Ezekiel 38:10, Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things-come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:

Ezekiel 38:11, And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to-them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

Ezekiel 38:12, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that-are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods,-that dwell in the midst of the land.

Ezekiel 38:13, Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto-thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away-silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

At the same time shall things come into thy mind shows Gog’s personal responsibility. God draws Gog out, but Gog is not innocent. The evil rises in his own mind.

Thou shalt think an evil thought means Gog’s plan is morally wicked. The invasion is not righteous judgment. It is aggressive, greedy, and hostile to God’s people.

This shows the compatibility of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. God pulls Gog by His sovereign purpose, yet Gog acts from his own evil thought.

I will go up to the land of unwalled villages means Gog sees Israel as vulnerable. He assumes the people are exposed and easy to conquer.

I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely means he chooses the timing because Israel appears secure and peaceful. Gog sees opportunity.

All of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates describes confidence and safety. In ancient terms, unwalled villages were defenseless. Gog thinks Israel is an easy target.

To take a spoil, and to take a prey gives Gog’s motive. He wants plunder. His campaign is driven by greed and conquest.

To turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited means Gog targets the restored land. What was once waste has become inhabited again, and he wants to seize it.

Upon the people that are gathered out of the nations again identifies Israel as a regathered people. This is the restored Israel of Ezekiel 36–37.

Which have gotten cattle and goods means Israel has prosperity. Gog comes not only because he hates Israel, but because he sees wealth.

That dwell in the midst of the land is literally connected with the center or navel of the land. Israel’s land is central in God’s purposes for the world.

Earlier Ezekiel described Jerusalem’s central place.

Ezekiel 5:5, Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations-and countries that are round about her.

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof represent trading powers that observe the invasion. They do not appear as defenders of Israel. They question Gog’s motive and may look on with commercial interest.

Art thou come to take a spoil? means the nations recognize the greed behind Gog’s invasion.

Hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? repeats the charge. The coalition is gathered for plunder.

To carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? shows that the watching nations understand the economic motive. Gog’s war is a war of greed.

5. Ezekiel 38:14-17, Gog will come upon God’s people Israel.

Ezekiel 38:14, Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day-when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?

Ezekiel 38:15, And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee,-all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:

Ezekiel 38:16, And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it-shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me,-when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

Ezekiel 38:17, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants-the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?

In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely again identifies the target and condition. Israel is called my people, and they are dwelling safely. Gog’s attack is not merely against a nation; it is against God’s covenant people.

Shalt thou not know it? means Gog becomes aware of Israel’s condition and sees an opportunity.

Thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts places Gog’s origin in the far north relative to Israel. This is one of the clearest geographic markers in the chapter.

Thou, and many people with thee repeats the confederate character of the invasion.

All of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army again describes the force in the military language of Ezekiel’s day. The meaning is a swift, organized, and powerful invasion.

Thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land shows the overwhelming appearance of the attack. The army covers the land like a dark cloud.

It shall be in the latter days repeats the timing. This attack belongs to the latter days, not Ezekiel’s immediate historical horizon.

I will bring thee against my land is another central phrase. Gog comes by evil motive, but God brings him by sovereign purpose. Also, the land is called my land. Gog is not merely invading Israeli territory; he is coming against the land that belongs to the LORD.

That the heathen may know me gives the divine purpose. God will use Gog’s invasion and defeat to reveal Himself to the nations.

When I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes means God will show Himself holy through judgment on Gog. The nations will see that the LORD defends His people and His land.

Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel connects Gog’s invasion with earlier prophetic expectations of a final hostile gathering against God’s people.

Joel speaks of nations gathered for judgment.

Joel 3:9, Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of-war draw near; let them come up:

Joel 3:10, Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

Joel 3:11, Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty-ones to come down, O LORD.

Joel 3:12, Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will-I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

Joel 3:13, Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press-is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

Joel 3:14, Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the-valley of decision.

Joel 3:15, The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

Joel 3:16, The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the-earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children-of Israel.

Zechariah also speaks of nations gathered against Jerusalem and the LORD fighting for His people.

Zechariah 12:2, Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they-shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:3, And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves-with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Zechariah 14:2, For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses-rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue-of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Zechariah 14:3, Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of-battle.

Which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them shows that Gog’s invasion fits within the larger prophetic pattern of final hostility against Israel and God’s decisive intervention.

B. The promise of judgment against Gog.

1. Ezekiel 38:18-20, God’s fury against Gog in a great earthquake.

Ezekiel 38:18, And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel,-saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.

Ezekiel 38:19, For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there-shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;

Ezekiel 38:20, So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the-field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face-of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall-fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

When Gog shall come against the land of Israel means the LORD’s response is triggered by Gog’s invasion of Israel. Gog thought Israel was an easy target, but he will meet the fury of God.

My fury shall come up in my face uses vivid human language to describe divine anger. God’s patience with enemies who seek to destroy Israel will end. His wrath will be publicly displayed.

In my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken shows that God acts out of covenant zeal. His jealousy is for His name, His land, and His people. His wrath burns against Gog’s arrogance.

God had spoken similarly in defense of Israel’s land in Ezekiel 36.

Ezekiel 36:5, Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the-residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy-of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.

Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel means God will judge Gog through a mighty earthquake. The land itself will shake under the presence and wrath of the LORD.

Earthquakes often accompany divine judgment and the manifestation of God’s power.

Psalm 18:7, Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he-was wroth.

Isaiah 29:6, Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with-storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things means the shaking will affect the created order. The judgment is not private or hidden.

And all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence means humanity will be terrified before the manifested presence of God. This is more than military defeat. It is divine intervention.

The mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground means everything that seems stable will collapse. Gog’s army will not be able to depend on terrain, fortification, or human strength. God will shake the battlefield and display His power.

2. Ezekiel 38:21-23, God’s judgment against Gog.

Ezekiel 38:21, And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every-man’s sword shall be against his brother.

Ezekiel 38:22, And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and-upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire,-and brimstone.

Ezekiel 38:23, Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many-nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains means the LORD summons judgment against Gog in the mountains of Israel. The battlefield belongs to God. They are my mountains.

Every man’s sword shall be against his brother means confusion and internal slaughter will break out among Gog’s forces. The coalition that came united against Israel will turn on itself.

God has used this kind of judgment before, causing enemies to destroy one another.

Judges 7:22, And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow,-even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of-Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

1 Samuel 14:20, And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle:-and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.

2 Chronicles 20:22, And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon,-Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

2 Chronicles 20:23, For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay-and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to-destroy another.

I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood means God will enter into judgment against Gog. The word plead carries the idea of legal contention or judgment. Pestilence and bloodshed become instruments of divine justice.

I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him means the judgment falls not only on Gog personally, but on the entire confederacy.

An overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone recalls earlier judgments of God. The LORD uses storm, hail, fire, and brimstone to overwhelm His enemies.

God rained fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 19:24, Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

God used hail against Egypt.

Exodus 9:23, And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire-ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

Exodus 9:24, So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like-it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

God used great hailstones against the Amorites.

Joshua 10:11, And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to-Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died:-they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

Zechariah also connects final judgment with plague and panic among the enemies of Jerusalem.

Zechariah 14:12, And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem;-Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes,-and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

Zechariah 14:13, And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be-among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall-rise up against the hand of his neighbour.

Thus will I magnify myself means God will make His greatness visible. Gog comes to magnify himself through conquest, but God will magnify Himself through Gog’s defeat.

And sanctify myself means God will show Himself holy. His holiness will be displayed in judgment, in covenant faithfulness, and in defense of His people.

I will be known in the eyes of many nations means the result will be international. The nations will not be able to dismiss this as ordinary war. They will see the hand of the LORD.

They shall know that I am the LORD closes the chapter with Ezekiel’s central theme. The defeat of Gog will reveal Yahweh to Israel, to Gog’s coalition, and to the nations.

Ezekiel 38 teaches that restored Israel will face a future attack from Gog and his vast confederacy in the latter days. Gog will come from the far north with many allies, including Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer, and Togarmah. He will attack Israel when the people have been gathered from the nations and are dwelling safely in the land. His motive will be evil: spoil, prey, silver, gold, cattle, goods, and conquest. Yet behind Gog’s evil plan stands the sovereign purpose of God, who will draw Gog out in order to judge him. When Gog comes against the land of Israel, the LORD’s fury will rise. He will shake the land with a great earthquake, turn the invaders’ swords against one another, and judge them with pestilence, blood, overflowing rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. The purpose is clear: God will magnify Himself, sanctify Himself, and make Himself known in the eyes of many nations. Gog attacks Israel, but he meets the LORD.