Tyndale Open Study NotesEzekiel 39

• In Ezekiel 37, the nation is reunited and lives in peace in its own land. In Ezekiel 38–39, this peaceful picture changes. A new danger appears. These chapters describe the attack, defeat, and removal of the final enemy, called Gog.

  Many readers have tried to identify Gog. Some have connected him with Gyges, king of Lydia, who ruled about 680 to 644 BC. However, the Gog described in the Bible goes beyond any one historical ruler. The text focuses less on who Gog is and more on the worldwide threat from the nations.

  Even this powerful enemy would not truly threaten God’s restored people. God was now living among them. Because of his presence, they were secure.

  These chapters use strong symbols. They are similar to psalms that speak about Zion’s safety (see, for example, Psalms 2, 46). The message is clear. If even a terrible enemy like Gog cannot defeat God’s people, then nothing in all creation can separate them from God’s protection.

• Ezekiel’s description of Gog also includes features of apocalyptic literature (a style of writing that uses symbols and dramatic images to describe God’s final victory over evil; see “Apocalyptic Literature” Theme Note).

I will turn you around, drive you along: The Lord will bring Gog against Israel to defeat him.

This terrible enemy, Gog, would be left helpless after his defeat.

His dead body would become food for vultures and wild animals. This was similar to what happened to Goliath (compare 1 Samuel 17:44–46).

Gog’s homeland would be destroyed.

The harm that his armies and his allies had planned for others would fall back on them. Those who felt safe would suffer the same destruction they had intended for others.

God's judgment on Gog will reveal his holy name. He once judged his own people for their sins to protect his reputation (Ezekiel 36:16–20). Now, he will defend his restored people and judge their enemies.

Israel would act only after Gog had been fully defeated and destroyed. Like some great battles in the past, the people would first watch the Lord fight for them. Then they would gather what was left behind (for example, 2 Kings 6:1–7:20; 2 Chronicles 20).

Fire from heaven would destroy Gog’s army. Only their wooden weapons would remain. Israel would use these weapons as firewood for seven years. In the Old Testament, the number seven often represents completeness.

Those who came to take goods from Israel would themselves be taken as goods. The attackers would lose everything. Their weapons would no longer be needed, because Israel’s final enemy had been destroyed.

The people needed to collect the plunder and bury the bodies of the dead soldiers. If left unburied, these corpses would defile the holy land, as touching a corpse made a person ritually unclean. There were so many bodies that they required a large graveyard, big enough to fill an entire valley, which would become known as the Valley of Hamon-gog.

So many people would die that all Israel would take part in cleaning the land for seven months.

Even after those seven months, more work would remain. Specially appointed workers would continue to search the land. When they found human bones, they would mark the place so the remains could be buried properly.

God would also gather birds and wild animals to remove the dead bodies.

This is described as a great sacrificial feast. The animals would feed on those who had been defeated.

In most sacrificial feasts, people eat animals that have been offered as sacrifices.

In this feast, the situation is reversed. Animals would eat the bodies of defeated enemies, as if they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls.

This scene is the opposite of the great banquet described in Isaiah 25:6. In that future feast, God’s people are invited to celebrate. Here, God’s enemies become the meal instead of the guests.

The Lord will show his glory throughout history.

He showed his glory when he punished Israel during the exile. This punishment came because of their sin and their uncleanness.

God would also show his glory by bringing his people home from exile in the lands of their enemies.

After he had fully carried out his judgment for their sins, he would gather them again. He would not leave even one person behind.

He would pour out his Spirit on the people of Israel. His Spirit would change them so they would not repeat their former sins. He would never again turn away from them.

God’s future favor toward his people was certain (compare Romans 8:31–39).