Ezequiel 39
John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
Ezequiel 39
MacArthur - This scene of the army’s ruin adds detail to Ezekiel 38:18-23 such as: 1) the disarming of soldiers (Ezek 39:3); 2) their fall in death (Ezek 39:4, 5); 3) the gorging of birds and beasts on the corpses (Ezek 39:4); 4) fire sent also on others besides the army (Ezek 39:6); and 5) burning of weapons by Israelites (Ezek 39:9, 10). Introductory Comments - The reader should understand that in my humble opinion Ezekiel 38-39 constitute some of the most difficult (if not the most difficult) prophecies in the entire Bible to interpret with confidence. One difficulty relates to the identity of the major characters in these two chapters, especially Gog and the various countries named. The other major question relates to the timing of these events. Without going into detail, Ezekiel 38-39 are recorded after Israel is reborn (Ezekiel 37), which has been partially fulfilled in our lifetime (May, 1948) and events in Ezekiel 40-48 which are best characterized as a description of the time of the Millennium. That said, the placement of the events in Ezekiel 38-39, suggest that they will occur between these two major events. In short, we certainly could be living in the time period in which the events of Ezekiel 38-39 might transpire. As we discuss these two chapters, our goal will be to observe the objective truths that are obvious. Comments that are more in the realm of "educated speculation" or "contextual supposition" will be interspersed, but must be taken with a healthy Berean-like mindset (Acts 17:11). Care will be taken to avoid dogmatic statements on passages that do not allow for such an interpretation. The reader should be aware that I will use a number of quotes from Joel Rosenberg, a Jewish believer who has written and talked frequently about prophetic events in the Middle East. In my opinion, Rosenberg strives to maintain objectivity and avoid sensationalism. Ezekiel 39:2 and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel.: KJV - 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 While this statement in the KJV suggests 5/6 of the invasion force will be destroyed, scholars are not agreed on the meaning of the original Hebrew construction. Most of the modern translations do not have any quantification (i.e., they lack any reference to "the sixth part.") And if one reads Ezek 39:4 literally, it says that 100% of Gog's troops and his allies will fall. In either case, the defeat of Israel's foe (by Jehovah) is complete. Drive...on - lead along, i.e., aggressively take one by the hand and cause to go to another place This is a repeat God's message to Gog in Ezekiel 38... Ezekiel 38:4 "I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords: Ezekiel 38:15 "You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army; Ezekiel 39:3 "I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand.: I will strike your bow - It is as if God stops Gog just as they are getting ready to let the arrows fly at Israel! Yes, God brought Gog, but Gog gladly came of his own volition and thus he is fully responsible for his evil actions. This is the mysterious juxtaposition of Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility. God called Nebuchadnezzar His servant in using Babylon to defeat and discipline Judah (Jer 25:9) and yet God still held Babylon responsible for their sinful actions against Israel (cf Jer 50:15, 24, 29, 51:56). Ezekiel 39:4 "You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field.: You will fall - Gog's army will be utterly defeated (all your troops). Holman Christian Study Bible - Ezekiel 39:4-9 is similar to Rev 19:17-18, perhaps referring to the same event. Ezekiel 39:5 "You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken," declares the Lord GOD.: For it is I Who have spoken - Notice the "for" (term of explanation) which explains why Gog's defeat and doom are a done deal! Ezekiel 39:6 "And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the LORD.: I will send fire upon Magog - The sending of fire is a common expression for divine judgment (Hos 8:14; Am 1:12). Not only are the invading forces destroyed, their homeland is also devastated by fire from God (presumably "fire and brimstone" as this is the only other contextual reference to fire). Send in the Septuagint is apostello which means to send forth and in the NT is used of men who were sent forth with a commission (apostle [apostolos], eg, Mt 11:10 speaks of God's messenger John the Baptist). In a sense the fire is God's "messenger" conveys the truth that He is LORD! Magog - see comments on Ezekiel 38:2 They will know that I am the LORD - The fire will be viewed as from a supernatural source, not "Mother Earth," but Father God! The fact that they will know suggests that the fire does not bring a complete destruction of the populace of Magog. Know (yada; Lxx uses = ginosko = know by experience) means the nations will know by observing and reflecting (thinking) and by experiencing these events - they will come to see and understand God is the One and Only Living and True God. This "revelation" of His character to the entire world suggests that this is at the end of this age and at the dawn of the "new age" of the Millennium, which would place these events in the last 7 years (Daniel's Seventieth Week - The Seven Year Period). This is of course not meant to be a dogmatic statement, but is presented for you to ponder. Will know that I am the LORD - most in Ezekiel - 59x in 59v in NAS - Ex 14:4, 18; Isa 49:23; Ezek 6:7, 10, 13, 14; 7:4, 27; 11:12; 12:15, 20; 13:14, 21, 23; 14:8; 15:7; 17:24; 20:38, 42, 44; 22:16; 23:49; 24:24, 27; 25:5, 7, 11, 17; 26:6; 28:22-24, 26; 29:6, 9, 16, 21; 30:8, 19, 25-26; 33:29; 34:27; 35:4, 9, 15; 36:11, 23, 38; 37:6, 13, 28; 38:23; 39:6-7, 22, 28; Joel 3:17-note Joel Rosenberg - The Lord also says “I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coast lands in safety.” (39:6) In other words, parts of Russia and other enemy countries will be devastated by fire from heaven. The Bible does not tell us exactly how this will happen, but it clearly describes a supernatural judgment. This is not a war started by the Israeli Defense Forces. These are not missiles from the Israeli Air Force. There no evidence in the text of Israelis defending themselves. Perhaps they are engaging in diplomacy. Perhaps they are hoping for the U.S. or the U.N. other nations to intervene. Whatever the case, the God of Israel steps in and defends Israel Himself, raining fire and brimstone down on the enemy forces and utterly destroying them. Ezekiel 39:7 "My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.: GOD'S HOLY NAME See: The Name of the LORD Summary My holy Name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel - So not only is God's Name glorified among the pagans but also among His Chosen People. How will His Name be made known among the nations? God's supernatural defense of Israel will be a clear demonstration to the watching world of His omnipotence over the power of men and nations. God's supernatural deliverance of Israel out of Egypt caused the pagan nations to know His fame and His Name... But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them (HOW?) by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. (Ezek 20:9) I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore - God's great Name will never again be profaned (Ezek 39:25; 20:9; 36:20-23; Ezek 43:7-9). Notice that the word anymore is an expression of time. It follows that this is an interesting prophetic promise by Yahweh, because it suggests that the events described in Ezekiel 38-39 will occur at the end of this age because only after this age will the Name of God not be profaned anymore. In other words in the Millennial reign God's Name will be the only Name. In other words if the battle of Gog were to occur prior to Daniel's Seventieth Week - The Seven Year Period, this statement would be invalid because God's name is clearly blasphemed during that seven year period and especially the last 3.5 years (The Great Tribulation). Name - "Unlike man's popular use of the term "name" as a label of reference, God's very essence is bound up in His "name." The invader, by his attack upon an innocent people, is profaning God's "name." Because of their helplessness, the people will know that God is their deliverer." (W A Criswell) Profaned (chalal - see word study) means to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt. The English word "profane" is derived from the Latin profanus which means "outside the temple, not sacred" and in turn is derived from pro- ‘before’ + fanum = ‘temple’. The Septuagint (Lxx) uses bebeloo (BDAG = "to cause something highly revered to become identified with the commonplace, violate sanctity, desecrate, profane." Bebeloo evolves from “accessible,” then “what may be said publicly,” then in the LXX “what may be used freely,” then “of a profane disposition”). The verb Bebeloo is derived from bebelos (see word study). Bebelos refers to a disregarding what is to be kept sacred or holy desecrate, violate, ritually defile. The meaning of this adjective is nicely conveyed by our English word profane which describes that which disregards what is to be kept sacred or holy. Bebelos thus describes that which is accessible to everyone and therefore devoid of real significance. Bebelos can thus describe that which is worldly as opposed to having an interest in transcendent (existing apart from and not subject to the limitations of the material universe) matters. To help you discern how God's Name was profaned, study the passages which mention God's Name and profane - Lev 18:21, Lev 19:12, Lev 20:3. Lev 21:6, Lev 22:2, Lev 22:32 (see context = Lev 22:31, Pr 30:9NLT, Jer 34:16 (Read context regarding breaking of a covenant - Jer 34:15, 17-20), Ezek 20:9 (see context Ezek 20:8), Ezek 20:14, 22, 39, Ezek 36:20, 21, 22, 23, Ezek 39:7, Amos 2:7. The nations will know that I am the LORD - Know is (yada; Lxx uses ginosko = know by experience) means the nations will know by observing and reflecting (thinking) and by experiencing these events - they will come to see and understand God is the One and Only Living and True God. Ezekiel 39:8 "Behold, it is coming and it shall be done," declares the Lord GOD. "That is the day of which I have spoken.: Behold (02005) (Hebrew = hen; Lxx uses idou = 2nd person singular aorist imperative, middle voice of eidon = perceive, look at) is an interjection demanding attention, "look!" "see!" It is used to emphasize the information which follows it. It is coming - The prophecy of Gog's attack on Israel. It shall be done - The prophecy will be fulfilled just as it has been recorded. Ezekiel 39:9 "Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them.: AN IRONIC REVERSAL: ISRAEL PLUNDERS THE PLUNDERERS! Then - This word is an important expression of time, especially in prophetic passages where it serves to marks what is next in order of time. The idea of then often is "soon afterward." After that. In the present context it is after Gog's attack has been squashed by God, now He enlists Israel's help for the first time. Israel is called to conduct a "mopping up" exercise as it were. Make fires - This recalls other passages where weapons of war were burned... Isa 9:5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. HCSB adds that this burning of remains of weapons and warriors "also harkens back to when the Israelites burned all that belonged to the Canaanites at the time of the conquest (Dt 7:2; 20:16-18; Jos 6:24)." Inhabit the cities of Israel - This fact is quite fascinating. Israel has just experienced a devastating earthquake and yet the cities have not crumbled to the ground. Our God is able to defend and shield His Chosen People from great devastation. David knew this attribute of His character declaring... For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. (Ps 27:5) How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble. (Ps 41:1) Indeed God tells all His children... And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me. (Ps 50:15) Dr Henry
Ezequiel 39
MacArthur - The Lord would answer their prayer, by returning the Jews to their land, cf. Daniel’s example and God’s response (Da 9:4–27). Fulfillment would occur in the era of Ezra and Nehemiah, and beyond this in even fuller measure after the Second Advent of their Messiah (cf. Da 2:35, 45; 7:13, 14, 27; 12:1–3, 13). Jeremiah 30:3-note ‘For, behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ The LORD says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers, and they shall possess it.’” Jeremiah 30:18-note “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob And have compassion on his dwelling places; And the city shall be rebuilt on its ruin, And the palace shall stand on its rightful place. Jeremiah 31:23-note Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Once again they will speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I restore their fortunes, ‘The LORD bless you, O abode of righteousness, O holy hill!’ Jeremiah 32:44-note 'Men will buy fields for money, sign and seal deeds, and call in witnesses in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland and in the cities of the Negev; for I will restore their fortunes,' declares the LORD." Jeremiah 33:7-note 'I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel and will rebuild them as they were at first. Jeremiah 33:11-note the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, “Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting”; and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the LORD. Jeremiah 33:26-note then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.'" Jeremiah 48:47 “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab In the latter days,” declares the LORD. Thus far the judgment on Moab. Jeremiah 49:6 “But afterward I will restore The fortunes of the sons of Ammon,” Declares the LORD. Jeremiah 49:39 ‘But it will come about in the last days That I shall restore the fortunes of Elam,’” Declares the LORD. Lamentations 2:14 Your prophets have seen for you False and foolish visions; And they have not exposed your iniquity So as to restore you from captivity, But they have seen for you false and misleading oracles. Ezekiel 16:53-note “Nevertheless, I will restore their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and along with them your own captivity, Ezekiel 29:14 “And I shall turn the fortunes of Egypt and shall make them return to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin; and there they will be a lowly kingdom. Ezekiel 39:25-note Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Now I shall restore the fortunes of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I shall be jealous for My holy name. Hosea 6:11 Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, When I restore the fortunes of My people. Joel 3:1-note “For behold, in those days and at that time, When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, Amos 9:14 “Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them, They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit. Zephaniah 2:7 And the coast will be For the remnant of the house of Judah, They will pasture on it. In the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down at evening; For the LORD their God will care for them And restore their fortune. Zephaniah 3:20-note “At that time I will bring you in, Even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I will give you renown and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” Says the LORD. David