Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 38:20

20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowles 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.

Here is a lofty strain indeed, giving us the description of the tokens of God's presence against his Enemies, the effects of his displeasure against them are seen on all the Creatures sensible, that their maker is angry, though they know not with whom, or for what: if to be interpreted literally, we shall find some parallels, when our God marcht before Israel through the Red Sea as the waters, so the Fishes saw trembled, and fled. Psal. 77.16, 19. when he breaketh the Cedars, Psal. 29.6. and discovers the Forrests the Birds that make their nests there, shake at his presence and power. When Sinai trembled, Lebanon, and Sirion skipt like a young Unicorn, the creeping things in them no doubt shook, and the Beasts, feeding on them, did no less. Psal. 29.6. But men apprehensive of God's displeasure, and shaken with their own guilt, shall much more shake. But▪ I think, it is a very elegant allusive description of those strange troubles, and consternation of minds in men at that day, and so metaphorically to be understood. Mountains may be great ones, or, possibly, when God comes to judge Gog, he will by his mighty power give the world so great a shake, that shall be preface to his dreadful judgment day.

Marginal references: Hos. 4.3.; Or, towres, or, stai[illegible: 1 letter]e[illegible: 1 letter].