Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 39

1 THerefore, thou son of man, prophesie against Gog, and say, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

Vid. chap. 38. ver. 2, 3. where this whole verse is unfolded.

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.

See chap. 38. ver. 4. let, g. or else, when Gog, or his Assistants shall go into their Countreys to compose disorders risen since this enterprise was set on foot, they shall return to the rest of the Confederates.

Some read, as our Margin notes, I will draw thee back with a hook of six teeth, alluding to the drawing fish out of the water: Others, I will strike thee with six plagues, others, I will kill five of six, and leave but the sixth part of thee, let me conjecture too, I will leave in thy Countrey, but one in six, and I will bring forth thy people with thee in so great numbers, that five of six shall march on this expedition, this runs more complyant with what follows

By his alwise providence God will dispose things so, that Gog shall deliberately choose this expedition, so God will bring him, as chap. 38.4.

Vid. chap. 38. ver. 15. let. t.

See chap. 38. ver. 4.

See chap. 38. ver. 8. let. k. and ver. 21. let. t.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word] with six [illegible: 1 word] or, [illegible: 1 span] book of [illegible: 1 word] as chap. 3[illegible: 1 letter].[illegible: 1 letter]; Heb. [illegible: 1 word] the north.

3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and I will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.

Make thy hand weak, not able to hold the bow, and thy heart faint, not daring to take it up again.

What is said of the bow rendred useless, is to be understood of all other Weapons of War, this one kind the Bow being most in use with these Scythians, is mentioned for all the rest.

The hand for holding the bow, while the right fits the arrow to the string, and draws to shoot.

Thou shalt throw away thine arrows that thou mayest the better fly for escape.

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 to the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured .

Thy Army shall be overthrown, and slain.

Gog himself the leader of this Army.

Thine own Souldiers, the old, trained Souldiers.

The several of the Nations, that had joyned in this enterprise with Gog.

Their Carcasses unburied shall be torn, and mangled by every ravenous bird of the Air.

Wild beasts, that range over the mountains for their prey shall eat them.

So many of them shall be denied a burial see a like place. chap. 32.4, 5.

Marginal references: chap. [illegible: 2 letters]; Heb. [illegible: 2 letters]; Heb. [illegible: 1 span].

5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God.

See chap. 16. ver. 5. let. y. and chap. 32. ver. 4. let. s. and chap. 29.5.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] the f[illegible: 1 letter]ll.

6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessely in the Isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

By an unusual judgement from God.

Either civil dissensions, as Egypt was consumed by, as chap. 30.16. Or else the destroying pestilence, which alwayes carrieth with it a burning distemper, or Fever. Or that Fire, and Brimstone mentioned, chap. 38.22. Or whatever this Fire was, it should devour, and lay desolate.

Who perhaps thought their scituation would be their safety, though Gog fell on the Land, the Ships, and Isles might escape not so, for the same hand will send the Fire on the Isles, and their inhabitants, which sent it on Gog, possibly the Tyrians, and Sidonians may be aimed at.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word]

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 he heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the holy one in Israel.

The destruction threatned against the wicked for their enmity against holiness, being executed, manifest, that God is holy, and the protection of such. Or, Holy name, for that he does in his Oath swear by his Holiness. So his Faithfulness is here commended, and illustrated.

I'le give them that new spirit, that due sense of my mercy, they shall not as formerly, prophane my name among the Heathen, Ezek. 20.9. let. c.

See chap. 38. ver. 23. let. b.

In verse 6th. the Judgements executed on Gog make God known in the midst of the Heathen, here they make him known among his own people, in both glorious.

8 ¶ Behold, it is come and it is done, saith the Lord GOD: this is the day whereof I have spoken .

This Prophesie to be fulfilled in the destruction of Gog, rescue of Gods People, and magnifying the name of God.

As sure as if already come. Or as if already done, nor shall it be too long, ere in effect, and fully it shall be done.

That notable day of recompences against the last great Enemies of Christ and the Church.

By Ezekiel now, and by others. See chap. 38. ver. 17. let. g. h. i.

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 hand staves and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years.

Out of their Houses and out of the Cities, with joy to see, and admire the great goodness of God towards them, and the greatness of his power against their Enemies.

This expression seems to intimate that they should burn these things in the open Field, or Mountains, where they found them, here is no mention made of the carrying any into City or Houses to burn in their Chimneys, it may be they should make those fires intoken of Joy.

The warlike Provision, Instruments, Engines, Carriages, and Waggons, &c. as well as those recounted.

Vid. chap. 38. ver. 4. let. o.

That either their Leaders used, like our half Pikes, or perhaps such as they cast like darts at the Enemy.

It may be wondered they burn these Weapons, which might be of use to them for defence and safety, but 'twas done, partly, because they were Weapons of the uncircumcised, partly because they were Anathemata as all Iericho was, but chiefly in testimony, that God was their safety and defence, on which they relyed, and would ever since he had so wonderfully delivered.

We might read the words thus, they shall kindle with them a fire of seven years, and then the sense would be plain, that there should be such store of Weapons, and warlike Utensils that heapt together, they would last so long, being cast into the fire still by such as found them, for its not unlike they gathered up the Weapons, as they did scattered bones on their walks, as they did light on them. Other tell us, 'tis a certain number for an uncertain, others that 'tis somewhat a proverbial speech, they shall have enough by the spoil of the Enemy to make them and keep them warm, much as we sometimes say of one well provided, he is a warm Gentleman, and some others tell us, 'tis an expression of the Jews, who love to use this number in extraordinary cases, though they intend not precisely the same, as we say of a thing delay'd 'twill be seven years ere it come, or of a thing that will serve us a good while, 'twill last seven years. Or else, since the Hebrew hath not a distinct way of declaring what might be, or the Potential mode as the Latin, but they express possible by future, and say, that shall be, which we express by that may be, the meaning of these futures, they shall, in this and the next verse, is no more, then they may or might burn for seven years, and so Kimchi glosseth it as to countenance this last ghesse. They shall be sufficient, and in such a Countrey, where the need of fire is much less then with us, it will not seem very incredible, that the warlike Utensils of so numerous an Army might be enough to furnish them with fewel for so many years, or more.

Marginal references: Or, javelins.; Or, make a fire of them.

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.

Heb. And they shall not, &c.

This, as noted before, taken Potentially, or speaking what they might, not what they eventually should do, such store of fuel from the Weapons, and Utensils of War left by these Gogites, that the Jews will not need to go to the Forests to cut down Wood. Or else comparatively, as some will, what they shall need to fetch from the Forests shall be nothing in comparison to what they were wont to fetch.

They may if they will, 'tis not preceptive, to make it duty, nor doth it necessarily determin, that they must, but there were and would be for all that time, who would be burning these Weapons, and save the labour and cost of buying, and fetching Wood, and these, who should do this, I would look for among the poorer sort.

Strip the dead, rifle their Waggons, and Tents, searching what they may find of value and use, in which tis likely, the poor among the Jews would be earliest, and most diligent.

The Army of Gog, and his Followers.

'Twas not Theft or Robbery in the Iews to do this, though 'twas Robbery in Gog and his Company to spoil the Iews, but for decorum of the phrase, the Prophet useth the same word in both cases.

11 ¶ And it shall come to pass, at 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 Hamon Gog.

When God shall have destroyed this Prince, and his formidable Army.

And to many of those, were with him, for some were ver. 4. given to the Birds and Beasts to be devoured.

Beside many other reasons for burying these slaughtered multudes, the humanity that Religion is full of, would guide the Iews to it, and God tells us, that Gog shall have a grave in Israel. He came to take possession and so he shall, but not as he purposed and hoped, but as God intended, Gog shall possesse his house of darkness in that Land, which he invaded to make a prey of. He shall have one place there, a grave as the Hebrew.

This Valley hath here its name, and scituation, the name from the frequent Travels of passengers through it from Egypt, and Arabia Felix into the more Northern parts, and from these again into Egypt and Arabia.

By its scituation 'tis on the Eastside of the Dead Sea, to distinguish it from the Valley, that is on this side Iordan Westward, in which is Dotham. Now in this Valley did the Iews discomfit the Ammonites, Moabites, Tyrians, and Sidonians, 1 Macc. 5. c. This might be a Type, or first fruits, and assurance of this great victory, but no more; for this was of a few against a few, and in this fight of some, but [illegible: 1 letter]ew fell, &c.

The stink of the putrifying Carcasses should make Travellers stop their Noses, offended with the ill smells.

Partly in doing the office of humanity, though to dead Enemies, and let their Enemies live, who would not (for want of others) be so civil to them when dead, but chiefly to remove the nuissance of Eye and Nose, and to prevent diseases, that rise many times from such smells.

This Prince whoever 'tis, shall there fall, and be buried with his multitude,

This shall give name to the Valley, which is to be called the Valley of Hamon Gog, which appellation I do not know to be given to any Valley as yet, probably because this Prophesie is not yetfully accomplisht.

Marginal references: Or, grave.; Or, months.; i. e. the multitude of Gog.

12 And seven moneths shall the house of Israel be burying of them , that they may cleanse the land .

Many of the house of Israel, some voluntarily, others by appointment.

A little time would not suffice to bury so great multitude, make what haste they could.

Not in a legal sense, but in a natural, to clear the Land of hurtful stinks.

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.

That dwell there about, or all, that came out to resist, and fight with this Army.

The house of Israel.

A commendation, matter of praise, that did like men, bury the dead, who otherwise must have been all dung on the face of the Earth, and the swelling Hill rising from their buried bones, shall be a Monument to the praise of Israel's Courtesie.

Or else thus, the day of my being glorified shall be a renown to Israel, as indeed 'tis an honour to be owned of God, so when God shews he owneth such, he gives them honour among all that observe it.

Marginal references: In the deliverance of Israel, and in the destruction of Gog by my wonderful power, in my just zeal against mine Enemies, and for my People.

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 moneths shall they search.

The Rulers in Israel.

Choose out men who shall make it their work.

To go up and down over the whole Land, for many of Gogs wounded, flying Souldiers died in Thickets, and by corners into which they crept, when they could go no farther.

Whose assistance they would desire of courtesie, or command by order, and that with reason, all this care and labour for burying the dead tending to their good, that they might unoffended travel whether they were going.

Unburied by the publick labour of the house of Israel during the seven moneths.

A legal cleansing, if refered to Antio[illegible: 1 letter]hus Epiphanes times, but not so with those, that refer it to a season not yet come; for all legal Ceremonies are ended, when Gog's Army shall be destroyed and buried, the Land shall be cleansed from the ste[illegible: 1 letter]ch and noisomness of these Carcasses.

These Officers begin their work after the first seven moneths are expired, for during the seven months there would be work for all of them to bury the dead, and slain of Gog's Army.

Marginal references: Heb. men of continuance.

15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a mans bone , then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamon Gog.

Order should be taken to inform Travellers, if they lighted on any bone, or bones of men, as they journeyed, that they were desired to set up some mark at them, that thereby the publick Officers appointed to gather and bury them, might find and carry those bones to the common burying place.

Many of Gogs Souldiers were torn by Beasts, which if some of the greater Beasts did, the lesser could not break and devour the bones, but with the flesh these were dragged about by Beasts, or scattered by the Eagles, and Vultures, and so lay divided from the body; of these the Prophet speaks.

Marginal references: Heb. bul[illegible: 2 letters].; Or, the mu[illegible: 1 letter]titude of Gog.

16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah: thus shall they cleanse the land.

Either, which is next to this common Tomb of Gog, as most likely, or the City Ierusalem, whose people, delivered, sanctified, grateful, and magnified in the eyes of the Nations by the wonderful mercy of their God shall be called by way of eminence, The People, or Her People, Hamonah.

Marginal references: Or, that is, the multitude.

17 And thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; speak unto every feathered fowl , and to every beast of the field; Assemble your selves , and come; gather your selves 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 .

Though they understand not thy word, yet speak, for they will understand my word, which shall go out with thine.

To all sorts of carnivorous birds, every kind of those, that eat flesh.

That are for the prey, little or great which either by craft, or power get their food out of the flesh of others.

Come in whole Companies, flocks and herds too, and this repeated twice more, come gather your selves, they have an earnest invitation, from all sides.

When sacrifices were offered, there usually was a feast to the Priest the sacrificer, and for what guests were invited, now God is about to make such, he invites his guests, resolved to entertain them plentifully.

The punishment of these God calls [illegible: 1 word] Sacrifice, which he doth offer, i. e. to his own Justice, to satisfie that.

It was for higher ends, yet since God intends to fill them with the flesh and blood of it, he is pleased to tell them, he hath slain for their entertainment.

Where more thousands are offered at once, then ever were at any time offered, 'tis a Sacrifice so great, that none ever was, or will be like.

The land of Canaan.

The flesh of the sacrifice.

And the blood of it, this was entertainment fitting these invited guests.

Marginal references: Heb. to the fowl of every wing.; Isa. 18.6. and 34.16. Jer. 12.9. Zeph. 1.7. Rev. 19.17.; Or, slaughter.

18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty , and drink the bloud of the princes of the earth, of rams , or lambs , and of goats , of bullocks , all of them fatlings of Bashan .

Who had great authority, great courage and strength the giantlike ones, Commanders of great note in the Army▪

Many Princes came with their Countrey men, and subjects to assist in this War whose blood these Fowls should drink, and these compared to

Rams which lead the flock.

Lambs are the more ordinary in the Army.

Great Goats as the Hebrew denoteth▪ and these signifie the more lascivious, and impetuous among them.

Such as though more slow, were of great strength.

Well fed, 'twas no lean sacrifice made.

A mountain of most rich, and sweet soil, and that fed the best of any.

In these two, and the two following verses, God takes on him the person of one, that makes a Feast, invites his guests, and promiseth to satisfie them. Of the two former, the first is an Aenigmatical invitation, or an invitation in a riddle, the latter is the Key to this character.

Marginal references: Heb. great goats.

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.

Accounted best, and which shall here be plentiful.

None should fray them away, nor should any devour so much as to leave others hungry.

Vid. ver. 17. let. c. d.

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.

In the Field where Gog, his Princes and Army are slain compared to a Table.

Horse put for Horsemen, not common foot Souldiers.

For the men that ride in them.

Vid. ver. 18. l[illegible: 1 letter]t. [illegible: 1 letter].

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.

I will advance and continue.

The glory of power, justice and wisdom against Enemies, and of power, mercy, and faithfulness, with wisdom toward his people.

Among whom my name was evil spoken of, they eclipsed, but God will clear up his glory.

That are either in Gogs Army, or in the Countries, to which the News shall come.

Not be able to deny, or doubt.

The punishment just and from heaven, called Gods hand laid upon them.

22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their GOD from that day and forward.

Vid. chap. 34. ver. 31. let. l. m.

From the day of Gogs signal destruction, forward, while time shall be.

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.

The sottish heathen thought meanly of the God of Israel, and reckoned they came into Captivity, because the People of some greater God had by the power of their God, prevailed against Israels God, and his People, but by this overthrow given to Gog, they shall see 'twas not impotence in Israels God, but iniquity in Israels People, that brought them into Captivity.

Committed sin perversly, continually and with an high hand.

Withdrew my favour, would no more regard them, and then 'twas soon a night of trouble to them.

Into the power of their Enemy which could not have hurt Israel, if Israel had not first forsaken his God but then God forsook them.

When God withdrew his defence, as fenceless, they fell under the Sword of the Enemy, for 'tis he, that subdueth enemies, and giveth victory.

24 According to their uncleanness , and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face q from them.

Whatever severity I have seemed to use, 'twas but according to their sins, yet less then their sins.

In punishing and hiding 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.

Since my Name, my Power and Justice are vindicated, and the heathen see 'twas Israels iniquity brought them into captivity, and Israel knows this too,

From this time of Gogs overthrow.

The seed of Iacob here called by their Fathers name.

This reducing Captive Iews is meer mercy; its very true, by sin they deserved to be made Captives, and 'tis as true, they never did, or could deserve a deliverance from Captivity, 'twas not extremity of justice, that so punisht, but 'twas the riches of mercy that so pardon'd, and redeemed.

On the ten Tribes with the two.

And all this in zeal for my holy name, by which I am engaged to be their God.

26 After that they have born their shame , and all their trespasses , whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid .

They have long suffered, and now shall suffer no longer: for it is enough my People know, and the heathen know, that I am the Lord.

Reproach for their sins cast on then by the heathen with great reflections on their God, this was part of the punishment of them all, and the greatest grief to the best among them, that their God was reproacht.

The punishment of those trespasses, whereby they sinned against God, which this Prophet plainly and frequently chargeth them with.

And this done amidst that prosperity, and safety, which should have obliged them to love and obedience, but when they were safe at home, they sinned as if danger would never overtake them.

No Enemy to endanger and alarm them, strange ingratitude to cast off the fear of God, and his Law, when he had set them free from the fear of Enemies.

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.

The phrase chap. 28. ver. 25. let. b. the persons here are not the two Tribes onely, but the ten with them, as ver. 25. let. u.

Where ever they were, they were among Enemies out of their own Countrey.

By their accepting punishment, repenting for sin, loathing their former wayes, and themselves for them, acknowledging God to be holy, his law holy, and his worship holy, and engaging themselves in Covenant of perpetual obedience to God, and keeping it, by these things God will be sanctified among the Israelites, and in sight of the Nations, when they see the furnace hath purified them.

Marginal references: chap. 36.[illegible: 2 letters]

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 .

On fullest experiences, and clearest evidences, see, acknowledge, and publish to each other.

The mighty one, the just judge, who determineth righteously between men and men, yea, between them and himself.

Who in Covenant with their Fathers, hath remembred it for the good of their Children, who did assure them, that if they violated his Covenant he would punish, and when they repented he would shew mercy.

Who by his own hand raised up Enemies against, and then delivered them into the Enemies hand, so sent them into a sad and long Captivity.

But now done more for them, then when I brought them out of Babylon, whence the two Tribes (yet not all of them for some staid behind) and a few of the house of Israel returned, now the whole of the twelve Tribes shall be gathered.

That Countrey, they so dearly loved, somewhat for their Fathers sake, whose antient seat 'twas, but more for the goodness of it, which flow'd with Milk and Honey.

This recovery it seems shall be much more universal then the former in Zerobabels time, as coming out of Egypt, not a feeble person left behind, so nor here, if the words be to be literally explained.

In the Land of Captivity, the enemies Countrey.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]

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.

See ver. 23. let. 1. I will not turn from them in displeasure.

From the whole house of Israel this is no assurance to any pretender of great interest in God, yet lives in sin.

In abundant measures of Wisdom, and Holiness.

Which is a spirit of sanctification to make them Holy, and a spirit of strength to confirm them in Holiness, and of Adoption to sweeten obedience to them, they shall not, they will not depart from me according to the promises, chap, 11.19, 20. and 36.25.26, 27. and chap. 37. from 23. to 28. and Ier. 31.31. &c. and 32.37, 38, 39, 40. 'Twas sin, that caused God to hide his face, and now Grace shall be given to keep them out of sin, and to engage them to constant obedience, that God may rejoyce over them to do them good in this their latter end.

Marginal references: Joel 2.28. Act. 2.17.