Ezekiel 38
The Gathering of Allies
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him 3 and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. (Ezekiel 38:1-3, ESV)
In the opening of Ezekiel chapter 38 we are introduced to the foe of our story, Gog, and at this time we’re still not sure if it’s a name or a title. But we do see in the Bible that it is the name of a descendant of Rueben (first son of Jacob, born perhaps in 18th century B.C.), with no other information offered (see 1 Chronicles 5:4). We next read that he is from the land of Magog. In similar manner we see a reference to a man with that name recorded earlier in Genesis 10:2 as being a descendant of Japheth, one of Noah’s sons. It is very unlikely that either person is related or connected in any way to this event that Ezekiel wrote about.
Ezekiel notes that Gog is from Magog, and that he is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. We begin to see some names in these two chapters that can be found in history, but even with historic references the locations are not all agreed to by historians or archeologists, so they should not be considered absolute. Meshech can be found nine times in nine different verses in the Bible (three appear to be names of individuals and the other six as locations), some old maps place it between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, it can also be identified with the ancient Mushki and Mushkovi, names for the southern portion of the former Soviet Union. Which aligns well with some historical connections with Magog being associated with the ancient Scythians and southern Russia. Tubal is also historically related to Russia, perhaps Tibereni or Tobolsk.
Some Bible versions, including the Septuagint, add the location Rosh to that list as the word that is translated as ‘chief’ is the Hebrew ‘rō(’)š’ (or ‘Rosh’), a word that refers to a head, the top, or beginning, and it is idiomatically used in several ways in the Old Testament. But it can also be a proper noun, believed by some to be another reference to Russia.
Ezekiel is instructed to prophesy against Gog saying that GOD (the Tetragrammaton, God’s name) is against him! One definition to prophesy is to convey the words of God to others. In this application God is telling Ezekiel to relay this message to Gog, by writing it down and then at some point in time will be read by Gog, whoever he may be. The prophecy may also be just for those that will read and match the words to an actual event so that the readers (like us) will know that the Holy Spirit truly inspired the writing of the Bible and that this event was indeed God’s plan when it occurs.
4 And 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 clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. (Ezekiel 38:4 ESV)
We see from the beginning that the invasion that follows is not Gog’s choice, as God will force Gog to proceed by first turning him around and then put hooks in his jaws to bring him, his army, his horses, and his horsemen, each one wearing full armor with shields and swords, into this conflict. But even though this coming event is through God’s persuasion, it began with he understanding that God was ‘against’ Gog (see Ezekiel 38:2-3) which means he is an enemy of God. The statement that God will turn Gog about (turn him around) will be repeated in the second verse of the following chapter, the fact that it is stated again is a classic way for God to call our attention to important information (not saying that some things are less important!) but it begs the question as to where was Gog heading prior to being turned around. While we are not told, it does seem that Gog was heading to an alternate location first.
5 Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you. (Ezekiel 38:5-6 ESV)
Now we see a multi-national collaboration joining Gog. Some of the names are easy to trace while others are somewhat elusive. Persia is modern-day Iran, Cush is believed to be Ethiopia, and Put is often a reference to Northern Africa, likely Libya, each with their own shields and helmets. Gomer, being the Cimmerians (a nomadic people mainly from Asia Minor) with all of its many troops, and Beth-togarmah (meaning house of Togarmah) believed to be troops from Armenia, Turkey, and from regions even further north, they will be joining as well.
7 “Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. (Ezekiel 38:7, ESV)
The troops were to be made ready for battle and to remain ready as they are being assembled around Gog who is not only their leader but also the provider of their safety.
Considerations
The Name Gog
The primary player in this event. Most people would not go to the Bible for an entomology lesson, yes, you read that right. The first name we need to track down pertains to locusts. We are told in Proverbs that, “the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank.” (Proverbs 30:27, ESV) Okay, perhaps we didn’t need to go to the Bible to figure that out, but when we look at Amos 7:1 in the Septuagint, we find, “Thus the Lord showed me and behold, an early offspring of grasshoppers coming, and behold, one locust larva, Gog the king.”[1] So, if real locusts have no king, then Gog must be a name for a unique locust. It should not be a surprise to find unique locusts in Revelation.
1 And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2 He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3 Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6 And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.
7 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8 their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 9 they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10 They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. 11 They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon. (Revelation 9:1-11, ESV, emphasis added)
Sorry for the lengthy read, but you have to admit these are not insects! Could Gog be another name for their king, which by these names is typically attributed to Satan. At minimum it appears that Gog is a name of some form of demon or a fallen angel. If Gog is an entity and not a person, then Ezekiel may not be speaking to a yet-to-be-identified person, but is actually speaking to the power behind the person, much like Isaiah and he did when they were addressing Satan (see Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:13-15).
Some Background on Magog
The historian Flavius Josephus (born 37 A.D.) in his voluminous work titled “Antiquities of the Jews” he made reference to Magog and identified them as also being known as the Scythians.
(123) for Gomer founded those whom the Greeks now call Galatians [Galls], but were then called Gomerites. Magog founded those that from him were named Magogites, but who are by the Greeks called Scythians.[2]
The Scythians were noted in Herodotus’ “The Histories,” to be located in Cimmerian territory near the Araxes River (now called the Aras River) a 666 mile transboundary river in the Caucasus. It borders Turkey, Armenia, Iran, and Azerbaijan.
There is yet another story, to which account I myself especially incline. It is to this effect. The nomadic Scythians inhabiting Asia, when hard pressed in war by the Massagetae, fled across the Araxes river to the Cimmerian country (for the country which the Scythians now inhabit is said to have belonged to the Cimmerians before), and the Cimmerians, at the advance of the Scythians, deliberated as men threatened by a great force should. Opinions were divided; both were strongly held, but that of the princes was the more honorable; for the people believed that their part was to withdraw and that there was no need to risk their lives for the dust of the earth; but the princes were for fighting to defend their country against the attackers.[3]
The Cimmerians were an ancient Persian nomadic people originating in the Pontic–Caspian steppe.
8 After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them. (Ezekiel 38:8, ESV)
After a long period of time Gog’s army will be called into action. We are then told that this event will occur in the latter (Hebrew ’ǎ·ḥǎrîṯ’, meaning the end, last time, latter time) years. We are finally told that the target is the nation of Israel. They will enter and attack a land that had recovered from war, the land whose people have come back from being dispersed around the world, returning to the mountains of Israel, which had been sitting dormant for many years becoming a wasteland. The people of Israel at this time will be living securely.
The people of Israel were cast out of Israel on several occasions (click here to read more about the Jewish Diasporas). For several years since the nation of Israel was reborn in 1948, Jews have been returning to Israel. That trend continues today, and sadly due to the rise of antisemitism, many who would have stayed in the countries they were raised in, are now seeking the safety of Israel. With technologies like the “Iron Dome” and advanced weaponry (including intense lasers) and radar, the people are currently living to some degree securely. If you have any doubt about the land being a wasteland before the return of the people all you have to do is read what Samuel Clemens wrote after touring the Holy Land in 1864 (click here to read).
9 You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you. (Ezekiel 38:9, ESV)
Gog along with all of his allies will descend on Israel like a storm, seeing the many troops will be like watching clouds move in to cover the land.
The Plan (AKA “The Evil Scheme”)
10 “Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme 11 and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates,’ 12 to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. (Ezekiel 38:10-12, ESV)
God tells Gog that he will have thoughts come into his mind with the evil scheme of attacking the land of unwalled villages. It was common in both Old and New Testament times that most cities were “walled communities” for security (although many outlying villages did not have walls), with the possible exception of “gated communities” today, the concept of a walled city is rarely considered. With no walls, no bars, and no gates to bypass, seizing spoil and plunder should be easy in those places that were once wastelands but are now inhabited. The spoil would be incredible as the people there have acquired a great amount including livestock, with the potential of walking away with a vast amount of loot! The Israelites had made acquisitions from around the world as they are located at the center of the earth. The Septuagint in this verse refers to them as being the “navel of the earth.”
13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, ‘Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?’ (Ezekiel 38:13, ESV)
Sheba and Dedan have roots in the area known today as Saudi Arabia and Tarshish is often considered an ancient reference to the islands of Great Britain. These governments choose not to participate, but they see what’s going on, perhaps even asked to participate. They ask Gog, “Have you come to steal their goods and carry away the plunder? Do you think you can take their silver and gold as well as their livestock? Can you really seize that much spoil?” In a sense they are asking, “Do you really think you’re going to get away with this attack?”
14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not know it? 15 You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army. 16 You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. (Ezekiel 38:14-16, ESV)
God addressing Ezekiel tells him to prophesy and ask Gog, “When my people in Israel are living securely, will you not take notice?” He further adds, that Gog will come from his place located in the uttermost (Hebrew yǎr·keṯê’, referring to a remote area, the far end, the highest) parts of the north, with all the people of his army riding horses to attack His people in Israel just like a cloud covering the land. Then God proclaims, “At that time in the distant future, I will bring you against my land as everyone watches, and my holiness will be displayed by what happens to you, Gog. Then all the nations will know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 38:16b, NLT) This statement has been interpreted many ways, but it is clear that God is about to respond to the attack in such a way that there will be no question of His existence, nor will there be any question that He still loves the people of Israel. Most believe that God will, in some supernatural way will stop or render useless the attack.
17 “Thus says the Lord GOD: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? (Ezekiel 38:17, ESV)
God speaking to Gog through Ezekiel, he asks that isn’t he the one that he spoke about by the prophets of Israel, who prophesied that He would bring Gog against Israel? But there is no record of those prophecies in Scripture, or is there? In the book of Numbers we read about two men that were prophesying named Eldad and Medad (see Numbers 11:20-30) but neither the Hebrew text nor the Greek text (Septuagint) state what they prophesied about. However, we can find in several of the Targums (ancient translations and commentary of the Hebrew Scripture in Aramaic, some possibly written several years before Jesus’ birth, click here for more information) an interesting addition to the same verses:
And there remained two men in the camp, the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the second was Medad, and the Holy Spirit rested upon them. Eldad prophesied and said, "Quails will ascend from the sea and will be a stumbling block to the children of Israel." And Medad prophesied and said, "Moses is destined to depart the leadership of Israel from the world, and Joshua the son of Nun, that servant, will receive prophecies after him." And both of them prophesied together and said, "At the end of days, Gog and Magog and their armies are destined to ascend to Jerusalem, and by the hand of the King Messiah they will fall. And for seven years the children of Israel will kindle fires from their weapons, they will not go out to the forest, and they will not cut down trees." And they were among the seventy elders who were set apart by their names, but the seventy elders did not depart from within the camp until Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp.[4]
Gog’s attack on Israel was predicted as early as the time of Moses, note who is identified as the Savior, the King Messiah, Jesus!
Considerations
Neighbors Not Participating
One of the first things a reader familiar with the Middle East might notice is that all of the nations and people identified as participants waring against Israel do not border Israel. None of Israel’s neighbors are listed. So, where are the Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, Iraqi, Jordanians, Egyptians, and the Saudi Arabians? We see that Sheba and Dedan who can be connected to Saudi Arabia do take notice, but do not participate (see Ezekiel 38:11). There is much speculation as to why. Some believe there will be an event or a series of events that will precede the conflict recorded here in Ezekiel. And there are others that believe that each of the surrounding nations have some form of a relationship with Israel that they do not want to risk. But based on recent events such as the October 7th War, and subsequent battles with the Iranians, Houthis, Hamas, Hezbollah, etc., perhaps both points of view are valid.
The Attack and God’s Response to the Attack - Part One
18 But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, my wrath will be roused in my anger. 19 For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. (Ezekiel 38:18-19, ESV)
God continues by saying that on the day of Gog’s attack, His anger and fury against Gog will flare up beginning with a massive earthquake in Israel. In His jealousy (Hebrew qin·’ãṯ, a very strong emotion, fervor, or passion, whereby some quality or possession of the object is desired) and “blazing wrath,” He declares the following responses will occur.
20 The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence. And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. (Ezekiel 38:20, ESV)
The earthquake will be so intense that the fish of the various waters and oceans, the birds in the air, the animals and things that creep on dry ground as well as all people on earth will quake in God’s presence (Hebrew pā·nǎ’, face). Mountains will be thrown down, cliffs will come loose and fall, and every wall will collapse. This is neither an ordinary, nor an extraordinary, natural earthquake, to be felt under water, in the sky, and on land would likely require an influence from outside our planet, in other words, God!
21 I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord GOD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. (Ezekiel 38:21, ESV)
God tells Ezekiel that He will call for a sword against Gog in the hills of Israel. When Gog and his army arrive, God will turn their swords against each other. Many battles were won by the Israelites in the Old Testament by God causing their enemies to panic and lose composure resulting in the enemy killing themselves (see Exodus 14:23-25; Deuteronomy 7:22-24; Joshua 10:10; Judges 4:15-16; 7:22; 8:11-12; 1 Samuel 5:9-11; 14:20; 2 Chronicles 15:5; 20:23, see also Isaiah 22:5; Zechariah 14:3). Everyone that came to Israel to fight will end up fighting themselves.
22 With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. (Ezekiel 38:22, ESV)
In addition to being attacked by one’s own people, fellow members of Gog’s army, God will also send disease and bloodshed, including being flooded out with a torrential rainfall, hit by hailstones (Hebrew ’ěl·gā·ḇîš’, hail, a word only used by Ezekiel describing hailstones that God uses for judgment, probably very large and fatal, see Joshua 10:10-11, see also Job 38:22-23), fire, and sulfur (see Psalm 11:6; Revelation 20:9). Panic exacerbated by illness, heavy rain, hailstones, fire, and sulphur would quickly stop an invasion and it would be seen by the world as being sent by God.
23 So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 38:23, ESV)
Once Gog and his army enter Israel, God will demonstrate His greatness and holiness as well as make Himself known. With actions that can only be explained by being deliberate and obvious acts of God, the people of other nations will see that God is real, alive, and is actively protecting the people of Israel.
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[1] Pietersma, A., & Wright, B. G., eds. (2007). The Twelve Prophets. In G. E. Howard (Trans.), A New English Translation of the Septuagint (Primary Texts) (Am 7:1). Oxford University Press.
[2] Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 36). Hendrickson. (1.123)
[3] Herodotus. (1920). Herodotus, with an English translation by A. D. Godley (A. D. Godley, Ed.). Harvard University Press. (4.11)
[4] Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon. (2005). Fragment Targum, recension P, MS Paris 110 (Nu 11:20–26). Hebrew Union College. English translation provided by Logos. Emphasis added.