Exposition of Ezekiel 30-48, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 38
CHAP. XXXVIII.
Verſ. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
1. And the Word of the Lord came unto me, ſaying,
2. Son of man, ſet thy face againſt Cog, the land of Magog, the chief Prince of Meſhech and Tubal, and propheſie againſt him.
3. And ſay, Thus ſaith the Lord God, Behold, I am againſt thee, O Gog, the chief Prince of Meſhech and Tubal:
4. And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy chawes, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horſes and horſemen, all of them clothed with all ſorts of armour, even a great company, with bucklers and ſhields, all of them handling ſwords:
5. Perſia, Ethiopia and Lybia with them; all of them with ſhield and helmet:
6. Gomer and all his bands, the houſe of Togarmah of the North quarters, and all his bands, and many people with thee.
7. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thy ſelf, thou and all thy company that are aſſembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
THis Chapter and the next, do treat of Gog and Magog, who were Nations againſt the people of God. This 38. Ch. is a Propheſie againſt Gog; wherein is ſet forth.
1. What, and by whom, the people of God were to ſuffer: to the 18. verſe.
2. Gods dealings with Gog, and the event thereof: to the end of the Chapter.
Leſt the Jews ſhould preſently have looked for the fulfilling of thoſe great Promiſes in the former Chapter, concerning the uniting the two Houſes, and Meſſiah to be their King, and the great priviledges they ſhould have thereby; he tells them here of great Calamities which they muſt look for, of ſad times, and heavy judgements, which ſhould befal their enemies. This in general; now to things more particular.
Verſ. 2. Son of man, ſet thy face againſt Gog.
There be great variety of Opinions concerning Gog and Magog. The Jews affirm them to be the Scythians, which live near Caucaſus, and the Caſpian Mountains. Some underſtand by them the Roman Emperors and Empire. Some the Pope. Some the Turks and Saracens. Some the Gothes. Some, Hereticks. Some, all the Perſecutors of the Church. Others, Antichriſt. Some Interpreters underſtand the affliction of the Jewiſh Nation, by the Succeſſors of Alexander, which poſſeſſed Aſia minor, and Syria. Junius hath laboured to give light here, and tells us, That Gog is the name of a Nation, derived from Gyges, or Gog the ſervant of Candaules King of Lydia, whom he kill'd, and marryed his Queen, naming the Land Gygaea, or Gogs Land, which, ſaith he, is Aſia the leſs, and Syria, where was a City call'd Gogs-City. Theſe Nations ſhould infeſt the Jews, which were held by Antiochus, Seleucus, Demetrius, and Nicanor. Bibliander and Bullinger interpret this Propheſie literally of Alexander and his Succeſſors, eſpecially of Antiochus Epiphanes King of Syria; who, as you find in the Macchabees, did greatly afflict the Jews; and ſpecially of Antichriſt and his members. A-lapide denies this Propheſie to concern Alexander, the Kings of Syria, and Egypt, becauſe the Jews never conquered them, though they had ſome notable Victories over them; and had they had ſuch a deſtruction as is ſpoken of in the end of this Chapter, Joſephus who was an exact obſerver of Jewiſh affairs, would have mentioned it. Neither did Joſephus Gerionides ſpeak any thing thereof who writ the Hiſtory of Gog. Sanctius leans to that opinion which conceives Gog to be Antiochus, in whom Antichriſt was prefigured, and the great troubles of the Church by him: ſo do many Expoſito…s: Yet, Maldonate and Vatablus think this Propheſie not fulfilled; of which mind are divers who write upon the 20. of the Revelation, where John in the 8. and 9. ver. alludes to this Propheſie. By Gog here, underſtand, the name of a Man, not of a Province; for, he is ſaid to be a Prince, ver. 3. to come out of the North, ver. 14. and he with his multitude ſhall be buried in the Valley of Hamon-Gog, Chap. 39.11. Theſe things cannot be ſpoken of a Province, but of a Perſon. The Prophet muſt ſet his face againſt him; that is, he muſt Propheſie conſtanter & fortiter againſt him.
The Land of Magog.
Gog is the name of a King, qui Magog imperat, which rules over Magog; that is, the Scythians, ſaith Vatablus, Magog was one of the ſons of Japhet Gen. 10.2. of whom came the Scythians, or Sarmatians, ſaith Aynſworth on the place. Joſephus ſaith,Antiq. l. 1. c. 7. Magog dwelt amongſt thoſe were called Magogins, and by the Greeks Scythae, who dwelt in Caelo-Syria. Marcus Paulus Venetus ſaith, In Tartary, Vid. Martin. Lex. in verbo Magog.are the Regions Gog and Magog, which they call Gug and Mungug.
The chief Prince of Meſhech.
In Hebrew it's Prince of the head; that is, Principal head or chief Prince. This Gog was not only Prince of Magog, but of Meſhech, that is, Cappadocia; and of Tubal, that is, Iberia, not Spain or Italy, but a Countrie near the Scythians.
Propheſie againſt him.
Thou haſt been propheſying of deliverance and great mercies to my people; now Propheſie againſt Gog, and all his aſſiſtants open or ſecret. Had Magog, Meſhech, and Tubal, been Princes with Gog, the Lord would have ſaid, Propheſie againſt them.
Verſ. 3. Say, Thus ſaith the Lord, Behold, I am againſt thee, O Gog.
This is a dreadful meſſage which the Prophet muſt deliver againſt this great Prince. He muſt declare unto him that there is a greater Prince then himſelf, even one that is King of Nations, that hath all power in his hand, and bringeth Princes to nothing, Iſa. 40.23. and that he is againſt him. Thou thinkeſt to have thy will upon Gods people, to do terrible things unto them; but their God, who is a God of Power and Wiſdom, is againſt thee. The Hebrew is, Behold, I to thee; that is, I come to thee to deſtroy thee for thine iniquities and enmity againſt my people
Verſ. 4. And I will turn thee back.
Lavater and Oecolampadius read theſe words, Conteram te, I will cruſh thee. The Vulgar, Circumagam te, I will lead thee about. Some Rabbies, Decipiam te, I will deceive thee. Others, Reducam, convertam te, I will bring or turn thee back. Thou thinkeſt to have thy pleaſure on mine, but I will have my pleaſure on thee, and turn thee which way ſeems good to me. Educam te, I will bring thee out.
And put hooks into thy chawes.
What the Lord ſaith here of Gog, he ſaid, Chap. 29.4. of Pharaoh. I will put hooks in thy chaws. The Septuagint is, I will put a bridle in thy chaws. Thou art like a pamper'd Jade, and thinkeſt to tread down all, but I will hold thee in. Montanus reads the former words thus, Educam te, I will bring thee out, and if thou holdeſt off, I will put my hook in thy chawes, and draw thee out as a fiſh is drawn out of the waters; which ſenſe is beſt.
And I will bring thee forth, and all thine Army.
Exire faciam te, I will cauſe thee to go forth: Thou ſhalt not ſtay in thine own Territories, how little or large ſo ever they be; but ſhalt muſter up thy Forces, and lead out all thine Armies.
Horſes and Horſemen.
The word for Horſes is Saſim, which notes any Horſe of Common uſe. Sus ſignifies both a Crane and a Horſe. The Rabbies ſay, he is ſo called, becauſe an Horſe is a chearful creature, and by his mettle and neighing, chears up his Rider. Pharaſim is Horſemen, from Paraſh, which in Hiphil, ſignifies to prick; ſo that Paraſh is an Horſeman, becauſe he pricks forward his Horſe with his ſpurs.
All of them cloathed with all ſorts of Armor.
They were armed compleatly from head to foot. The Hebrew is, cloath'd with all, or with perfection; nothing was wanting requiſite to military undertaking.
Even a great company, with bucklers and ſhields, all of them handling ſwords.
Gogs Army was a great Army, and well accommodated. A Buckler is, Tegumentum corp…ris militare, A piece of Armor to cover and defend the body; and ſo is a Shield in Hebrew, Magem, from Ganan to cover. Tzimnah is a Buckler, or Shield, ſharpe or picked; which the Latins call Scutum. The other Clypeus. Shields, were for footmen,Vide Martin. and Bucklers for horſemen, ſaith Servius. Theſe Souldiers of Gog were skilful in Military affairs, they all were expert at their Swords.
Verſ. 5. Perſia, Ethiopia. and Lybia with them.
Here is ſhown what Countries and People ſhould joyn with Gog, viz. thoſe of the Eaſt, Perſians; thoſe of the South, the Ethiopians; and thoſe of the Weſt, the Moors, whom Oecolampadius underſtood by thoſe of Lybia. Of Perſia, Ethiopia, and Lybia, was ſpoken, Chap. 27.10. & 30.5.
All of them with ſhield and helmet.
Whoever joyned with Gog, were well armed. The Hebrew is, All of them ſhield and helmet. Covah is Pileus rotundus, ſome were made of Leather, ſome of Braſs, 1 Sam. 17.5.
Verſ. 6. Gomer and all his bands.
Joſephus Anti. l. 1. c. 7.Under this word Gomer, are comprehended Galatia, Phrygia, and Bythinia, principal parts of Aſia minor, which were inhabited by Gomer the ſon of Japheth, from whom they were call'd Gomarians or Gomeriter.
The houſe of Togarmah of the North quarters, and all his bands.
By the houſe of Togarmah, Junius underſtands, Paphlagonia, and Cappad cia; others Armenia the leſs. Doubtleſs by Gomer and Togarmah, all thoſe parts which lay North from Syria, where Antiochus reigned, and ſo North from Judaea, are meant thereby. From theſe and the forementioned places, had Gog Auxiliary Forces: for fear, hire, or out of enmity to Gods people, they helped him.
And many people with thee.
There were people with him from all quarters, from the Eaſt, Weſt, South, and North; which being come together, muſt make a numerous Army.
Verſ. 7. Be thou prepared, &c.Per imperativos enuntiant Prophetae, quae certo eventura praedicunt.
Jerom thinks there is an Ironie in theſe words, that God exhorts Gog to gather up his forces to ſtrengthen himſelf and haſten his deſigne, with what expedition he could; but all his preparations and undertakings ſhould be in vain, he ſhould not eſcape the vengeance of God which hung over his head. But here, under a command is declared what he would certainly do; he would not be wanting to get a great Army from all parts, to aſſault and deſtroy the people of God; and not knowing what the hazard of War might be, he would prepare for himſelf, conſider, and fit things for himſelf.
Thou and all thy company that are aſſembled unto thee.
Where is a great Army, there had need to be great preparations for their pay, quarters, and protection. They know not what obſtructions and enemies they may meet withal.
And be thou a guard unto them.
Princes have great power, and it lies much in them to keep their Armies ſafe. Vigilantia ducis eſt ſalus exercitus, The eye of the General is a ſpecial thing to keep an Army in Order. The Vulgar reads the words thus, Eſto eis in praeceptum, Do thou ſhew thy ſelf an Emperour amongſt them, Command and Rule them; or thus, Thou wilt do thy endeavour to preſerve them. Junius thinks theſe words refer to the Jews. That Gog with all his Forces compaſſing about the Mountains of Iſrael, and concluding he had the Jews in his power, as a bird in a cage, to deſtroy at his pleaſure, he ſhould be a guard unto them. God can make thoſe a defence to his, who ſeek their deſtruction. But the other ſenſe is more genuine.
Firſt, Obſerve.
That after Propheſies of Grace and Mercy, come tidingt of Affliction and Judgements.
In the former Chapter, the Jews heard altogether of Mercies from God; here they hear of Afflictions from Enemies. There, they heard of David their King, and Shepheard, who ſhould do great things for them; Here, of Gog, a Tyrant, their enemy, who ſhould ſeek to deſtroy them. God in his infinite wiſdom orders it ſo, that his Church and People ſhould hear of, and meet with, not only good, but evill; not only comforts, but croſſes. Should we only hear of comfortable things, we ſhould preſume; and ſhould we only hear of ſad things, we ſhould deſpond. God preſents ſome of both ſorts unto us, that ſo our Faith and Fear may be exercis'd, and we kept in a more even frame.
Secondly, Obſerve.
The great Princes of the earth, being no friends to the Church of God, have God for their enemy.
Gog was Prince of Meſhech, and Tubal, an enemy to the Jews. And, Behold, I am againſt thee, O Gog; how great ſoever thou art, I the great God am againſt thee; thou wilt oppoſe my people, and I will oppoſe thee. Moſt of the Princes of the earth, have been againſt Chriſt and his Kingdom, Pſal. 2.2 And God hath been againſt them, and vexed them in his ſoar diſpleaſure. God was againſt the Prince of Tyre, and againſt Pharaoh King of Egypt, Ezek. Chap. 28. & 29. Kings generally are Proud, Profane, Tyrannical, falſe to the truſt committed to them, obſtructing the way and work of Chriſt in the World what they can; therefore God is againſt them, He is terrible to the Kings of the earth, Pſal. 76.12. And their ends have been dreadful. Some have had their bones burnt to lime, Amos 2.1. Some have been eaten with Wormes, Acts 12.23. Some have been hanged up, Lam. 2.12. Joſh. 10.26. Some have dyed of ſtrange diſeaſes, 2 Chr. 21.18.
Thirdly, Obſerve.
The Lord at his pleaſure can bring enemies and Armies upon his own people.
God would bring Gog forth, and all his Army, Horſe and Horſemen, a great company; all of them armed with Bucklers, Shields, and Swords. God is the author of Wars, he calls forth what Princes and Nations he will, to aſſault and vex the Church. The ten Tribes, Who brought enemies upon them? was it not the Lord? 1 Chron. 5.26. The God of Iſrael ſtirred up the ſpirit of Pul King of Aſſyria, and the ſpirit of Tilgath-pilneſer King of Aſſyria, and he carried them away, &c. 2 King. 15.19. Chap. 17.6. It was God ſtirred up the ſpirit of the Philiſtines againſt Jehoram King of Judah; ſo that they came and ſpoyled him of all his ſubſtance, of his Wives and Sons, 2 Chr. 21.16, 17. Let Gods people take heed how they provoke God, for he is the Lord of hoſts, and hath all Nations at his command, and can call, yea, bring them forth to trouble Iſrael it ſelf, and that ſoarly.
Fourthly, Obſerve.
The Lord can eaſily bring men to do his work and ſervice, what ever the difficulty or danger be.
Here was hard work for Gog, to gather the Nations Eaſt, Weſt, South, and Northward together, to come out of his Countrey and to invade Judaea; a buſineſs which required much conſultation, admitted many Objections and Demurs; but God would bring him to it, and make him do it, as eaſily as a man pulls up a fiſh out of the water. I will put my hook in his chawes. Let God put an inſtinct into a Prince or State, once ſtir their ſpirits, to make war upon others, the work will go on with facility and expedition. God hath hooks to draw on Princes to War, and hooks to draw them off, to draw them back from them, 2 King. 19.28.
Fifthly, Obſerve.
From all quarters of the World there be enemies ready to combine and act with Gog and Antichriſt againſt the Church, Truth, and Chriſt himſelf.
Thoſe of the Eaſt comprehended under Perſia, thoſe of the South intended under Ethiopia, thoſe of the Weſt included in Lybia, and thoſe of the North contained under Gomer, and the houſe of Togarmah; were all at the beck of Gog, to go againſt Jeruſalem the Servants, and Worſhip of God therein. The whole World, ſaith Oecolampadius, contradicts and obſerves Antichriſt. When Chriſt doth any eminent thing in his Church, the Nations are quickly miſled, and joyn with ſome grand enemy to vent their malice: ſee Rev. 20.7, 8, 9.
Sixthly, Obſerve.
The enemies of the Church do make great preparations againſt the ſame.
Be thou prepared. This ſhews and aſſures that Gog would neglect nothing, which might conduce unto the carrying on his deſignes againſt the Jews. Iſa. 8.9, 10. Thoſe expreſſions, Aſſociate your ſelves; Gird your ſelves; Take counſel together; Speak the word; do hint to us, the activity of the Churches enemies, Pſal. 83.2, 3, 4, 5. ſee it there to the life, Thine enemies make a tumult, they have lift up the head, they have taken crafty counſel againſt thy people. They ſaid, Come let us cut them off from being a Nation, &c. How did Zerah the Ethiopian, and the Commanders of his Army, beſtir themſelves, when they brought an Army of a thouſand thouſand againſt Judah, and with them 300 Charets, 2 Chron. 14.9.
Seventhly, Obſerve.
Princes, notwithſtanding all their preparations, cannot ſecure themſelves, nor thoſe under their command.
Prepare for thy ſelf, be a guard to them. Gogs number, Power, Policy, Preparations, did not advantage himſelf or his; they went forth to their own ruine and deſtruction.
Verſ. 8.
After many dayes thou ſhalt be viſited: in the latter years thou ſhalt come into the land, that is brought back from the ſword, and is gathered out of many people, againſt the mountains of Iſrael which have been alwayes waſte; but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they ſhall dwell ſafely all of them.
THis verſe Propheſies of Gogs invading the Mountains of Iſrael, the deſtruction of Gog, and the time of both.
After many dayes thou ſhalt be viſited.
The Scripture ſpeaks of a double Viſitation.
1. One in Mercy and Favour, as Exod. 4.31. When Moſes and Aaron were ſent to deliver the Jews out of Egypt; and when Sarah conceived and bare Iſaac, Geneſ. 21.1. Theſe were Gods merciful Viſitations of them.
2. One in Judgement, as Numb. 16.29. If theſe men, viz. Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, be viſited after the Viſitation of all men; that is, they ſhall not die a common death, have a common judgement; but, ſome extraordinary puniſhment. So Pſal. 89.32. I will viſit their tranſgreſſion with the rod, and their iniquity with ſtripes, I will puniſh them. This is the ſenſe here, After many dayes thou ſhalt be viſited; that is, puniſhed. The time when it ſhould be, is not punctually, but indefinitely ſet down, after many dayes. If we take Antiochus to be Gog in the Type, it was in the Macchabees dayes; if we look at the Anritype, the time is yet to come.
In the latter years thou ſhalt come into the land.
From the time of this Propheſie, unto the death of Antiochus Epiphanes, Chronologie tells us, there were 420 or 430 years; whe eupon Expoſitors do account the years that he came to Judea, and took Jeruſalem, and defiled the Temple with Idols, to be the latter years. Junius ſaith, Conſequentibus annis, In the following years. Piſcator hath it, Poſteri…ribus diebus, In the after dayes or times. Poſterioribus annis, In the after, or latter years, in the time of Chriſt, ſaith Vatablus. The Hebrew is, Beacharith Haſhſhanim which Montanus and the Vulgar render in Noviſſima annorum, In the laſt of years; which, according to John, is after the 1000 years, Rev. 20.6, 7, 8. And ſo Mariano, he makes the Viſitation of Gog to be, In fine mundi poſt mille annos, In the end of the World, after the thouſand years. Then ſhall Gog come into the land, compaſs the camp of the Saints about, and the beloved City, ver. 9.
That is brought back from the ſword, and is gathered out of many people.
The Jews were driven by the ſword into Captivity, by it ſcattered into many Provinces, and held under ſlavery, and ſo they are at this day; but the time is coming, that the two Houſes as well as the two Tribes, ſhall be brought back from the ſword, and gathered out of many people. Land, is put for, The Inhabitants of the Land.
Againſt the mountains of Iſrael.
The Hebrew word foreign Al, ſignifies, ad, ſuper, contra, to, upon, againſt. Some therefore render theſe words to or upon the mountains of Iſrael; and in that ſenſe they refer to the Jews, who were brought back and gathered out of all people to the Mountains of Iſrael, that is, the Land of Judaea. We read them. Againſt the mountains of Iſrael, and ſo they refer to Gog who ſhould come againſt Judaea.
Which have been alwayes waſte.
The Hebrew word for alwayes, is Tamid, which ſignifies diu, a long time; and ſo the French Tranſlation hath it, Longuement deſertes, Deſerted or waſted for a long time; 70 years were they deſolate, all the time the Jews were in captivity; and ſhortly after Chriſt his dayes, were they left deſolate, and are ſo to this day. Some make the mountains of Iſrael, to ſignifie, The Church; the ſword and waſtings, to be the Perſecutions which it hath alwayes indured.
But it is brought forth out of the nations.
By it, the Prophet means the Land; and by Land, the People, who being … into Egypt, Babylon, Perſia, and other places, were to be brought forth to the Land of Iſrael. The words import the thing done, becauſe of the certainty of it.
And they ſhall dwell ſafely all of them.
When the Jews returned out of Babylon, repoſſeſſing their own Land, they dwelt ſafely, confidently, without fear or diſquietment therein, for 430 years, ſaith Sanctius; after which time Antiochus did ſorely vex them, and interrupt their peace, which they thought would be everlaſting. So did Demetrius, Nicanor, and others, as in the Macchabees is evident. The time remains for the compleat fulfilling of theſe words.
Firſt, Obſerve.
God bears ſometimes with the worſt of men a long time.
After many dayes. God bears with Gog and Antichriſt, the grand enemies of his Church, worſer than whom cannot be found or expected. His patience is large, he is a God long-ſuffering. He bare with Antiochus that vile perſon, Dan. 11.21. many dayes: Veſſels of wrath are indured by Him with much long-ſuffering, Rom. 9.22.
Secondly, Obſerve.
Though wicked men be ſpared long, yet at laſt they ſhall ſuffer.
After many dayes thou ſhalt be viſited. God may ſtay a thouſand, yea 10000 dayes, and then viſit. As there is a time for wicked men to fill up the meaſure of their iniquities, ſo there is a time for God to fill up the Vials of his wrath; and when they are once full, then they ſhall be poured out. God ſometimes is long before he hears the Prayers of his, but at length he remembers them, Luk. 18.7, 8. and ſometimes he is long before he puniſheth the wicked, but at laſt he viſits them, he hath his time for it, Jer. 49.8.
Verſ. 9.
Thou ſhalt aſcend and come like a Storm, thou ſhalt be like a Cloud to cover the Land, thou and all thy Bands, and many People with thee.
THe manner of Gogs proceeding is here ſet down, and that,
1. Under the ſimilitude of a Storm.
2. Under the ſimilitude of a Cloud.
Thou ſhalt aſcend, and come like a Storm.
A Storm comes ſuddenly, violently, with noiſe; and doth much hurt, breaking and bearing down all before it: ſuch ſhould the coming of Gog be. Dan. 11.40, 41. it's ſaid, The King of the North ſhall come againſt the King of the South like a Whirlewinde, he ſhall enter alſo into the glorious Land, and many Countreys ſhall be overthrown. This is ſpoken of Antiochus, whom divers Expoſitors make to be Gog. The word Shoah for a Storm, is from Shuah, which ſignifies, to make a noiſe, to ſpoil, and to amaze; and ſo do Storms.
Thou ſhalt be like a Cloud, to cover the Land, thou and all, &c.
Clouds are Vapours drawn up by the heat of the Sun, into the middle Region of the Air, where by the Cold they are condenſated, and ſo, ſpreading, make the Heavens black, and intercept the Light. Gog with his Forces ſhould be as a Cloud ſpreading over the face of the Land, interrupting the peace and comforts of the Godly, and by his hoſtile acts cauſe fear, ſorrow, and mourning. By theſe two Metaphors are ſet out the tumult, violence, ſpoyl and multitude of Gogs Army: or, by the Storm, their threats and cruelty; and by the Cloud, falſe Opinions, flatteries, and allurements which they ſhould uſe to pervert the faith of the Saints.
Firſt, Obſerv.
The Church and people of God are ſubject to calamimities.
He ſhall come like a Storm. Windes, clouds, ſtorms, do trouble and terrifie men, and ſo do great Armies of Heathens, of vile and deſperate perſons, of Goggites and Antichriſtians: when they come with fury and violence, they plunder, ſpoyl, and fill all with darkneſs, they cover the Land. Jer. 4.13. Behold he ſhall come up as clouds, and his Charets ſhall be as a Whirlewinde: his Horſes are ſwifter than Eagles, Woe unto us, for we are ſpoyled. It's ſpoken of Nebuchadnezzar, and his Forces, who were to come up againſt Jeruſalem. The Church is oft afflicted and toſſed with tempeſt; but here is ſome comfort; Storms, tempeſts, and clouds laſt not long, they ceaſe after a little time, and the Sun ſhines again.
Secondly, Obſerve,
The goodneſſe of God in foretelling the Church what ſhall come upon it, Viz. A Storm and Clouds, and perplexity.
Gog and all his Bands, and many people with him, ſhall come as a Storm, and be as a Cloud covering the Land. It hath been uſual with God to foretell his people what ſhould befall them, as Gen. 15.13. Jerem. 32.28, 29. Dan. 10.14. Math. 24. and in the Book of the Revelations, Chriſt doth tell them, what ſad things are to come upon his, how potent, violent, ſubtle and deſtructive their enemies will be: which he doth not to diſcourage them, but to awaken them unto Prayer, holineſs of life, and living by faith.
Verſ. 10, 11, 12, 13.
10 Thus ſaith the Lord God, It ſhall alſo come to paſs, that at the ſame time ſhall things come into thy minde, and thou ſhalt think an evil thought.
11 And thou ſhalt ſay, I will goe up to the Land of unwalled Villages: I will go to them that are at reſt, that dwell ſafely, all of them dwelling without Walls, and having neither Barrs nor Gates.
12 To take a ſpoyl, and to take a prey, to turn thine hand upon the deſolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the Nations, which have gotten Cattle and Goods, that dwell in the midſt of the Land.
13 Sheba and Dedan, and the Merchants of Tarſhiſh, with all the young Lyons thereof, ſhall ſay unto thee, Art thou come to take a ſpoyl? Haſt thou gathered thy Company to take a Prey? to carry away Silver and Gold, to take away Cattle and Goods, to take a great ſpoyl?
IN theſe words we have, 1. The decree and purpoſe of Gog, v. 10, 11 which was to Invade.
2. The inviting cauſes, v. 11.
3. The end of his invading, v. 12.
4. His aſſiſtance and Confederates in the work, v. 13.
Verſ. 10. At the ſame time ſhall things come into thy mind.
In Hebrew it is, Words ſhall aſcend, or come upon thy heart, Jagnalu debarim gual lebabeca, which is an Hebraiſm, and imports a mans thinking and conſulting with himſelf: When men are meditating, various thoughts do riſe in their mindes, as Luk. 24.38. Why do thoughts ariſe in your hearts? Debarim ſignifies words and things; the French is Paroles words: Thoughts, are the words and things of the mind.
And thou ſhalt think an evil Thought.
The Hebrew for to think is foreign, Chaſhab, which notes ſuch a thinking as takes in the intention of the mind, and exerciſes a mans head and heart. Gog ſhould bend himſelf to excogitate ſomething, and it ſhould be an evil thought or purpoſe. The French is, Tres maunaiſes cogitations, Very ill or wicked thoughts.
Verſ. 11. I will goe up to the Land of unwalled Villages.
This was the wicked thought Gog had in his mind, he purpoſed in his heart to go and invade the Land of the Jewes, and that which invited and incouraged him ſo to doe, was,
1. Their unfortifiedneſs, they had no Walls about their Villages. Thought Gog. I ſhall eaſily conquer and ſubdue the Jewiſh Nation, and add it to my Territories, for they have no places of ſtrength; Some Villages they have built, but none of them are walled. The Jewes were but lately return'd out of Babylon, newly re-planted in their Land, and could not fortifie Towns or Cities as formerly they were, before Nebuchadnezzar demoliſh'd them; being therefore without Walls, they lay open to enemies, and obvious to all Incurſions.
I will goe to them that are at reſt, that dwell ſafely.
2. Their ſecurity. The Jewes being wearied with their 70 years Captivity, and come again to their Land, had reſt and ſafety, according to what God had promiſed them, Jer. 30.10. & 46.27. Ezek. 34.25, 28. and ſo manifeſted their dependance upon God, truſting in him to protect them, though deſtitute of Walls and Military defences: Well might they be at reſt, and dwell confidently, as the word ſignifies, to whom God had ſaid, None ſhould make them afraid: It's to be feared, many of them abuſed his Promiſe, degenerating into a ſinfull ſecurity.
All of them dwelling without Walls, having neither Barrs nor Gates.
Where there is fear of Enemies and Invaſions, people do fortifie themſelves; they wall about their Towns and Cities, they make ſtrong Gates and Barrs unto them, and ſet Guards to look unto them. The Jewes being fearleſs, did none of theſe things. They obſerved not the counſels and actings of their bordering Enemies; which they ſhould have done, and for want thereof, they expoſed themſelves to eminent dangers.
Verſ. 12. To take a ſpoyl, and to take a prey.
The Hebrew is, to ſpoyl a ſpoyl, and to prey a prey, this was the end Gog propounded, viz. To impoveriſh the Jewes, and enrich himſelf, to deprive them of their Land, and add it to his own. Of the words ſpoyl and prey, hath formerly been ſpoken.
To turn thine hand upon the deſolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered, &c.
Nebuchadnezzar had made the Land of Judea deſolate for many years, and the Jewes being returned from their Captivity, inhabited the deſolate places of the Land, re-built them, began to get ſomething about them to live comfortably on; but Gog now intended to come and lay his hand upon them that were ſpoyled before, and to make another ſpoyling of them, and to bring them again into bondage: This was the aim of Gog.
Which have gotten Cattle and Goods.
The Jewes dealt much in Cattle, and by the increaſe of them, they got not only neceſſaries to ſupport them, but alſo wealth, and became rich; which made them envyed.
That dwell in the midſt of the Land.
For midſt of the Land, in Hebrew, it's the Navel of the Land: Tabbur ſignifies a Navel, alſo an high place, and the Jewes would have the Land of Judah cal'd the Navel of the Earth, becauſe it's the higheſt of Lands; but others, becauſe it's in the midſt of the Earth, as the Navel is in the midſt of mans body. It's ſaid of Jeruſalem, that ſhe was ſet in the midſt of Nations and Countreyes, Ezek. 5.5. Hence the ſalvations God wrought in Judea and Jeruſalem, are ſaid to be in the midſt of the Earth, Iſa. 4.12. Whether Jeruſalem or Judaea be in the middle of the World is doubted; by Navel, or midſt of the land here, is meant, the higher or more inward parts of the Land, where was moſt ſecurity.
Verſ. 13. Sheba and Dedan, and the Merchamts of Tarſhiſh.
Theſe were Auxiliaries unto Gog, and helped forward that damnable deſign he had to deſtroy the Church of God. By Shebah and Dedan, Polanus underſtands the Ethiopians and Arabians; Junius, the men of the South and Eaſt, and by the Merchants of Tarſhiſh, the Tyrians, Sidonians, and Maritine Coaſts, which lay Weſtward; theſe all confederated with Gog, who lay Northward fom Judea: In the 27 Chapt. Sheba, Dedan, and Tarſhiſh, were ſpoken of.
With all the young Lyons thereof.
The Septuagint ſaith, all the Villages thereof, the Chaldee, all the Kings or Princes thereof; but Cephir is the Whelp of a Lyon, or, a young Lyon; Junius, Piſcator, and Polanus, make theſe young Lyons, the Merchants, who were as greedy of gain, as Lyons are of their prey: Others make them Sea-pirates and Robbers, but it's not improbable, that by young Lyons ſhould be meant the young men of thoſe parts, who are like Lyons for ſtrength and courage, as greedy of prey as Lyons are.
Shall ſay unto thee, Art thou come to take a ſpoyl? haſt thou gathered thy Company to take a prey?
Seeing, O Gog, thou gathereſt up Forces to warr againſt the Jewes, to ſpoyl them, and to make a prey of their wealth and Land; lo, we are for thee, we will joyn with thee. Some would have it, that they envyed them, and were againſt them; but 1 Mach. 3. you ſhall finde, that the Nations joyned with Lyſias who was Generall of Antiochus his Army, v. 24 and how he took away Silver, Gold, Women, Children, Cattle and Goods, Chap. 1.22, 23. to the 35. he rob'd the Sanctuary, and fired the City. This Antiochus, do Expoſitors make to be Ezekiels Gog.
Firſt, Obſerve.
God foreknowes and determines things to come, even thoſe things which ſeem moſt free and contingent, as the thoughts of mens hearts.
He ſaith of Gog, long before his exiſtence in the world, It ſhall come to paſs, that at the ſame time ſhall things come into thy minde, and thou ſhalt think an evil thought: Some would have God to permit only things to come, not to determine them; and conceive, that Gods decree of permiſſion, ſuppoſes a neceſſity of their futurition and coming to paſs: but if God did only permit a thing to come to paſs, how could it come to paſs without ſome action, and Gods concurrence to that action? For there is no action or cauſe producing any effect, with which God doth not concurr, Lament. 3.37. Prov. 21.1. Prov. 16.1. Defects are permitted by God, not Effects; He concurrs to the production of them, be they thoughts, words or actions, Gods wiſdom, power and providence hath influence into them.
Secondly, Obſerve.
God doth not only foreknow, but pre-diſcovers the purpoſes, counſels and plots of his Churches enemies, to evidence his care thereof.
He made known the deſign of Gog many years before it came to paſs. Thou ſhalt think an evil thought, and ſay, I will goe up to the Land of unwalled Villages. The enemies of Sion are full of evil thoughts and deſigns, to root out and deſtroy the Inhabitants thereof, but God ſometimes diſcovers them before-hand, and oft prevents them. Neh. 4.11. Our adverſaries ſaid, They ſhall not know, neither ſee, till we come in the midſt among them, and ſlay them, and cauſe the work to ceaſe: Theſe thoughts and deſigns of theirs were diſcovered and prevented by the Lord. Herod thought and purpoſed to kill the Lord Chriſt when he was in the Cradle; but the all-knowing God revealed it to Joſeph, and diſappointed it. God is very vigilant over his Church, leſt any hurt it; he keeps it night and day, Iſa. 27.3.
Thirdly, Obſerve.
The Enemies of the Church do watch, and take advantages againſt the Church, they wait for, and ſeek occaſions to ruine the ſame.
I will goe up, (ſaith Gog) to the Land of unwalled Villages, I will goe to them that are at reſt, that dwell without Walls, Barrs, or Gates: Becauſe he ſaw them unarm'd and ſecure, a naked people, deſtitute of humane helps, therefore he reſolv'd to invade, plunder and deſtroy them. When Saul was purſuing of David, the Philiſtims invaded the Land, 1 Sam. 23.27. And when Eliſha was dead, the Moabites did ſo, 2 King. 13.20. So Haman, becauſe Mordecai would not bow to him, ſought advantages to deſtroy all the Jewes, Eſth. 3.6. The wicked are ſo ſtrong, ſpightfull, and vigilant, to ſeek and take advantages againſt Gods people, that it were impoſſible for them to be in ſafety, had they not a gracious God to take care of them. They are weak, and look not to arms of fleſh, but unto Jehovah the Rock of ages, who is their ſhield and ſafety; they dwell without walls, but God is a wall of fire round about them, Zech. 2.5.
Fourthly, Obſerve.
Wicked ones will undertake great matters, and venture their lives to ſatisfie their luſts.
Gog and the reſt undertake a Warr, march many a mile, and put their lives in their hands, and wherefore? to take a ſpoyl, to get the prey, to carry away Silver, Gold, Cattle and Goods. All was to ſatisfie a baſe, covetous humor; Libido Dominandi & cupido Divitiarum, the luſt after ruling, and deſire of riches, hath ſtimulated many to attempt great matters, to hazard their lives and ſouls to all eternity. Wherefore did the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, undertake a difficult and dangerous Warr? Jehoſhaphat tells you, It was for Dominion and Wealth, 2 Chron. 20.11.
Fifthly, Obſerve.
The wicked, confederate and combine together, to miſchief the Church of God.
Shebah, Dedan, the Merchants of Tarſhiſh, with all the young Lyons thereof, fall in with Gog and his deſign. The ſeed of the Serpent are unanimous to deſtroy the ſeed of the Woman. Pſ. 83. Edomites, Iſhmaelites, Moabites, Hagarens, Gebalites, Ammonites, Amalekites, Philiſtims, Tyrians and Aſhurites, joyn'd all together againſt Gods people, and ſaid, Come, let us cut them off from being a Nation, Ezra 4.7, 8, 9, 10. Biſhlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, Rehum the Chancellor, Shimſhai the Scribe, and the reſt of their Societies, the Dinaites, the Apharſathlites, the Tarpelites, the Apharſites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Suſanchites, the Debanites, the Elamites, and the reſt of the Nations, did all conſpire together, to hinder the building of Jeruſalem, and the Walls thereof. Wicked men are Thorns, and they cleave together, to ſcratch and vex the righteous.
Verſ. 14, 15, 16.
14 Therefore, Son of man, propheſie and ſay unto Gog, Thus ſaith the Lord God; In that day, when my people Iſrael dwelleth ſafely, ſhalt thou not know it?
14 And thou ſhalt come from thy place out of the North parts, thou and many people with thee, all of them riding upon Horſes, a great Company, and a mighty Army.
16 And thou ſhalt come up againſt my people of Iſrael, as a Cloud to cover the Land: it ſhall be in the latter dayes, and I will bring thee againſt my Land, that the Heathen may know me when I ſhall be ſanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
IN theſe words we have the place whence Gog ſhould come, the manner of his coming, the perſons he ſhould come againſt, the author, and event of his coming.
Verſ. 14. In that day, when my people Iſrael dwelleth ſafely, ſhalt thou not know it?
When my people are come to their Land, dwell ſafely in Towns, without walls, gates or barrs? ſhalt thou not know it? Yes, thou wilt take notice thereof, and be incouraged thereby to come againſt them. The Septuagint ſaith, foreign, thou wilt be ſtirred up; this ſenſe of the words ſome make: Others thus, Thou haſt a wicked thought in thy heart, and doeſt purpoſe to invade my people, being unarm'd, and dwelling ſafely, and ſhalt thou not know? that is, Thou ſhalt know what it is to invade my people, thou ſhalt feel my judgments, my fury will appear and fall upon thee, to thy deſtruction, v. 16, 18. Piſcator renders the word thus, Annon experieris? Shalt thou not have experience?
Verſ. 15. Thou ſhalt come from thy place out of the North parts, thou and many people with thee, &c.
Some conceive, that Gog with his great Army, came out of Scythia, others out of Babylon, which lay Northwards from Jeruſalem. That he came from thoſe parts, is not clear: but moſt certair, that he came from the Northern parts, or ſides of the North; and having drawn many to his aſſiſtance, they all came riding upon Horſes. They were all Horſe-men for ſpeed; the charges of ſuch an Army, being all Horſe-men, muſt be exceeding great: This Army came into the Land of Iſrael, and cover'd it like a Cloud, as we heard, v. 9.
Verſ. 16. It ſhall be in the latter dayes.
In the 8 verſ. it was ſaid, in the latter years, and here it's ſaid, in the latter dayes, or, as Montanus reads them, in noviſſimo dierum; or as Piſcator, in noviſſimis diebus, in the laſt dayes. In the latter dayes did Antiochus vex the Jewes, and in the laſt dayes ſhall Antichriſt vex them and the Church.
When I ſhall be ſanctified in thee, O Gog.
God is ſaid to be ſanctified, when he manifeſts himſelf to be an holy and juſt God, by inflicting puniſhment upon evil doers, whereby others are made to fear and ſay, O what an holy, what a juſt, what a dreadfull God is he who executes ſuch judgments! Ezek. 28.22. we had the ſame words.
Firſt, Obſerve,
When Gods people are in Canaan, then have they ſafety.
In Babylon they had none, in Egypt they had none, in the Wilderneſs they had little; but when in Canaan, then they had their greateſt ſafety. In that day when my people Iſrael dwelleth ſafely: They had a day, a time of ſafety, which was when they were ſetled in Canaan. In Canaan was the Church; and where that is in ſafety, there God is City, Walls, G…tes and Barrs, himſelf: He is the keeper of Iſrael, Pſ. 112.4.5.
Secondly, Obſerve,
Th…ſe that deſign and attempt miſchief againſt the people of God, they ſhall experimentally know, that God is their Protector and the Revenger of their wrongs.
Gog thought evil againſt Iſrael, and came up againſt it; And what ſaith God, ſhalt thou not know it? This I'le make thee to know, that I am Iſraels Keeper, and that thou haſt done wickedly to invade them. God made Senacherib know, what it was to deſign and attempt evil againſt Jeruſalem, when he ſmote 185000 of his Souldiers in one night, Iſa. 37.36. When the Ammonites, Moabites, and Seirites, thought and attempted miſchief againſt the Jewes, viz. to caſt them out and poſſeſs their Land, did not God avenge his people of them, and manifeſt himſelf to be their Protector, 2 Chron. 20.23, 24?
Thirdly, Obſerve,
The ſecret Plots and deep Deſigns of men, do at length break out into Action.
Gog had long thought of invading Iſrael, and at length he comes from his place out of the North parts and puts his deſign into execution. Hidden things of diſhoneſty ſleep not alwayes, they may be diſſembled long, but at laſt they iſſue into action. The Spaniſh-plot lay in the dark long, but at laſt it viſited our Engliſh Coaſts; where they were made to ſee that their Armado was not invincible. The Maſſacres of France and Ireland, were ſecret, though, Plotts, at firſt, but in proceſs of time they came to bloud.
Fourthly, Obſerve.
The great enemies of the Church, have many Helpers and Adhaerents, and thoſe fitted to further their wicked Deſigns.
Gog had many people with him, and all of them riding upon Horſes, a great company and a mighty Army: ſo numerous they were, that like a Cloud they covered the Land: So Antichriſt now hath many Aſſiſtants to promote his wicked and bloudy deſigns againſt the Saints. Rev. 19.19. I ſaw the Beaſt, and the Kings of the Earth, and their Armies gathered together to make warr againſt him that ſate on the Horſe, and againſt his Army, that is, againſt Chriſt and his Church.
Fifthly, Obſerve,
Though all people and Lands in the World be the Lords, yet ſome people and Lands are his in a more peculiar manner.
Thou ſhalt come up againſt my people, and againſt my land. Where God is own'd, his Ordinances and Worſhip ſet up, maintain'd in purity and power, His intereſt and glory advanced; there is a people God calls his people, and a land God calls His land; there God dwells, peculiarizing both People and Land to himſelf.
Sixthly, Obſerve,
God takes occaſion from the attempts of the wicked, to execute his juſt judgements upon them, and ſo to get glory to his Name even from Heathens.
Gog took occaſion from the Jewes weakneſs, (they were in unwalled Villages) to invade and deſtroy them; and God takes occaſion from his unjuſt invading the Jewes, to inflict dreadfull judgments upon him and his, that the Heathen might know him, when he ſhould be ſanctified in Gog: They ſeeing ſuch juſt judgments upon Gog, ſhould fear the God of Iſrael, and learn righteouſneſs. God is known by executing of judgment, Pſ. 9.16. Thereby he is known to be the moſt High over all the Earth.
Verſ. 17.
17 Thus ſaith the Lord God, Art thou he of whom I have ſpoken in old time by my ſervants the Prophets of Iſrael, wh…ch propheſied in thoſe dayes many years, that I would bring thee against them.
THe things concerning Gog, were neither Novelties, nor Incertainties, but ſuch as God foreknew would be, and the Prophets had Propheſied of, and that long before; and not once or twice, but often, even many years. It is of grand importance to inquire what Prophets h…ve ſpoken of Gog and his proceedings: Some would have Moſes to ſpeak of him, Numb. 24.7. where it's ſaid, his King ſhall be higher then Agag, that is, Jacobs King ſhall be higher then Gog: The S…ptuagint reads it Gog, and ſo doth Symmachus, foreign: His King ſhall be exalted above Gog: Though Gog be great, yet ſhall he be greater. But in the Original it is Agag, not Gog. Jerom hath it Gog, and interprets it of Antichriſt. Some make David to be the Prophet propheſying of Gog, Pſ. 9.5. Thou haſt deſtroyed the wicked one; that is, thou ſhalt deſtroy Gog, that, or the wicked one, call'd by ſome Antichriſt, whom Gog was a type of. To this accords that in Iſa. 11.4. With the breath of his lips ſhall he ſlay the wicked; Gog in the Type, and Antichriſt in the Antitype, 2 Theſſ. 2.8. Beſide this place in Iſa. ſome fix upon Iſa. 17.12, 13, 14. and make that a Propheſie of Gog. Some took Pſ. 68.14. When the Almighty Scattered Kings, i. e. Gog and Magog. Rivet, in [Lat.] in locum. Jerem. 1 14. Out of the North an evil ſhall break forth upon all the Inhabitants of the Land: It's granted Gog was to come out of the North quarters, v. 15. of this 38 of Ezek. and ſo was Nebuchadnezzar, Jer. 10.22. He ſpeaks rather of Nebuchadnezzar, than of Gog: Moreover, his Propheſie was but a little before Ezekiels dayes, and much of it in his dayes, whereas, here it's ſaid, Of whom I have ſpoken in old time by my ſervants the Prophets of Iſrael: Others therefore referr it to the Propheſie of Enoch, mentioned Jude 14. who ſpake of the Lords coming with 10000 of his Saints: but nothing of Gog is there ſpecified. That in Joel 3 is more ſatisfying as to the buſineſs in hand, Viz. v. 2.9.11.14. I will gather all Nations, and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoſhaphat, and will plead with them there for my people, and for my heritage Iſrael, whom they have ſcattered among the Nations, and ſpoyled my Land, &c. This we may conceive was propheſied of Gog.
1. Becauſe the Jewes were to come out of Captivity into their own Land, before this was done. It's probable, that therefore Gog and the Nations conſpir'd together to invade and deſtroy them, becauſe they were ſetled ſafely in their Land, v. 1.
2. Becauſe Gog was to fall upon the Mountains of Iſrael, to periſh in the Land of Judaea, Ezek 39.4. Thou ſhalt fall upon the Mountains of Iſrael, thou and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee. To which agrees that of Joel 3.12, 13. Let the Heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoſhaphat: for there will I ſit to judge the Heathen round about; put ye in the ſickle, for the harveſt is ripe, &c.
3. Becauſe of the like effects. Ezekiel ſaith, when Gog and his Army ſhall be deſtroyed, there ſhall be a great ſhaking in the Land of Iſrael, v. 19. So Joel 3.15, 16. at the deſtruction of the Nations and their Princes, the Sun and the Moon ſhall be darkned, and the Stars ſhall withdraw their ſhining: The Lord alſo ſhall roar out of Sion, and utter his voice from Jeruſalem, and the heaven and the earth ſhall ſhake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the ſtrength of the Children of Iſrael.
If it be ſaid, Joel is but one Prophet, and the Text ſpeaks of Prophets, and ſo of them, as if it were a common thing amongſt them, to propheſie of or againſt Gog. To this may be anſwered, that moſt of the Prophets might ſpeak of Gog, though they writ not of him; for, all which the Prophets propheſied, did neither themſelves nor others alwayes pen; and here it's ſaid, by whom I have ſpoken, not by whom I have written: Moſes ſpake what was not written, Hebr. 11.24, 25, 26, 27. So Enoch, Jude v. 14, 15. as Chriſt himſelf did, Joh. 21.25. By my ſervants, in Hebrew is, In or by the hand of my ſervants; and for, in thoſe dayes many years, it's in the dayes of thoſe years they did propheſie of Gog, that God would bring him upon the Jewes.
Firſt, Obſerve,
The Lord doth infallibly k…ow things to come.
He revealed to the P…ophets of old this Gog here ſpoken of, hundreds of years before he was; neither was God deceived, for in the time appointed, he came. He whoſe underſtanding is infinite, Pſal. 147.5. muſt needs know all things, paſt, preſent, and to come; ſhould any thing be unknown to God, his underſtanding ſhould not be infinite. Mans knowledge is borrowed from Creatures, to which he gives neither beeing, nor operation; but, God's knowledge is from himſelf: He knows all that is poſſible in his Power, and all that is future in his Will. Creatures can neither bee, nor operate, without Him. He hath ſuch clear viſion of all things, that his knowledge muſt needs be certain: Should he be deceived in any particular, there ſhould be darkneſs in him; but, He is light, and in him there is no darkneſs at all, 1 Joh. 1.5.
Secondly, Obſerve,
The Prophets delivered many things which were not recorded.
The Prophets of Iſrael ſpake of Gog, and yet we cannot find any direct ſatisfying place in holy Writ, concerning him. In Mat. 27.9. you have words cited for Jeremie's which you cannot find in all his Propheſies; the words are theſe, Then was fulfilled that which was ſpoken by Jeremy the Prophet, ſaying, And they took the 30 pieces of ſilver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Iſrael did value. Matthew ſaith not, that which was written; but, that which was ſpoken. Jeremy had delivered theſe words, and many other, doubtleſs, which are no where to be found. And if any ask, How came Matthew by them? He had them by Tradition, ſay ſome; others, by Revelation, which is ſafeſt to ſay. Solomon he ſpake of Trees, from the Cedar-tree that is in Lebanon, even unto the Hyſop that ſpringeth out of the wall: He ſpake alſo of Beaſts, and of Fowls, and of Creeping things, and of Fiſhes, 1 King. 4.33. but what he ſaid of theſe, is not to be found or known. Had not Paul helped us to that bleſſed truth of Chriſt, It is more bleſſed to give than to receive, Act. 20.35. we had never met with it.
Thirdly, Obſerve,
Thoſe God ſends to make known his mind to men, he owns, honours, and protects.
My ſervants the Prophets of Iſrael. Thoſe had ſpoken againſt Gog, and made known his mind, teaching him; God owns for his ſervants, honours them with this Title, Prophets of Iſrael; and being his, he hath a ſpecial care of them, Pſal. 105.15. Do my Prophets no harm. If the ſervants and Embaſſadors of Earthly Princes be honourable, and have protection from them; much more are the ſervants and Embaſſadors of the King of Glory honorable and under Divine Protection. If David would not put up the wrong done to his ſervants he ſent to Hanun, 2 Sam. 10. Neither will God let the wrongs done to his ſervants the Prophets of Iſrael go unpuniſhed, 2 Chron. 36.16.
Fourthly, Obſerve;
Its not an accidental or caſual thing, that enemies do come againſt the Church.
The Lord brought Gog againſt this People, and the Prophets had propheſied many years, that God would do ſo. They made it known to the world what God had decreed to do. Gog could not have ſtir'd or mov'd one foot towards the Land of Iſrael, unleſs God had appointed and commanded it to be ſo, Lam. 3.37. Who is he that ſaith, and it cometh to paſs. When the Lord commandeth it not?
Verſ. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.
18. And it ſhall come to paſs at the ſame time when Gog ſhall come againſt the land of Iſrael, ſaith the Lord God, that my fury ſhall come up in my face.
19. For in my jealouſie and in the fire of my wrath have I ſpoken: ſurely in that day there ſhall be a great ſhaking in the land of Iſrael.
20. So that the fiſhes of the ſea, and the fouls 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.
21. And I will call for a ſword againſt him thorowout all my mountains, ſaith the Lord God: every mans ſword ſhall be againſt his brother.
22. And I will plead againſt him with peſtilence, and with bloud, and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailſtones, fire and brimſtone.
THe time and manner of Gods proceedings with Gog, is ſet forth in theſe five Verſes.
Verſ. 18. At the ſame time when Gog ſhall come againſt the land of Iſrael.
Time is not to be taken ſtrictly for a day, or an hour; as if God ſhould that very day Gog ſet out, or invaded the Land, fall upon him by his judgements, and deſtroy him; but largely, for the time of that enterpriſe, whileſt he ſhould be upon that deſign, when he had fill'd up the meaſure of his iniquities.
My fury ſhall come up in my face.
Some read the words thus, My anger ſhall come up in my face; that is, I will be furious, and manifeſt hot diſpleaſure; for furor is fervor irae, the heat and highth of anger. We read the words, My fury ſhall come up in my face. foreign Af, ſignifies Anger, the face, the noſe alſo, becauſe Anger appears chiefly in them. God ſpeaking here after the manner of men, ſaith, My fury ſhall come up in my face. Luther by Fury or Anger, underſtands Gog himſelf, who was Vas Irae Divinae, by whom God powred out wrath upon the Jews. Maldonate alſo makes the Fury here mentioned, to be againſt the Church, but rather its againſt Gog; for at the ſame time that Gog ſhould come againſt Iſrael, at that time ſhould Gods fury come up in his face, he would be exceedingly diſpleaſed with Gog for attempting the deſtruction of his people. And ver. 21. God will call for a Sword againſt him.
Verſ. 19. For in my jealouſie, and in the fury of my wrath have I ſpoken.
The Lord being jealous over his people for their good; and ſeeing what malicious deſignes Gog and his Confederates had againſt them, was provoked much thereby, and ſaid in his Jealouſie and Fury; that is, Promiſed, or rather Threatned the Deſtruction of Gog: and not only ſo, but confirmed it with an Oath in the next words.
Surely in that day there ſhall be a great ſhaking in the Land of Iſrael.
Theſe words Im lo carry the form of an O…th with them, as thus, If not, that is if there be not a great ſhaking, let me not be God, let me not be faithful; ſo ſure as I am God and faithful, ſo ſure and certain it is that there ſhall be a great ſhaking in the Land of Iſrael, foreign raaſh ſignifies a Commotion, an Earth-quake, and in that day when Antiochus invaded Canaan, there was a great commotion, a great ſhaking. And ſo there will be when Antichriſt, who is Gog myſtical, ſhall invade the Church, which Maldonate ſaith, will be in the end of the world.
Verſ. 20. So that the Fiſhes of the Sea, and the Fowls of the Heaven, 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.
Here is ſhewn the greatneſs of his ſhaking, it ſhould be ſuch as ſhould affect and aſtoniſh all creatures, even the ſenſible and ſenſeleſs. As Gog ſhould come like a ſtorm, ſo Gods judgements ſhould come upon him and his like a ſtorm. When ſtorms are, the winds blow terribly, ſo that the Air and Fowls in it are troubled, the Sea works and rages, ſo that the fiſhes in it are diſquieted; yea, ſome ſtorms do ſo afflict the Earth, that Beaſts, creeping things, and Men themſelves are made to quake. When God comes in a way of judgement, it's grievous. All theſe expreſſions are ad ſignificandam calamitatis vehementiam. God would appear in ſome dreadful judgement againſt Gog, and thereby ſhake all.
The Mountains ſhall be thrown down, and the ſteep places ſhall fall.
Sometimes in Scripture by Mountains are meant Men in eminent places, as Dan. 2.35. Iſa. 40.4 Sometimes the Church and Kingdoms, as Iſa. 2.23. But here ſome take it literally, and affirm there ſhould be ſuch an Earth-quake as ſhould ſhake down Mountains. Lavater by Mountains underſtands Towers built upon Mountains, which then ſhould be demoliſhed. The word for ſteep places is Hammadregoth, which Cant. 2.14. is tranſlated ſtairs, the Septuagint hath it foreign, valleys, the Vulgar is ſepes, the fences; the tranſlation▪ Vatablus follows, ſaith aggeres, Bulwarks. Piſcator and the French ſay turres, Towers. OEcolampad. and Lavater render it gradus, the ſteps, ſtairs, or aſcents, whereby they went up. Junius varies from them all, and turns the word prcaeipitia, which is Steep places, by which he intends Rocks hanging as it were in the Air. The ſenſe is, that all Places of refuge and ſafety, ſeemed they never ſo ſtrong, ſhould fail.
And every wall ſhall fall to the ground.
So terrible ſhall be the ſhaking, that the walls of Cities ſhall be overthrown; all the Towers, Forts, and Defences whatſoever, ſhall be levell'd with the ground and made uſeleſs. Some underſtand this of Gogs prevailing againſt the Church, laying all waſte, ſo that the people of God ſhall be in that diſtreſs, till God come and execute judgement upon Gog and all his company.
Verſ. 21. And I will call for a Sword againſt him throughout all my Mountains, ſaith the Lord God.
Sword here is put for Sword-men. God would call forth men, and ſtir up their ſpirits to oppoſe Gog and his company, who filling all with fear, thought to ſwallow up all; but throughout Judea, that mountainous Counrey, he ſhould meet with thoſe would give check to his proceedings. Judas Macchabaeus, Jonathan, Eleazer, and others, withſtood Antiochus and his Forces, as you may ſee in the Book of the Macchabees, and therein was this Propheſie made good ſay Interpreters.
Every mans Sword ſhall be againſt his Brother.
Thoſe of Gogs Army ſhould, through the juſt judgement of God upon them, change their thoughts, counſels, intentions; and, inſtead of killing their Enemies, they ſhould ſheath their Swords in one anothers bowels. God would order it ſo, that one ſhould deſt…oy another, as the Philiſtines did, 1 Sam. 14, 16. Behold, the multitude melted away and they went on beating down one another, and Verſ. 20. Every mans ſword was againſt his fellow. They being full of diſcontent and perplexity, thought it more honourable to dye then to fall into the hands of Enemies.
Verſ. 22. And I will plead againſt him with Peſtilence and with Bloud.
He ſhews here what judgements God would bring upon Gog and his Armies, judgements from beneath, and judgements from above. The firſt ſort here are Peſtilence and Bloud, by the ſword and ſlaughter. The Hebrew is, I will be judg'd with him by Peſtilence and Bloud; they ſhall declare that I am a ſtrong and juſt God.
And I will rain upon him and upon his Bands, &c. an over-flowing Rain, and great Hailſtones, Fire, and Brimſtone.
The ſecond ſort of judgements are Rain, Hailſtones, Fire, and Brimſtone. Theſe words over-flowing ſhowers and great Hailſtones, we had, Chap. 13.11, 13. In the 10. of Joſhuah, we read how God did caſt down great Stones from Heaven upon the Amorites, and ſlew more with Hail…tones then the Iſraelites ſlew with the Sword, verſ. 10. To this place it's conceiv'd our Prophet alludes, foretelling, that the Lord would deal with the Goggites as he did with the Amorites, ſl…y them with extraordinary great H…lſtones from Heaven; and not only ſo, but with Fire and Brimſtone, which is poena damnatorum, the puniſhment of the damn'd in Hell, and was the puniſhment of Sodom and Gomorrha.
Some by theſe expreſſions underſtand manifold and grievous calamities, which befell Gog and his; and will not have them to be underſtood litterally, that ſo the verification of them may fall upon Antiochus and his Forces, who ſuffered very ſad things: for he was ſmitten by God with an incurable and inviſible plague and torment in his bowels, he fell from his Chariot, and was bruiſed with his fall; worms came out of his body in abundance, his rottenneſs and ſtink was ſuch as none could bear the ſame; and while he was alive his fleſh fell off for pain, 2 Macc. 9. Let it be granted that theſe words are not to be taken literally, but metaphorically for heavy judgements befalling Gog and his, it will not follow thereupon that Antiochus was the man, though he ſuffered ſuch grievous things: for it's ſaid of Gog, that he ſhould fall upon the Mountains of Iſrael, he and all his Bands, that he and his ſlain ſhould have graves in Iſrael, Ezek. 39.4, 11. But as for Antiochus he dyed in his bed, and that either in Babylon, as 1 Macc. 6. or at Ecbatane in India, as it's 2 Macc. 9. Neither was there any ſuch vaſt deſtruction of Antiochus Forces, which came into Judaea under Lyſias, as theſe words hold out, and is more clearly expreſſed in Ch. 39.12. Seven moneths ſhall the houſe of Iſrael be burying of them. There muſt be a wonderful great ſlaughter which required ſo much time for their burial. I conceive therefore, that theſe words may be taken in the literal ſenſe, and are yet to be fulfill'd; and that induceth ſo to judge, is, what you have, Rev. 20.8, 9. where it is ſaid, Satan ſhall gather Gog and Magog together to battail, the number of whom is as the ſand of the Sea, and they went up on the breadth of the Earth, and compaſſed the Camp of the Saints about, and the beloved City, and fire came down from Heaven and devoured them; John ſaw this in Viſion, and ſpake of it as to come, and puts it after the Saints riſing and reigning a thouſand years with Chriſt; That time being expired, ſome grand Enemies ſhall ariſe againſt the Jews and people of God, whom he will deſtroy, not only in an ordinary way, but miraculouſly alſo by fire from Heaven.
Firſt, Obſerve.
When wicked men are plotting and attempting the ruine of the Church, Gods wrath is kindled againſt them.
When Gog comes up againſt the land of Iſrael, Gods fury comes up in his face. Gog manifeſts himſelf to be an Enemy to Sion, and God manifeſts himſelf to be an Enemy to Gog. Wicked men plot, act, proceed far oft-times, and afflict the ſervants of God greatly; but, when they think to carry all, God appears, and that in fury. In Nah. 1.2. it is ſaid, He reſerveth wrath for his Enemies; and when they declare their enmity againſt him and his, he diſcovers his wrath againſt them. Zerah had been long plotting againſt the Jews, at laſt he comes againſt them with a thouſand thouſand, and three hundred Chariots, and thought to devour Aſa his Army and Land in a day, and whileſt he had ſuch apprehenſions, the Lord ſmote him before Aſa, and Judah, 2 Chron. 14.8.12.
Secondly, Obſerve.
When miſchief is intended againſt Gods people, his love and indignation are manifeſted then; his love to his people, his indignation towards their Enemies.
In my jealouſie and in the fire of my wrath have I ſpoken. When Gogs Armies were to harm the Jews, then was he jealous. In jealouſie, there is ardent love, and vehement indignation; the one is towards his people, the other towards them that wrong his people. Zechar. 8. I was jealous for Zion with great jealouſie, and I was jealous for her with great fury. He had ſtrong love to Zion, and great fury againſt the Enemies of Zion; as a man hath ardent love to his wife, and indignation againſt any ſhould offer her violence. God is jealous over his Church, and therefore will never ſuffer it to be made a prey of, by the wicked. Gods love, and indignation at ſuch a time are ſo ardent, that he ſwears he will be avenged on them that would wrong his, Surely in that day there ſhall be a great ſhaking in the Land of Iſrael. Gog and all his Forces ſhall fall.
Thirdly, Obſerve.
The judgements of God are dreadful, they affect all Creatures, the Fiſhes of the Sea, the Fowls of Heaven, the Beaſts of the Field, all that creeps upon the Earth; all men upon the face of the Earth ſhall ſhake; Mountains, Rocks, Walls, ſhall fall.
This judgement upon Gog ſhall be ſuch, as to aſtoniſh and trouble all ſenſible and inſenſible creatures; ſo much of God ſhall be ſeen in it. When the Lord deſtroyed Tyrus, it was a dreadful judgement, the Iſles did ſhake at the ſound of her fall, the Princes of the Sea did tremble and were aſtoniſhed, Ezek. 26. But at the deſtruction of Gog, Heaven, Earth, Sea, all men, other creatures, ſhall ſhake. There will be more of God ſeen in that judgement then in moſt before; his preſence, power, and ſeverity will appear eminently in that Judgement; it will ſpeak aloud and fill the world with aſtoniſhment.
Fourthly, Obſerve.
God can eaſily raiſe Forces againſt his and the Churches Enemies, he can do it without any trouble.
I will call for a Sword againſt him throughout all my Mountains; The Mountains of Iſrael were the Lords, and all the Inhabitants of them, and if he did but call, they came to his Standard preſently. The Princes of the Earth find it an hard buſineſs to get a great Army together, and wait long for it after great conſultation how to effect the ſame; but the Lord, only calls, and i…'s done, He is the Lord of Hoſts; he hath command of ſpirits, and can with eaſe in a little time gather a vaſt Army. The Centurion when he ſaid to his ſervant, Come, he came; and when God ſhall ſay to men, Come, they will come, they muſt come, out of all parts, from all mountains.
Fifthly, Obſerve,
As God can eaſily gather Armies for the good of his Church; ſo he can as eaſily ruine Armies which are againſt his Church: he can mingle a perverſe ſpirit amongſt them, ſo divide them that they ſhall execute one another.
Every mans ſword ſhall be againſt his brother. One Goggite ſhould deſtroy another; they thought to have deſtroyed Gods people, and they fell one upon the other. 2 Chron. 20.22, 23. The children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, came againſt Judah, and thought to deſtroy them, and take their poſſeſſions, but God ſoon ruined their enemies, he ſet them one againſt another; for the children of Ammon and Moab, ſtand up againſt the inhabitants of Mount Seir, utterly to ſlay and deſtroy them: and when they had made an end of the Inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to deſtroy another; the Ammonites deſtroyed the Moabites, and the Moabites the Ammonites. This great multitude (for ſo they are called, ver. 2.) did the Lord cauſe to fall by their own ſwords. How eaſily did God ſcatter the Army of the Syrians, which beſieged Samaria! He made them to hear a noyſe of Charets, and Horſes, whereupon they fled for their lives, and left bag and baggage, 2 King. 7.6, 7. Did not God at the prayers of a Chriſtian Legion, in the Army of Marcus Aurelius, Emperour, ſcatter and deſtroy that vaſt Army of the Marcomanni and Quadi, which conſiſted of 977 thouſand? He ſent rain at the ſame time to relieve the Emperours Army, which was in danger of periſhing by thirſt; and alſo, thunder, lightning, and fiery hail, which ruined the enemies. God can with great facility overthrow the greateſt Armies.
Sixthly, Obſerve,
God hath variety of means and wayes whereby to deſtroy Armies, and puniſh Enemies.
He hath the peſtilence, bloud, an overflowing rain, great hailſtones, fire and brimſtone, to do the ſame by. He had an Angel to deſtroy Sennacheribs Army, Iſa. 37.36. Stars to fight againſt Siſera, Judg. 5.20. The ſhining of the Sun upon the water, undid the Moabites, 2 King. 3.22, 23, 24. The ſound in the tops of the Mulbery-trees did the Philiſtines no good, 2 Sam, 5.24 God hath Natural, Caſual, and Divine means, to plague his enemies with, though they be in great Armies.
Seventhly, Obſerve,
Thoſe who joyn with Great ones in wicked enterpriſes, muſt look to ſuffer grievous things with them.
I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him. They thought themſelves ſafe under Gog, that they ſhould get honour and wealth in that enterprize; but, the undertaking was unwarrantable, Gog could not juſtifie his act, nor protect them: They were Co-actors in wickedneſs, and ſo ſhould be Co-ſufferers. It's dangerous to adhere to Greatneſs in wicked deſigns. Though hand joyn in hand, the wicked ſhall not be unpuniſhed, Prov. 11, 21. Let multitudes take Gog, and Great men by the hand; let them follow their counſels, tread in their ſteps, do their wills; this cannot ſecure them, they ſhall be puniſhed. God is no reſpecter of perſons, in every Nation he that doth wickedly, and they that joyn with him, ſhall be puniſhed.
Verſ. 23.
23. Thus will I magnifie my ſelf, and ſanctifie my ſelf; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they ſhall know that I am the Lord.
THis Verſe ſhews the end of Gods deſtroying Gog, and in ſuch a manner, viz. That God may be honoured and known.
Thus will I magnifie my ſelf.
The Septuagint, and ſome others read the words paſſively, foreign, I will be magnified; but, Hith gaddilti, is, I will magnifie my ſelf, or, I will make my ſelf great; and that is done, when God doth ſuch things as declare his Power, his Faithfulneſs, and his Juſtice; when the Lord ſhould execute his dreadful threatned-Judgements upon Gog, then his great Power would appear, that he had the Command of all Creatures; that vaſt Armies are nothing to him: ſo, his Faithfulneſſe to his people, who owned him for their God, and his Juſtice in deſtroying thoſe would have deſtroyed his.
And ſanctifie my ſelf.
God is not unholy or polluted at any time; but, he is ſaid to Sanctifie himſelf, when he declares himſelf to be not Impotent, not Unfaithfull, not Unjuſt; but, a Powerfull, Faithfull, Righteous, and Holy God.
Obſerve.
The end of Gods judgements upon the wicked is, that he may be known and acknowledged among the Nations, and ſo have a great and holy Name.
God is known by executing of judgements, Pſal. 9.16. Known not to be like unto men, as they conceived, Pſal. 50.21. or, a God that ſees not, as they ſaid, Ezek. 8.12. or, a God countenancing and preferring evill-doers, as they affirm'd, Mal. 3.15. But, to be a dreadfull God, as when he viſited Ananias and Sapphira for their ſins, Great fear came upon all that heard thereof, Act. 5.11. To be an holy God, as 1 Sam. 6.20. when he ſmote the Bethſhemites, 50000 of them, with ſudden death, it was ſaid, Who is able to ſtand before this holy Lord God, by his judgements he hath made his Name dreadful among the Heathen! What a great and holy Name did the Lord make to himſelf, by the deſtruction of Pharaoh and his hoſt in the Red-ſea?