Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · Ezekiel · Chapter 38
CHAP. XXXVIII.
SEt thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. V. 1. 2.By Gog Lyra understands Antichrist, who should arise and persecute the Church of Christ towards the end of the world, for which it is said, v. 8. Lyra.After many dayes in the latter yeers thou shalt come into the land, that is brought back from the sword, &c. And he saith, that he is called Gog, signifying tectus covered, because he should be the devil in the shape of a man, and in the land of Magog, signifying de tecto, of the covered, as if he had said of his retinue or family, that is, such as took part with him. To approve which, he citeth Revel. 20. where Gog and Magog setting forth Antichrist are again spoken of after the thousand yeers, in which time Satan was shut up, expired, and 2 Thes. 2. 8. But Junius taking that which is here prophesied of to be concerning the enemies, Iunius.by whom the Jews should suffer after their return out of captivity, and living againe in prosperity for a time in their own land, by Gog understands a people in Asia the lesser, and particularly their king Halyartes, who at this time possessed that kingdom, who came of Gyges, that slew Candaulus the king of the Lydians, being therefore called Gog the name being a little changed. From hence Croesus succeeding him, that king of the Lydians so much spoken of for his riches, in larged that kingdom to the parts neer the land of Israel up to mount Lebanon, where there was a City spoken of by Geographers by the name Gygarta called in the Syrian tongue Gogkarta, the City of Gog, and this kingdom when Alexanders Empire was divided amongst his captaines, was called the kingdom of Syria, wherein Antiochus Epiphanes, Seleucus, Demetrius and Nicanor successively reigning, did much mischief to the Jews, as in the books of Maccabees appeareth, persecuting and coming with great Armies against them, as is here foretold. Magog was the City called Heliopolis notorious for all kind of idolatry, which was built by the Scythians or Sarmatians, Plin. l. 5. c. 25.after that making incursions into those parts they had subdued Syria Coelem, for so the Syrians called that City, as Pliny saith. That of Lyra is most generally received, but Junius speaketh much more probably, that by Gog may be understood the king of Syria, who should afterward reigne, the Empire of the Medes and Persians being at an end, and the Grecian Monarch, ending after that at the death of Alexander. For this was after many dayes and in the latter yeers, viz. about three hundred after the Jews returning againe to inhabit Judea. And of their great sufferings then Daniel also prophesieth. Dan. 10. 30.Whereas this Gog is said to be in the land of Magog and prince of Mechek and Tubal, these three are said to have come of Japhet, Magog the father Gen. 10. 2.of the Scythians or Sarmatians, who, as Josephus saith, were anciently called Magogites, Tubal of the Iberians and Albanians, Meshech of the Cappadocians, three great nations, but now under one King or head, Gog as he is here called for the reason before going. And whereas Revel. 20. 8. Gog and Magog are againe spoken of it, it is only in allusion to that, which is here said, the enemies of the Church under the Gospel both Hereticks and Pagans being meant.
The thing threatened against Gog is like that before against the king of Egypt, to put an hook in his jawes, and to bring him back together with his V. 5.forces, which are thus reckoned up, Persia, Ethiopia, Lybia, Gomer and the house of Togarmah. Persia, Heb. Elam, of which Jer. 49. 34. was in part under Antiochus, V. 6.as is shewed 1 Mac. 3. 32. of the Ethiopians and Lybians, see Mac. 10. 11. and how Ptolemee Euergetes restored Demetrius to his kingdom again by their help, when he had bin by Alexander cast out. Of Gomer & Togarmah, see Gen. 10. 2, 3. they also came of Japhet, and then were under the dominion of Antiochus and Seleucus, of all which Gog composed his Army. And for what end this great Army was gathered together is shewed, v. 8. 9. 10. viz. to subdue & to spoile the V. 8.Jews, who had been so mightily brought from the sword of the Caldees, and planted in their own land, and had there gotten cattel and other substance, whereas the land lay wast before, but now this Gog, he sheweth, should come and make a prey of them, but for this he threateneth, that he should be visited, as is more largely expressed afterwards. v. 13. Sheba and Dedan and the V. 13.Merchants of Tarshish or of the sea, that is, the Arabians, who lived by robberies and the Tyrians and Zidonians, who lived and gathered wealth by trafficking by sea, rejoyced at the spoiles taken from the Jews, being ready to help in this work, which is meant, when they are brought in saying, Art thou come to take a prey? if thou beest, we are here ready to help and to traffick with thee for it; an expression of joy in them for the benefit, which they hoped thus to attaine.
From hence forward the Lord giveth order to his prophet, to let this V. 14.Gog know that in all his proceedings he did nothing, but what he foreknew and spake of by his Prophets, that is, this Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah, V. 17. Dan. 11. Zech. 14.intimating hereby, that he knew also how to suppress him againe, when he pleased. And that the kings of Syria, whose kingdoms extended so far Northward, were here meant appeareth, because this Gog is spoken of as coming out of the North, v. 15. and therefore was the same, of whom. Daniel speaketh ch. 10. where he often for the King of Egypt saith, the king of the South, and for the king of Syria the king of the North.
At the same time, &c. my fury shall come up in my face. v. 19. Then there shall be a… V. 18. 19.great shaking in the land of Israel. After the expeditions and persecutions raiseth by Antiochus against the Jews, here followeth a prophesie of his ruine, and the ruine of his kingdome, which God in great wrath and fury would bring upon him for his wickedness, partly in the land of Israel, where he was encountred by Judas Maccabeus, and was often foiled in his forces, for which it is said there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel: and then to set forth V. 20.this shaking of this proud and cruel enemy the more, it is added, of the beasts, fowls, creeping things, &c. by an hyperbole, as Hosh. 4. it is threatened, that the beasts and fowles, and fishes should mourn, and partly by domestical divisions, that should arise, as indeed there did betwixt Alexander and Demetrius competitons for the kingdom, whereby great destructions were brought upon it.
And this is set forth v. 21. I will call for a sword against him throughout all my V. 21.mountaines, every mans sword shall be against his brother. In saying, throughout all my mountaines, he meaneth, that even in the land of Judea, which was mountainous this falling out and fighting should be betwixt Alexander and Demetrius and Seleucus the son of Gryphus and others, of which see my continuation of the history after Esther. Antiochus being dead through the just judgement of God, Antiochus Eupator his son succeeded him, but Demetrius, to whom the kingdom properly belonged, coming against him, he was soon cut off, and then he having reigned a while Alexander the pretended son of Antiochus being backed by Ptolemee king of Egypt fought against him for the kingdom, by means of which domestical and intestine wars coming by the just judgement of God upon that kingdom, as is here threatened, it is not to be doubted, but that other judgements of pestilence, &c. followed as an overflowing flood, whereby those enemies of Gods people were consumed, as if by haile and fire from heaven, as is said v. 22. But they, who by Gog understand the Antichrist to V. 22.come toward the end of the world, say, that these judgements, of pestilence, overflowing raine, haile and fire, and brimstone shall be executed according to the letter, as is said in effect 2 Thess. 2. Whom Christ shall consume by the breath of his mouth, and abolish by the brightness of his coming. But that opinion of Antichrist being one man yet to come, that should raise the greatest persecution against the Church of God that ever was for three yeers and an half, hath been often shewed to be a manifest errour, and i… also shewed in my exposition upon the Revelation, so that it can have no place here, or passe for current, as the meaning of the things here revealed, but only as hath been already said.