Ezekiel 38 Study Notes

38:1 The introductory phrase the word of the Lord came to me indicates a change of subject from the previous chapter. The message in chaps. 38-39 should be seen as the sixth and last in Ezekiel’s series of messages delivered the night before the news about the fall of Jerusalem arrived. The chapters describe the final attempt by foreigners to possess the land of Israel.

38:2 Gog may most immediately refer to Gyges, king of Lydia, from the seventh century BC. Even so, the reference transcends this Gog’s historical circumstances to refer to a leader who will oppose Israel in the far future. A modern parallel would be for us to speak of a prominent but vile leader as a “new Hitler.” The only other occurrence of “Gog” is in Rv 20:8. Gog seems to transcend historical categories, serving as a symbol of the forces of antichrist. If so, Gog has become a transnational symbol of evil, much like Edom and Egypt (Ex 15; Is 34; 63:1-6; Mal 1:2-5). The references to the invasion of Gog in Rv 19-20 allow for the view that Gog represents the “beast” as well as “Satan.” Gog’s being dragged and led around by hooks (Ezk 38:4; 39:2) may be analogous to or even parallel with God releasing Satan from prison in Rv 20:7. In Ezk 25-32 the prophet addressed nations that Judah was familiar with. Now, we read about the plan of God for distant, unknown nations. This is parallel to the book of Revelation’s depiction of the battle of Armageddon. Revelation 20:8 identifies Gog and Magog as a figure for all the pagan foes of Israel and the Messiah. Magog is found elsewhere in the OT only in Gn 10:2 and its parallel in 1Ch 1:5, where Magog is identified as the second son of Japheth.

Because the Hebrew word for chief (Hb ro’sh) sounds similar to the name Russia, many modern Bible students have attempted to identify Russia with the “chief” in this verse. This popular identification is based on a faulty etymology, the similarities in sound between Russia and Rosh being purely accidental. “Rosh” never appears as a nation in any biblical text. Furthermore, those who identify Meshech with Moscow and Tubal with Tobolsk likewise operate on faulty assumptions about the etymological evidence. On Meshech and Tubal, see 32:26.

38:3-5 Gog, representing all God’s enemies, will be brought out to oppose him.

38:6 Gomer is mentioned as early as Gn 10:2-3. In 1Ch 1:6 he is listed as one of the sons of Japheth. According to Gn 10:3, Togarmah was one of the children of Gomer.

38:7-9 After a long time (lit “in the end of years”) is a prophetic phrase that is sometimes applied to the end times (Jr 32:14; Dn 8:26). It alludes to the nearly identical phrase end of days, which designates the time of the messianic kingdom (Gn 49:1; Is 2:2; Jr 23:20; 30:24; Hs 3:5; Mc 4:1). The attack will be so massive that the invading troops will appear to be like a cloud covering the land. The cloud and the storm are common images in biblical literature announcing prophetic threats (Jr 4:13).

38:10-11 In Zch 2:4-5 we find that the Lord alone is sufficient protection (Ezk 36:35-36). The phrase living securely describes messianic security after Israel’s restoration.

38:12 The phrase center of the world may be translated “navel of the earth.” Since the Hebrew word for “land” can also mean “earth,” it could be argued that theologically Jerusalem will be both the center of the land of Israel and indeed of all the earth. The only other occurrence of this expression is in Jdg 9:37, but that text does not refer to Jerusalem.

38:13 Sheba (27:22), Dedan (25:13; 27:20), and Tarshish (27:12) are mentioned in chap. 27 as engaged in trade with Tyre. Sheba, located in the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula (modern Yemen), was known for its trading (Jb 6:19; see Ezk 27:22; 1Kg 10:1-2).

38:14-16 The phrase so that the nations may know me refers to an important biblical theme (Ex 15; Ps 46-48; Is 2:1-4; Mc 4:1-5). This invasion will take place in the end times, after the people of Israel have been restored to the promised land and are living securely under the Messiah’s rule and protection.

38:17-20 When Gog advances, a great earthquake will occur. Such listings of animals in v. 20 are used to allude to the entire created order in the creation story (Gn 1) and elsewhere (Gn 9:2; 1Kg 4:33; Jb 12:7-8).

38:21 God will bring such confusion on those who oppose his people that they will kill one another (Lv 26:37; Dt 28:29). For a similar event in the time of King Jehoshaphat, see 2Ch 20:22-23.

38:22-23 These judgments against Gog are consistent with the covenant curses of plague (Dt 32:24), bloodshed (Dt 32:42), flood (Gn 6), hail, fire, and burning sulfur (Jos 10:11). The defeat of Gog by the sword and natural elements highlights God’s role as Creator and governor of nature. The destruction is also reminiscent of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gn 18-19).