Eze 39:9 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter is the continuation of the previous one and goes on to make known to us what God is going to do with Gog. Ezekiel must continue to prophesy against Gog ( ). For the fifth time the words “thus says the Lord GOD” are heard in connection with Gog. The first words that follow are similar to those of the beginning of the previous chapter ( ). The LORD repeats His purpose to take Gog up from his home in “the remotest parts of the north” or “the uttermost north” to bring him against “the mountains of Israel” ( ). Immediately afterwards, He says that He will disarm Gog and his band in Israel and how He will do it ( ). It is presented as a battle, in which Gog has no chance, however. The LORD simply knocks his bow out of his left hand and renders his right hand powerless so that he cannot hold his arrows. There he stands, defenseless. Then he will fall on the mountains of Israel, along with all those who have gone up with him ( ). There they lie, defeated. Those who have thought to rob rich booty are given by the LORD to the predatory birds and the hyenas for food. Even though the armies of Gog that have escaped from the mountains regroup in the open field, they are no match for the LORD there either ( ). He will cut them down there. It will happen, because He has declared so. The land in the uttermost north, Magog, from which Gog has gone, will be judged by the LORD with His fire ( ). The fire will also come to the coastlands that live in safety. It is possible that this refers to the countries that lie on the coast of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. As for Israel, the LORD will make His holy Name known in their midst ( ). He will no longer let His holy Name be profaned. He is the “Holy One” – here not of Israel ( ; ), but – “ in Israel”. He dwells in the midst of His people. His judgment on Gog in His land makes that clear once again. In that day, the day about which He has spoken that Gog will be judged and for which He has looked forward, there will be a firm peace, to which no one can change anything ( ). Then there will be undisturbed, full peace in Israel and in the world. The destruction is described in a few words. The description of the consequences is much more detailed. The enemies believe they will ambush Israel as prey, but the opposite happens: the inhabitants of Israel will take spoil of their attackers ( ). This section is reminiscent of the Jews in Susan in the book of Esther, who are also first threatened with being killed by their enemies, but where the roles are also reversed ( ). The weaponry of the armies of Gog will serve as firewood. It is a huge arsenal. One will be able to make fires of it for as much as seven years. Usually captured weapons are added to one’s own weapon stock. But addition to one’s own stock of weapons is not necessary, for there will be no more wars. At the coming of Christ, weapons have been turned into farm implements ( ; ). After the complete extermination of Gog, the LORD designates a grave for the fallen in Israel ( ). There will be no transportation of the corpses to their own land. The place of the grave is “the valley of those who pass by”. That valley will become a mass grave, so it can no longer be used as a thoroughfare for travelers. The valley will be given a new name, “valley of Hamon-gog” or “valley of the multitude of Gog”. The slaughter among the armies of Gog will be so great that it will take seven months to bury all the corpses, or what is left of them ( ). In burying those countless corpses, the entire population will participate ( ). The LORD has defeated the enemy, He gets the glory. His people share in the victory and deal with the results. It is the sure proof of the total annihilation of the enemy. They not only hear of it, but can touch the evidence of it, as it were. After seven months, when the masses have been buried, men set apart for the purpose will be engaged in tracking down remnants of the enemy ( ). This search is necessary to completely cleanse the land (cf. ). They are aided in this task by those who pass through the land who, as they journey through the land, discover a human bone here or there ( ). When they see bones, they are to make them recognizable so that the buriers can easily notice the bones and bury them in the mass grave. This is how the land will be cleansed. The name of the mass grave is connected to the name of the city Hamonah ( ). Hamonah means ‘multitude’. When all the remnants of the ‘multitude’ of corpses are buried in that one place, the land will be cleansed.

‏ Ezekiel 39:9

Introduction

This chapter is the continuation of the previous one and goes on to make known to us what God is going to do with Gog.

Gog as Spoil for Israel

Ezekiel must continue to prophesy against Gog (Eze 39:1). For the fifth time the words “thus says the Lord GOD” are heard in connection with Gog. The first words that follow are similar to those of the beginning of the previous chapter (Eze 38:1-3).

The LORD repeats His purpose to take Gog up from his home in “the remotest parts of the north” or “the uttermost north” to bring him against “the mountains of Israel” (Eze 39:2). Immediately afterwards, He says that He will disarm Gog and his band in Israel and how He will do it (Eze 39:3). It is presented as a battle, in which Gog has no chance, however. The LORD simply knocks his bow out of his left hand and renders his right hand powerless so that he cannot hold his arrows. There he stands, defenseless. Then he will fall on the mountains of Israel, along with all those who have gone up with him (Eze 39:4). There they lie, defeated. Those who have thought to rob rich booty are given by the LORD to the predatory birds and the hyenas for food.

Even though the armies of Gog that have escaped from the mountains regroup in the open field, they are no match for the LORD there either (Eze 39:5). He will cut them down there. It will happen, because He has declared so. The land in the uttermost north, Magog, from which Gog has gone, will be judged by the LORD with His fire (Eze 39:6). The fire will also come to the coastlands that live in safety. It is possible that this refers to the countries that lie on the coast of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

As for Israel, the LORD will make His holy Name known in their midst (Eze 39:7). He will no longer let His holy Name be profaned. He is the “Holy One” – here not of Israel (Psa 71:22; Isa 5:19 ; Isa 10:20 ; Isa 12:6 ; Isa 30:12 ; Isa 30:15 ; Isa 41:14 ; Isa 43:3 ; Isa 43:14 ; Isa 45:11 ; Isa 47:4 ; Isa 48:17 ; Isa 54:5 ; Isa 60:14), but – “in Israel”. He dwells in the midst of His people. His judgment on Gog in His land makes that clear once again. In that day, the day about which He has spoken that Gog will be judged and for which He has looked forward, there will be a firm peace, to which no one can change anything (Eze 39:8). Then there will be undisturbed, full peace in Israel and in the world.

The destruction is described in a few words. The description of the consequences is much more detailed. The enemies believe they will ambush Israel as prey, but the opposite happens: the inhabitants of Israel will take spoil of their attackers (Eze 39:9-10). This section is reminiscent of the Jews in Susan in the book of Esther, who are also first threatened with being killed by their enemies, but where the roles are also reversed (Est 9:1-10).

The weaponry of the armies of Gog will serve as firewood. It is a huge arsenal. One will be able to make fires of it for as much as seven years. Usually captured weapons are added to one’s own weapon stock. But addition to one’s own stock of weapons is not necessary, for there will be no more wars. At the coming of Christ, weapons have been turned into farm implements (Isa 2:4a; Mic 4:3).

After the complete extermination of Gog, the LORD designates a grave for the fallen in Israel (Eze 39:11). There will be no transportation of the corpses to their own land. The place of the grave is “the valley of those who pass by”. That valley will become a mass grave, so it can no longer be used as a thoroughfare for travelers. The valley will be given a new name, “valley of Hamon-gog” or “valley of the multitude of Gog”.

The slaughter among the armies of Gog will be so great that it will take seven months to bury all the corpses, or what is left of them (Eze 39:12). In burying those countless corpses, the entire population will participate (Eze 39:13). The LORD has defeated the enemy, He gets the glory. His people share in the victory and deal with the results. It is the sure proof of the total annihilation of the enemy. They not only hear of it, but can touch the evidence of it, as it were.

After seven months, when the masses have been buried, men set apart for the purpose will be engaged in tracking down remnants of the enemy (Eze 39:14). This search is necessary to completely cleanse the land (cf. Num 19:16). They are aided in this task by those who pass through the land who, as they journey through the land, discover a human bone here or there (Eze 39:15). When they see bones, they are to make them recognizable so that the buriers can easily notice the bones and bury them in the mass grave. This is how the land will be cleansed.

The name of the mass grave is connected to the name of the city Hamonah (Eze 39:16). Hamonah means ‘multitude’. When all the remnants of the ‘multitude’ of corpses are buried in that one place, the land will be cleansed.