Ezekiel 39: God's Victory and Israel's Restoration
Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.
Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God.
And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the Lord.
So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.
Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God; this is the day whereof I have spoken.
And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:
So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord God.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamon–gog.
And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.
Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord God.
And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamon–gog.
And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.
And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.
Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.
Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord God.
And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward.
And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.
According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
Ezekiel 39_1-29 unveils a powerful prophecy concerning God's ultimate judgment against Gog and the subsequent restoration of Israel. This chapter builds upon the previous one, detailing the dramatic consequences of Gog's invasion and highlighting God's unwavering commitment to His chosen people. Through vivid imagery and symbolic language, Ezekiel reveals God's glory, His justice, and His promise of a secure future for Israel.
The Overthrow of Gog (Ezekiel 39:1-8)
Ezekiel 39_1-8 continues the prophecy against Gog, emphasizing the totality of God's victory. After luring Gog's forces, amassed from the "remotest parts of the north," into the land of Israel, God will decisively defeat them. These invading armies will be weakened and utterly destroyed on the mountains of Israel, becoming carrion for birds and wild animals. This gruesome scene underscores the completeness of God's judgment and the futility of opposing His will. Furthermore, God's judgment extends beyond the battlefield, reaching Magog, Gog's homeland, and all the nations that supported the attack on Israel. This comprehensive punishment demonstrates God's justice and His unwavering defense of His people. The ultimate purpose of this dramatic intervention is twofold: to demonstrate the holiness of God's name to the people of Israel and to reveal His power and sovereignty to all nations. They will know that He is the Holy One in Israel.
The Aftermath of Victory (Ezekiel 39:9-20)
The scale of the victory is so immense that it requires detailed description. For seven years, the Israelites will use the weapons left behind as fuel, eliminating their need for other sources of firewood (Ezekiel 39_9-10). This seemingly literal detail emphasizes the abundance of spoils and the complete annihilation of the enemy's war machine. The burial of Gog's vast army will also take an extended period – seven months – as the Israelites cleanse their land from the defilement of the dead (Ezekiel 39_11-16). This meticulous act of purification underscores the importance of holiness in God's presence. The surrounding nations will witness this massive undertaking and recognize the glory of God displayed through Israel's victory.
Adding to the already striking imagery, God will prepare a "feast" for the birds and wild animals, inviting them to gorge themselves on the corpses of Gog's army (Ezekiel 39_17-20). This stark reversal of the usual sacrificial feast, where humans partake of animals, emphasizes the completeness of God's victory and the utter humiliation of His enemies. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is sovereign over all creation and that He can use even the most grotesque images to illustrate His power and judgment.
Israel's Restoration (Ezekiel 39:21-29)
The defeat of Gog will have profound consequences, not only for the nations but also for Israel itself. The nations will witness God's glory manifested in the destruction of Gog's forces (Ezekiel 39_21). More importantly, Israel will turn back to God after experiencing His judgment and deliverance (Ezekiel 39_21-24). Ezekiel's prophecy suggests a future restoration of Israel, possibly during the tribulation period, that will ultimately lead to their full reconciliation with God in Christ's millennial kingdom. God promises to restore the fortunes of Jacob, bringing His people back to their land where they will live securely, without fear (Ezekiel 39_25-26). This promise of security and peace highlights God's unwavering love for His people and His commitment to fulfilling His covenant promises. Ezekiel 39_27-29 further emphasizes that not one Israelite will be left behind when Jesus Christ returns and establishes the new covenant of salvation and restoration with His people. This speaks to the thoroughness of God's redemption and the completeness of Israel's restoration. God's presence will be among them, and they will know that He is their God.
This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty, His justice, and His unwavering love for His people. While the imagery is often graphic and unsettling, it ultimately points to a future of peace, security, and restoration for Israel, all under the reign of God. It also highlights the importance of recognizing God's holiness and turning to Him in repentance and faith.
Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.
Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God.
And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the Lord.
So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.
Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God; this is the day whereof I have spoken.
And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:
So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord God.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamon–gog.
And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.
Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord God.
And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamon–gog.
And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.
And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.
Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.
Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord God.
And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward.
And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.
According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
Ezekiel 39_1-29 unveils a powerful prophecy concerning God's ultimate judgment against Gog and the subsequent restoration of Israel. This chapter builds upon the previous one, detailing the dramatic consequences of Gog's invasion and highlighting God's unwavering commitment to His chosen people. Through vivid imagery and symbolic language, Ezekiel reveals God's glory, His justice, and His promise of a secure future for Israel.
The Overthrow of Gog (Ezekiel 39:1-8)
Ezekiel 39_1-8 continues the prophecy against Gog, emphasizing the totality of God's victory. After luring Gog's forces, amassed from the "remotest parts of the north," into the land of Israel, God will decisively defeat them. These invading armies will be weakened and utterly destroyed on the mountains of Israel, becoming carrion for birds and wild animals. This gruesome scene underscores the completeness of God's judgment and the futility of opposing His will. Furthermore, God's judgment extends beyond the battlefield, reaching Magog, Gog's homeland, and all the nations that supported the attack on Israel. This comprehensive punishment demonstrates God's justice and His unwavering defense of His people. The ultimate purpose of this dramatic intervention is twofold: to demonstrate the holiness of God's name to the people of Israel and to reveal His power and sovereignty to all nations. They will know that He is the Holy One in Israel.
The Aftermath of Victory (Ezekiel 39:9-20)
The scale of the victory is so immense that it requires detailed description. For seven years, the Israelites will use the weapons left behind as fuel, eliminating their need for other sources of firewood (Ezekiel 39_9-10). This seemingly literal detail emphasizes the abundance of spoils and the complete annihilation of the enemy's war machine. The burial of Gog's vast army will also take an extended period – seven months – as the Israelites cleanse their land from the defilement of the dead (Ezekiel 39_11-16). This meticulous act of purification underscores the importance of holiness in God's presence. The surrounding nations will witness this massive undertaking and recognize the glory of God displayed through Israel's victory.
Adding to the already striking imagery, God will prepare a "feast" for the birds and wild animals, inviting them to gorge themselves on the corpses of Gog's army (Ezekiel 39_17-20). This stark reversal of the usual sacrificial feast, where humans partake of animals, emphasizes the completeness of God's victory and the utter humiliation of His enemies. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is sovereign over all creation and that He can use even the most grotesque images to illustrate His power and judgment.
Israel's Restoration (Ezekiel 39:21-29)
The defeat of Gog will have profound consequences, not only for the nations but also for Israel itself. The nations will witness God's glory manifested in the destruction of Gog's forces (Ezekiel 39_21). More importantly, Israel will turn back to God after experiencing His judgment and deliverance (Ezekiel 39_21-24). Ezekiel's prophecy suggests a future restoration of Israel, possibly during the tribulation period, that will ultimately lead to their full reconciliation with God in Christ's millennial kingdom. God promises to restore the fortunes of Jacob, bringing His people back to their land where they will live securely, without fear (Ezekiel 39_25-26). This promise of security and peace highlights God's unwavering love for His people and His commitment to fulfilling His covenant promises. Ezekiel 39_27-29 further emphasizes that not one Israelite will be left behind when Jesus Christ returns and establishes the new covenant of salvation and restoration with His people. This speaks to the thoroughness of God's redemption and the completeness of Israel's restoration. God's presence will be among them, and they will know that He is their God.
This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty, His justice, and His unwavering love for His people. While the imagery is often graphic and unsettling, it ultimately points to a future of peace, security, and restoration for Israel, all under the reign of God. It also highlights the importance of recognizing God's holiness and turning to Him in repentance and faith.