Ezekiel 39:1-8

III. THE DESTRUCTION OF GOD 39:1-20

In the first main division of chapter 39 Ezekiel emphasizes the certainty of the overthrow of God by repeating the substance of what he has already said about that defeat (Ezekiel 39:1-8). He then stresses the completeness of the destruction (Ezekiel 39:9-20).

A. The Certainty of Cog's Destruction 39:1-8

TRANSLATION

(1) And as for you, son of man, prophesy against God, and say. Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O God, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal; (2) and I will turn you about, and lead you on, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north; and I will bring you against the mountains of Israel; (3) and I will smite your bow from your left hand, and I will cause your arrows to fall from your right hand. (4) Upon the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your bands and peoples that are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to beasts of the field, to be devoured. (5) Upon the face of the ground you shall fall; for I have spoken (oracle of the Lord GOD). (6) And I will send fire against Magog, and against the inhabitants of the isles who dwell safely; and they shall know that I am the LORD. (7) And My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; I will not defile MY holy name again; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (8) Behold, it comes, and it shall come to pass (oracle of the Lord (;01)); that is the day of which I have spoken.

COMMENTS

Chapter 39 gives an even more vivid description of the overthrow of Cog. The chapter begins with a declaration of divine hostility directed toward God (Ezekiel 39:1; cf. Ezekiel 38:3). God would turn God about, i.e., frustrate his purpose. God would lead him to his destruction upon the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 39:2). God's skillful archers would be of no value in the battle which would transpire there (Ezekiel 39:3).

God and all his confederates would fall on the mountains of Israel. Their corpses would be left unburied, a prey to beast and bird alike (Ezekiel 39:4). By no means would God be able to avert this calamity, for this destruction had been decreed by the Lord (Ezekiel 39:5). Even the lands from which the invaders came would experience divine judgment, for God would send a fire against those lands. The fire here as frequently in the Old Testament probably symbolizes warfare (Ezekiel 39:6). No more would the heathen profanely mock the impotence of Israel's God. The divine presence in the midst of Israel would be obvious to all when the Lord made known His name, i.e., His character, person, presence, in this mighty judgment upon God (Ezekiel 39:7).

The destruction of God was a foregone conclusion; it was as good as accomplished. The Lord cannot lie, and He had announced it (Ezekiel 39:8).