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The following is additional information to the
Ezekiel 38 study.
Ezek 38:1-17
1 And the word of the LORD came unto
me, saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face against
Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and
prophesy against him,
3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD;
Behold I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
4 And I will turn thee back, and put
hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army,
horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a
great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with
them; all of them with shield and helmet:
6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house
of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with
thee.
7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for
thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be
thou a guard unto them.
8 After many days thou shalt be
visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought
back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the
mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth
out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a
storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy
bands, and many people with thee.
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall
also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind,
and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11 And thou shalt say, I will go up
to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that
dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars
nor gates,
12 To take a spoil, and to take a
prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited,
and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have
gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the
merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto
thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to
take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods,
to take a great spoil?
14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy
and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of
Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
15 And thou shalt come from thy place
out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them
riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:
16 And thou shalt come up against my
people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter
days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me,
when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
17 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou
he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of
Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee
against them? KJV
"Gog" speaks of "the prophetic prince
of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and Magog".
GOG
[gog] (golden ornament) - the name of
two men in the Bible:
1. A descendant of Joel, of the tribe
of Reuben (1 Chron 5:4).
2. The leader of a confederacy of
armies that attacked the land of Israel. Described as "the prince of
Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal," Gog is also depicted as being "of the
land of Magog" (Ezek 38:2-3), a "place out of the far
north" of Israel. Ezekiel prophetically describes Gog and his allies
striking at Israel with a fierce and sudden invasion (Ezek 38-39).
According to Ezekiel's prophecy, Gog will be crushed on the mountains of
Israel in a slaughter so great it will take seven months to bury the dead
(Ezek 39:12).
The vision of Gog and Magog that
appears in the Book of Revelation is essentially a restatement of the
prophecy of Ezekiel, although it places the events of this prophecy in the
future (Rev 20:7-8).
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
"prince" is a 'governmental term'.
"the land of Magog" speaks of "a
barbarous northern region".
MAGOG
[MAY gog] (land of Gog) - the name of
a man and a people in the Bible:
1. The second son of Japheth and a
grandson of Noah (Gen 10:2).
2. The descendants of Magog (Ezek
38:2), possibly a people who lived in northern Asia and Europe. The Jewish
historian Josephus identified these people as the Scythians, known for
their destructive warfare. Magog may be a comprehensive term which means
"northern barbarians." The people of Magog are described as
skilled horsemen (Ezek 38:15) and experts in the use of the bow and arrow
(Ezek 39:3,9). The Book of Revelation uses Ezekiel's prophetic imagery to
portray the final, apocalyptic encounter between good and evil at the end
of this age. "Gog and Magog" (Rev 20:8-9) symbolize the
anti-Christian forces of the world.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
"Meshech" speaks of "a son of Japheth,
grandson of Noah, and progenitor of
peoples to the north of Israel descendants of Meshech
often mentioned in connection
with Tubal, Magog, and other northern nations
including the Moschi, a people on the
borders of Colchis and Armenia"
MESHECH
[MEE shek] (drawn out) - the name of
two men and two tribes in the Old Testament:
1. A son of Japheth (1 Chron 1:5).
2. A son of Shem (1 Chron 1:17), or
possibly an unknown Aramean tribe, also spelled Mash (Gen 10:23).
3. A tribe mentioned in association
with Kedar (Ps 120:5; Mesech, KJV).
4. The descendants of the son of
Japheth known as the Moschi or Moschoi (Ezek 27:13).
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
"Tubal" speaks of "a son of Japheth
and a grandson of Noah, territory: a region in
east Asia Minor; perhaps nearly equal to
Cappadocia"
TUBAL
[TOO buhl] (meaning unknown) - the
name of a man and a country or people in the Old Testament:
1. The fifth son of Japheth and
grandson of Noah (Gen 10:2; 1 Chron 1:5).
2. A people who lived in the
Cappadocian region of eastern Asia Minor (modern Turkey). The prophet
Isaiah mentions Tubal along with JAVAN (Isa 66:19), and Ezekiel mentions
Tubal, Javan, and MESHECH as some of those who traded with Tyre (Ezek
27:13).
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Esau, who did not care enough for his heritage and
birthright, but sold these things
for a bowl of "red pottage", went into this
land. And established a people and a
kingdom (government). Esau, by bloodline, was the
brother of Jacob (Israel).
ESAU
[ee SAW] (meaning unknown) - a son of
Isaac and Rebekah and the twin brother of Jacob. Also known as Edom, Esau
was the ancestor of the Edomites (Gen 25:24-28; Deut 2:4-8).
Most of the biblical narratives about
Esau draw a great contrast between him and his brother, Jacob. Esau was a
hunter and outdoorsman who was favored by his father, while Jacob was not
an outdoors type and was favored by Rebekah (Gen 25:27-28).
Even though he was a twin, Esau was
considered the eldest son because he was born first. By Old Testament
custom, he would have inherited most of his father's property and the
right to succeed him as family patriarch. But in a foolish, impulsive
moment, he sold his BIRTHRIGHT to Jacob in exchange for a meal (Gen
25:29-34). This determined that Jacob would carry on the family name in a
direct line of descent from Abraham and Isaac, his grandfather and father.
The loss of Esau's rights as
first-born is further revealed in Gen 27. In this account, Jacob deceived
his blind father by disguising himself as Esau in order to receive his
father's blessing. Esau was so enraged by his brother's actions that he
determined to kill him once his father died. But Jacob fled to his uncle
Laban in Haran and remained there for 20 years. Upon Jacob's return to
Canaan, Esau forgave him and set aside their old feuds (Gen 32:1-33:17).
Years later, the two brothers together buried their father in the cave at
Machpelah without a trace of their old hostilities (Gen 35:29).
Esau in many ways was more honest and
dependable than his scheming brother Jacob. But he sinned greatly by
treating his birthright so casually and selling it for a meal. To the
ancient Hebrews, one's birthright actually represented a high spiritual
value. The oldest son was responsible to serve as a priest to the rest of
his family by encouraging worship of the one true God. But Esau did not
have the faith and farsightedness to accept this privilege and
responsibility. Thus, the right passed by default to his younger brother.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
EDOMITES
[EE dum ites] -- descendants of Edom,
or ESAU-an ancient people who were enemies of the Israelites. During the
days of Abraham, the region which later became the home of the Edomites
was occupied by more than one tribe of non-Israelite peoples. When Esau
moved to this region with his family and possessions, the HORITES already
lived in the land (Gen 36:20).
Edom and Israel after Kadesh Barnea.
After the years of wilderness wandering, Moses wanted to lead Israel
northward to Canaan across Edom into Moab. The king of Edom, however,
refused them passage (Num 20:14-21), forcing them to bypass Edom and Moab
through the desert to the east (Judg 11:17,18). Later in the journey
northward to Abel Acacia Grove in the plains of Moab across from Jericho
(Num 33:48-49), Balaam prophesied that Israel would one day possess Edom
(Num 24:18).
From the Conquest Until the Divison.
In dividing the land of Canaan after the conquest, Joshua established
Judah's border to the west of the Dead Sea and to the border of Edom (Josh
15:1,21). During the reign of Saul, Israel fought against Edom (1 Sam
14:47). But Edomites at times served in Saul's army (1 Sam 21:7; 22:9).
David conquered Edom, along with a number of other adjacent countries, and
stationed troops in the land (2 Sam 8:13-14). In later years, Solomon
promoted the building of a port on the northern coast of the Red Sea in
Edomite territory. He also built a smeltery nearby as a significant part
of his developing copper industry (1 Kin. 9:26-29 ).
After the Division. During the time
of the Divided Kingdom, a number of hostile encounters occurred between
the nations of Judah or Israel and Edom. During Jehoshaphat's reign,
Edomites raided Judah but were turned back (2 Chron 20:1,8). An attempt to
reopen the port at Ezion Geber failed (1 Kings 22:48); and the Edomites
joined forces with those of Judah in Jehoshaphat's move to put down the
rebellion of Mesha of Moab (2 Kings 3:4-5). During the reign of Joram,
Edom freed herself of Judah's control (2 Kings 8:20-22), but again came
under Judah's control when Amaziah assaulted and captured Sela, their
capital city. Edom became a vassal state of Assyria, beginning about 736
BC
Edom the Place of the Nabateans.
After the downfall of Judah in 586 BC, Edom rejoiced (Ps 137:7). Edomites
settled in southern Judah as far north as Hebron. Nabateans occupied old
Edom beginning in the third century B.C., continuing their civilization
well into the first century A.D. During the period from about 400 BC - 100
BC, Judas Maccabeus subdued the Edomites and John Hyrcanus forced them to
be circumcised and then made them a part of the Jewish people. The Herod
family of New Testament times was of Edomite stock.
Since no written Edomite records have
been found, knowledge of the Edomites comes mainly from the Bible,
archaeological excavations of their ancient cities, and references to Edom
in Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian sources.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
PERSIA
[PURR zyah] -- an ancient world
empire that flourished from 539-331 B.C (see Map 1, E-2). The Babylonian
Empire fell to the Persians, setting the stage for the return of the
Hebrew people to Jerusalem about 538 BC - 445 BC, following their long
period of captivity by the Babylonians.
The Old Testament contains many
references to the nation of Persia and its representatives. Ezra 9:9
refers to the "kings of Persia." Ezra 6:14 cites "Cyrus,
Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia." Dan 8:20 speaks of the
"kings of Media and Persia." Dan 10:13 mentions the "prince
of the kingdom of Persia." The Book of Esther refers to the
"powers of Persia and Media" (1:3), the "seven princes of
Persia and Media" (1:14), and the "ladies of Persia and
Media" (1:18). Dan 5:28 prophesied that Belshazzar's kingdom would be
"given to the Medes and Persians."
The Persians apparently sprang from a
people from the hills of Russia known as Indo-Aryans. As early as 2000 BC,
they began to settle in Iran and along the Black Sea coast. Two of these
Indo-European tribes settled on the Elamite border and to the east of the
Zagros mountain range. The first references to them are made in the
inscriptions of Shalmaneser III (858 BC - 824 BC). They are noted as the
Parsua (Persians) and Madai (Medes).
The first mention of a Persian
chieftain refers to his role as an ally aligned against Sennacherib of
Assyria. His son was called "King, Great King, King of the City of
Anshan." His grandson fathered Cyrus II, who was one of the most
celebrated kings of history. He is called by the prophet Isaiah "My
shepherd" (Isa 44:28). In another passage he is referred to as
"His [the Lord's] Anointed" (Isa 45:1), a term used in the Old
Testament of the Messiah.
Cyrus II, founder of the mighty
Persian Empire, ascended the throne in Anshan in 559 BC He conquered the
Median King Astyages. Then he defeated Lydia (about 546 BC) and Babylon
(about 539 BC), finally establishing the Persian Empire. This last
conquest is referred to in Dan 5. Cyrus' rule was a result of the
sovereignty of God. In contrast to previous rulers, especially the
Assyrians, Cyrus was humane and benevolent toward those whom he defeated.
Cyrus was the Persian king who issued the decree restoring the Jews to
their homeland, following their long period of captivity by the
Babylonians (2 Chron 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4).
Cyrus was the founder of the system
under which each province, or Persian satrapy, was governed by an official
who answered to the great king. However, he allowed a remarkable degree of
freedom of religion and customs for the vassal states, including
Palestine. He developed roads, cities, postal systems, and legal codes,
and treated the subject nations kindly and humanely. Cyrus accomplished
all of this because he was God's tool-just as Assyria, who conquered
Israel, was God's rod of anger. Hence the Bible refers to Cyrus in
favorable terms (Isa 44:28-45:3).
Cambyses II (530 BC - 522 BC), the
son of Cyrus, reigned after his father. During his reign, Egypt was added
to the list of nations conquered by Persia. According to the Greek
historian Herodotus, Cambyses accidentally wounded himself with his own
sword in 522 BC Some believe he committed suicide.
The next Persian king, Darius I (521
BC - 486 BC), was not a direct descendant of Cyrus but was of royal,
Achaemenid blood. He defeated nine kings to claim all 23 Persian
satrapies. This was recorded on the famous Behistun Inscription, which was
written in the Akkadian, Elamite, and Old Persian languages.
Darius I further unified the Persian
Empire by using an efficient gold coinage, state highways, and a more
efficient postal system. He was defeated by the Greeks at the Battle of
Marathon in 490 BC This is the same Darius who, in his second year,
ordered the Jewish Temple at Jerusalem to be rebuilt after work on it had
been discontinued for 14 years (Ezra 4:24; 6:1). He also gave a generous
subsidy that made it possible to complete the Temple. The extent of the
Persian Empire under Darius is reflected in Est 1:1 and 10:1. The vast
territory was nearly 4,900 kilometers (3,000 miles) long and 800-2,400
kilometers (500 to 1,500 miles) wide.
Xerxes ruled Persia from 486 to 465
B.C. He was the Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther. Esther did not become
queen until the seventh year of his reign, which would be about 478 BC
This was two years after his devastating defeat at Salamis (480 BC), which
ended Persia's last hope for conquering Greece.
Another Persian king, Artaxerxes I
Longimanus (464 BC - 424 BC), illustrates one of the ironies of history.
This minor Persian king was of major importance because of his connection
with the Hebrew people. Apparently two of the three returns of the Jewish
people from captivity in Babylon occurred during his reign. The second
return was apparently under Ezra. This was made possible because of the
generosity of Artaxerxes. The third return occurred in 445 BC (Neh 1:1).
The specific purpose of this return to Jerusalem was to rebuild the city
walls.
Among the kingdoms of the ancient
world, Persia is remembered because it built many important cities.
PERSEPOLIS was a showpiece of Persian power. Pasargadae was the ancestral
capital rapidly supplanted in importance. ECBATANA served as the capital
of the Median Empire and became a resort area for the Persians. SUSA (the
Shushan of Esther) was the former capital of the Elamite Empire.
The religion of the Persians centered
around a reformation of the old Iranian religions developed by Zoroaster.
He believed in a dualism in which Ahura Mazda (or Ormazd) headed the gods
of goodness (Amesha Spentas) and Angra Mainyu (or Ahriman) headed the gods
of evil (daevas). Some of this is revealed in the Jewish apocryphal
literature which developed from the fifth century B.C. to the time of
Christ.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
ETHIOPIA
[ee thih OH pih ah] (burnt face) -
the ancient African nation south of Egypt, including the Egyptian
territory south of Aswan (Syene; Ezek 29:10), sometimes called Nubia or
Cush. Ethiopia was known for its rivers, the Blue Nile and the White Nile
(Isa 18:1), its papyrus boats (Isa 18:2), and its precious topaz gems (Job
28:19).
The early genealogies of the Bible
identify Ham as the father of Cush (Ethiopia; Gen 10:6; 1 Chron 1:8-10),
as well as of Mizraim (Egypt). These two nations were closely connected
throughout their histories, and the biblical writers often mention the two
together (Isa 20:3-5; Ezek 30:4-5). Moses, who lived in Egypt for many
years, married an Ethiopian woman from among the children of Israel (Num
12:1).
Early Egyptian texts indicate that
Ethiopia was controlled by Egypt until after the time of David (1000 BC).
The Ethiopians frequently served as hired soldiers in the Egyptian army (2
Chron 12:3). They were known for their black skin (Jer 13:23), their
tallness and smooth skin (Isa 18:2), and their fierceness in battle (Jer
46:9). A Cushite soldier served as a runner in David's army and brought
him the news of Absalom's death (2 Sam 18:21-32).
Just after the time of Solomon, Zerah,
an Ethiopian commander of a million soldiers and three hundred chariots,
attacked the weaker forces of Asa, king of Judah. Asa, a righteous king,
prayed to God for deliverance; and the forces of the Ethiopians were
turned back (2 Chron 14:9-13).
The Ethiopians attained their
greatest strength during the time of Hezekiah (700 BC). This was possible
because of internal disunity within Egypt. Egypt was defeated, and an
Ethiopian dynasty ruled Egypt for 60 years. During this period,
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, attacked Hezekiah in Jerusalem (2 Kings
18:13; 2 Chron 32:1-2; Isa 36:1). The Assyrian commander discouraged any
hope that the Egyptians (now ruled by an Ethiopian king) would come to the
aid of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:21; Isa 36:6). But Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia
and Egypt, did attack the Assyrian forces (2 Kings 19:9; Isa 37:9).
Although the Ethiopians were defeated
God delivered Hezekiah by sending an angel to kill 185,000 of the Assyrian
troops (Isa 37:36). Ethiopia was the strength of Egypt for this short time
(Nah 3:9), but an invasion by the Assyrian kings Esarhaddon and
Ashurbanipal meant the end of Ethiopian power (Isa 20:2-6). An attack by
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was predicted by the prophets Ezekiel
(30:4-10) and Jeremiah (46:9-10,13-14). The prophet Isaiah also foretold
the Persian conquest of Ethiopia (Est 1:1; 8:9; Isa 43:3).
In the midst of these judgments,
there were promises of a return of God's people from Ethiopia (Isa 11:11).
God was also concerned about the Ethiopians (Amos 9:7), for they would be
included among those who came to Jerusalem to worship the true God (Ps
68:31; Isa 45:14).
The New Testament records a partial
fulfillment of these promises when an ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH who served Candace,
the queen of Ethiopia, was converted to Christianity (Acts 8:26-40).
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
LIBYA
[LIB ih uh] (meaning unknown) - a
country of northern Africa west of Egypt (Ezek 27:10), also called Phut
(Ezek 27:10, KJV) or Put (NIV, RSV). Some people who lived in "the
parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene" (Acts 2:10) were in Jerusalem on the
Day of Pentecost. Simon, the man who carried Jesus' cross, was from Cyrene,
the New Testament name for Libya (Matt 27:32).
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
GOMER
[GOAM ur] (complete) - the name of a
man, a people, and a woman:
1. The oldest son of Japheth (Gen
10:2-3).
2. The people descended from Gomer,
son of Japheth. Apparently they lived to the far north, beyond the Black
Sea (Ezek 38:6). They were probably the Cimmerians of classical history.
3. A harlot who became the wife of
the prophet HOSEA (Hos 1). When Gomer left Hosea and became the slave of
one of her lovers, Hosea bought her back at God's command for the price of
a slave. Gomer's unfaithfulness and Hosea's forgiveness symbolized God's
forgiving love for Israel.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
TOGARMAH
[toe GAHR muh] (meaning unknown) -
the name of a man and a country in the Old Testament:
1. A son of Gomer (Gen 10:3; 1 Chron
1:6). Togarmah's descendants inhabited the country described in Tolzarmah
No. 2.
2. A country in the "far
north" (Ezek 38:6) whose people traded horses and mules (Ezek 27:14)
for the wares and merchandise of Tyre (see Map 1, C-1). This country is
often thought to be Armenia.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
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