Ezekiel 38:17

“Thus saith the Lord God, &c.] Putting the question that follows: art thou he of whom I have spoken of old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I will bring thee against them? certainly thou art he: but who were the prophets that prophesied of Gog before Ezekiel, since he is the first that makes mention of him? to this it may be replied, that though he is not mentioned by name, yet he might be prophesied of under other names, as by Isaiah under the name of Leviathan, (<232701>Isaiah 27:1) and by Micah under the name of the Assyrian, (<330505>Micah 5:5). The Jewsf661 say that Eldad and Medad prophesied of him, which Jarchi, Kimchi, and…”

“thou he of whom I have spoken in old time--Gog, &c. are here identified with the enemies spoken of in other prophecies (Num 24:17-24; Isa 27:1; compare Isa 26:20-21; Jer 30:23-24; Joe 3:1; Mic 5:5-6; Isa 14:12-14; Isa 59:19). God is represented as addressing Gog at the time of his assault; therefore, the "old time" is the time long prior, when Ezekiel uttered these prophecies; so, he also, as well as Daniel (Dan. 11:1-45) and Zechariah (Zec. 14:1-21) are included among "the prophets of Israel" here. many years--ago.”

“Gog - is not mentioned by name in any existing prophecy before Ezekiel’s time. The reference here shows (1) that the conflict with Gog does not represent a particular event, but one of which the prophets in general had to speak; (2) that in the interpretation of Old Testament prophecy we are to look beyond special fulfillments. Events in the world’s history come within a prophet’s ken as parts of the divine administration whereby evil struggles against but is overcome by good. As every such conflict is a prelude to the final struggle, so its prediction has reference ultimately to the consummation here foretold. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public…”

“Spoken - All these enterprises I have spoken of, and will as well defeat as I did foretel them. Ezekiel 38:19”

“38:17 Gog was not the prophesied “enemy from the north” of Jer 4–6 that God was talking about long ago. Those prophecies had already found their fulfillment in the devastation that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had wreaked on Judah.”

“whom: Eze 38:10, Eze 38:11, Eze 38:16; Psa 110:5, Psa 110:6; Isa 27:1, Isa 34:1-6, Isa 63:1-6, Isa 66:15, Isa 66:16; Dan 11:40-45; Joe 3:9-14; Zac 12:2-8, 14:1-21 by: Heb. the hands of Ezekiel 38:18”

“Announcement of the Wrathful Judgment upon Gog, as a Proof of the Holiness of the Lord Eze 38:17. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Art thou he of whom I spoke in the former days through my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days, that I would bring thee over them? Eze 38:18. And it cometh to pass in that day, in the day when Gog cometh into the land of Israel, is the saying of the Lord Jehovah, that my wrath will ascend into my nose. Eze 38:19. And in my jealousy, in the fire of my anger, have I spoken, Truly in that day will a great trembling come over the land of Israel; Eze 38:20. The fishes of the sea, and the birds of heaven, and the beasts of the field, and…”