Exposition of Ezekiel 30-48

Vers. 2. Son of man, set thy face against Gog.

There be great variety of Opinions concerning Gog and Magog. The Jews affirm them to be the Scythians, which live near Caucasus, and the Caspian Mountains. Some understand by them the Roman Emperors and Empire. Some the Pope. Some the Turks and Saracens. Some the Goths. Some, Heretics. Some, all the Persecutors of the Church. Others, Antichrist. Some Interpreters understand the affliction of the Jewish Nation, by the Successors of Alexander, which possessed Asia minor, and Syria. Junius hath labored to give light here, and tells us, That Gog is the name of a Nation, derived from Gyges, or Gog the servant of Candaules King of Lydia, whom he killed, and married his Queen, naming the Land Gygaea, or Gogs Land, which, saith he, is Asia the less, and Syria, where was a City called Gogs-City. These Nations should infest the Jews, which were held by Antiochus, Seleucus, Demetrius, and Nicanor. Bibliander and Bullinger interpret this Prophesy literally of Alexander and his Successors, especially of Antiochus Epiphanes King of Syria; who, as you find in the Maccabees, did greatly afflict the Jews; and specially of Antichrist and his members. A-lapide denies this Prophesy to concern Alexander, the Kings of Syria, and Egypt, because the Jews never conquered them, though they had some notable Victories over them; and had they had such a destruction as is spoken of in the end of this Chapter, Josephus who was an exact observer of Jewish affairs, would have mentioned it. Neither did Josephus Gerionides speak anything thereof who writ the History of Gog. Sanctius leans to that opinion which conceives Gog to be Antiochus, in whom Antichrist was prefigured, and the great troubles of the Church by him: so do many Exposito • s: Yet, Maldonado and Vatablus think this Prophesy not fulfilled; of which mind are divers who write upon the 20. of the Revelation, where John in the 8. and 9. ver. alludes to this Prophesy. By Gog here, understand, the name of a Man, not of a Province; for, he is said to be a Prince, ver. 3. to come out of the North, ver. 14. and he with his multitude shall be buried in the Valley of Hamon-Gog, Chap. 39.11. These things cannot be spoken of a Province, but of a Person. The Prophet must set his face against him; that is, he must Prophesy constanter & fortiter against him.

The Land of Magog.

Gog is the name of a King, qui Magog imperat, which rules over Magog; that is, the Scythians, saith Vatablus, Magog was one of the sons of Japheth Gen. 10.2. of whom came the Scythians, or Sarmatians, saith Ainsworth on the place. Josephus saith, Magog dwelt amongst those were called Magogins, and by the Greeks Scythae, who dwelt in Caelo-Syria. Marcus Paulus Venetus saith, In Tartary, are the Regions Gog and Magog, which they call Gug and Mungug.

The chief Prince of Meshech.

In Hebrew it's Prince of the head; that is, Principal head or chief Prince. This Gog was not only Prince of Magog, but of Meshech, that is, Cappadocia; and of Tubal, that is, Iberia, not Spain or Italy, but a Country near the Scythians.

Prophesy against him.

Thou hast been prophesying of deliverance and great mercies to my people; now Prophesy against Gog, and all his assistants open or secret. Had Magog, Meshech, and Tubal, been Princes with Gog, the Lord would have said, Prophesy against them.

Vers. 3. Say, Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I am against thee, O Gog.

This is a dreadful message which the Prophet must deliver against this great Prince. He must declare unto him that there is a greater Prince then himself, even one that is King of Nations, that hath all power in his hand, and bringeth Princes to nothing, Isa. 40.23. and that he is against him. Thou thinkest to have thy will upon God's people, to do terrible things unto them; but their God, who is a God of Power and Wisdom, is against thee. The Hebrew is, Behold, I to thee; that is, I come to thee to destroy thee for thine iniquities and enmity against my people

Vers. 4. And I will turn thee back.

Lavater and Oecolampadius read these words, Conteram te, I will crush thee. The Vulgar, Circumagam te, I will lead thee about. Some Rabbies, Decipiam te, I will deceive thee. Others, Reducam, convertam te, I will bring or turn thee back. Thou thinkest to have thy pleasure on mine, but I will have my pleasure on thee, and turn thee which way seems good to me. Educam te, I will bring thee out.

And put hooks into thy chawes.

What the Lord saith here of Gog, he said, Chap. 29.4. of Pharaoh. I will put hooks in thy chaws. The Septuagint is, I will put a bridle in thy chaws. Thou art like a pampered Jade, and thinkest to tread down all, but I will hold thee in. Montanus reads the former words thus, Educam te, I will bring thee out, and if thou holdest off, I will put my hook in thy chawes, and draw thee out as a fish is drawn out of the waters; which sense is best.

And I will bring thee forth, and all thine Army.

Exire faciam te, I will cause thee to go forth: Thou shalt not stay in thine own Territories, how little or large so ever they be; but shalt muster up thy Forces, and lead out all thine Armies.

Horses and Horsemen.

The word for Horses is Sasim, which notes any Horse of Common use. Sus signifies both a Crane and a Horse. The Rabbies say, he is so called, because an Horse is a cheerful creature, and by his mettle and neighing, cheers up his Rider. Pharasim is Horsemen, from Parash, which in Hiphil, signifies to prick; so that Parash is an Horseman, because he pricks forward his Horse with his spurs.

All of them clothed with all sorts of Armor.

They were armed completely from head to foot. The Hebrew is, clothed with all, or with perfection; nothing was wanting requisite to military undertaking.

Even a great company, with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.

Gogs Army was a great Army, and well accommodated. A Buckler is, Tegumentum corp • ris militare, A piece of Armor to cover and defend the body; and so is a Shield in Hebrew, Magem, from Ganan to cover. Tzimnah is a Buckler, or Shield, sharp or picked; which the Latins call Scutum. The other Clypeus. Shields, were for footmen, and Bucklers for horsemen, saith Servius. These Soldiers of Gog were skillful in Military affairs, they all were expert at their Swords.

Vers. 5. Persia, Ethiopia. and Libya with them.

Here is shown what Countries and People should join with Gog, viz. those of the East, Persians; those of the South, the Ethiopians; and those of the West, the Moors, whom Oecolampadius understood by those of Libya. Of Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya, was spoken, Chap. 27.10. & 30.5.

All of them with shield and helmet.

Whoever joined with Gog, were well armed. The Hebrew is, All of them shield and helmet. Covah is Pileus rotundus, some were made of Leather, some of Brass, 1 Sam. 17.5.

Vers. 6. Gomer and all his bands.

Under this word Gomer, are comprehended Galatia, Phrygia, and Bythinia, principal parts of Asia minor, which were inhabited by Gomer the son of Japheth, from whom they were called Gomarians or Gomeriter.

The house of Togarmah of the North quarters, and all his bands.

By the house of Togarmah, Junius understands, Paphlagonia, and Cappad cia; others Armenia the less. Doubtless by Gomer and Togarmah, all those parts which lay North from Syria, where Antiochus reigned, and so North from Judea, are meant thereby. From these and the forementioned places, had Gog Auxiliary Forces: for fear, hire, or out of enmity to God's people, they helped him.

And many people with thee.

There were people with him from all quarters, from the East, West, South, and North; which being come together, must make a numerous Army.

Vers. 7. Be thou prepared, &c.

Jerome thinks there is an Irony in these words, that God exhorts Gog to gather up his forces to strengthen himself and hasten his design, with what expedition he could; but all his preparations and undertakings should be in vain, he should not escape the vengeance of God which hung over his head. But here, under a command is declared what he would certainly do; he would not be wanting to get a great Army from all parts, to assault and destroy the people of God; and not knowing what the hazard of War might be, he would prepare for himself, consider, and fit things for himself.

Thou and all thy company that are assembled unto thee.

Where is a great Army, there had need to be great preparations for their pay, quarters, and protection. They know not what obstructions and enemies they may meet withal.

And be thou a guard unto them.

Princes have great power, and it lies much in them to keep their Armies safe. Vigilantia ducis est salus exercitus, The eye of the General is a special thing to keep an Army in Order. The Vulgar reads the words thus, Esto eis in praeceptum, Do thou show thyself an Emperor amongst them, Command and Rule them; or thus, Thou wilt do thy endeavor to preserve them. Junius thinks these words refer to the Jews. That Gog with all his Forces compassing about the Mountains of Israel, and concluding he had the Jews in his power, as a bird in a cage, to destroy at his pleasure, he should be a guard unto them. God can make those a defense to his, who seek their destruction. But the other sense is more genuine.

First, Observe.

That after Prophesies of Grace and Mercy, come tidingt of Affliction and Judgments.

In the former Chapter, the Jews heard altogether of Mercies from God; here they hear of Afflictions from Enemies. There, they heard of David their King, and Shepherd, who should do great things for them; Here, of Gog, a Tyrant, their enemy, who should seek to destroy them. God in his infinite wisdom orders it so, that his Church and People should hear of, and meet with, not only good, but evil; not only comforts, but crosses. Should we only hear of comfortable things, we should presume; and should we only hear of sad things, we should despond. God presents some of both sorts unto us, that so our Faith and Fear may be exercised, and we kept in a more even frame.

Secondly, Observe.

The great Princes of the earth, being no friends to the Church of God, have God for their enemy.

Gog was Prince of Meshech, and Tubal, an enemy to the Jews. And, Behold, I am against thee, O Gog; how great soever thou art, I the great God am against thee; thou wilt oppose my people, and I will oppose thee. Most of the Princes of the earth, have been against Christ and his Kingdom, Psal. 2.2 And God hath been against them, and vexed them in his soar displeasure. God was against the Prince of Tyre, and against Pharaoh King of Egypt, Ezek. Chap. 28. & 29. Kings generally are Proud, Profane, Tyrannical, false to the trust committed to them, obstructing the way and work of Christ in the World what they can; therefore God is against them, He is terrible to the Kings of the earth, Psal. 76.12. And their ends have been dreadful. Some have had their bones burnt to lime, Amos 2.1. Some have been eaten with Wormes, Acts 12.23. Some have been hanged up, Lam. 2.12. Josh. 10.26. Some have died of strange diseases, 2 Chr. 21.18.

Thirdly, Observe.

The Lord at his pleasure can bring enemies and Armies upon his own people.

God would bring Gog forth, and all his Army, Horse and Horsemen, a great company; all of them armed with Bucklers, Shields, and Swords. God is the author of Wars, he calls forth what Princes and Nations he will, to assault and vex the Church. The ten Tribes, Who brought enemies upon them? was it not the Lord? 1 Chron. 5.26. The God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul King of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser King of Assyria, and he carried them away, &c. 2 King. 15.19. Chap. 17.6. It was God stirred up the spirit of the Philistines against Jehoram King of Judah; so that they came and spoiled him of all his substance, of his Wives and Sons, 2 Chr. 21.16, 17. Let God's people take heed how they provoke God, for he is the Lord of hosts, and hath all Nations at his command, and can call, yea, bring them forth to trouble Israel itself, and that soarly.

Fourthly, Observe.

The Lord can easily bring men to do his work and service, what ever the difficulty or danger be.

Here was hard work for Gog, to gather the Nations East, West, South, and Northward together, to come out of his Country and to invade Judea; a business which required much consultation, admitted many Objections and Demurs; but God would bring him to it, and make him do it, as easily as a man pulls up a fish out of the water. I will put my hook in his chawes. Let God put an instinct into a Prince or State, once stir their spirits, to make war upon others, the work will go on with facility and expedition. God hath hooks to draw on Princes to War, and hooks to draw them off, to draw them back from them, 2 King. 19.28.

Fifthly, Observe.

From all quarters of the World there be enemies ready to combine and act with Gog and Antichrist against the Church, Truth, and Christ himself.

Those of the East comprehended under Persia, those of the South intended under Ethiopia, those of the West included in Libya, and those of the North contained under Gomer, and the house of Togarmah; were all at the beck of Gog, to go against Jerusalem the Servants, and Worship of God therein. The whole World, saith Oecolampadius, contradicts and observes Antichrist. When Christ doth any eminent thing in his Church, the Nations are quickly misled, and join with some grand enemy to vent their malice: see Rev. 20.7, 8, 9.

Sixthly, Observe.

The enemies of the Church do make great preparations against the same.

Be thou prepared. This shows and assures that Gog would neglect nothing, which might conduce unto the carrying on his designs against the Jews. Isa. 8.9, 10. Those expressions, Associate yourselves; Gird yourselves; Take counsel together; Speak the word; do hint to us, the activity of the Churches enemies, Psal. 83.2, 3, 4, 5. see it there to the life, Thine enemies make a tumult, they have lift up the head, they have taken crafty counsel against thy people. They said, Come let us cut them off from being a Nation, &c. How did Zerah the Ethiopian, and the Commanders of his Army, bestir themselves, when they brought an Army of a thousand thousand against Judah, and with them 300 Charets, 2 Chron. 14.9.

Seventhly, Observe.

Princes, notwithstanding all their preparations, cannot secure themselves, nor those under their command.

Prepare for thyself, be a guard to them. Gogs number, Power, Policy, Preparations, did not advantage himself or his; they went forth to their own ruin and destruction.

After many days thou shalt be visited.

The Scripture speaks of a double Visitation.

1. One in Mercy and Favor, as Exod. 4.31. When Moses and Aaron were sent to deliver the Jews out of Egypt; and when Sarah conceived and bare Isaac, Genes. 21.1. These were God's merciful Visitations of them.

2. One in Judgment, as Numb. 16.29. If these men, viz. Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, be visited after the Visitation of all men; that is, they shall not die a common death, have a common judgment; but, some extraordinary punishment. So Psal. 89.32. I will visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes, I will punish them. This is the sense here, After many days thou shalt be visited; that is, punished. The time when it should be, is not punctually, but indefinitely set down, after many days. If we take Antiochus to be Gog in the Type, it was in the Maccabees days; if we look at the Anritype, the time is yet to come.

In the latter years thou shalt come into the land.

From the time of this Prophesy, unto the death of Antiochus Epiphanes, Chronology tells us, there were 420 or 430 years; whe eupon Expositors do account the years that he came to Judea, and took Jerusalem, and defiled the Temple with Idols, to be the latter years. Junius saith, Consequentibus annis, In the following years. Piscator hath it, Posteri • ribus diebus, In the after days or times. Posterioribus annis, In the after, or latter years, in the time of Christ, saith Vatablus. The Hebrew is, Beacharith Hashshanim which Montanus and the Vulgar render in Novissima annorum, In the last of years; which, according to John, is after the 1000 years, Rev. 20.6, 7, 8. And so Mariano, he makes the Visitation of Gog to be, In fine mundi post mille annos, In the end of the World, after the thousand years. Then shall Gog come into the land, compass the camp of the Saints about, and the beloved City, ver. 9.

That is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people.

The Jews were driven by the sword into Captivity, by it scattered into many Provinces, and held under slavery, and so they are at this day; but the time is coming, that the two Houses as well as the two Tribes, shall be brought back from the sword, and gathered out of many people. Land, is put for, The Inhabitants of the Land.

Against the mountains of Israel.

The Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Al, signifies, ad, super, contra, to, upon, against. Some therefore render these words to or upon the mountains of Israel; and in that sense they refer to the Jews, who were brought back and gathered out of all people to the Mountains of Israel, that is, the Land of Judea. We read them. Against the mountains of Israel, and so they refer to Gog who should come against Judea.

Which have been always waste.

The Hebrew word for always, is Tamid, which signifies diu, a long time; and so the French Translation hath it, Longuement deserts, Deserted or wasted for a long time; 70 years were they desolate, all the time the Jews were in captivity; and shortly after Christ his days, were they left desolate, and are so to this day. Some make the mountains of Israel, to signify, The Church; the sword and wastings, to be the Persecutions which it hath always endured.

But it is brought forth out of the nations.

By it, the Prophet means the Land; and by Land, the People, who being 〈◊〉 into Egypt, Babylon, Persia, and other places, were to be brought forth to the Land of Israel. The words import the thing done, because of the certainty of it.

And they shall dwell safely all of them.

When the Jews returned out of Babylon, repossessing their own Land, they dwelt safely, confidently, without fear or disquietment therein, for 430 years, saith Sanctius; after which time Antiochus did sorely vex them, and interrupt their peace, which they thought would be everlasting. So did Demetrius, Nicanor, and others, as in the Maccabees is evident. The time remains for the complete fulfilling of these words.

First, Observe.

God bears sometimes with the worst of men a long time.

After many days. God bears with Gog and Antichrist, the grand enemies of his Church, worser than whom cannot be found or expected. His patience is large, he is a God longsuffering. He bare with Antiochus that vile person, Dan. 11.21. many days: Vessels of wrath are endured by Him with much longsuffering, Rom. 9.22.

Secondly, Observe.

Though wicked men be spared long, yet at last they shall suffer.

After many days thou shalt be visited. God may stay a thousand, yea 10000 days, and then visit. As there is a time for wicked men to fill up the measure of their iniquities, so there is a time for God to fill up the Vials of his wrath; and when they are once full, then they shall be poured out. God sometimes is long before he hears the Prayers of his, but at length he remembers them, Luk. 18.7, 8. and sometimes he is long before he punisheth the wicked, but at last he visits them, he hath his time for it, Jer. 49.8.

Thou shalt ascend, and come like a Storm.

A Storm comes suddenly, violently, with noise; and doth much hurt, breaking and bearing down all before it: such should the coming of Gog be. Dan. 11.40, 41. it's said, The King of the North shall come against the King of the South like a Whirlewinde, he shall enter also into the glorious Land, and many Countries shall be overthrown. This is spoken of Antiochus, whom divers Expositors make to be Gog. The word Shoah for a Storm, is from Shuah, which signifies, to make a noise, to spoil, and to amaze; and so do Storms.

Thou shalt be like a Cloud, to cover the Land, thou and all, &c.

Clouds are Vapours drawn up by the heat of the Sun, into the middle Region of the Air, where by the Cold they are condensated, and so, spreading, make the Heavens black, and intercept the Light. Gog with his Forces should be as a Cloud spreading over the face of the Land, interrupting the peace and comforts of the Godly, and by his hostile acts cause fear, sorrow, and mourning. By these two Metaphors are set out the tumult, violence, spoil and multitude of Gogs Army: or, by the Storm, their threats and cruelty; and by the Cloud, false Opinions, flatteries, and allurements which they should use to pervert the faith of the Saints.

First, Observ.

The Church and people of God are subject to calamimities.

He shall come like a Storm. Winds, clouds, storms, do trouble and terrify men, and so do great Armies of Heathens, of vile and desperate persons, of Goggites and Antichristians: when they come with fury and violence, they plunder, spoil, and fill all with darkness, they cover the Land. Jer. 4.13. Behold he shall come up as clouds, and his Charets shall be as a Whirlewinde: his Horses are swifter than Eagles, Woe unto us, for we are spoiled. It's spoken of Nebuchadnezzar, and his Forces, who were to come up against Jerusalem. The Church is oft afflicted and tossed with tempest; but here is some comfort; Storms, tempests, and clouds last not long, they cease after a little time, and the Sun shines again.

Secondly, Observe,

The goodness of God in foretelling the Church what shall come upon it, Viz. A Storm and Clouds, and perplexity.

Gog and all his Bands, and many people with him, shall come as a Storm, and be as a Cloud covering the Land. It hath been usual with God to foretell his people what should befall them, as Gen. 15.13. Jerem. 32.28, 29. Dan. 10.14. Math. 24. and in the Book of the Revelations, Christ doth tell them, what sad things are to come upon his, how potent, violent, subtle and destructive their enemies will be: which he doth not to discourage them, but to awaken them unto Prayer, holiness of life, and living by faith.

Vers. 10. At the same time shall things come into thy mind.

In Hebrew it is, Words shall ascend, or come upon thy heart, Jagnalu debarim gual lebabeca, which is an Hebraism, and imports a man's thinking and consulting with himself: When men are meditating, various thoughts do rise in their minds, as Luk. 24.38. Why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Debarim signifies words and things; the French is Paroles words: Thoughts, are the words and things of the mind.

And thou shalt think an evil Thought.

The Hebrew for to think is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Chashab, which notes such a thinking as takes in the intention of the mind, and exercises a man's head and heart. Gog should bend himself to excogitate something, and it should be an evil thought or purpose. The French is, Tres maunaises cogitations, Very ill or wicked thoughts.

Vers. 11. I will go up to the Land of unwalled Villages.

This was the wicked thought Gog had in his mind, he purposed in his heart to go and invade the Land of the Jews, and that which invited and encouraged him so to do, was,

1. Their unfortifiedness, they had no Walls about their Villages. Thought Gog. I shall easily conquer and subdue the Jewish Nation, and add it to my Territories, for they have no places of strength; Some Villages they have built, but none of them are walled. The Jews were but lately returned out of Babylon, newly re-planted in their Land, and could not fortify Towns or Cities as formerly they were, before Nebuchadnezzar demolished them; being therefore without Walls, they lay open to enemies, and obvious to all Incursions.

I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely.

2. Their security. The Jews being wearied with their 70 years Captivity, and come again to their Land, had rest and safety, according to what God had promised them, Jer. 30.10. & 46.27. Ezek. 34.25, 28. and so manifested their dependence upon God, trusting in him to protect them, though destitute of Walls and Military defences: Well might they be at rest, and dwell confidently, as the word signifies, to whom God had said, None should make them afraid: It's to be feared, many of them abused his Promise, degenerating into a sinful security.

All of them dwelling without Walls, having neither Barrs nor Gates.

Where there is fear of Enemies and Invasions, people do fortify themselves; they wall about their Towns and Cities, they make strong Gates and Barrs unto them, and set Guards to look unto them. The Jews being fearless, did none of these things. They observed not the counsels and actings of their bordering Enemies; which they should have done, and for want thereof, they exposed themselves to eminent dangers.

Vers. 12. To take a spoil, and to take a prey.

The Hebrew is, to spoil a spoil, and to prey a prey, this was the end Gog propounded, viz. To impoverish the Jews, and enrich himself, to deprive them of their Land, and add it to his own. Of the words spoil and prey, hath formerly been spoken.

To turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered, &c.

Nebuchadnezzar had made the Land of Judea desolate for many years, and the Jews being returned from their Captivity, inhabited the desolate places of the Land, re-built them, began to get something about them to live comfortably on; but Gog now intended to come and lay his hand upon them that were spoiled before, and to make another spoiling of them, and to bring them again into bondage: This was the aim of Gog.

Which have gotten Cattle and Goods.

The Jews dealt much in Cattle, and by the increase of them, they got not only necessaries to support them, but also wealth, and became rich; which made them envied.

That dwell in the midst of the Land.

For midst of the Land, in Hebrew, it's the Navel of the Land: Tabbur signifies a Navel, also an high place, and the Jews would have the Land of Judah called the Navel of the Earth, because it's the highest of Lands; but others, because it's in the midst of the Earth, as the Navel is in the midst of man's body. It's said of Jerusalem, that she was set in the midst of Nations and Countries, Ezek. 5.5. Hence the salvations God wrought in Judea and Jerusalem, are said to be in the midst of the Earth, Isa. 4.12. Whether Jerusalem or Judea be in the middle of the World is doubted; by Navel, or midst of the land here, is meant, the higher or more inward parts of the Land, where was most security.

These were Auxiliaries unto Gog, and helped forward that damnable design he had to destroy the Church of God. By Shebah and Dedan, Polanus understands the Ethiopians and Arabians; Junius, the men of the South and East, and by the Merchants of Tarshish, the Tyrians, Sidonians, and Maritine Coasts, which lay Westward; these all confederated with Gog, who lay Northward from Judea: In the 27 Chapt. Sheba, Dedan, and Tarshish, were spoken of.

With all the young Lions thereof.

The Septuagint saith, all the Villages thereof, the Chaldee, all the Kings or Princes thereof; but Cephir is the Whelp of a Lyon, or, a young Lyon; Junius, Piscator, and Polanus, make these young Lions, the Merchants, who were as greedy of gain, as Lions are of their prey: Others make them Sea-pirates and Robbers, but it's not improbable, that by young Lions should be meant the young men of those parts, who are like Lions for strength and courage, as greedy of prey as Lions are.

Shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy Company to take a prey?

Seeing, O Gog, thou gatherest up Forces to war against the Jews, to spoil them, and to make a prey of their wealth and Land; lo, we are for thee, we will join with thee. Some would have it, that they envied them, and were against them; but 1 Mach. 3. you shall find, that the Nations joined with Lysias who was General of Antiochus his Army, v. 24 and how he took away Silver, Gold, Women, Children, Cattle and Goods, Chap. 1.22, 23. to the 35. he robbed the Sanctuary, and fired the City. This Antiochus, do Expositors make to be Ezekiel's Gog.

First, Observe.

God foreknowes and determines things to come, even those things which seem most free and contingent, as the thoughts of men's hearts.

He saith of Gog, long before his existence in the world, It shall come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: Some would have God to permit only things to come, not to determine them; and conceive, that God's decree of permission, supposes a necessity of their futurition and coming to pass: but if God did only permit a thing to come to pass, how could it come to pass without some action, and God's concurrence to that action? For there is no action or cause producing any effect, with which God doth not concur, Lament. 3.37. Prov. 21.1. Prov. 16.1. Defects are permitted by God, not Effects; He concurs to the production of them, be they thoughts, words or actions, God's wisdom, power and providence hath influence into them.

Secondly, Observe.

God doth not only foreknow, but pre-discovers the purposes, counsels and plots of his Churches enemies, to evidence his care thereof.

He made known the design of Gog many years before it came to pass. Thou shalt think an evil thought, and say, I will go up to the Land of unwalled Villages. The enemies of Zion are full of evil thoughts and designs, to root out and destroy the Inhabitants thereof, but God sometimes discovers them beforehand, and oft prevents them. Neh. 4.11. Our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease: These thoughts and designs of theirs were discovered and prevented by the Lord. Herod thought and purposed to kill the Lord Christ when he was in the Cradle; but the all-knowing God revealed it to Joseph, and disappointed it. God is very vigilant over his Church, lest any hurt it; he keeps it night and day, Isa. 27.3.

Thirdly, Observe.

The Enemies of the Church do watch, and take advantages against the Church, they wait for, and seek occasions to ruin the same.

I will go up, (saith Gog) to the Land of unwalled Villages, I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell without Walls, Barrs, or Gates: Because he saw them unarm'd and secure, a naked people, destitute of human helps, therefore he resolved to invade, plunder and destroy them. When Saul was pursuing of David, the Philistines invaded the Land, 1 Sam. 23.27. And when Elisha was dead, the Moabites did so, 2 King. 13.20. So Haman, because Mordecai would not bow to him, sought advantages to destroy all the Jews, Esth. 3.6. The wicked are so strong, spiteful, and vigilant, to seek and take advantages against God's people, that it were impossible for them to be in safety, had they not a gracious God to take care of them. They are weak, and look not to arms of flesh, but unto Jehovah the Rock of ages, who is their shield and safety; they dwell without walls, but God is a wall of fire round about them, Zech. 2.5.

Fourthly, Observe.

Wicked ones will undertake great matters, and venture their lives to satisfy their lusts.

Gog and the rest undertake a Warr, march many a mile, and put their lives in their hands, and wherefore? to take a spoil, to get the prey, to carry away Silver, Gold, Cattle and Goods. All was to satisfy a base, covetous humor; Libido Dominandi & cupido Divitiarum, the lust after ruling, and desire of riches, hath stimulated many to attempt great matters, to hazard their lives and souls to all eternity. Wherefore did the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, undertake a difficult and dangerous Warr? Jehoshaphat tells you, It was for Dominion and Wealth, 2 Chron. 20.11.

Fifthly, Observe.

The wicked, confederate and combine together, to mischief the Church of God.

Shebah, Dedan, the Merchants of Tarshish, with all the young Lions thereof, fall in with Gog and his design. The seed of the Serpent are unanimous to destroy the seed of the Woman. Ps. 83. Edomites, Ishmaelites, Moabites, Hagarens, Gebalites, Ammonites, Amalekites, Philistines, Tyrians and Ashurites, join'd all together against God's people, and said, Come, let us cut them off from being a Nation, Ezra 4.7, 8, 9, 10. Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, Rehum the Chancellor, Shimshai the Scribe, and the rest of their Societies, the Dinaites, the Apharsathlites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Debanites, the Elamites, and the rest of the Nations, did all conspire together, to hinder the building of Jerusalem, and the Walls thereof. Wicked men are Thorns, and they cleave together, to scratch and vex the righteous.

Vers. 14. In that day, when my people Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?

When my people are come to their Land, dwell safely in Towns, without walls, gates or bars? shalt thou not know it? Yes, thou wilt take notice thereof, and be encouraged thereby to come against them. The Septuagint saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , thou wilt be stirred up; this sense of the words some make: Others thus, Thou hast a wicked thought in thy heart, and doest purpose to invade my people, being unarm'd, and dwelling safely, and shalt thou not know? that is, Thou shalt know what it is to invade my people, thou shalt feel my judgments, my fury will appear and fall upon thee, to thy destruction, v. 16, 18. Piscator renders the word thus, Annon experieris? Shalt thou not have experience?

Vers. 15. Thou shalt come from thy place out of the North parts, thou and many people with thee, &c.

Some conceive, that Gog with his great Army, came out of Scythia, others out of Babylon, which lay Northwards from Jerusalem. That he came from those parts, is not clear: but most certair, that he came from the Northern parts, or sides of the North; and having drawn many to his assistance, they all came riding upon Horses. They were all Horse-men for speed; the charges of such an Army, being all Horse-men, must be exceeding great: This Army came into the Land of Israel, and covered it like a Cloud, as we heard, v. 9.

Vers. 16. It shall be in the latter days.

In the 8 verse. it was said, in the latter years, and here it's said, in the latter days, or, as Montanus reads them, in novissimo dierum; or as Piscator, in novissimis diebus, in the last days. In the latter days did Antiochus vex the Jews, and in the last days shall Antichrist vex them and the Church.

When I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog.

God is said to be sanctified, when he manifests himself to be an holy and just God, by inflicting punishment upon evil doers, whereby others are made to fear and say, O what an holy, what a just, what a dreadful God is he who executes such judgments! Ezek. 28.22. we had the same words.

First, Observe,

When God's people are in Canaan, then have they safety.

In Babylon they had none, in Egypt they had none, in the Wilderness they had little; but when in Canaan, then they had their greatest safety. In that day when my people Israel dwelleth safely: They had a day, a time of safety, which was when they were settled in Canaan. In Canaan was the Church; and where that is in safety, there God is City, Walls, G • tes and Barrs, himself: He is the keeper of Israel, Ps. 112.4.5.

Secondly, Observe,

Th • se that design and attempt mischief against the people of God, they shall experimentally know, that God is their Protector and the Revenger of their wrongs.

Gog thought evil against Israel, and came up against it; And what saith God, shalt thou not know it? This I will make thee to know, that I am Israel's Keeper, and that thou hast done wickedly to invade them. God made Sennacherib know, what it was to design and attempt evil against Jerusalem, when he smote 185000 of his Soldiers in one night, Isa. 37.36. When the Ammonites, Moabites, and Seirites, thought and attempted mischief against the Jews, viz. to cast them out and possess their Land, did not God avenge his people of them, and manifest himself to be their Protector, 2 Chron. 20.23, 24?

Thirdly, Observe,

The secret Plots and deep Designs of men, do at length break out into Action.

Gog had long thought of invading Israel, and at length he comes from his place out of the North parts and puts his design into execution. Hidden things of dishonesty sleep not always, they may be dissembled long, but at last they issue into action. The Spanish -plot lay in the dark long, but at last it visited our English Coasts; where they were made to see that their Armado was not invincible. The Massacres of France and Ireland, were secret, though, Plotts, at first, but in process of time they came to blood.

Fourthly, Observe.

The great enemies of the Church, have many Helpers and Adhaerents, and those fitted to further their wicked Designs.

Gog had many people with him, and all of them riding upon Horses, a great company and a mighty Army: so numerous they were, that like a Cloud they covered the Land: So Antichrist now hath many Assistants to promote his wicked and bloody designs against the Saints. Rev. 19.19. I saw the Beast, and the Kings of the Earth, and their Armies gathered together to make war against him that sat on the Horse, and against his Army, that is, against Christ and his Church.

Fifthly, Observe,

Though all people and Lands in the World be the Lord's, yet some people and Lands are his in a more peculiar manner.

Thou shalt come up against my people, and against my land. Where God is owned, his Ordinances and Worship set up, maintained in purity and power, His interest and glory advanced; there is a people God calls his people, and a land God calls His land; there God dwells, peculiarizing both People and Land to himself.

Sixthly, Observe,

God takes occasion from the attempts of the wicked, to execute his just judgments upon them, and so to get glory to his Name even from Heathens.

Gog took occasion from the Jews weakness, (they were in unwalled Villages) to invade and destroy them; and God takes occasion from his unjust invading the Jews, to inflict dreadful judgments upon him and his, that the Heathen might know him, when he should be sanctified in Gog: They seeing such just judgments upon Gog, should fear the God of Israel, and learn righteousness. God is known by executing of judgment, Ps. 9.16. Thereby he is known to be the most High over all the Earth.

Vers. 18. At the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel.

Time is not to be taken strictly for a day, or an hour; as if God should that very day Gog set out, or invaded the Land, fall upon him by his judgments, and destroy him; but largely, for the time of that enterprise, whilst he should be upon that design, when he had filled up the measure of his iniquities.

My fury shall come up in my face.

Some read the words thus, My anger shall come up in my face; that is, I will be furious, and manifest hot displeasure; for furor is fervor irae, the heat and highth of anger. We read the words, My fury shall come up in my face. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Af, signifies Anger, the face, the nose also, because Anger appears chiefly in them. God speaking here after the manner of men, saith, My fury shall come up in my face. Luther by Fury or Anger, understands Gog himself, who was Vas Irae Divinae, by whom God poured out wrath upon the Jews. Maldonado also makes the Fury here mentioned, to be against the Church, but rather its against Gog; for at the same time that Gog should come against Israel, at that time should God's fury come up in his face, he would be exceedingly displeased with Gog for attempting the destruction of his people. And ver. 21. God will call for a Sword against him.

Vers. 19. For in my jealousy, and in the fury of my wrath have I spoken.

The Lord being jealous over his people for their good; and seeing what malicious designs Gog and his Confederates had against them, was provoked much thereby, and said in his Jealousy and Fury; that is, Promised, or rather Threatned the Destruction of Gog: and not only so, but confirmed it with an Oath in the next words.

Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the Land of Israel.

These words Im lo carry the form of an O • th with them, as thus, If not, that is if there be not a great shaking, let me not be God, let me not be faithful; so sure as I am God and faithful, so sure and certain it is that there shall be a great shaking in the Land of Israel, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 raash signifies a Commotion, an Earth-quake, and in that day when Antiochus invaded Canaan, there was a great commotion, a great shaking. And so there will be when Antichrist, who is Gog mystical, shall invade the Church, which Maldonado saith, will be in the end of the world.

Vers. 20. So that the Fishes of the Sea, and the Fowls of the Heaven, the Beasts of the Field, and all creeping things that creep upon the Earth, and all the Men that are upon the face of the Earth, shall shake at my presence.

Here is shewn the greatness of his shaking, it should be such as should affect and astonish all creatures, even the sensible and senseless. As Gog should come like a storm, so God's judgments should come upon him and his like a storm. When storms are, the winds blow terribly, so that the Air and Fowls in it are troubled, the Sea works and rages, so that the fishes in it are disquieted; yea, some storms do so afflict the Earth, that Beasts, creeping things, and Men themselves are made to quake. When God comes in a way of judgment, it's grievous. All these expressions are ad significandam calamitatis vehementiam. God would appear in some dreadful judgment against Gog, and thereby shake all.

The Mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall.

Sometimes in Scripture by Mountains are meant Men in eminent places, as Dan. 2.35. Isa. 40.4 Sometimes the Church and Kingdoms, as Isa. 2.23. But here some take it literally, and affirm there should be such an Earth-quake as should shake down Mountains. Lavater by Mountains understands Towers built upon Mountains, which then should be demolished. The word for steep places is Hammadregoth, which Cant. 2.14. is translated stairs, the Septuagint hath it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , valleys, the Vulgar is sepes, the fences; the translation▪ Vatablus follows, saith aggeres, Bulwarks. Piscator and the French say turres, Towers. OEcolampad. and Lavater render it gradus, the steps, stairs, or ascents, whereby they went up. Junius varies from them all, and turns the word prcaeipitia, which is Steep places, by which he intends Rocks hanging as it were in the Air. The sense is, that all Places of refuge and safety, seemed they never so strong, should fail.

And every wall shall fall to the ground.

So terrible shall be the shaking, that the walls of Cities shall be overthrown; all the Towers, Forts, and Defences whatsoever, shall be level'd with the ground and made useless. Some understand this of Gogs prevailing against the Church, laying all waste, so that the people of God shall be in that distress, till God come and execute judgment upon Gog and all his company.

Vers. 21. And I will call for a Sword against him throughout all my Mountains, saith the Lord God.

Sword here is put for Sword-men. God would call forth men, and stir up their spirits to oppose Gog and his company, who filling all with fear, thought to swallow up all; but throughout Judea, that mountainous Counrey, he should meet with those would give check to his proceedings. Judas Macchabaeus, Jonathan, Eleazar, and others, withstood Antiochus and his Forces, as you may see in the Book of the Maccabees, and therein was this Prophesy made good say Interpreters.

Every man's Sword shall be against his Brother.

Those of Gogs Army should, through the just judgment of God upon them, change their thoughts, counsels, intentions; and, instead of killing their Enemies, they should sheath their Swords in one another's bowels. God would order it so, that one should dest • oy another, as the Philistines did, 1 Sam. 14, 16. Behold, the multitude melted away and they went on beating down one another, and Vers. 20. Every man's sword was against his fellow. They being full of discontent and perplexity, thought it more honorable to die then to fall into the hands of Enemies.

Vers. 22. And I will plead against him with Pestilence and with Blood.

He shows here what judgments God would bring upon Gog and his Armies, judgments from beneath, and judgments from above. The first sort here are Pestilence and Blood, by the sword and slaughter. The Hebrew is, I will be judged with him by Pestilence and Blood; they shall declare that I am a strong and just God.

And I will rain upon him and upon his Bands, &c. an over-flowing Rain, and great Hailstones, Fire, and Brimstone.

The second sort of judgments are Rain, Hailstones, Fire, and Brimstone. These words over-flowing showers and great Hailstones, we had, Chap. 13.11, 13. In the 10. of Joshua, we read how God did cast down great Stones from Heaven upon the Amorites, and slew more with Hail • tones then the Israelites slew with the Sword, verse. 10. To this place it's conceived our Prophet alludes, foretelling, that the Lord would deal with the Goggites as he did with the Amorites, sl • y them with extraordinary great H •• lstones from Heaven; and not only so, but with Fire and Brimstone, which is poena damnatorum, the punishment of the damned in Hell, and was the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrhah.

Some by these expressions understand manifold and grievous calamities, which befell Gog and his; and will not have them to be understood literally, that so the verification of them may fall upon Antiochus and his Forces, who suffered very sad things: for he was smitten by God with an incurable and invisible plague and torment in his bowels, he fell from his Chariot, and was bruised with his fall; worms came out of his body in abundance, his rottenness and stink was such as none could bear the same; and while he was alive his flesh fell off for pain, 2 Macc. 9. Let it be granted that these words are not to be taken literally, but metaphorically for heavy judgments befalling Gog and his, it will not follow thereupon that Antiochus was the man, though he suffered such grievous things: for it's said of Gog, that he should fall upon the Mountains of Israel, he and all his Bands, that he and his slain should have graves in Israel, Ezek. 39.4, 11. But as for Antiochus he died in his bed, and that either in Babylon, as 1 Macc. 6. or at Ecbatane in India, as it's 2 Macc. 9. Neither was there any such vast destruction of Antiochus Forces, which came into Judea under Lysias, as these words hold out, and is more clearly expressed in Ch. 39.12. Seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them. There must be a wonderful great slaughter which required so much time for their burial. I conceive therefore, that these words may be taken in the literal sense, and are yet to be fulfilled; and that induceth so to judge, is, what you have, Rev. 20.8, 9. where it is said, Satan shall gather Gog and Magog together to battle, the number of whom is as the sand of the Sea, and they went up on the breadth of the Earth, and compassed the Camp of the Saints about, and the beloved City, and fire came down from Heaven and devoured them; John saw this in Vision, and spake of it as to come, and puts it after the Saints rising and reigning a thousand years with Christ; That time being expired, some grand Enemies shall arise against the Jews and people of God, whom he will destroy, not only in an ordinary way, but miraculously also by fire from Heaven.

First, Observe.

When wicked men are plotting and attempting the ruin of the Church, God's wrath is kindled against them.

When Gog comes up against the land of Israel, God's fury comes up in his face. Gog manifests himself to be an Enemy to Zion, and God manifests himself to be an Enemy to Gog. Wicked men plot, act, proceed far ofttimes, and afflict the servants of God greatly; but, when they think to carry all, God appears, and that in fury. In Nah. 1.2. it is said, He reserveth wrath for his Enemies; and when they declare their enmity against him and his, he discovers his wrath against them. Zerah had been long plotting against the Jews, at last he comes against them with a thousand thousand, and three hundred Chariots, and thought to devour Asa his Army and Land in a day, and whilst he had such apprehensions, the Lord smote him before Asa, and Judah, 2 Chron. 14.8.12.

Secondly, Observe.

When mischief is intended against God's people, his love and indignation are manifested then; his love to his people, his indignation towards their Enemies.

In my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken. When Gogs Armies were to harm the Jews, then was he jealous. In jealousy, there is ardent love, and vehement indignation; the one is towards his people, the other towards them that wrong his people. Zechar. 8. I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. He had strong love to Zion, and great fury against the Enemies of Zion; as a man hath ardent love to his wife, and indignation against any should offer her violence. God is jealous over his Church, and therefore will never suffer it to be made a prey of, by the wicked. God's love, and indignation at such a time are so ardent, that he swears he will be avenged on them that would wrong his, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the Land of Israel. Gog and all his Forces shall fall.

Thirdly, Observe.

The judgments of God are dreadful, they affect all Creatures, the Fishes of the Sea, the Fowls of Heaven, the Beasts of the Field, all that creeps upon the Earth; all men upon the face of the Earth shall shake; Mountains, Rocks, Walls, shall fall.

This judgment upon Gog shall be such, as to astonish and trouble all sensible and insensible creatures; so much of God shall be seen in it. When the Lord destroyed Tyrus, it was a dreadful judgment, the Isles did shake at the sound of her fall, the Princes of the Sea did tremble and were astonished, Ezek. 26. But at the destruction of Gog, Heaven, Earth, Sea, all men, other creatures, shall shake. There will be more of God seen in that judgment then in most before; his presence, power, and severity will appear eminently in that Judgment; it will speak aloud and fill the world with astonishment.

Fourthly, Observe.

God can easily raise Forces against his and the Churches Enemies, he can do it without any trouble.

I will call for a Sword against him throughout all my Mountains; The Mountains of Israel were the Lord's, and all the Inhabitants of them, and if he did but call, they came to his Standard presently. The Princes of the Earth find it an hard business to get a great Army together, and wait long for it after great consultation how to effect the same; but the Lord, only calls, and i • 's done, He is the Lord of Hosts; he hath command of spirits, and can with ease in a little time gather a vast Army. The Centurion when he said to his servant, Come, he came; and when God shall say to men, Come, they will come, they must come, out of all parts, from all mountains.

Fifthly, Observe,

As God can easily gather Armies for the good of his Church; so he can as easily ruin Armies which are against his Church: he can mingle a perverse spirit amongst them, so divide them that they shall execute one another.

Every man's sword shall be against his brother. One Goggite should destroy another; they thought to have destroyed God's people, and they fell one upon the other. 2 Chron. 20.22, 23. The children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, came against Judah, and thought to destroy them, and take their possessions, but God soon ruined their enemies, he set them one against another; for the children of Ammon and Moab, stand up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the Inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another; the Ammonites destroyed the Moabites, and the Moabites the Ammonites. This great multitude (for so they are called, ver. 2.) did the Lord cause to fall by their own swords. How easily did God scatter the Army of the Syrians, which besieged Samaria! He made them to hear a noise of Charets, and Horses, whereupon they fled for their lives, and left bag and baggage, 2 King. 7.6, 7. Did not God at the prayers of a Christian Legion, in the Army of Marcus Aurelius, Emperor, scatter and destroy that vast Army of the Marcomanni and Quadi, which consisted of 977 thousand? He sent rain at the same time to relieve the Emperors Army, which was in danger of perishing by thirst; and also, thunder, lightning, and fiery hail, which ruined the enemies. God can with great facility overthrow the greatest Armies.

Sixthly, Observe,

God hath variety of means and ways whereby to destroy Armies, and punish Enemies.

He hath the pestilence, blood, an overflowing rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone, to do the same by. He had an Angel to destroy Sennacherib's Army, Isa. 37.36. Stars to fight against Sisera, Judge. 5.20. The shining of the Sun upon the water, undid the Moabites, 2 King. 3.22, 23, 24. The sound in the tops of the Mulbery-trees did the Philistines no good, 2 Sam, 5.24 God hath Natural, Casual, and Divine means, to plague his enemies with, though they be in great Armies.

Seventhly, Observe,

Those who join with Great ones in wicked enterprises, must look to suffer grievous things with them.

I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him. They thought themselves safe under Gog, that they should get honor and wealth in that enterprize; but, the undertaking was unwarrantable, Gog could not justify his act, nor protect them: They were Co-actors in wickedness, and so should be Co-sufferers. It's dangerous to adhere to Greatness in wicked designs. Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished, Prov. 11, 21. Let multitudes take Gog, and Great men by the hand; let them follow their counsels, tread in their steps, do their wills; this cannot secure them, they shall be punished. God is no respecter of persons, in every Nation he that doth wickedly, and they that join with him, shall be punished.

Thus will I magnify myself.

The Septuagint, and some others read the words passively, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , I will be magnified; but, Hith gaddilti, is, I will magnify myself, or, I will make myself great; and that is done, when God doth such things as declare his Power, his Faithfulness, and his Justice; when the Lord should execute his dreadful threatened-Judgments upon Gog, then his great Power would appear, that he had the Command of all Creatures; that vast Armies are nothing to him: so, his Faithfulness to his people, who owned him for their God, and his Justice in destroying those would have destroyed his.

And sanctify myself.

God is not unholy or polluted at any time; but, he is said to Sanctify himself, when he declares himself to be not Impotent, not Unfaithfull, not Unjust; but, a Powerful, Faithful, Righteous, and Holy God.

Observe.

The end of God's judgments upon the wicked is, that he may be known and acknowledged among the Nations, and so have a great and holy Name.

God is known by executing of judgments, Psal. 9.16. Known not to be like unto men, as they conceived, Psal. 50.21. or, a God that sees not, as they said, Ezek. 8.12. or, a God countenancing and preferring evil-doers, as they affirmed, Mal. 3.15. But, to be a dreadful God, as when he visited Ananias and Sapphira for their sins, Great fear came upon all that heard thereof, Act. 5.11. To be an holy God, as 1 Sam. 6.20. when he smote the Bethshemites, 50000 of them, with sudden death, it was said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God, by his judgments he hath made his Name dreadful among the Heathen! What a great and holy Name did the Lord make to himself, by the destruction of Pharaoh and his host in the Red-sea?

Vers. 1. Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

These very words we had in the former Chap. ver. 2. & 3. He was a great Prince, had great Command, many Confederates to take his part; yet, being wicked and an enemy to God's people, God declares himself to be an enemy to him.

Vers. 2. I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee.

These words, and leave but a sixth part of thee, are variously Interpreted. Some say, I will kill five parts of thine Army, and leave but a sixth. Some, I will seduce thee. Others, I will judge thee with six Judgments, viz. the Plague, Blood, Rain, Hailstones, Fire, and Bimstone, as it's in the former Chapter, ver. 22. The Hebrew Shis shethica, Montanus renders sextabo te, I will sixth thee. For the meaning whereof, consider what has be said, Ch. 38.4. I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy chaws; the sense whereof was this, I will not turn thee back, but bring thee out; and because of Objections, Difficulties, and Remoraes, I will draw thee forth, I will put hooks in thy chaws, and deal by thee as men do by fish in the Seas, or things fallen into wells, draw thee out by hooks. The reason its conceived of this expression, is, for that they used irons with six hooks upon them, to catch hold of things fallen into waters, and to draw them out thereby. Hence it is, that the Lord saith, I will sixth thee, as the word signifies, or, draw thee out with hooks, as the sense is.

And will cause thee to come up from the North parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel.

Of Gog 's coming from the North parts we heard, Chap. 38.15. God would cause him to come out of those parts unto the Mountains of Israel; which we may take Literally, though some do take them Metaphorically for the places where the Church of God should be.

Vers. 3. And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.

Bows and Arrows were much used in former days, both amongst the Jews and Heathens also, as Isa. 66.19. Jer. 46.9. 1 Chr. 5.18. and when they handled them, they held the Bows in their left hands, and Arrows in their right ones. Now when these Goggites should attempt to shoot, and do execution by shooting, God would disappoint them; causing a fear and faintness to fall upon them, so that not only their Bows and Arrows, but all their Military Instruments, should be useless; for by these mentioned, are meant all the rest: To smite or break the Bow, imports the weakening of Forces, or making of warlike Instruments inefficacious, as Psal. 37.15. Psal. 46.9. Hos. 1.5. Jer. 49.35. In these places, Breaking of the Bow, notes, Blasting of their power, and making frustrare all Military instruments.

Vers. 4. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee.

Not in places conspicuous to the whole Church, as some would have it; but in the Land, and on the Mountains of Israel, which Antiochus Epiphanes did not, as I shown formerly. And this verse gives warrant to depart from our Translation of those words in the 2. verse, And leave but the sixth part of thee: For, Gog and all his Bands, and Confederates were to fall upon the Mountains of Israel; no sixth part of them were left.

I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.

When great Armies are overthrown, sometimes their Carkasses lie unburyed, and so are exposed to the fowls of heaven, and beasts of the field which pray upon them; so should it be with Gog and his for a season: after they had lain a season, they had burial, as appears, v. 11 The word for Ravenous bird is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Aiil, which signifies, a bird of prey, and differs from Tzippor, which is, a small bird.

Vers. 5. Thou shalt fall upon the open field.

The Hebrew saith, Thou shalt fall upon the faces of the field; that is, the superficies, and so lie in open view. We had the same words in Chap. 16.5. & 32.4.

Vers. 6. And I will send a fire on Magog.

Some by Magog understand the Land of Gog: when Others, a distinct person and Prince from Gog. Let Magog denote a Place or Person, God would send a fire, not Metaphorical fire only, but Material fire, and so its said, Rev. 20.9.

And them that dwell carelessly in the Isles.

Pliny saith, there be many Islands in the Scythian Sea, and it's likely such people as dwell therein are careless, secure, fearing no dangers, yet God would visit them with fire: But there be Islands nearer then those upon the Egae • n and Mediterranean Seas which dwell confidently, as the word is.

Vers. 7. So will I make my holy Name known in the midst of my people Israel.

When great men go forth to Warr and obtain some eminent victory thereby they become famous: so God by smiting Magog and all his Forces, would make his holy Name known, that his people should confess him to be a holy God, and his Name a Name of holiness; for so it is in the Original.

And will not let them pollute my holy Name anymore.

When men say those things which are derogatory to the Name of God, as that he sees not, he hath forsaken the Earth, that he is unfaithful, unjust, &c. or do such things as cause others to blaspheme and speak dishonorable of Himself, his Word, Worship, and Providences; then are they said to pollute his holy Name. After the destruction of Gog and Magog, God would order things so, that his Name should not suffer.

First, Observe.

Those are Enemies unto the Church, God is an Enemy unto them.

Gog's thought and design was to invade the Land of Israel, and what saith the Lord, Behold I am against thee, O Gog; Hadst thou been a friend to my Church, I would have been a friend to thee; but seeing thou art malicious and intendest mischief against the Saints; loe I, even I the Lord of Hosts, that can shake Heaven and Earth, and destroy the most puissant and politick Army in a moment, am against thee. When thou touchest my people, thou touchest the Apple of mine Eye, and I neither can nor will bear it, Exod. 23.22. I will be an Enemy unto thine Enemies, and an Adversary unto thine Adversaries; Whoever set themselves against Israel, have the God of Israel against them.

Secondly, Observe.

Wicked men may be in great honor and have great power.

Gog here, one whom the Lord declared himself against, was a Prince, a chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal. Ahasuerus, an Heathen Idolater, had honor and power enough, when he had 127. Princes under his command, Esther 1.1.

Thirdly, Observe.

There be seeming contradictions in holy Scriptures.

In one, God saith, Behold I am against thee O Gog; In another, I will cause thee to come up from the North parts, or sides, and will bring thee upon the Mountains of Israel. God was with Gog, and against Gog; with him by his Providence, to bring him forth to manifest his spleen and gall against the Land of Israel; and against him, by his Power and Justice to destroy him for his cruelty and bloudiness. Gen. 14.14. It's said, Abraham pursued the Enemies unto Dan. And Josh. 19.47. There was no Dan in Abraham 's days, for it was so called from Dan the son of Jacob, who was long after him; Moses who writ the Book of Genesis, speaks of it as it was called in his days, not as it was called in Abraham 's days: Joh. 1 21. When John was asked the question whether he were Elias, he said, I am not; but Mat. 11.14. Christ saith of John, This is Elias which was for to come; John denies himself to be Elias personally, which was the sense of the Questionists, and Christ affirms that he was Elias mystically, that Elias, Malachi spake of chap. 4.5. There be many Scriptures seeming to destroy one another; but if rightly understood, they do sweetly comply and shake hands together.

Fourthly, Observe.

God's hand is in the undertakings of Enemies against the Church.

I will cause thee to come and bring thee upon the Mountains of Israel; and if thou lingerest, I have uncum seu avium, a sixth hooked-hook to draw thee. Warrs are not fortuitous but by a special hand of God; he brings forth Enemies as to correct his Church by them, so to destroy them in the presence and view of his Church, being corrected. Were not God's hand there, they would ruin the Church, and because his hand is in such things, therefore are they ruined. After Pharaoh had afflicted the Jews the time appointed, God drew him on into the Red-Sea, and there, in the face and view of them, sunk him like lead into the bottom of the deeps.

Fifthly, Observe.

It's in the Lord to disable and disappoint Warriours when they are ready for battle.

When Gog and his Soldiers should have the Bow in the left hand, and the Arrow in the right hand, then I will smite the Bow out of the one, and the Arrow out of the other hand, saith the Lord. All military strength he can easily blunt, and make all weapons of war inefficacious, he can take off the wheels of Chariots, Exod. 14.25. He breaks the Bow, he blunts the Sword, and makes all weapons formed against Israel unprosperous at his pleasure. Isa. 54.17. God stopped Rhehoboam when he was going with a great Army to fight Jeroboam, and bring the ten revolted Tribes to himself, 1 King. 12. God hath oft put such fear into the hearts of Soldiers, that, when it hath come to a pitched Battail, they have presently thrown down their weapons and called for quarter.

Sixthly, Observe.

That in the same place where G d shows rich mercy to the godly, even there he executes severe judgments upon the Enemies.

Thou shalt fall upon the Mountains of Israel. Upon those Mountains in that Land the Lord had showed marvelous kindness to his people, Psal. 76 1, 2, 3, 4. and there should Gog fall. In the Red-Sea God preserved the Israelites, and destroyed the Egyptians; where the one met with signal mercy, there the other had severe judgment; so Joel 3.2. I will gather all Nations, and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people; God would punish them even there where he had done much for his, 2 Chron. 20 26. The Valley where Jehoshaphat blessed God for a Victory, it's conceived to be here meant and called the Valley of J • hoshaphat. The powers of darkness have oft and still do invade the Mountains of Israel, the places and persons among whom God doth record his Name, and there God overthrows them.

Seventhly, Observe.

That Armies and others are exposed to public shame and miserable ends, is of God.

Thou shalt fall upon the open field, and I will give thee to the ravenous Birds of every sort, and to the Beast of the field to be devoured. Want of buryal is amongst God's judgments, Jer. 8.2. & 14.16. To lie in open view dead, and to be mangled, torn by Fowls, Beasts, Swine, and Dogs, is a dishonorable and lamentable thing; but how dishonorable or lamentable so ever it be, it's the Lord's doings; He makes wicked Armies and Persons sometimes as dung upon the face of the Earth; They lie unburyed, rotting and stinking.

Eighthly, Observe.

What the Lord speaks, that shall certainly take place.

Thou shalt fall upon the open field, for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God: With God is not yea and nay; what he saith, is truth, & must infallibly be effected. As nothing can be done, unless the Lord speak; so nothing can fail of being done when the Lord hath spoken; Josh. 21.45. There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel: all came to pass. God promised them to root out the Nations, to plant them in Canaan, and to do much for them, and all God had spoken was made good; so, when God threatens evil, whatsoever he speaks in that kind must be fulfilled, because he is faithful and able to make good his word, whoever opposes.

Ninthly, Observe.

When God begins to visit the Enemies of his Church, he makes progress therein.

Not only shall Gog fall and all his Bands, and people, but God will send a fire on Magog also, and upon the Isles that dwell carelessly: they thought themselves invincible, being fortified by the Sea; but when God arises to punish the Inhabitants of the Earth, who are Enemies to his, he goes from Country to Country at Land, and from Isle to Isle at Sea. When God draws the Sword, and gives it Commission, it proceeds from place to place, and is restless till all at Sea and Land be cut off, who are numbered out for destruction, Jer. 47.6, 7. O thou Sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest and be still. How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Askelon, and against the Sea-shore? there hath he appointed it. God appoints the Sword to visit at Land and at Sea: when he begins with the Enemies of his People, he will make an end with them.

Tenthly, Observe.

When God shows mercy to his Church, and destroys the Enemies of it, then he provides for his own honor, sanctifies his Name, and makes himself to be known, distinct from all other gods.

When the Jews Church shall be at peace, Gog and Magog be destroyed, then God will be glorious, all speak honorable of him, and acknowledge him to be the holy One of Israel. When God led the Israelites through the Red-Sea, and took off the wheels of the Egyptian Chariots, the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians. Here they acknowledged God's power, and that he was a God distinguished from all their Idol-gods; a God fulfilling his promises and threats, a God able to save and destroy, even the Holy one of Israel.

This is the day whereof I have spoken.

God had spoken of Gog and Magog by his Prophets formerly, as was showed from the 17. verse of the 38. Chapter, that they should come against Israel, and utterly be destroyed in that attempt: which the Lord speaking of here as done, saith, This is the day, not designing the prefixed day when it should be; It shall be, but when, that is hid.

First, Observe.

There is a certain time determined for the destruction of the Churches Enemies, which God looks upon as present, and done.

Behold, it is come, it is done; that is, the day of Gog and Magog's ruin. God fore-sees things to come as if they were present, not by a presence of Existency from Eternity; but, in his Decree: on that, his fore-knowledge and the certainty of things is founded; we should therefore firmly believe the same, and not give way to dubious opinions thereabout.

Secondly, Observe.

The particular time is hidden from m • n, and known only unto God.

M • n cannot say, This is the day, but the Lord can; He knew the very moment when Gog and his should be destroyed, and the Church set at liberty. The thing and time indefinitely were revealed to the Prophet, but not the particular punctual time. The Lord kept that in his own breast, his Infinite Wisdom saw it not meet to particularize the time; the Prophets had spoken of a day that would be for Gog 's invading the Land of Israel, and of his falling upon the Mountains thereof, but the exact time they knew not. John, unto whom the Lord Christ revealed much, tells you, that after 1000. years reign of the Saints with Christ, it shall be, Rev. 20.7, 8, 9.

Vers. 9. They that dwell in the Cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the Weapons.

After this great and famous Victory, the Citizens which dwell in the Cities of Israel will go forth, Visendi & Spoliandi gratia, to see the slain, and to get spoil; and among other things, they should take of their Weapons, and make themselves Fire thereof. The word for Weapons is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Neshek, which notes any kind of Weapon to oppose the Enemy. It's not from nasak, to burn; but from noshak, to • rm.

Both the Shields and the Bucklers, the Bows and the Arrows, and the Hand-staves and the Spears.

These latter were combustible; but how they should burn the Shields and Bucklers, is not apparent, they being of solid metals. It's like, something combustible was annexed unto them.

And they shall burn them with Fire seven years.

It must needs be a numerous, or rather numberless Army, whose weapons should suffice the Jews seven years for fireing. John saith, their Number shall be as the sand of the Sea, Rev. 20.8. which exceeds all Arithmetic. Some make it an Hyperbolical expression, to show the greatness of their overthrow, and multitude of their warlike Instruments. Others mind us of a certain time, put here for an uncertain, viz. seven years put for a long time. The Jewish Writers do take the words literally, concluding they shall have such a Victory over their Enemies, as that for seven years they shall need no other materials to burn then their weapons; and think their Messiah not come, because they have not yet obtained such a Victory. Sanctius thinks not, that they were seven years in burning the weapons, but that they had such store which might have served them for seven years fuel; great store, and therefore it's said, they should burn them with fire seven years. How this was verified in Antiochus, is hard to show. It's nearer to truth, to judge that this Scripture remains still to be fulfilled.

Vers. 10. So that they shall take no Wood out of the Field, neither cut down any out of the Forrests.

These words taken absolutely, do strengthen the literal acceptation of the former. We may take them comparatively thus, That in respect of what they did use to take out of the Field, and cut out of the Forest, they should now cut and take little: And why?

For they shall burn the Weapons with Fire.

They should so supply them for fuel, that little other wood should serve. This burning of Enemies Weapons conduceth much to peace. Where warlike weapons are broken and burnt, not reserved; there Wars cease and Peace follows.

They shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them.

It's incident to all People and Nations to spoil and rob the People of God; and so these Goggites and their Confederates, they compassed the Camp of the Saints, and the beloved City, saith John, Rev 20.9. In all ages, the Church hath been made a prey of by one or other; but the time shall be when it shall spoil her spoilers, and rob her robbers.

First, Observe.

God will give Victories to his Church and People, which seem incredible.

Here is pointed out such a Victory as is full of wonders and matters incredible. Their number is as the Sand of the Sea, and all of them Horsemen, and clothed with all sorts of Arms, Chap 38.4. yet conquered. Their weapons serve for seven years firing, and their bodies are seven months in burying, as it follows in verse. 12. Will not this be a wonderful Victory? Do not these things seem incredible? God of old g • ve great and strange V ctories to his People, as the drowning of Pharaoh in the Red Sea; the slaying of Sennacherib 's vast Army in a night by an Angel. Great Victories, since Christ his time, have been. The Christians have had signal Victories against the Turk: And Sanctius tells you of a wonderful Victory which the Spaniards had against the Saracens, when at one Battail they slew two hundred thousand of them, and lost but twenty five men; but when ever this overthrow of Gog shall be, it will exceed all former Victories.

Secondly, Observe.

The Lord makes that advantageous to his People, which their Enemies intended to damnify and ruin them by.

The Bows, Arrows, Hand-staves and Spears, shall serve the Saints for fuel with which the Goggites thought to destroy them. The Sword of Goliath with which he thought to have slain David, and many Israelites was afterwards given into the hand of David, and serviceable unto him, 1 Sam. 21 9. The wise and wonderful Providence of God so over-rules and orders things, that it makes Instruments of death the comforts of life. The Chariots of Sisera▪ that came for destruction, were to the Jews for use and recreation.

Thirdly, Observe.

After the over-throw of Gog and M • gog, Antichrist and his Adherents; the Church of God shall have great peace.

All their weapons of war shall be burnt; they shall make head no more against the Saints. After the devouring of Gog and Magog by fire from Heaven, Rev. 20.9. The gates of the New Jerusalem were never shut, Rev. 21.25. They feared no Enemies, they had great peace.

Fourthly, Observe.

The People of God shall have a day of recompense for the wrongs and injuries they have sustained.

They shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them. The Goggites of the world do fleece the Servants of God, eat their flesh, suck their blood, and gnaw their bones; but the day is coming, when the wicked shall be a spoil and prey unto them; which sets out the righteousness of God in his ways and judgments. What can be more equal then that he who spoils, should be spoiled? See Isa. 33.1. Woe to thee that spoilest and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee: when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

Vers. 11. And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of Graves in Israel.

When Gog and his Forces shall be slain, lie exposed to the Fowls of Heaven, and Beasts of the Field for a season; then will the Lord give unto them a burying place: they shall not always lie putrifying above ground, but they shall be laid in graves; so that they shall neither be a prey to Fowls and Beasts, nor offensive to Man always. This was favor, that God should give his Enemies Sepulchers in Israel. The Vulgar and Septuagint have it, A place of Name or Renown, putting Shem for Sham. It was honor enough for them to have graves there in Israel. This honor had not Antiochus.

The Valley of the Passengers on the East of the Sea.

What Valley this was, is not agreed upon by Interpreters. Some affirm it to be a Valley near unto the Lake of Gennezareth, or Sea of Tiberias; others inform us it's about Jordan; some say it's on this side Jordan, some say on that side. It's most probable to be a Valley near the Salt or Dead-Sea, where the five Cities, Admah, Zeboim, Segor, Sodom and Gomorrah, were consumed by Fire and Brimstone; now called Lacus Asphaltites. There, as Junius notes, men passed from Syria, Mesopotamia, Babylon, and other Countries, into Arabia foelix, and Egypt: whereupon it was called the Valley of Passengers, and lay Eastward from Jerusalem, as the next words show; on the East of the Sea, that is, on the Eastern Sea. The Sea of Tyberias lay Northward, but Mare M •• tuum lay Eastward.

And it shall stop the Noses of the Passengers.

Such a stink shall be in that Valley as shall cause the Passengers to stop their Noses or Mouths, or both. The Spirit of God may have some respect unto the Lake Asphaltites, which sent forth poisonous and suffocating vapors: so should the dead bodies of Gog and his, send out such a loathsome infecting savor, as Travailers should stop their Noses as not being able to endure the same.

There shall they bury Gog and all his multitude.

Though Gog had a buryal in the Land of Israel, yet it was not in the Sepulchers of the Kings or Prophets; it was in the Valley of Passengers, near the place of God's remarkable judgment upon the sinful Cities.

And they shall call it, The Valley of Hamon-Gog.

In Jeremy, you read of a Valley of Slaughter, Jer. 19.6. Chap. 7.32. and it was so called from the persons slain there by Nebuchadnezzar's Forces, when Jerusalem was besieged, and taken: And here's a Valley called the Valley of Hamon-Gog, that is, of the multitude of Gog: so great a multitude were slain and buried there, as gave denomination to the Valley. This Valley, Joel in his days was pleased to call, The Valley of Decision or Threshing, as the word Rechamte imports, Joel 3.14.

Vers. 12. And seven Moneths shall the House of Israel be burying of them.

Not some few, but the House of Israel, who were a great number, should be employed seven Moneths in burying of them, which sets out the greatness of the Victory; such a number slain as should set many thousands on work so long to bury them: seven years in burning their weapons, and seventh months in burying their dead. If a certain number be put here for an uncertain, as some will have it, yet they were a long time about this work.

That they may cleanse the Land.

When a multitude are slain, their putrefied bodies are apt to corrupt the Air and Earth, and so to endanger the living. The Israelites therefore to prevent such a mischief shall take great pains to bury them, and that without any intention of honoring the dead thereby: When men bury the dead, usually it's for an honor to them, but not so here; the end was, to cleanse the Land, which was defiled with the Carkasses of these Goggites.

Vers. 13. Ye all the people of the Land shall bury them.

Before, he had said, the House of Israel; now he adds, all the men of the Land: Some should give counsel, some should dig the graves or pits, and some should bring and put the dead bodies into them. Some understand by the House of Israel, and people of the Land, Christian people; who shall extinguish the name of Antichrist, and bury it with all his stinking Errors, in the Grave of Oblivion: and that they make the sense, of burying Gog and his.

And it shall be to them a Renown.

The Hebrew is, for a Name; They shall be renowned for this Victory, and for their Humanity in burying of the dead. Their Enemies shall speak honourably and well of them.

The day that I shall be glorified.

The Tigurine Translation hath it thus; That day, wherein I shall be glorified, shall be famous unto them; they shall have cause to remember that day forever. What day I shall destroy Gog and Magog with all their Forces, and so get glory to myself, that day shall be a day of Name, of Renown, and of Memorial unto them; that day shall be put into their Chronicles. The Hebrew stands thus, In the day of Me to be glorified: and so may point at their glorifying God for that great destruction of their Enemies.

Vers. 14. And they shall sever out men of continual employment.

Gog, and his, being beaten; divers were scattered up and down the Land, and by reason of their wounds, fell and lay unburyed in many places; whereupon they chose out men of continuance, (so the Hebrew is,) who might go up and down from one part of the Land to the other, to find out the dead.

To bury with the Passengers those that remain upon the face of the Earth, to cleanse it.

As those Searchers went up and down, they met with Passengers, whom they caused to assist them in the buryal of the dead they found. It's probable, they made the Passengers to take the bodies or bones of the dead, and to bury them; because it was matter of defilement unto the Jews to touch dead bodies, Numb. 19.11. They that did so, were unclean seven days. These being to cleanse the Land, would not defile themselves.

After the end of seven Moneths, shall they search.

Seven Moneths were the people of the Land in burying their Enemies, they were busied about those that fell by heaps; When these Moneths were at an end, they sent out their Searchers to examine Woods, Hills, Caves, Valleys, High-ways, and Ditches, where any dead corps might lie; so careful were they to prevent Infection.

Vers. 15. When any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it.

Some bodies lying long, the Fowls of the Heaven, or Beasts of the Field devoured their flesh, eat their bones, and left some fragments of them, which if the Passengers and Searchers found, they were to set up a sign or mark by them, to give notice thereof. Mans bone, is a singular number, put for a plural, Men's bones. The word a sign is Tzijan, which signifies a Statue, a Title, or Sign, setting near to a Grave, or a Way-mark; as Jer. 31.21. Set thee up way-marks; the word is Tzijunim, and they were to direct people; so here, They set up signs to direct the buryers what to do concerning those bones.

Till the Buryers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-Gog.

Those appointed to bury, were to take the bones of men so discovered, and to carry them to the Valley of Ham • n-gog, and bury them there. There were the multitude of the slain buried, which gave that denomination to the place; and with them, must the scattered and collected bones be buried.

Vers. 16. Also the Name of the City, shall be Hamonah.

What City shall be so called, is not set down; and therefore Interpreters do vary thereabouts. Some believe there was a City near that Valley which had another name, and upon this occasion of slaying Gog and his multitude, lost that, and had this imposed by Hamonah, Her multitude; because a multitude of Enemies were slain therre. The Septuagint calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Upon occasions names have been given to places, as appears, Gen. 16.13. Ch. 26.20, 21, 22. Act, 28.19. Hos. 4.15. 2 Sam. 5.9. Chap. 6.8. Others judge this City to be Jerusalem, reading the words thus, And her multuitde shall be a Name, (or for a Name) to the City; so Junius: Or, The Name of the City shall be from her Multitude; that is, the City Jerusalem; or, the Church shall be famous for her Inhabitants, which slew such a multitude of Goggites: so Piscator. This sense hath more of truth in it then the other; for we find not any City called Hamonah, since this Prophesy: yet those of that opinion say, It was fulfilled in the time of Antiochus.

Thus shall they cleanse the Land.

The words are read by some, After they have cleansed the Land; by others, When they have cleansed the Land, which is the same for sense. God's giving them so great a Victory over such a multitude of Enemies, and their not abusing, but cleansing the Land after it, should be to them for a name, for their great glory and renown.

First, Observe,

God disappoints the expectation of the wicked while living, yet sometimes affords favor when they are dead.

Gog, and all his, expected to have had the Land of Israel in possession, with all the desirable things thereof: but God disappointed his expectation; slays him and his; and after death, gives him and the rest a place of buryal in that Land; which was favor. Though they had not what they hoped for, yet they had more then they deserved; for such grand Enemies to have a burying place in that Land, which was Immanuel 's Land, out of which they would have driven his people, was no small favor; especially, if we add to it, that the place was named after his name, The Valley of Hamon-Gog, and this recorded in the Book of God, and to remain forever.

Secondly, Observe,

After great Victories, wherein many are slain, people should for public good be careful to bury the dead; though it require time, be troublesome, and chargeable.

Here they were seven months in burying the dead carcasses; they appointed men to go throughout the Land to search for corps and bones, which was a chargeable business; and where-ever they found any, to bring them unto the Valley of Hamon-Gog, which was very troublesome, These things they were to do for public good, that the Land might not be infected with those bodies, and so infect the living.

Thirdly, Observe,

By great Victories over Enemies, God honors his own Name, and makes his people to have a name.

It shall be to them a Renown, the day that I shall be glorified. That day, my Power, my Faithfulness, my Justice, my Mercy, will be seen, acknowledged, and so I shall be praised, made glorious; And in that day my People will be spoken of for their Valour, Faith, and Humanity in burying the dead, and so will be renowned. When God destroyed Sennacherib 's Army, God did not only make himself a name, but he also made Hezekiah a name, 2 Chron. 32.23. He was magnified in the sight of all Nations from thenceforth: and that which was his magnification, was the magnification of all his People. The honor of the Head is the honor of the whole Body: How renowned will New Jerusalem be, when Gog and Magog, Antichrist and all that adhere to them, shall be taken away? When the Lord shall destroy them by fire from Heaven, and multitudes be cut off by the Sword, then shall those multitudes be for a name to the City.

Fourthly, Observe,

After conquering, there ought to be cleansing.

When Gog and his shall be subdued, then they must cleanse the Land; not a dead corps, not a bone must be left in it; such things did defile: We have had many Victories; but, What cleansing hath there been in this Land? Dead bodies, limbs, and bones, of men have been buried; but, What dead works are cleansed out of this Land? Do not all sorts of sins abound, yea, super-abound? Had we cleansed the Land, for each Victory God hath given us, but of one common sin; by this time we had been spotless, we should not have had any visible iniquities amongst us; but now we are like Golgotha, a place of sculls and dead-men; like Sodom and Gomorrah, or the Valley of Hamon-Gog; we stink so through our Blasphemies, Errors, and wicked Practises, that passengers stop their noses, and shake their heads.

Vers. 17. Speak unto every feathered Fowl, and to every Beast of the Field.

The Hebrew for every feathered Fowl, is, Lezippor col canaph, To the Fowl of every wing; that is, to what Fowl soever hath wing, Let that Fowl be invited to come and eat of the Feast prepared; and likewise, Every Beast of the Field, which is a Beast of prey.

Assemble themselves, and come, gather themselves on every side.

The Fowls and Beasts being void of reason, could not understand what the Prophet said; but God who had command over them as well as other creatures, would cause them to come, as if they had had reason and understanding. This shows the certainty and greatness of the Victory; the Fowls and Beasts are called to come, and their coming shall not be in vain, they must come on every side, and therefore great provision shall be made for them.

To my Sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great Sacrifice upon the Mountains of Israel.

The Hebrew word for Sacrifice 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Zebach, which signifies Sacrificium ex mactata pecude: When a Beast was killed & to be offered up to God, that was a Sacrifice properly. Sometimes it notes the killing of Men and Beasts, as here, which metaphorically is called a Sacrifice: Gog with his Men and Horses were slain, and these God calls his Sacrifice; a great Sacrifice which he prepared for the Fowls and Beasts; a great Feast or Supper, and the place where this should be, is, upon the Mountains of Israel.

That ye may eat Flesh and drink Blood.

In the former verse, he spake of Gog's Funeral, and those that were slain with him, even the dead bodies and the bones: How is it now that he speaks, of eating their Flesh, and drinking their Blood, after the seven Moneths were expired, and the Searchers had gone through the Land? It's not probable, that some were left unburyed, and so the Fowls and Beasts i ••• ted to eat their flesh and drink their blood; but having touched a little upon this in the 4. v. he re-assumes the Argument again in this, and the three next Verses, and speaks more fully to it.

Vers. 18. Ye shall eat the Flesh of the Mighty.

The Septuagint saith 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , of Giants, by these Mighty men, or Giants, the Chief ones in the Army are pointed out, men of Power and Command.

And drink the Blood of the Princes of the Earth.

In this vast Army of Gog, there were the Princes of divers Countries his Confederates, Chap. 38.5.6. Their blood should the Fowls of Heaven and Beasts of the Earth drink, being shed and spilled upon the ground. They should feed upon not the vile and base ones, but the chiefest, and so drink their blood.

Of Rams, of Lambs, and of Goats; of Bullucks, all of them Fatlings of Bashan.

By these Metaphorical expressions are set out the dead carcasses of men, who were of several dispositions and qualities: some were like Rams and Lambs; others like Goats and Bullocks; some were sweeter and more tender flesh then others. Rams and Goats, or great Goats, as the Hebrew word signifies, were Leaders; Lambs, and Bullocks, were those under the Leaders. All of them were well flesh'd and fat like the Kine of Bashan. Bashan was an high Hill, Psal. 68.15. beyond Jordan, which yielded strong Oaks, and fat Cattle, Ezek. 27.6. Amos 4.1.

Vers. 19. And ye shall eat Fat till ye be full, and drink, &c.

The Fowls of Heaven and Beasts of the Field are resembled unto Men at a F •• st; where having meat and drink which likes them, 〈◊〉 eat and drink plentifully. The fat, flesh, and blood of men is sweet; and so pleasing to Fowls and Beasts, which should cram and fill themselves therewith.

Vers. 20. Thus ye shall be filled at my Table.

The word for Table is Shulcan from Shalach, to send, because it's sent out, or extended at length: so that it may contain many dishes, and guests may sit down thereat to feed upon those dishes. The Mountains of Israel were the Table here, the Carkasses of Men were the Dishes, the Fowls of Heaven, and Beasts of the Field the guests. Such plenty and variety of dishes they should have, as had not been seen at any Table before; every Guest should be filled.

With Horses and Chariots, with Mighty Men, and all Men of Warr.

In the Hebrew it is, With Horse, with Chariot, with Mighty Man, and all Man of War, all singulars, put for plurals; here is declared, who are meant by Rams, Lambs, Goats, and Bullocks in the 18. verse, Horse-men, Chariot-men, Men of Might, yea, all Men of Warr.

Saith the Lord.

Lest it should be thought an incredible thing, the Lord ratifies it, saying, Thus saith the Lord God. Jehovah, who is able to make such preparations for the Fowls of Heaven, and Beasts of the Earth, hath said it, and will do it.

First, Observe,

That all Creatures are at the command of God, and ordered to do this or that, according to his wise Providence.

Speak to every feathered Fowl, and to every Beast of the Field; Were not these creatures at the beck of the Lord, and subject to his over-ruling Providence, it had been in vain for Ezekiel to have spoken so unto them? In the 1 King. 17.4. God commanded the Ravens to feed Elijah, and they did come and bring him meat; Morning and Evening duly, v. 6. Psal. 50.11. It's said, God knows all the Fowls of the Mountains; and he calls them to what service he pleases; He called tor Quails to satisfy the lustings of the Israelites, Numb. 11.31. God asked Job the question, Whether the Eagle moun-fed up at his command, Job 39.27. implying, that though man hath no command over the Fowls of Heaven, yet himself hath. And so over Fishes and Beasts, Jon. 1.17. Chap. 2.10. The Whale came and went at God's command, and did the service he appointed. Levite 26.22. I will send wild Beasts amongst you, which shall rob you of your children; And this he did, 2 King. 2.24 The Lord caused two she-Bears to come out of the Wood and destroy 42. of their children. God is the Lord of Hosts, and can command an Army of Creatures at his pleasure, to benefit his Servants, or to plague their Enemies.

Secondly, Observe,

God doth execute some great and signal Judgment, when he summons the Creatures to eat the Flesh, and drink the Blood of the Slain.

Oft-times the Bodies of Jews and Gentiles have been given for meat unto the Fowls and Beasts, as Jer. 7 33. and Chap. 34.20. Ezek. 29.5. But they have not been summoned and called by open Proclamation, as here it is: The Prophet must speak to every feathered Fowl, and to every Beast of the Field, and say, Assemble yourselves, and come, Gather yourselves on every side. Such a Proclamation you have but twice more in all the Scripture, once in Jer. 12.9. Come ye, assemble all the Beasts of the Field, come to devour; he speaks of that great destruction of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar. The other place is, Rev. 19.17. I saw an Angel standing in the Sun, and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the Fowls that fly in the midst of Heaven, Come and gather yourselves together, to the great Supper of the great God, that ye may eat the flesh of Kings, and the flesh of Captains, and the fl sh of Mighty Men, and the flesh of Horses, and of them that sit on them; and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. This place runs parallel with Ezekiel, and sets out the greatness and signalness of God's Judgments upon the Enemies of the Church: And it's conceived by some to be the very same Judgment Ezekiel speaks of, viz. that of Gog and Magog.

Thirdly, Observe,

It's matter of delight and pleasure unto God, to destroy the Enemies of his Church and People.

Come to my Sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you. The Jews took great pleasure in sacrificing of Creatures unto God, 1 Chron. 29.21, 22. And God was well pleased with Sacrifices, Gen. 8.20, 21. Here he calls the destroying of Gog and Magog his Sacrifice, his Feast, or Table; he took as much delight in their slaughter as in any Sacrifice, or in any Feast. Wicked men are Briars and Thorns, and God hath as much pleasure in the cutting down the one, as the Husbandman hath in cutting down the other. God delights in acts of Judgment, as well as in acts of Mercy, Isa. 48.14. He will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans; The destruction of Babylonians and Chaldeans, God calls, His pleasure; the Hebrew is Chephzo, Voluntatem ejus, his will. It's God's will to destroy all the Enemies of Zion; and the doing of it pleases him.

Fourthly, Observe,

God is impartial in his Judicial Dispensations, he punisheth the great Delinquents as well as the lesser.

Mighty men, Princes, those that ride in Chariots; Rams, great Goats, are slaughtered and given to the Fowls, and Beasts, as well as the inferior sort, the men of War, Lambs and Bullocks; They were all in the same confederacy, in the same war against the Land of Israel; and God winked not at the greatest, nor spared the meanest, but made them all a Sacrifice. God is a righteous God, and executes his judgments without respect of persons. Let not great men flatter themselves, they will not be exempted when God comes forth to judgment, though they be Princes.

Fifthly, Observe,

Great men, and vulgar ones also, may be a prey to the Creatures, and lie without burial for a season.

Princes, Mighty men, and others, after their death, lay upon the Mountains of Israel, and had their flesh eaten, and blood drunk by Fowls and Beasts, which was another judgment added to the former; and the greater to the Heathen, because they thought their souls did wander up and down upon the Earth, nisi corpora fuissent humata, as Tertullian saith. The Athenians had the buryal of the dead in such honor, that if a Captain neglected to bury the dead which fell in war, they punished him with death for it. It is a great ignominy to lie unburyed. Hence the Beast, when the Witnesses were killed, would not suffer their bodies to be buried, but let them lie in the Streets, that so they might be the more ignominious.

Sixthly, Observe,

God provides for the brute and dumb Creatures, and that abundantly.

Every feathered Fowl, and every Beast of the Fi • ld shall be filled at my Table. God doth not only feed the Creatures, but sometimes feasts them. This World is God's Family, whercin are millions of living Creatures, and not one of them is neglected of God, Psal. 145.15, 16. The Eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season; they have their Break-fast, Dinner, and Supper; and lest we should conceit, one hath too much, another too little, it follows; Thou openest thy hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing; he satisfies the Fishes of the Sea, the Beasts of the Earth, and Fowls of Heaven. How should this teach men to depend upon God, not giving way to distrust, or discontent, Matth. 6.26. Behold the Fowls of the Air, saith Christ, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into Barns, yet their heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better then they? He saith not the Fowls of the House, they are cared for; but, The Fowls of the Air, that have none to look after them, (unless it be Fowlers to take away their lives;) neither do they know where to get the next meal, when they have gotten one, nor what hole or bush to lodge in at night, yet their heavenly Father provides for, and feeds them. Does he take care of such Creatures, and will he not take care of you? Yes, certainly he will, and why? ye are better then they; ye are rational, they irrational; ye are his sons, they his servants.

Vers. 21. I will set my Glory among the Heathen.

I will give my Glory, saith the Hebrew, that is, I will cause it to be evident amongst them. By Glory understand the glory of his Justice and Power.

All the Heathen shall see my Judgment that I have executed.

These words give light to the former: The Heathen seeing the dreadful judgments of God upon Gog and his, should acknowledge the Justice and Power of God.

And my Hand that I have laid upon them.

They shall not only have a bare sight, but experimental knowledge; they shall find themselves concerned therein, and feel the hand of God heavy upon them; for the strength, wealth, liberty, and glory of the Heathen will be much impaired, if not totally ruined by the overthrow of Gog.

Vers. 22. So that the House of Israel shall know that I am, &c.

They did know the Lord to be their God before: but this signal stroke of God upon their Enemies, being a signal mercy unto them, should so engage them unto God, that from that time forward they should afresh and eminently acknowledge God to be their God, and none to be like unto him; that he will not desert them in their straits, but be their Deliverer.

First, Observe,

The great end of God's judgments upon sinful men, is, his Glory.

I will set my glory among the Heathens, and all the Heathen shall see my judgment, &c. God doth therefore execute judgment, that he may be glorified. When sinful people will not give glory to God for his Mercies, he will fetch glory out of them by his Judgments. They are the work of his hand, and what ever that be, it's honorable and glorious, Psal. 111.3. Not only his works of Creation, but those of Judicial Providence. Upon what Nation soever, Army, or Navy the Lord shall lay his hand, he will work out his glory thereby; that is the end of all his works and judgments.

Secondly, Observe,

Dreadful judgments upon the wicked, are engaging mercies unto the godly.

So shall the h • use of Israel know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward. The hand of God upon Gog and his, should so affect their hearts, that they should experimentally know, and say, The Lord is our God, he hath laid low our enemies: he hath freed us from their Insultations, Threats, Oppressions: he is our Deliverer, our Savior, our Redeemer, Isai 25.9. It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God: we have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the Lord, we have waited for him: we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. When God executed severe judgments upon the enemies of his people, then were their hearts thus affected, and engaged unto the Lord: then they rejoiced in God their Savior, and said, He will save. He hath saved us, and he will save us. When the godly see, that great judgments upon their enemies, are great mercies unto them, their faith is advanced thereby, and they are persuaded God will never leave them: their hearts are warmed, and they cannot but own and praise him.

23. The house of Israel went into captivity for their Iniquity.

The Hebrew is, the house of Israel were led into Captivity in their Iniquities. God took them in their Iniquities and carried them away into Captivity in them, or, for them. Boavonam, the Septuagint says, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , for their sins, their crooked and perverse doings.

Because they trespassed against me.

The word Magnal, or Maal, signifies▪ Stubbornly and Contemptuously to sin: to oppose him one ought to be subject unto: such transgsessours were the Jews: they opposed God.

Therefore hid I my face from them.

To hide the face from them, imports, 1. The denying of them his Favor, his Counsel, his Help: and Secondly, Declaring his Anger and Severity by sharp judgments, Ps. 80 3. Cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved. God's face was clouded, and hid from his Church; so that it had neither Favor, Counsel, nor Help from him, but sad afflictions and judgments; for he was angry with the Prayers of his people, he fed them with thc bread of Tears, and gave them Tears to drink in great measure: therein he sorely afflicted them.

And gave them into the hand of their enemies.

This followed upon God's hiding his face: they felt acts of his displeasure: he gave, or delivered them up into the hands of their enemies: he caused Nebuchadnezzar to come, besiege Jerusalem, and to take it: and then God gives into the hand of others, when his Providence acts and orders things, so, that men come under their power.

So fell they all by the sword.

Some were carried into Captivity, some fled, some were left in the Land after Nebuchadnezzar and his Forces returned to Babylon: How then is it said, They all fell by the sword? The sense is, They were all brought under by the Power of the sword, not all killed that were made subject; and some of all sorts killed.

Verse 24. According to their uncleanness, and according to their transgressions have I done unto them.

Here God anticipates what Jews and Gentiles might Object, viz. That he dealt very harshly, yea cruelly with them in breaking them to pieces, in un-Churching and un-Stating of them: but he tells them, What he did, was according to their uncleanness, and their transgressions; he did nothing, but what they had deserved.

First, Observe.

God doth with-hold Mercies from his people, and lay sad judgments upon them for their sins.

The house of Israel went into Captivity for their iniquities. Because they trespassed against God, Therefore did he hide his face from them: Therefore did he give them into the hand of their enemies: Therefore they fell by the sword, and were brought into subjection. If God's own people sin, they shall smart for it: he will not countenance them, hear their Prayers, give them Counsel, nor put forth his hand to help them, Isai 59.1, Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Sin is of that nature, that it turns away God's face from his own people, that it stops his ear against their prayers, and shrinks up his arm, so that there is no help for them; And not only doth it keep good things from them, Jer. 5.25. but draw evils upon them, Neh. 13.18. It was Israel's sins brought judgment upon them, and their City.

Secondly, Observe.

God will convince his enemies of the true cause of his executing dreadful judgments upon his people.

Thc Heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into Captivity for their Iniquity, They thought there were other grounds for it, That God could not preserve them against such a potent adversary as Nebuchadnezzar was; that his Power and Wisdom was not such, as was in their gods: but the Lord made them know, these were not the grounds why the house of