Ezequiel 39
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Ezequiel 39:1-6
39:1 See notes at Ezek. 38:2. Ezek. 39:1-16 parallel Ezek. 38. 39:2-6 Notice the VERBS which emphasize YHWH's actions (i.e. "for it is I who have spoken," Ezek. 39:5,8; 38:4,8) against Gog. I shall turn you around, Ezek. 39:2, BDB 996, KB 1427, Polel PERFECT with waw I shall drive you, Ezek. 39:2, BDB 1058, KB 1664, Piel PERFECT with waw (this word is found only here in the OT. KB says possibly, "lead along on a rope" or "lead a child") I shall take you up, Ezek. 39:2, BDB 748, KB 828, Hiphil PERFECT with waw I shall bring you against, Ezek. 39:2, BDB 97, KB 112, Hiphil PERFECT with waw I shall strike your bow, Ezek. 39:3, BDB 645, KB 697, Hiphil PERFECT with waw I shall dash down your arrows, Ezek. 39:3, BDB 656, KB 709, Hiphil IMPERFECT I shall give you as food, Ezek. 39:4, BDB 678, KB 733, Qal PERFECT YHWH acts for Israel in Ezek. 36:22-36, but here against the northern enemy! 39:2 "from the remotest parts of the north" This term (BDB 438) is used in Isa. 14:13 (cf. Ps. 48:2) for the far north. It is used in that same sense here (cf. Ezek. 38:6,15). This term is used in Jeremiah to describe the invasion of Neo-Babylon (cf. Jer. 6:22; 25:32; 50:41). Another enemy is coming at YHWH's behest, but this one will not succeed, but be totally destroyed. This was a way to show YHWH's power vindicate YHWH's name (cf. Ezek. 39:7) reveal YHWH to the nations (cf. Ezek. 39:6,7) remove evil from God's creation ▣ "against the mountains of Israel" This is imagery for Canaan/Palestine (cf. Ezek. 17:22-24). Earlier in Ezekiel these mountains are judged (cf. Ezek. 6:2-7) but now in the context of a restored, forgiven, obedient Israel, they are defended by YHWH Himself. This is another allusion to Isaiah 14 (esp. Ezek. 39:13-14). All of these world events are personally directed by YHWH for His revelatory and redemptive purposes (Isa. 14:26-27)! Special Topic: Armageddon 39:3 "hand. . .hand" See Special Topic: Hand 39:4 "You shall fall on the mountains of Israel" This is a recurrent theme. unfaithful Judah shall fall (cf. Ezek. 6:2-7; 33:28) Edom (Mt. Seir) shall fall (cf. Ezek. 35:2-3,12; 36:4-7) Egypt fell (cf. Ezek. 31:12; 32:5,6) Babylon fell (cf. Ezek. 28:16) and now another enemy from the north, Gog, will fall ▣ "I shall give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field" This curse (cf. Ezek. 39:17-20) reflects the horror and carnage of ancient battle fields, where the number of dead is so large and complete that no one is left to bury them. This curse is also directed toward Egypt, Ezek. 29:5; 32:4-5 faithless Judah, Ezek. 33:27 (cf. Isa. 46:11)
Ezequiel 39:7-8
39:7 This refers to Ezek. 36:22-23! YHWH wants His name (i.e. Himself) to be known to all the world. Special Topic: Names for Deity, D. Special Topic: "The Name" of YHWH ▣ "the Holy One in Israel" The title ("Holy One of Israel") for YHWH is used often in Isaiah (cf. Isa. 12:6; 43:3,14; 55:5; 60:9,14) and probably is derived from the vision of Isaiah 6. YHWH as "holy" goes back to Lev. 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7,26. It is clearly stated in Josh 24:19. It speaks of His unique character (cf. 1 Sam. 2:2; Ps. 22:3; 99:3,5,9; 111:9). YHWH the Holy One is also the creator of Israel (cf. Isa. 43:15; 45:11). Special Topic: The Holy One Special Topic: Holy 39:8 The concept of a final day of reckoning was crystalized in Amos' "day of the YHWH." Special Topic: That Day 39:9 This verse describes the huge number of the invading coalition army which was/will be totally defeated by YHWH (cf. Zechariah 12). The number seven speaks of the symbolic nature of this context. Notice that the weapons take seven years to burn and the bodies seven months (cf. Ezek. 39:12) to bury. It is only western literalism that demands that eastern prophetic texts be interpreted as literal history! This is prophetic symbolism. It certainly reveals truth, but modern interpreters must be genre-sensitive and cognizant of Jewish number symbolism! See D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic. John J. Davis, Biblical Numerology Special Topic: Symbolic Numbers in Scripture, #4.
Ezequiel 39:10
39:10 There is a series of VERBS followed by the PARTICIPLE of the same stem, which was a grammatical form of emphasis, certainty, or intensity. spoil, BDB 1021, KB 1531, Qal PERFECT with waw, Qal PARTICIPLE, Ezek. 39:10 plunder, BDB 102, KB 117, Qal PERFECT with waw, Qal PARTICIPLE, Ezek. 39:10 pass over, BDB 716, KB 778, Qal PERFECT with waw, Qal PARTICIPLE, Ezek. 39:15 bury, BDB 868, KB 1064, Qal PERFECT, Qal PARTICIPLE, Ezek. 39:15 (also Ezek. 39:13,14) Note the ironic reversal of the situation (so typical of the Bible). Those who came to gain spoils will be despoiled! Evil is overcome by the good God!
Ezequiel 39:11-16
39:11 NASB, TEV "a burial ground" "a burial place there" NRSV, Peshitta "a place for burial" "a burial site there" "a burial ground" LXX, Vulgate "a noteworthy place as a tomb" The MT is reflected in the NRSV and Peshitta. The UBS Text Project, p. 128, suggests a vowel change to "a famous place (lit. 'a place with a name') for burial." It gives this change a "C" rating (considerable doubt). NASB, TEV "of those who pass by" NRSV, JPSOA "of the Travelers" TEV, MT "Travelers' Valley" "of the Obarim" "of the Abarim" "of those who reach the sea" "the great valley" The UBS Text Project, p. 128, suggests the NRSV, JPSOA translation, but with only a "C" rating. The NASB reflects the Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE, "pass by" (BDB 716, KB 778), possibly from a Ugaritic idiom. It may denote the arrival of Gog's army with those already dead! ▣ "Hamon-gog" The Hebrew CONSTRUCT (BDB 242 and 155) means "the multitude of Gog" (cf. Ezek. 39:15-16, JPSOA). Earlier in the verse another CONSTRUCT (BDB 161 and 716) calls the same valley "the Valley of the Travelers" or "the Valley of those who pass by" (cf. Ezek. 39:14,15). It seems to be a wordplay (i.e. The Jewish Study Bible, p. 1117) on "the valley of Abarim" (i.e. Vulgate), which is east of the Dead Sea and from whose peak (i.e. Mt. Nebo) Moses viewed the land of Canaan (cf. Num. 27:12; Deut. 32:49). Therefore, this refers to the Arnon River Valley. 39:14-15 Unburied bodies polluted the land making it Levitically unclean (i.e. Deut. 21:22-23). The new restored Israel wants to fully and completely observe God's laws. 39:16 "the name of the city will be Hamonah" This means "multitude" (BDB 242) and apparently is a city located in this burial valley by the same name. What a contrast to Ezek. 37!
Ezequiel 39:17-20
39:17-20 This banquet for the birds of prey and carnivorous animals is symbolic of the judgment of God (cf. Isa. 18:6; 56:9; Jer. 12:9; Rev. 19:17-18). The unclean pagan soldiers are eaten by the unclean animals! The Deuteronomic curse, which threatened unfaithful Israel (cf. Lev. 26:22; Deut. 28:26) is now unleashed on Israel's enemies. Notice the number of IMPERTAIVES in Ezek. 39:17 to the wild, carnivorous birds and animals. speak to, BDB 55, KB 65, Qal IMPERATIVE assemble, BDB 867, KB 1062, Niphal IMPERATIVE come, BDB 97, KB 112, Qal IMPERATIVE gather, BDB 62, KB 74, Niphal IMPERATIVE The Oxford Study Bible (REB), p. 900, has an interesting comment about this paragraph. "17-20: an evil army other than God's, which has been buried, is slaughtered and then offered as sacrifices for wild beasts, thus reversing the usual practice of animal sacrifices offered by human beings. The significance of lthis is not clear."
Ezequiel 39:21-24
39:21-24 YHWH will reveal Himself! He was revealed by Israel, but in an inappropriate way (cf. Ezek. 36). His people were not exiled because of His lack of power or interest, but because of their covenant disobedience. Now He will reverse this misinformation (cf. Ezek. 38:22-23) by restoring His people (cf. Ezek. 39:25-29) and destroying all opposing human armies! Israel was meant to be a light to the nations, a kingdom of priests, but they failed. Special Topic: YHWH's Eternal Redemptive Plan 39:21 "My hand" See Special Topic: The Problems and Limitations of Human Language 39:23 "I hid My face from them" This is a figurative anthropomorphic way of asserting that YHWH would not hear their prayers (cf. Deut. 31:17-18; Isa. 1:15; 54:8; 57:17; 59:2). YHWH will reverse this in Ezek. 39:29. This phrase is an antithetical parallel to "I shall pour out My Spirit"! Prayer sent, received, and acted on was a concrete sign of the new covenant. ▣ "into the hand" See Special Topic: Hand
Ezequiel 39:25-29
39:25-29 For those who see every prophecy as eschatological, this paragraph must refer to the post-exilic period introduced by Cyrus II, the king of Medo-Persia, in 538 B.C.. Prophecy characteristically takes a current situation (positive or negative) and projects it into a future setting. How God's people live today determines what future they will experience. To take prophecy "literally" misses the point. To take prophecy "unconditionally" misses the point. To take prophecy "as modern western prose" misses the point! Special Topic: Kings of Persia Special Topic: Prophecy (OT) 39:25 "Jacob" This is the Patriarch from whom the name Israel comes (cf. Gen. 32:28). YHWH is promising to have mercy (BDB 933, KB 1216, Piel PERFECT with waw) on all the exiled people of God (i.e. the northern and southern kingdoms, cf. Ezek. 36:10; 37:21-22). ▣ "I shall be jealous for My holy name" The VERB (BDB 888, KB 1109, Piel PERFECT with waw) describes YHWH's special love and care for Israel (cf. Exod. 34:14; Deut. 4:23-24), through whom He will reveal Himself to the world. They failed (cf. Ezek. 36:22-23), but now through the new covenant (cf. Ezek. 36:22-28; Jer. 31:31-34; Joel 2:28-32), He will succeed! Special Topic: Jealousy, Zeal Special Topic: "The Name" of YHWH (OT) 39:26 Israel will remember and be ashamed of her rebellion and sin (cf. Ezek. 6:9; 16:61,63; 20:43; 36:31-32). There is some variation in the translations of Ezek. 39:26. "forget" (BDB 674, נשה), NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB, NIV, REB "bear" (BDB 669, נשא), Peshitta, NKJV, JPSOA, NET Bible 39:28 "I made them go into exile" It was not the power of the pagan deities or the power of the national armies of the Ancient Near East, but YHWH's judgment (i.e. Jer. 29:4,7,14; Amos 5:27) and personal activity (i.e. He used Assyria, old Babylon, Neo-Babylon, and later Persia for His revelatory and redemptive purposes). This is "the" major theological issue in Ezekiel (i.e. God's holy name). 39:29 "I shall have poured out My Spirit" The VERB (BDB 1049, KB 1629, Qal PERFECT) is used of YHWH's equipping presence for life, Ezek. 37:14 for new covenant, Ezek. 11:19; 36:26-27; Joel 2:28 (all mankind) for fertility, Isa. 32:15; 44:3 In the OT God's Spirit is used in the sense of His power to accomplish His will in the world. The full NT Trinitarian sense does not clearly occur. This is a sacrificial VERB (cf. Lev. 17:13; Deut. 12:16; 15:23). It is used of pagan practices in Ezek. 16:15; 23:8). Just a balancing note about this VERB. It is also used of YHWH pouring out His wrath on the disobedient (cf. Isa. 42:25; Jer. 7:20; Lam. 2:4; Ezek. 21:31). Special Topic: Poured Out Special Topic: Personhood of the Spirit Special Topic: The Trinity