Ezekiel 39:1-6 meaning

In Ezekiel 39:1-6, the LORD disarms Gog on the mountains of Israel, surrenders his army to every predatory bird and beast, and extends judgment to Gog's homeland of Magog and to the distant coastlands, so that the nations will know He is the LORD. Chapter 39 opens with another Gog oracle that applies the same challenge formula used at the start of Chapter 38, making clear that these two chapters form one continuous word from the LORD: "And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal (v 1).

The oracle resumes with the same address that opened Ezekiel 38:2-3—Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal (v 1)—repeated word for word. The repetition demonstartes that the two chapters are one connected declaration. What Ezekiel 38 announced in terms of the invasion's origin, motive, and the LORD's coming fury, Ezekiel 39 now carries forward to its outcome: Gog's coalition army is destroyed, the land of Israel is cleansed, and both Israel and the nations are left knowing the LORD.

The description that Gog's coalition comes from all around the globe is reinforced in the next verse: and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel (v 2).

The LORD restates His sovereignty over the campaign: I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north (v 2). The same far-northern staging ground of Ezekiel 38:15 is stated. As discussed in the commentary on Ezekiel 38:17-23, the "north" is consistently described in scripture as the place from where enemy invasions come to Israel, regardless of the direction from which the enemies originate in relation to Israel.

So the term remotest parts of the north (v 2) would make sense as meaning nations from all over the globe assembling to invade. As further described in the commentary on Ezekiel 38:17-23, it is a matter of geography that Israel is invaded from the north, as its western border is sea, and eastern and southern borders are desert.

Gog's army thinks it is their idea, but it is the LORD who moves the army into the land of Israel. The destination—the mountains of Israel—picks up the terrain named in Ezekiel 38:8, 21, where the restored Israel's highland territory becomes the battleground. The highlands of Israel marks the heart of its territory, and includes Jerusalem, which is located on a number of hills. God will defeat Gog and his coalition. The poetic imagery refers to the vanquishing of an ancient archer: I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand (v 3).

The LORD's first act against the arriving army is to remove its weapons: I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand (v 3). The bow and arrow were the primary long-range weapons of ancient cavalry. Given that most people are right-handed, the bow would be held in the left hand and the arrow in the right. Both are removed by God.

Stripping the bow and the arrow from Gog's hands renders the mounted host powerless. The force that came "like a storm" and "like a cloud covering the land" (Ezekiel 38:9) is disarmed, not by a rival army but by the LORD who summoned it. He pronounces their doom: You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field (v 4).

The fall of Gog's entire army comes on the same mountains where Israel was promised renewal. You will fall on the mountains of Israel (v 4)—the same terrain Ezekiel 36:1-11 had spoken of as rebuilt from ruin and Ezekiel 37 had populated with the raised and reunited nation.

Gog's army that came to plunder and prey on Israel becomes prey itself: I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field (v 4). The imagery carries forward into Ezekiel 39:17-20, where the LORD calls the birds and beasts to His sacrifice, and it resembles the language Revelation 19:17-18 uses for the angel who summons birds to "the great supper of God" after the beast and his armies are slain at the return of Christ.

The declaration of Gog's fall is confirmed by the LORD's own authority: You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken," declares the Lord GOD (v 5). For the Lord to speak is what happens; what is spoken is what is done. The same voice that created the universe now speaks to defeat Israel's enemies. The fall rests entirely on the word of the LORD. This is likely the same idea as pictured in Revelation 19:15 where it states that a sword comes from Jesus's mouth. The concept is that when God speaks, whatever He speaks happens.

The phrase declares the Lord GOD closes the promise as it has closed dozens of oracles across the book—what the LORD has said, He will do.

The judgment extends beyond the battlefield: "And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the LORD (v 6). Gog's homeland, Magog, as well as those who inhabit the coastlands (v 6), come under judgment fire from the LORD. In Chapter 38, the army was destroyed on the mountains of Israel. But now Ezekiel 39:6 makes explicit that His judgment touches the source and the far corners of the earth as well. The phrase those who inhabit the coastlands (v 6) might be intended to encompass the known world. That Gog's coalition is global fits the picture of a worldwide coalition of ten kings who conspire to give global power to the beast as described in Revelation 17:12, 17.

The prophetic formula that occurs throughout Ezekiel closes the verse—they will know that I am the LORD (v 6). This now appears to apply to the people of Magog and the coastland peoples who had watched Gog's campaign from a distance.