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英文原文
This chapter, and that which follows it, are concerning Gog and Magog, a powerful enemy to the people of Israel, that should make a formidable descent upon them, and put them into a consternation, but their army should be routed and their design defeated; and this prophecy, it is most probable, had its accomplishment some time after the return of the people of Israel out of their captivity, whether in the struggles they had with the kings of Syria, especially Antiochus Epiphanes, or perhaps in some other way not recorded, we cannot tell. If the sacred history of the Old Testament had reached as far as the prophecy, we should have been better able to understand these chapters, but, for want of that key, we are locked out of the meaning of them. God had by the prophet assured his people of happy times after their return to their own land; but lest they should mistake the promises which related to the kingdom of the Messiah and the spiritual privileges of that kingdom, as if from them they might promise themselves an uninterrupted temporal prosperity, he here tells them, as Christ told his disciples to prevent the like mistake, that in the world they shall have tribulation, but they may be of good cheer, for they shall be victorious at last. This prophecy here of Gog and Magog is without doubt alluded to in that prophecy which relates to the latter days, and which seems to be yet unfulfilled (Re 20:8), that Gog and Magog shall be gathered to battle against the camp of the saints, as the Old-Testament prophecies of the destruction of Babylon are alluded to, Re 18:1-24 But, in both, the Old-Testament prophecies had their accomplishment in the Jewish church as the New-Testament prophecies shall have when the time comes in the Christian church. In this chapter we have intermixed, I. The attempt that Gog and Magog should make upon the land of Israel, the vast army they should bring into the field, and their vast preparations (Eze 38:4-7), their project and design in it (Eze 38:8-13), God's hand in it, Eze 38:4. II. The great terror that this should strike upon the land of Israel, Eze 38:15,16,18-20. III. The divine restraint that these enemies should be under, and the divine protection that Israel should be under, Eze 38:2-4,14. IV. The defeat that should be given to those enemies by the immediate hand of God (Eze 38:21-23), which we shall hear more of in the next chapter.
1-13
The Judgment of Gog and Magog (585 BC)
歌革与玛各的审判（公元前585年）
¹ 耶和华的话临到我说：
² 「人子啊，你要面向玛各地的歌革，就是米设、土巴的王，说预言攻击他，
³ 说主耶和华如此说：歌革啊，我与反对你，就是米设、土巴的王；
⁴ 我必用钩子钩住你的腮颊，调转你，将你和你的全军，马匹马兵，都带出来，都穿配各样铠甲，成为极大队伍，拿盾牌和挡牌的，都拿刀剑的；
⁵ 波斯、古实、弗人，都拿着盾牌，头上戴盔；
⁶ 歌篾人和他的军队，北方极处的陀迦玛族和他的军队，这许多国的民都同着你。
⁷ 那聚集到你这里的，你和你的军队，都要预备自己，你要作他们的护卫。
⁸ 过了多日，你必被差遣；到末后之年，你必来到那脱离刀剑从列国收聚之地，到以色列常久荒凉的山上；但那地从列国中带出的人必都安然居住。
⁹ 你和你的全军，并同着你的许多国的民，必如暴风上来，如密云遮盖地面。
¹⁰ 主耶和华如此说：到那时，你心必起意念，图谋恶计，
¹¹ 说：『我要上那无城墙的乡村，我要到那坦然无虑、安然居住的民那里，他们都住在没有城墙、无门无闩之地。』
¹² 我要去抢夺掳物，掳掠财物，转手攻击那先前荒凉、现在有人居住之地，又攻击那从列国中收聚、得了牲畜货财、住在地中心之民。』
¹³ 示巴人、底但人、他施的客商，和其间的少壮狮子，必对你说：『你来要抢夺掳物么？你聚集军队要掳掠财物，要夺金银，掳去牲畜货物，要大行抢夺么？』
对于歌革与玛各的考究，批判性的解经家已费尽心力。我们既不敢妄称能在他们的观察之外再加增什么，也不敢断决他们的争议。歌革似乎是王，玛各似乎是国；故此「歌革与玛各」犹如「法老与埃及人」。有人以为他们在遥远的西古提、鞑靼和俄罗斯寻见其踪；另有人以为他们更近以色列地，在叙利亚和亚细亚一带。以西结受命向歌革说预言，告诉他「神与他反对」（结38:2,3）。请注意，神不仅看明现今那些作他教会仇敌的人，并与之反对，而且他也预见那些将要如此的人，并借他的话让他们知道他也与他们反对；然而他仍乐意使用他们来成就自己的旨意，为要荣耀自己的名；「人的忿怒必成全你的荣美」（诗76:10）。请观察以下各点：
一、神定意要使这仇敌陷于混乱。值得注意的是，这一点在预言中列于首位；在预言神要「带他出来」攻击以色列之前，先预言神要「用钩子钩住他的腮颊」并「调转他」（结38:4），好叫他们在尚未看见危险的前景之前，先得着蒙拯救的确据。神对他的百姓之安慰如此体贴，如此小心，唯恐他们惊慌；甚至在患难起头之前，他就告诉他们这事终必平安。
二、为要造成这仇敌的败落与失望，神定意要使他陷入那场事业之中。1. 在这反对以色列的勾当中结盟的列国众多、强大、有力（结38:5,6）——「波斯、古实」等。安提阿古曾拥有一支由这里所列各国、并许多别国组成的军队。这些民族原彼此不和，却在攻击以色列的事上联合起来。扰乱神百姓的人何其加增！2. 他们装备齐全，弹药充足，带着大批辎重上阵——「马匹马兵」（结38:4）全副武装，「各样铠甲，盾牌与挡牌」用以防御，「都拿刀剑」用以攻击。又下令要为这次出征做一切所能想到的准备（结38:7）：「你要预备，自己也要预备。」看看你手中已有多少军备，若以为不足，你和你的全军还要再作预备。让歌革自己作其余同盟者的护卫。身为元帅，他应允诺照顾他们、保障他们的安全；应以自己的话担保他们的稳妥，把他们置于自己特别的保护之下。军队的将领，不应无谓地、僭妄地暴露士兵，把他们送上孤注一掷的冒险，倒应设法作他们的护卫；每逢差遣他们涉险，总要筹谋如何支援与掩护他们。这呼召人预备的话似乎是反讽——「你尽管尽力而为」，我却要「调转你」；正如以赛亚书8:9所说：「你们束起腰来，终必粉碎。」3. 他们的计谋是攻击「以色列的山」（结38:8），攻击「那脱离刀剑之地」。这地不久前才被战争的刀剑所蹂躏，并且向来或多或少被这样那样的审判所荒废；它「从列国中收聚」「带出来」不久；自被战争与掳掠所倾覆以来，它所得的喘息之机甚短，尚未恢复多少力量；故此它的邻邦不必担心它过于强盛，而且此刻就向它寻隙开战，实在残暴。这民「安然居住，全在无城墙的乡村」，十分安稳，「无门无闩」（结38:11）。他们既不防备邻舍加害，可见他们无意加害邻舍；这就加重了这些侵略者的罪。趁邻舍坦然居住、对你毫无疑虑之时向他图谋恶事，是卑鄙残暴的（箴3:29）。但在此可见这世界中「云彩在雨后又返回」，在我们未到天上之前，几乎没有理由可以安稳无虞。以色列不久前才脱离一个仇敌的刀剑，看哪，另一个仇敌的刀剑又拔出来对准它。从前的患难不能使我们免于将来的患难；当我们以为至少暂时已经「卸下盔甲」，一场突如其来的警讯可能又要召我们「重新束上」；所以我们永不可自夸，也不可放松警觉。4. 仇敌策划此计所要达成的，是使自己富足，并要夺取——不是这地，而是这地的财富——要抢掠劫夺它，使之成为掳物：当神定意要成就这事之时，同时「你心必起意念」「图谋恶计」（结38:10）。注意，人所行的种种恶事，尤其是对神教会所行的恶，都源自进入他们心思的恶念——野心的、贪婪的、因义人之义而怀恨的恶念。安提阿古想到：这些虔诚的犹太人是何等独特的民，他们的敬拜如何见证并定罪了邻邦的偶像崇拜，因此他为敌对他们的信仰之故，要苦害他们。他又想到他们是何等富足的民，「在地中心得了牲畜货财」（结38:12），而他们又何等软弱，无法抵抗，要掳走他们的财物何等容易，这番劫掠又将为他的刀剑增添何等荣耀；这些意念进入他心，一个恶念牵引另一个恶念，他终于定意（结38:11,12）：「我要上那无城墙的乡村去；是的，我要去；不用付什么代价，就能使他们一切归我所有。我要去惊扰『那坦然无虑的民』，并不预先通知，并非为压制他们日渐强盛，也非为惩戒他们的狂傲，更非为他们向我们行的什么恶事而加以报复（他们没有任何这些借口可以向其开战），而完全是为了『抢夺掳物，劫掠财物』」（结38:12），公然违犯一切公平公义的律法，犹如强盗为夺旅客的钱财而将其杀害。这些便是进入这恶王心中的意念，神都知道；不，在他尚未起这意念之前神就知道了，因为他「从远处知道我们的意念」（诗139:2）。5. 照着所定的计谋，他把全部兵力倾入以色列地，并找到一些怀着同样指望愿意前来相助的人（结38:9）：「你必如暴风上来」，带着所能想象的全部力量、狂暴与凶猛，「你必如密云遮盖地面」，使地昏暗、使之受威胁，「你和你的全军」，不但是你能调到战场的全部兵力，还有「同着你的许多国的民」（如结38:13所论及的），「示巴和底但」，就是亚拉伯人和以东人，「并他施的客商」，就是推罗、西顿及其他沿海城的居民，他们和那些贪爱抢夺并以之为生的「少壮狮子」要说：『你来要抢夺这地的财物么？』是的，他正是为此而来，所以他们祝他成功。或许他们也嫉妒他、不情愿地看待这事：『你自己已经那样富足，还为财利而来么？』又或者，他们既知道神在以色列一边，便这样讥诮他的企图，预知他必被挫败，他所指望的掳物必落空。又或者，他若来「掳掠财物」，他们也要来与他合伙，增添他的军力。当安提阿古的将军吕西亚来攻击犹太人时，四围的列族都与他联合（玛加比一书3:41），为要同分罪责，盼望也同分掳物。「你见了盗贼就乐与他同伙。」
英文原文
The Judgment of Gog and Magog (585 BC)
¹ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
² Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
³ And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
⁴ And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
⁵ Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
⁶ Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.
⁷ Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
⁸ After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
⁹ Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
¹⁰ Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
¹¹ And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
¹² To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
¹³ Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
The critical expositors have enough to do here to enquire out Gog and Magog. We cannot pretend either to add to their observations or to determine their controversies. Gog seems to be the king and Magog the kingdom; so that Gog and Magog are like Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Some think they find them afar off, in Scythia, Tartary, and Russia. Others think they find them nearer the land of Israel, in Syria, and Asia the Less. Ezekiel is appointed to prophesy against Gog, and to tell him that God is against him, Eze 38:2,3. Note, God does not only see those that are now the enemies of his church and set himself against them, but he foresees those that will be so and lets them know by his word that he is against them too, and yet is pleased to make use of them to serve his own purposes, for the glory of his own name; surely their wrath shall praise him, and the remainder thereof he will restrain, Ps 76:10. Let us observe here,
I. The confusion which God designed to put this enemy to. It is remarkable that this is put first in the prophecy; before it is foretold that God will bring him forth against Israel, it is foretold that God will put hooks into his jaws and turn him back (Eze 38:4), that they might have assurance of their deliverance before they had the prospect given them of their danger. Thus tender is God of the comfort of his people, thus careful that they may not be frightened; even before the trouble begins he tells them it will end well.
II. The undertaking which he designed to engage him in, in order to this defeat and disappointment. 1. The nations that shall be confederate in this enterprise against Israel are many, and great, and mighty (Eze 38:5,6), Persia, Ethiopia, etc. Antiochus had an army made up of all the nations here named, and many others. These people had been at variance with one another, and yet in combination against Israel. How are those increased that trouble God's people! 2. They are well furnished with arms and ammunition, and bring a good train of artillery into the field—horses and horsemen (Eze 38:4) bravely equipped with all sorts of armour, bucklers and shields for defence, and all handling swords for offence. Orders are given to make all imaginable preparation for this expedition (Eze 38:7): "Be thou prepared, and do thou prepare. See what warlike preparations thou hast already in store, and, lest that should not suffice, make further preparation, thou and all thy company," Let Gog himself be a guard to the rest of the confederates. As commander-in-chief, let him engage to take care of them and their safety; let him pass his word for their security, and take them under his particular protection. The leaders of an army, instead of exposing their soldiers needlessly and presumptuously, and throwing away their lives upon desperate undertakings, should study to be a guard to them, and, whenever they send them forth in danger, should contrive to support and cover them. This call to prepare seems to be ironical—Do thy worst, but I will turn thee back; like that Isa 8:9. Gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces. 3. Their design is against the mountains of Israel (Eze 38:8), against the land that is brought back from the sword. It is not long since it was harassed with the sword of war, and it has been always wasted, more or less, with one judgment or other; it is but newly gathered out of many people, and brought forth out of the nations; it has enjoyed comparatively but a short breathing-time, has scarcely recovered any strength since it was brought down by war and captivity; and therefore its neighbours need not fear its being too great, nay, and therefore it is very barbarous to pick a quarrel with it so soon. It is a people that dwell safely, all of them, in unwalled villages, very secure, and having neither bars nor gates, Eze 38:11. It is a certain sign that they intend no mischief to their neighbours, for they fear no mischief from them. It cannot be thought that those will offend others who do not take care to defend themselves; and this aggravates the sin of these invaders. It is base and barbarous to devise evil against thy neighbour while he dwells securely by thee, and has no distrust of thee, Pr 3:29. But see here how the clouds return after the rain in this world, and what little reason we have ever to be secure till we come to heaven. It is not long since Israel was brought back from the sword of one enemy, and behold the sword of another is drawn against it. Former troubles will not excuse us from further troubles; but when we think we have put off the harness, at least for some time, by a fresh and sudden alarm we may be called to gird it on again; and therefore we must never boast nor be off our guard. 4. That which the enemy has in view, in forming this project, is to enrich himself and to make himself master, not of the country, but of the wealth of it, to spoil and plunder it, and make a prey of it: At the same time that God intends to bring this matter about things shall come into the mind of this enemy, and he shall think an evil thought, Eze 38:10. Note, All the mischief men do, and particularly the mischief they do to the church of God, arises from evil thoughts that come into their mind, ambitious thoughts, covetous thoughts, spiteful thoughts against those that are good, for the sake of their goodness. It came into Antiochus's mind what a singular people these religious Jews were, and how their worship witnessed against and condemned the idolatries of their neighbours, and therefore, in enmity to their religion, he would plague them. It came into his mind what a wealthy people they were, that they had gotten cattle and goods in the midst of the land (Eze 38:12), and withal how weak they were, how unable to make any resistance, how easy it would be to carry off what they had, and how much glory this rapine would add to his victorious sword; these things coming into his mind, and one evil thought drawing on another, he came at last to this resolve (Eze 38:11,12): "I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; yea, that I will; it will cost me nothing to make them all my own. I will go and disturb those that are at rest, without giving them any notice, not to crush their growing greatness, or chastise their insolence, or make reprisals upon them for any wrong they have done us (they had none of these pretences to make war upon them), but purely to take a spoil and to take a prey" (Eze 38:12), in open defiance to all the laws of justice and equity, as much as the highwayman's killing the traveller that he may take his money. These were the thoughts that came into the mind of this wicked prince, and God knew them; nay, he knew them before they came into his mind, for he understands our thoughts afar off, Ps 139:2. 5. According to the project thus formed he pours in all his forces upon the land of Israel, and finds those that are ready to come in to his assistance with the same prospects (Eze 38:9): "Thou shalt ascent and come like a storm, with all the force, and fury, and fierceness imaginable, and thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, to darken it, and to threaten it, thou and not only all thy bands, all the force thou canst bring into the field, but many people with thee" (such as are spoken of Eze 38:13), "Sheba and Dedan, the Arabians and the Edomites, and the merchants of Tarshish, of Tyre and Sidon and other maritime cities, they and their young lions that are greedy of spoil and live upon it, shall say, Hast thou come to take the spoil of this land?" Yes he has; and therefore they wish him success. Or perhaps they envy him, or grudge it to him. "Hast thou come for riches who art thyself so rich already?" Or, knowing that God was on Israel's side, they thus ridicule his attempts, foreseeing that they would be baffled and that he would be disappointed of the prey he promised himself. Or, if he come to take the prey, they will come and join with him, and add to his forces. When Lysias, who was general of Antiochus's army, came against the Jews, the neighbouring nations joined with him (1 Mac. iii. 41), to share in the guilt, in hopes to share in the prey. When thou sawest a thief then thou consentedst with him.
14-23
The Judgment of Gog and Magog (585 BC)
歌革与玛各的审判（主前585年）
¹⁴ 人子啊，你要因此说预言对歌革说：主耶和华如此说：到那日，我民以色列安然居住之时，你岂不知道吗？
¹⁵ 你必从你本地、从北方的极处，你和许多的民一同来，都骑着马，乃一大队众多的军兵。
¹⁶ 歌革啊，你必如云遮地而来攻击我的民以色列。这事必在后末的日子；我必领你来攻击我的地，好叫列国在我借你在他们眼前自显为圣的时候认识我。
¹⁷ 主耶和华如此说：我在古时藉我仆人以色列的先知所说的，就是你吗？他们在那些日子多年预言我必领你来攻击他们。
¹⁸ 主耶和华说：歌革来攻击以色列地的时候，我的怒气要从鼻孔里发出。
¹⁹ 我发愤恨和怒气说：那日在以色列地必有大震动。
²⁰ 甚至海中的鱼、天上的鸟、田野的走兽、地上一切爬行的物、并地上所有的人，因我的临格都必震动的脸伏于地；群山必倾倒，陡峻的岩壁必塌下，一切的墙垣都必塌到平地。
²¹ 主耶和华说：我必在我一切的山上号召刀剑攻击他；各人的刀剑必攻击他的弟兄。
²² 我必用瘟疫和流血的事攻击他；我也必将暴雨、大冰雹、火与硫磺，降在他和他的军队，并随从他的许多人民身上。
²³ 我必显为大，显为圣；我必在多国的眼前使人认识我，他们就知道我是耶和华。
本章后半部分是前半部分的重复；异梦加倍，因为这事确定，并且当十分留意。
一、这里再次预言，这怀恶意的仇敌必对以色列地发动可怕的侵袭（结38:15）：「你必从北方极处（叙利亚在迦南的北面）率领大军出来」，必如云而来，遮蔽我民以色列的地（结38:16）。这几句话（结38:14）——我民以色列安然居住之时，你岂不知道吗？——可以从两方面理解：1. 作为暗示他发动这企图的诱因。「你必得着情报，知道以色列人居住得何等安稳，因而何等懈怠；这就要激发你对他们的图谋；因为当你知道他们不仅富有，而且似乎容易掳掠时，你不久就会决定下手。」当留意，神藉着那些首先引发人念头、从而生出大事业的时机——也许是微小的时机，而且并非有意为之的时机——之中，当受赞美。神为成就自己的旨意，让人知道某些事，尽管他明知人会滥用这些事，正如这里。或者，2. 作为暗示他在这企图中的失望——这预言在此也像前文一样，由此开始：「我民以色列安然居住之时」——不仅在他们自己的感觉中，也在实际上，因为他们是在神的保护之下安然居住，你岂不是要因你毁灭他们之努力归于无有，而被迫知道这事吗？你不久就要发现，雅各中并没有占卜的，凡为攻击他们而造的器械都不利用；你必付代价而知道，必羞愧地知道，他们虽无城墙、无门闩、无城门，却有神自己作他们四围的火城；凡触犯他们的，就是触犯他眼中的瞳人；凡干涉他们的，必自招损伤。正是为要向全世界证明这一点，神才把这位强大的仇敌引来攻击他的百姓。那些聚集攻击以色列的人说，「我们来抢夺掳物，夺取猎物」，他们却不知道耶和华的意念（弥4:11,12）。我必领你来攻击我的地。这是奇异的宣告——神不仅容许他的仇敌来攻击自己的儿女，还要亲自领他们前来；但我们若明白他的用意，就会对此十分释然：「是要叫列国在我借你——歌革啊——在你——即在你在他们眼前的覆灭和灭亡中——自显为圣之时认识我，作惟一又真又活的神」；叫一切列国都看见并说，「谁能像耶书仑的神呢？他乘诸天帮助他的百姓。」当留意，神把他的百姓带入危险患难，好叫他得着拯救他们的荣耀；又容许他教会的仇敌暂时得势——尽管他们以其罪亵渎他的名——好叫他至终得胜，并在他们的灭亡中使自己的名为圣，由此得着荣耀。这里说，这必发生在后末的日子，即旧约教会的末后之日——安提阿古对以色列所行的祸患就是如此；而在新约教会的末后之日，必另有一位同样的仇敌兴起，照样被击败。当留意，神的话语中储藏着有效的保障，抵挡教会许久以后——甚至在末后的日子——可能陷入的患难和危险。
二、这里参照了从前先知的预言（结38:17）：「我在古时所藉我仆人以色列的先知所说的，就是你吗？」——即摩西在他关于末后之日的预言中所说的（申32:43，他要向他的仇敌报仇），以及大卫所说的（诗9:15，外邦人陷在自己所掘的坑中），并在诗篇别处多处提及？这就是以赛亚所说的鳄鱼（赛27:1），约珥所说的列国的会合（珥3:1）。许多先知或曾特别论过这事，虽然未记在书上；他们都曾说过、也写过适用于此的话。当留意，主的众先知之间有一种可佩可慕的和谐一致，虽然他们生活在不同的时代，因为他们都受同一位圣灵的引导。
三、这里预言，这位凶猛可畏的仇敌在对以色列的这次企图中将彻底被剪除，这事必以他自己的覆灭告终。许多人认为这事应验于玛加比人多次击败安提阿古的军队，以及神亲自施行在他本人身上的显著审判——他死于重病。但这些事在此照常以比喻的话预言出来，我们不可指望其字面应验，然而它们或许比我们所知的更接近字面地应验了。1. 神必大大不悦这位放肆的侵略者：当他上来，带着骄傲和忿怒攻击以色列地，以为可以一手遮天之时，神的怒气便上腾到脸上——这是借用人的方式：当人受了重大冒犯、决意表明愤慨时，脸色便上涨（结38:18）。神必为他的百姓嫉恨，向他和他百姓的仇敌在怒火的烈焰中发言攻击他们（结38:19）。请看神之容许罪、把犯罪的时机摆列在人前、并利用罪来成就自己的旨意，与他对罪的恨恶和对罪的不悦，二者如何并行不悖。神领这位仇敌来攻击他的地，让他知道这地是何等易取的猎物，并定意借此荣耀自己；然而当他攻击那地时，神的怒气上腾，并在怒火的烈焰中向他发言。若有人问：他为何如此责备呢？因为谁曾抗拒他的旨意呢？回答很容易：不，人啊，你这受造之物啊，你竟向神强嘴吗？2. 他的军队必陷入难以想象的极大混乱和惊惶（结38:19）：在以色列地必有大震动临到他们，一种普遍的震颤（结38:20），连鱼和飞鸟、走兽和爬物都受影响，更何况地面上的人——他们更早感受到恐惧的印象。必有地震倾倒群山——那些天然的高处，和陡峻的岩壁——城楼和墙垣——那些人造的高处；这一切都必塌到平地。有人把这理解为以色列地因仇敌的暴怒而陷入的惊恐。但更恰当的理解是，仇敌因神的烈怒而陷入的惊恐；他们所赖以自立和倚靠的一切都必被震动倒塌，他们的心必消化。3. 他必被击溃、彻底覆灭；天地都要武装起来攻击他。(1) 地要召集它的力量来毁灭他。即使以色列百姓没有力量和勇气抵抗他，神也必号召刀剑攻击他（结38:21）。他总有随时的刀剑可以差遣——在天上沐浴的刀（赛35:5——按：旁注如此）。在以色列的一切山上，他本指望在那里寻得富己的掳物，却要遇见灭己的刀剑；即使不能如愿，各人的刀剑也必攻击他的弟兄，如同米甸的日子（诗83:9）。叙利亚的大人物们必彼此倾轧、彼此颠覆，彼此控告，彼此决斗。当留意，神能、也常常使那些毁灭他百姓的人，成为自己的毁灭者，也成为彼此的毁灭者。无论如何，他自己必作他们的毁灭者，亲手作这工，好叫这事作得彻底（结38:22）：「我必用瘟疫和流血攻击他。」当留意，神所对付的人，他也必向他追讨；他要向他们指明他争辩的根据，好塞住他们的口，使他在审判之时显为清正。(2) 天上的炮火也必向他们展开：「我必将暴雨降在他身上」（结38:22）。他如暴风而来攻击以色列（结38:9），神却要如暴风临到他身上，要把大冰雹降在他身上，如同当日降在迦南人身上（书10:11），又把火与硫磺降在他身上，如同当日降在所多玛，并暴风（诗11:6）。新约中的歌革和玛各也必如此被天上的火所吞噬，被扔进硫磺的火湖里（启20:9,10）。这必成为神教会和百姓一切不悔改、不罢休的仇敌永远的份。4. 神在这一切中必得着荣耀。他原定的目标（结38:16）必成全（结38:23）：「我必显为大，显为圣。」当留意，神在毁灭罪人之时，使人看出他乃是伟大而圣洁的神，他必如此行直到永远。人若不按所当行的尊他为大、分别为圣，他必亲自显为大、亲自分别为圣；这也正是我们当每日切慕祈求的：「父啊，愿你荣耀你的名。」
英文原文
The Judgment of Gog and Magog (585 BC)
¹⁴ Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
¹⁵ And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:
¹⁶ And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
¹⁷ Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?
¹⁸ And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.
¹⁹ For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
²⁰ So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and 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, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
²¹ And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother.
²² And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
²³ Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
This latter part of the chapter is a repetition of the former; the dream is doubled, for the thing is certain and to be very carefully regarded.
I. It is here again foretold that this spiteful enemy should make a formidable descent upon the land of Israel (Eze 38:15): "Thou shalt come out of the north parts (Syria lay on the north of Canaan) with a mighty army, shalt come like a cloud, and cover the land of my people Israel," Eze 38:16. These words (Eze 38:14), When my people Israel dwell safely, shalt thou not know it? may be taken two ways:—1. As intimating his inducements to this attempt. "Thou shalt have intelligence brought thee how securely, and therefore how carelessly, the people of Israel dwell, which shall give rise to thy project against them; for when thou knowest not only what a rich, but what an easy prey they are likely to be, thou wilt soon determine to fall upon them." Note, God's providence is to be acknowledged in the occasion, the small occasion perhaps, that is given, and that not designedly neither, to those first thoughts from which great enterprises take their original. God, to bring about his own purposes, lets men know that which yet he knows they will make a bad use of, as here. Or, 2. As intimating his disappointment in this attempt, which here, as before, the prophecy begins with: "When my people Israel dwell safely, not in their own apprehension only, but in reality, forasmuch as they dwell safely under the divine protection, shalt not thou be made to know it by the fruitlessness of thy endeavours to destroy them?" Thou shalt soon find that there is no enchantment against Jacob, that no weapon formed against them shall prosper; thou shalt know to thy cost, shalt know to thy shame, that though they have no walls, nor bars, nor gates, they have God himself, a wall of fire, round about them, and that he who touches them touches the apple of his eye; whosoever meddles with them meddles to his own hurt. And it is for the demonstrating of this to all the world that God will bring this mighty enemy against his people. Those that gathered themselves against Israel said, Let us take the spoil and take they prey, but they knew not the thoughts of the Lord, Mic 4:11,12. I will bring thee against my land. This is strange news, that God will not only permit his enemies to come against his own children, but will himself bring them; but, if we understand what he aims at, we shall be well reconciled even to this: it is "that the heathen may know me to be the only living and true God when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog! that is, in thy defeat and destruction before their eyes, that all the nations may see, and say, There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, that rides on the heavens for the help of his people." Note, God brings his people into danger and distress that he may have the honour of bringing about their deliverance, and suffers the enemies of his church to prevail awhile, though they profane his name by their sin, that he may have the honour of prevailing at last and sanctifying his own name in their ruin. Now it is said, This shall be in the latter days, namely, in the latter days of the Old-Testament church; so the mischief that Antiochus did to Israel was; but in the latter days of the New-Testament church another like enemy should arise, that should in like manner be defeated. Note, Effectual securities are treasured up in the word of God against the troubles and dangers the church may be brought into a great while hence, even in the latter days.
II. Reference is herein had to the predictions of the former prophets (Eze 38:17): Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time, of whom Moses spoke in his prophecy of the latter days (De 32:43, He will render vengeance to his adversaries), and David, Ps 9:15 (The heathen are sunk down into the pit that they made) and often elsewhere in the Psalms? This is the leviathan of whom Isaiah spoke (Isa 27:1), that congress of the nations of which Joel spoke, Joe 3:1. Many of the prophets had perhaps spoken particularly of this event, though it be not written, as they all had spoken and written too that which is applicable to it. Note, There is an amiable admirable harmony and agreement between the Lord's prophets, though they lived in several ages, for they were all guided by one and the same Spirit.
III. It is here foretold that this furious formidable enemy should be utterly cut off in this attempt upon Israel, and that it should issue in his own ruin. This is supposed by many to have its accomplishment in the many defeats given by the Maccabees to the forces of Antiochus and the remarkable judgments of God executed upon his own person, for he died of sore diseases. But these things are here foretold, as usual, in figurative expressions, which we are not to look for the literal accomplishment of, and yet they might be fulfilled nearer the letter than we know of. 1. God will be highly displeased with this bold invader: When he comes up in pride and anger against the land of Israel, and thinks to carry all before him with a high hand, then God's fury shall come up in his face, which is an allusion to the manner of men, whose colour rises in their faces when some high affront is offered them and they are resolved to show their resentment of it, Eze 38:18. God will speak against them in his jealousy for his people and in the fire of his wrath against his and their enemies, Eze 38:19. See how God's permitting sin, his laying occasions of sin before men, and his making use of it to serve his own purposes, consist with his hatred of sin and his displeasure against it. God brings this enemy against his land, letting him know what an easy prey it might be and determining thereby to glorify himself; and yet, when he comes against the land, God's fury comes up, and he speaks to him in the fire of his wrath. If any ask, Why does he thus find fault? for who has resisted his will? It is easy to answer, Nay, but, O man! who art thou that repliest against God? 2. His forces shall be put into the greatest confusion and consternation imaginable (Eze 38:19): There shall be a great shaking of them in the land of Israel, a universal concussion (Eze 38:20), such as shall affect the fishes and fowls, the beasts and creeping things, and much more the men that are upon the face of the earth, who sooner receive impressions of fear. There shall be such an earthquake as shall throw down the mountains, those natural heights, and the steep places, towers and walls, those artificial heights; they shall all fall to the ground. Some understand this of the fright which the land of Israel should be put into by the fury of the enemy. But it is rather to be understood of the fright which the enemy should be put into by the wrath of God; all those things which they both raise themselves and stay themselves upon shall be shaken down, and their hearts shall fail them. 3. He shall be routed and utterly ruined; both earth and heaven shall be armed against him (1.) The earth shall muster up its forces to destroy him. If the people of Israel have not strength and courage to resist him, God will call for a sword against him, Eze 38:21. And he has swords always at command, that are bathed in heaven, Isa 35:5. Throughout all the mountains of Israel, where he hoped to meet with spoil to enrich him, he shall meet with swords to destroy him, and, rather than fail, every man's sword shall be against his brother, as in the day of Midian, Ps 83:9. The great men of Syria shall undermine and overthrow one another, shall accuse one another, shall fight duels with one another. Note, God can, and often does, make the destroyers of his people to be their own destroyers and the destroyers of one another. However, he will himself be their destroyer, will take the work into his own hand, that it may be done thoroughly (Eze 38:22): I will plead against him with pestilence and blood. Note, Whom God acts against he pleads against; he shows them the ground of his controversy with them, that their mouths may be stopped, and he may be clear when he judges. (2.) The artillery of heaven shall also be drawn out against them: I will rain upon him an overflowing rain, Eze 38:22. He comes like a storm upon Israel, Eze 38:9. But God will come like a storm upon him, will rain upon him great hailstones as upon the Canaanites (Jos 10:11), fire and brimstone as upon Sodom, and a horrible tempest, Ps 11:6. Thus the Gog and Magog in the New Testament shall be devoured with fire from heaven, and cast into the lake of brimstone, Re 20:9,10. That will be the everlasting portion of all the impenitent implacable enemies of God's church and people. 4. God, in all this, will be glorified. The end he aimed at (Eze 38:16) shall be accomplished (Eze 38:23): Thus will I magnify myself and sanctify myself. Note, In the destruction of sinners God makes it to appear that he is a great and holy God, and he will do so to eternity. And, if men do not magnify and sanctify him as they ought, he will magnify himself, and sanctify himself; and this we should desire and pray for daily, Father, glorify thy own name.
本章及下一章是论到歌革和玛各——以色列民的一个强敌，这敌军要可怕地袭击他们，使他们惊惶，但他们的军队必被击溃，他们的计谋必被挫败。这预言极可能是在以色列人从被掳归回之后某时应验的——无论是在他们与叙利亚诸王（特别是安提阿古·伊皮法尼）的争战中，还是在别的方式上（未有记载），我们都不能确定。若旧约的圣史能像预言那样延伸到那么远，我们就能更好地明白这些章节；但因缺乏那把钥匙，我们被关在其意义之外。神已借先知向他的百姓保证，他们归回本地之后必有快乐的日子；但免得他们误解那些关乎弥赛亚国度及其属灵特权的应许，以为据此就可指望无间断的属世兴旺，他在此处告诉他们——正如基督告诉他的门徒以防止类似的误解那样——他们在世上必有苦难，但他们可以放心，因为他们至终必得胜。此处关于歌革和玛各的预言，无疑被那论到末世、看来尚未应验的预言（启20:8）所引用：歌革和玛各必被招聚攻击圣徒的营；正如旧约论巴比伦毁灭的预言被启18:1-24所引用。但在两者之中，旧约的预言已在犹太教会中得着应验，照样新约的预言到了时候也必在基督教会中应验。在本章中，有相互交织的内容：一、歌革和玛各要向以色列地发起的攻击，他们要带到战场的庞大军队，及其浩大的预备（结38:4-7），其计谋和图谋（结38:8-13），以及神的手在其中（结38:4）。二、这要在以色列地引起的极大恐怖（结38:15-16、18-20）。三、这些仇敌所受的神圣约束，以及以色列所受的神圣保护（结38:2-4、14）。四、借神直接的手加给那些仇敌的败亡（结38:21-23）——这点我们在下一章还要听见更多。