Ezekiel 38-39
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 3:55 pm
I found the following explaination for Gog and Magog on
www.stlukesrec.org/sermons02/4lent02.html and the reasoning seems sound.
Possibly the most persuasive and satisfying interpretation regards the first fulfillment of Ezekiel's Gog and Magog narrative in the book of Esther.
[See James B. Jordan, "The Battle of Gog and Magog" in Biblical Horizons , Nos. 2 and 3. The web site address is: www.biblicalhorizons.com/biblicalhorizons/ Also Gary DeMar's Last Days Madness ; 1999; pp. 363-9. Other commentaries consulted: Keil and Delitzsch, Iain Duguid, Daniel Block, Fairbairn, Lind, and Schroeder. Duguid's is by far the best. Rearden's quote from St. James Daily Devotional Guide . The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris, and The Rough Riders by Theodore Roosevelt.]
Let's consider that. How does Gog and Magog fit with the story line of Esther? You remember the events. Esther is the beautiful niece of Mordecai. She marries King Ahasuerus, the Persian King also known as Xerxes. When does this take place? It transpires many years after the Israelites had been led away captive by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The Persians then conquered the Babylonians and started treating the Jews much better. They allowed the Jews to return to the Promised Land. Joshua the High Priest and Zerubbabel had just begun rebuilding the Temple destroyed by the Babylonians. Ezra had not yet restored the temple, and Nehemiah would soon return to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. At this moment in history Esther became queen.
Then the book of Esther tells us about Haman, the number two man in the Persian Empire. Haman hatches a plot to annihilate each and every Israelite throughout the land, and plunder their possessions (Esther 3:13). Some Jews had returned to Jerusalem, but most were still scattered over the 127 provinces of Persia ranging from India to Ethiopia and everywhere else (Esther 8:9). Haman's plan was first to hang Queen Esther's uncle Mordecai on a gallows fifty cubits high. Second, to organize his followers to slaughter the Israelites. And third, to plunder all their property and belongings. He even got the King to sign a decree giving the raid a stamp of approval. However, Mordecai found out about Haman's plot and notified his niece. The day of extermination drew near, and the Jews were in fear, fasting and praying. Then Esther stepped to the plate. She had the courage to confront King Ahasueras and convince him that Haman's scheme was evil. What happened? The entire conspiracy was foiled. The outcome was reversed. Instead of Mordecai, it was Haman whom they hanged high on the gallows. The Jews were given permission to destroy their enemies, the very people who were on the verge of murdering them. The result was the death of 75,000 of Haman's allies.
What are the connections between Gog and Magog of Ezekiel, and the events of Esther? There are several. The regions involved in both passages encompass the extensive boundaries of the Persian Empire. So there is a geographical similarity. Then, the plunder idea is analogous: in both texts evil tyrants try to plunder the Church and instead are plundered themselves. What's more, the quantity of soldiers killed is commensurate; a huge number expire in both accounts. Furthermore, both Ezekiel and Esther highlight the burial of the dead. Ezekiel 39:11 tells us that Gog and his followers were buried in the Valley of "Hamon Gog." That is interesting. When the prophet Ezekiel tells us that the dead were interred at the Valley of Hamon Gog, maybe that is Ezekiel's way of uniting Haman with Gog. Thus, Haman is Gog, Gog is Haman, and Ezekiel's portrayal of Gog and Magog is a prophecy of what would happen after Esther became queen, a prophecy that has already been fulfilled.
THE ABOVE IS A PARTIAL QUOTE FROM THE SITE. ALSO
THE SITE www.biblicalhorizons.com/biblicalhorizons QUOTED AS A REFERENCE IS INTERESTING.
1. HAMAN IS ELEVATED TO "SET HIS SEAT ABOVE ALL THE PRINCES OF THE KING" ESTHER 3:1 NOTICE IN EZ 38:2 THE CHIEF(ROSH) PRINCE OF MESHECK AND TUBAL. GOG IS NOT CALLED A KING
I AM PRESENTLY PERSUADED TOWARDS THIS INTERPRETAION OF EZEKIEL 38-39
ALBERT FROM PACIFIC GROVE
www.stlukesrec.org/sermons02/4lent02.html and the reasoning seems sound.
Possibly the most persuasive and satisfying interpretation regards the first fulfillment of Ezekiel's Gog and Magog narrative in the book of Esther.
[See James B. Jordan, "The Battle of Gog and Magog" in Biblical Horizons , Nos. 2 and 3. The web site address is: www.biblicalhorizons.com/biblicalhorizons/ Also Gary DeMar's Last Days Madness ; 1999; pp. 363-9. Other commentaries consulted: Keil and Delitzsch, Iain Duguid, Daniel Block, Fairbairn, Lind, and Schroeder. Duguid's is by far the best. Rearden's quote from St. James Daily Devotional Guide . The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris, and The Rough Riders by Theodore Roosevelt.]
Let's consider that. How does Gog and Magog fit with the story line of Esther? You remember the events. Esther is the beautiful niece of Mordecai. She marries King Ahasuerus, the Persian King also known as Xerxes. When does this take place? It transpires many years after the Israelites had been led away captive by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The Persians then conquered the Babylonians and started treating the Jews much better. They allowed the Jews to return to the Promised Land. Joshua the High Priest and Zerubbabel had just begun rebuilding the Temple destroyed by the Babylonians. Ezra had not yet restored the temple, and Nehemiah would soon return to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. At this moment in history Esther became queen.
Then the book of Esther tells us about Haman, the number two man in the Persian Empire. Haman hatches a plot to annihilate each and every Israelite throughout the land, and plunder their possessions (Esther 3:13). Some Jews had returned to Jerusalem, but most were still scattered over the 127 provinces of Persia ranging from India to Ethiopia and everywhere else (Esther 8:9). Haman's plan was first to hang Queen Esther's uncle Mordecai on a gallows fifty cubits high. Second, to organize his followers to slaughter the Israelites. And third, to plunder all their property and belongings. He even got the King to sign a decree giving the raid a stamp of approval. However, Mordecai found out about Haman's plot and notified his niece. The day of extermination drew near, and the Jews were in fear, fasting and praying. Then Esther stepped to the plate. She had the courage to confront King Ahasueras and convince him that Haman's scheme was evil. What happened? The entire conspiracy was foiled. The outcome was reversed. Instead of Mordecai, it was Haman whom they hanged high on the gallows. The Jews were given permission to destroy their enemies, the very people who were on the verge of murdering them. The result was the death of 75,000 of Haman's allies.
What are the connections between Gog and Magog of Ezekiel, and the events of Esther? There are several. The regions involved in both passages encompass the extensive boundaries of the Persian Empire. So there is a geographical similarity. Then, the plunder idea is analogous: in both texts evil tyrants try to plunder the Church and instead are plundered themselves. What's more, the quantity of soldiers killed is commensurate; a huge number expire in both accounts. Furthermore, both Ezekiel and Esther highlight the burial of the dead. Ezekiel 39:11 tells us that Gog and his followers were buried in the Valley of "Hamon Gog." That is interesting. When the prophet Ezekiel tells us that the dead were interred at the Valley of Hamon Gog, maybe that is Ezekiel's way of uniting Haman with Gog. Thus, Haman is Gog, Gog is Haman, and Ezekiel's portrayal of Gog and Magog is a prophecy of what would happen after Esther became queen, a prophecy that has already been fulfilled.
THE ABOVE IS A PARTIAL QUOTE FROM THE SITE. ALSO
THE SITE www.biblicalhorizons.com/biblicalhorizons QUOTED AS A REFERENCE IS INTERESTING.
1. HAMAN IS ELEVATED TO "SET HIS SEAT ABOVE ALL THE PRINCES OF THE KING" ESTHER 3:1 NOTICE IN EZ 38:2 THE CHIEF(ROSH) PRINCE OF MESHECK AND TUBAL. GOG IS NOT CALLED A KING
I AM PRESENTLY PERSUADED TOWARDS THIS INTERPRETAION OF EZEKIEL 38-39
ALBERT FROM PACIFIC GROVE