Ezekiel 39

1-10 Gog’s Armies Destroyed

1-6 Ezekiel to prophesy against Gog: I will lead you against the mountains of Israel, then disarm you, and you and your troops and everyone with you will fall, to be devoured by birds of prey and wild animals. Then I will send fire on Magog and on those who live “securely” on the coastlands, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

7-8 My holy name shall no longer be profaned; the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. This is the day I have prophesied.

9-10 The people of Israel will not need to gather wood from the forests for seven years, because they will have the enemies’ weapons to burn instead. The number seven here is probably a symbol of completion – no trace of the enemies’ weapons will be left.

11-20 The Burial of Gog

11-16 For seven months the people of Israel will bury Gog and his horde in a valley east of the sea, and it will bring them honor. They will search for the bones and mark them when they find them so that eventually the whole land will be cleansed of the bones. Another “seven.” No trace of the bodies of the enemies will be left.

17-20 Ezekiel is to call birds and animals in to feed on the carcasses, a “great sacrificial feast” on the mountains, where they will eat the flesh of the mighty.

21-29 Israel Restored to the Land

21-24 The house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God, and the nations will know that I hid my face from Israel because of their iniquity. Knowing that “I am the LORD” and “the LORD their God” have different connotations. “I am the LORD” promises power; “the LORD their God” promises protection and mercy.

25-29 Now I will restore their fortunes and mercy on them, and they will forget their shame, and they will know that I am the LORD their God because I sent them into exile and then gathered them back again. I will never again hide my face from them.