Page 204 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

198 NOTES ON EZEKIEL.

and righteousness. Nothing can exceed the graphic force
with which the prophet describes all. Gog calculates
on finding an easy prey in a people apparently so ex­
posed and powerless. He little thinks that on those
heights of Israel he and his immense host are about to
perish at the hand of Jehovah, if not by one another. Nor
is it only that the actual combatants are thus taken in
their own snare, but those who look on have to learn
that He whose name alone is Jehovah is the Most
High over all the earth. “ 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?” (Ver. 13.) They may
be eager to treat with the spoiler, and profit by the
purchase of the expected booty, but they too shall soon
say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous ; verily
He is a God that judgetb in the earth.
“ Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog,
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah; In that day when my
people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know
it ? 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 : 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, 0 Gog, before their eyes.” (Ver. 14—
16.) It will be noticed that the downfall of Gog is
here expressly set down to “ the latter days,” as well