Verse 2. Gog. This name, which signifies hidden, or covered, is taken in this place either for the persecutors of the Church of God in general, or some arch persecutor in particular; such as Antichrist shall be in the latter days. See Revelation 20:8. And what is said of the punishment of God, is verified by the unhappy end of persecutors.—Magog. Scythia or Tartary, whence the Turks and other enemies of the Church of Christ originally sprung. Challoner.—These are supposed to be the princes of some northern and barbarous country, ( Worthington.) peopled by the son of Japhet. Saint Jerome—Saint Augustine (de Civ. Dei. xx. 11.) observes, that as the Church is spread everywhere, so also are persecutors. But Christ will overcome them all. Worthington.—This prophecy is very difficult. It seems literally to refer to Cambyses, who invaded Judea about seventy years after the temple had been destroyed, and perished by the hand of God, at Ecbatana, upon Mount Carmel. It is very usual with the prophets to give fictitious names; as the king of Tyre is called a cherub, and Jerusalem Ooliba. Cambyses ruled over Scythia, in Iberia; styled Gogarene, by Strabo. xi. Calmet.—The proper Scythia withstood all the attempts of his successors, and defeated Darius. Bible.
Ezekiel
Verse 4. Jaws. Thus Cambyses treated the son of Psammenites. God has the most absolute dominion over all monarchs. verse 7.
Ezekiel
Verse 8. Visited, or rather “shall visit” Judea. Chal. Grot.—Cambyses invaded Egypt twelve years after the Jews had returned, and came upon them two years later, designing to plunder them, at the instigation of their malevolent neighbours. He had sustained great losses in Egypt, and was arrived at Carmel when news was brought that the false Smerdis had declared himself king. See Herod. iii. 61.
Ezekiel
Verse 12. Midst. Lit. “navel.” Hebrew “Thabor,” intimating a mountain rising in a plain. Judges 9:7. Calmet.—Alluding to this intended blunder of the Jews lately returned, he speaks of Antichrist and of all heretics, who seek to pervert or suppress Catholics rescued from the power of the devil, by the sacraments of Christ. Worthington.
Ezekiel
Verse 13. Tharsis. Septuagint “Carthage, and all their villages.” The merchants or naval forces of Cambyses spurred him forward, (see Psalms 77:6) as well as the Arabs, Cuthites, &chapter 1 Ezra 4:8. Calmet.
Ezekiel
Verse 16. Latter. Cambyses had punished Egypt, his turn came, and all his designs were baffled.
Ezekiel
Verse 17. Prophets. See Isaiah 14. & 16:21 and 26:1. Jeremiah 30:3 and 23. Joel 2:30. 3:1. and so forth
Ezekiel
Verse 19. Israel. The Jews shall be full of dismay, (verse 20) as the tyrant will vent some threats; ( Calmet.) or this commotion was in his own army. Bible.
Ezekiel
Verse 21. Sword. The Jews were not in a condition to make resistance. Calmet.—Cambyses had his brother Smerdis slain. But another was set on the throne; whereupon, mounting his horse in a fury, he wounded himself with his sword in the thigh, which mortifying, caused his death after twenty days. Herod. iii. 21. and so forth—The historian does not mention what became of his army; but it seems to have perished by discord, as was very common among such a collection of nations. See Judith 7:22. Judith 15:1 and 1 Kennicott. 14:20 and 4 Kennicott. 2:21. Calmet.—They were now without a head. Bible.—In the whole universe, God will at last destroy Antichrist and all his adherents. Worthington.
Ezekiel
Verse 22. Pestilence. His wound might be thus described.—Blood. Thus was he punished for shedding that of innocent people. Calmet.