“Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
ExplanationCommentary
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.