Ezekiel 39:12

Translation
King James Version
And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And seven H7651 months H2320 shall the house H1004 of Israel H3478 be burying H6912 of them, that they may cleanse H2891 the land H776.
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Complete Jewish Bible
It will take the house of Isra'el seven months to bury them, in order to cleanse the land.
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Berean Standard Bible
For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land.
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American Standard Version
And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying them, that they may cleanse the land.
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World English Bible Messianic
Seven months shall the house of Israel be burying them, that they may cleanse the land.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
And seuen moneths long shall the house of Israel be burying of the, that they may clense the land.
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Young's Literal Translation
And the house of Israel have buried them--in order to cleanse the land--seven months.
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See also
Deuteronomy 21:23Ezekiel 39:14Ezekiel 39:16Numbers 19:16
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Prophecies Against Gog
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In the KJVVerse 21,461 of 31,102

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SUMMARY

Ezekiel 39:12 outlines the immense and prolonged undertaking for the house of Israel: a seven-month period dedicated to the burial of the countless casualties from God's decisive judgment against the invading forces of Gog and Magog. This extensive and arduous process is not merely a practical necessity for waste disposal but an explicit divine command for the ritual purification and cleansing of the land, emphasizing the profound defilement caused by the unholy invaders and the comprehensive effort required to restore sacred order and holiness.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse is deeply embedded within the climactic prophetic narrative of Ezekiel chapters 38-39, which foretells a future, massive invasion of Israel by a vast coalition of nations led by Gog of Magog. These chapters vividly portray God's dramatic and supernatural intervention to annihilate this formidable army on the mountains of Israel, thereby vindicating His holy name before all nations. The verses immediately preceding Ezekiel 39:1-11 detail the utter destruction of Gog's forces, leaving an unprecedented number of unburied corpses. Verse 12 then serves as a crucial transition from the act of divine judgment to its necessary aftermath, highlighting the practical and profound ritual implications of such a colossal victory. The subsequent verses, Ezekiel 39:13-16, further elaborate on the meticulous nature of this burial and cleansing operation, including specific roles for those involved, underscoring the sheer scale and paramount importance of this purification.

  • Historical & Cultural Context: In ancient Israel, contact with dead bodies, particularly unburied ones, rendered a person or a place ritually unclean according to the stringent stipulations of Mosaic Law. For instance, Numbers 19:11-13 details the specific purification rites required. This defilement was not merely a matter of hygiene but carried significant spiritual implications, precluding participation in worship and community life until proper purification was performed. The land itself, as a holy inheritance from God, was also susceptible to defilement. The presence of countless unburied pagan corpses would have constituted an extreme form of spiritual pollution, necessitating an extensive and prolonged cleansing process. The "seven months" period stipulated in the verse underscores the immense scale of the invasion and the subsequent divine judgment, far exceeding any ordinary burial or purification requirement, thereby emphasizing the extraordinary nature of God's intervention and the thorough restoration of the land's inherent holiness.

  • Key Themes: Ezekiel 39:12 significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of Divine Sovereignty and Justice, showcasing God's absolute control over all nations and His unwavering commitment to defending His people and His sacred land against all hostile forces. The judgment on Gog is a profound demonstration of God's holiness being vindicated before the nations, as clearly articulated in Ezekiel 38:23. Secondly, the verse highlights the critical theme of Cleansing and Purification, encompassing both ritual and spiritual dimensions. The physical act of burying the dead is presented as an indispensable step to restore the land to a state of ritual purity, symbolizing a broader spiritual restoration and the complete removal of defilement caused by unholy elements. This echoes the broader prophetic vision of a fully restored and sanctified Israel. Lastly, the unprecedented duration of "seven months" emphasizes the Thoroughness and Completeness of God's Work, whether in judgment or in the subsequent restoration. God's actions are never partial; His victory and the subsequent cleansing are exhaustive, leaving no room for lingering defilement, thus preparing the way for a new era of holiness and peace for His covenant people.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • months (Hebrew, chôdesh', H2320): From the root meaning "new moon," this term (H2320) refers to a lunar month. The specification of "seven months" (combining H7651 shebaʻ and H2320 chôdesh) is profoundly significant. The number seven frequently denotes completion, perfection, or sacredness in biblical numerology. Here, it signifies the comprehensive, divinely ordained duration required for this immense task, emphasizing the thoroughness of the purification process rather than merely a practical estimation of time.
  • house (Hebrew, bayith', H1004): This term (H1004) refers to a physical dwelling, but more broadly, it signifies a family, household, or an entire lineage, as exemplified in "the house of Israel" (H3478 Yisrâʼêl). In this context, it emphasizes that the entire community of Israel, not just a select few, will be actively involved in this monumental task of cleansing, underscoring their collective responsibility and the pervasive nature of the defilement that affects the whole nation.
  • burying (Hebrew, qâbar', H6912): This primitive root (H6912) means "to inter" or "to bury." The active participation of the "house of Israel" in burying the invaders' bodies is crucial. It signifies their direct role in the post-judgment purification, a stark contrast to the common ancient practice of leaving enemies unburied as a sign of utter defeat and dishonor. Here, the burial is not an act of honor for the enemy but an indispensable act of cleansing for the defiled land.
  • cleanse (Hebrew, ṭâhêr', H2891): This primitive root (H2891) means "to be bright," and by implication, "to be pure." It carries strong connotations of ritual and ceremonial purity, far beyond mere physical cleanliness. This word is frequently employed in the Mosaic Law for purification from various forms of defilement (e.g., after contact with the dead, or from skin diseases). The explicit purpose of the seven-month burial is stated: "that they may cleanse the land," highlighting the profound religious imperative behind the action and the restoration of the land to a state acceptable to a holy God.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them": This clause precisely establishes both the extraordinary duration and the collective agents of the burial. The "seven months" indicate an extraordinarily long period, underscoring the unprecedented scale of the casualties and the sheer magnitude of the task. The "house of Israel" signifies the communal involvement of the entire nation, emphasizing their unified responsibility in the aftermath of God's judgment and their active role in restoring the land. The act of "burying" is depicted as a prolonged, sustained, and arduous effort.
  • "that they may cleanse the land": This clause unequivocally states the explicit purpose and theological imperative behind the extensive burial. The verb "cleanse" (Hebrew ṭâhêr) points directly to ritual and ceremonial purification. The land, having been grievously defiled by the presence of countless unburied pagan corpses, must be meticulously restored to a state of ritual purity. This purification is absolutely essential for the land to be fit for the dwelling of a holy God and His holy people, signifying a profound restoration of divine order and sanctity following the profound defilement of the invasion.

Literary Devices

Ezekiel 39:12 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is Hyperbole, evident in the extraordinary "seven months" duration stipulated for burying the dead. While practically necessary given the immense scale of casualties, the number seven also carries significant Symbolism, denoting completeness, perfection, and sacredness in biblical numerology. This dual meaning emphasizes the thoroughness of God's work and the subsequent, complete restoration of the land's sanctity. The physical act of burying the dead and cleansing the land also serves as powerful Symbolism for a deeper spiritual purification. The removal of the defilement caused by the unholy invaders points to the ultimate removal of all ungodliness from God's holy domain. Furthermore, the verse clearly implies a Divine Mandate, as this extensive operation is not merely a practical response to a crisis but a necessary fulfillment of God's explicit will to restore the land's sanctity, reflecting His meticulous care for His covenant people and their sacred inheritance.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Ezekiel 39:12, while describing a specific future event, carries profound theological implications that resonate throughout the broader biblical narrative. It powerfully illustrates God's unwavering commitment to the holiness of His land and His people. The necessity of such an extensive purification underscores the severity of defilement in God's eyes and His meticulous nature in restoring purity after judgment. This cleansing is not merely external but points to a deeper spiritual reality where all that opposes God's holiness must be utterly removed. The thoroughness of this process foreshadows God's ultimate and complete victory over evil and His establishment of a perfectly pure kingdom, free from all blemish and defilement.

  • Numbers 19:11-13 This passage details the Mosaic Law concerning defilement by a dead body and the required purification rites, providing the legal and ritual background for the extensive cleansing described in Ezekiel 39:12.
  • Revelation 21:27 This verse from the New Testament speaks of the ultimate state of purity in the New Jerusalem, where "nothing unclean will ever enter it," echoing the divine imperative for absolute holiness and the removal of all defilement that Ezekiel's prophecy anticipates.
  • Zechariah 13:1 This prophecy speaks of a future "fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity," highlighting the ultimate spiritual cleansing God provides for His people.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Ezekiel 39:12 offers a powerful reminder of God's absolute sovereignty, His meticulous attention to holiness, and His ultimate victory over all that defiles His creation. For believers today, this passage encourages us to recognize the pervasive nature of sin and defilement both in our fallen world and within our own hearts and lives, and to profoundly appreciate the thoroughness of God's redemptive work in bringing about purification. Just as the land of Israel required extensive cleansing after the invasion, our hearts and lives require ongoing purification through repentance, confession, and continuous reliance on God's transformative grace. This verse instills a profound confidence that God will indeed complete His work of sanctification in us and ultimately establish a new creation entirely free from all impurity. It urges us to participate actively and intentionally in His purifying work by striving for personal holiness and by advocating for righteousness in our daily walk and in our communities.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the "seven months" of cleansing in Ezekiel 39:12 deepen your understanding of God's unwavering commitment to holiness and purity in His creation?
  • In what ways do you perceive the ongoing need for "cleansing the land" (or the world) from moral and spiritual defilement in our contemporary society?
  • What practical and spiritual steps can you take to participate more fully in God's ongoing work of cleansing and sanctification within your own life and in your community?

FAQ

Why did it take "seven months" to bury the dead, and what is the significance of this duration?

Answer: The "seven months" (H7651 shebaʻ and H2320 chôdesh) signify the immense, unprecedented scale of the invading army and the catastrophic nature of God's judgment upon them. The sheer number of casualties was so vast that it would necessitate an extraordinary, prolonged effort by the entire house of Israel (H1004 bayith of H3478 Yisrâʼêl) to bury them. Beyond the practical necessity, the number seven often carries profound symbolic weight in the Bible, representing completeness, perfection, or sacredness. Thus, the seven-month period underscores the divine orchestration and the absolute thoroughness of the cleansing process, ensuring that the land (H776 ʼerets) was fully purified from the defilement of the unholy invaders, aligning meticulously with the ritual purity laws found in passages like Numbers 19.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Ezekiel 39:12, with its vivid depiction of a land meticulously cleansed through extensive burial after a cataclysmic divine judgment, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Ezekiel describes a physical cleansing from literal defilement, Christ accomplishes a spiritual cleansing from the pervasive defilement of sin. The vast number of unburied bodies necessitating a lengthy purification foreshadows the overwhelming and pervasive nature of sin that contaminates all humanity, requiring a radical, complete, and divinely provided solution. Jesus, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, offered Himself as the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice, shedding His precious blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7). His death and glorious resurrection represent the decisive and eternal victory over sin and death, far surpassing the physical victory over Gog. Through His atoning work, He purifies not merely a physical land, but the very hearts and consciences of believers (Hebrews 9:14). The symbolic thoroughness of the seven-month cleansing points to the absolute completeness of Christ's redemptive work, which fully purifies and sanctifies His people, enabling them to dwell in God's holy presence without blemish or spot (Ephesians 5:25-27). Ultimately, the vision of a cleansed land in Ezekiel anticipates the new heavens and new earth, where Christ will finally remove all traces of sin and defilement, establishing a realm of perfect righteousness and holiness where nothing unclean will ever enter.

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Commentary on Ezekiel 39 verses 8–22

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

Though this prophecy was to have its accomplishment in the latter days, yet it is here spoken of as if it were already accomplished, because it is certain (Eze 39:8): "Behold it has come, and it is done; it is as sure to be done when the time shall come as if it were done already; this is the day whereof I have long and often spoken, and, though it has been long in coming, yet at length it has come." Thus it was said unto John (Rev 21:6), It is done. To represent the routing of the army of Gog as very great, here are three things specified as the consequences of it. It was God himself that gave the defeat; we do not find that the people of Israel drew a sword or struck a stroke: but,

I. They shall burn their weapons, their bows and arrows, which fell out of their hands (Eze 39:3), their shields and bucklers, their javelins, spears, leading staves, truncheons, and half-pikes, every thing that is combustible. They shall not lay them up in their armouries, nor reserve them for their own use, lest they should be tempted to put a confidence in them, but they shall burn them; not all at once, for a bonfire (to what purpose would be that waste?) but as they had occasion to use them for fuel in their houses, instead of other fire-wood, so that they should have no occasion to take wood out of the field or forests for seven years together (Eze 39:10), such vast quantities of weapons shall there be left upon the open field where the enemy fell, and in the roads which they passed in their flight. The weapons were dry and fitter for fuel than green wood; and, by saving the wood in their coppices and forests, they gave it time to grow. Though the mountains of Israel produce plenty of all good things, yet it becomes the people of Israel to be good husbands of their plenty and to save what they can for the benefit of those that come after them, as Providence shall give them opportunity to do so. We may suppose that when those who dwelt in the cities of Israel came forth to spoil those who spoiled them, and make reprisals upon them, they found upon them silver, and gold, and ornaments; yet no mention is made of any thing particularly that they converted to their own use but the wood of the weapons for fuel, which is one of the necessaries of human life, to teach us to think it enough if we be well supplied with those, though we have but little of the delights and gaieties of it and of those things which we may very well live without. And every time they put fuel to the fire, and warmed themselves at it, they would be put in mind of the number and strength of their enemies, and the imminent peril they were in of falling into their hands, which would help to enlarge their hearts in thankfulness to that God who had so wonderfully, so seasonably, delivered them. As they sat by the fire with their children about them (their fire-side), they might from it take occasion to tell them what great things God had done for them.

II. They shall bury their dead. Usually, after a battle, when many are slain, the enemy desire time to bury their own dead. But here the slaughter shall be so general that there shall not be a sufficient number of the enemies left alive to bury the dead. And, besides, the slain lie so dispersed on the mountains of Israel that it would be a work of time to find them out; and therefore it is left to the house of Israel to bury them as a piece of triumph in their overthrow. 1. A place shall be appointed on purpose for the burying of them, the valley of the passengers, on the east of the sea, either the salt sea or the sea of Tiberias, a valley through which there was great passing and repassing of travellers between Egypt and Chaldea. There shall be such a multitude of dead bodies, putrefying above ground, with such a loathsome stench, that the travellers who go that way shall be forced to stop their noses. See what vile bodies ours are; when the soul has been a little while from them the smell of them becomes offensive, no smell more nauseous or more noxious. There therefore where the greatest number lay slain shall the burying-place be appointed. In the place where the tree falls there let it lie. And it shall be called, The valley of Hamon-gog, that is, of the multitude of Gog; for that was the thing which was in a particular manner to be had in remembrance. How numerous the forces of the enemy were which God defeated and destroyed for the defence of his people Israel! 2. A considerable time shall be spent in burying them, no less than seven months (Eze 39:12), which is a further intimation that the slain of the Lord in this action should be many and that great care should be taken by the house of Israel to leave none unburied, that so they might cleanse the land from the ceremonial pollution it contracted by the lying of so many dead corpses unburied in it, for the prevention of which it was appointed that those who were hanged on a tree should be speedily taken down and buried, Deut, Eze 21:23. This is an intimation that times of eminent deliverances should be times of reformation. The more God has done for the saving of a land from ruin the more the inhabitants should do for the cleansing of the land from sin. 3. Great numbers shall be employed in this work: All the people of the land shall be ready to lend a helping hand to it, Eze 39:13. Note, Every one should contribute the utmost he can in his place towards the cleansing of the land from the pollutions of it, and from every thing that is a reproach to it. Sin is a common enemy, which every man should take up arms against. In publico discrimine unusquisque homo miles est - In the season of public danger every man becomes a soldier. And whoever shall assist in this work it shall be to them a renown; though the office of grave-makers, or common scavengers of the country, seem but mean, yet, when it is for the cleansing and purifying of the land from dead works, it shall be mentioned to their honour. Note, Acts of humanity add much to the renown of God's Israel; it is a credit to religion when those that profess it are ready to every good work; and a good work it is to bury the dead, yea, though they be strangers and enemies to the commonwealth of Israel, for even they shall rise again. It shall be a renown to them in the day when God will be glorified. Note, It is for the glory of God when his Israel do that which adorns their profession; others will see their good works and glorify their Father, Mat 5:16. And when God is honoured he will put honour upon his people. His glory is their renown. 4. Some particular persons shall make it their business to search out the dead bodies, or any part of them that should remain unburied. The people of the land will soon grow weary of burying the pollutions of the country, and therefore they shall appoint men of continual employment, that shall apply themselves to it and do nothing else till the land be thoroughly cleansed; for, otherwise, that which is every one's work would soon become nobody's work. Note, Those that are engaged in public work, especially for the cleansing and reforming of a land, ought to be men of continual employments, men that will stick to what they undertake and go through with it, men that will apply themselves to it; and those that will do good according to their opportunities will find themselves continually employed. 5. Even the passengers shall be ready to give information to those whose business it is to cleanse the land of what public nuisances they meet with, which call for their assistance. Those that pass through the land, though they will not stay to bury the dead themselves, lest they should contract a ceremonial pollution, will yet give notice of those that they find unburied. If they but discover a bone, they will set up a sign, that the buriers may come and bury it, and that, till it is buried, others may take need of touching it, for which reason their sepulchres among the Jews were whitened, that people might keep at a distance from them. Note, When good work is to be done every one should lend a hand to further it, even the passengers themselves, who must not think themselves unconcerned, in a common calamity, or a common iniquity, to put a stop to it. Those whose work it is to cleanse the land must not countenance any thing in it that is defiling; though it were not the body, but only the bone, of a man, that was found unburied, they must encourage those who will give information of it (private information, by a sign, concealing the informer), that they may take it away, and bury it out of sight. Nay, after the end of seven months, which was allowed them for this work, when all is taken away that appeared at first view, they shall search for more, that what is hidden may be brought to light; they shall search out iniquity till they find none. In memory of this they shall give a new name to their city. It shall be called Hamonah - The multitude. O what a multitude of our enemies have we of this city buried! Thus shall they cleanse the land, with all this care, with all this pains, Eze 39:16. Note, After conquering there must be cleansing. Moses appointed those Israelites that had been employed in the war with the Midianites to purify themselves, Num 31:24. Having received special favours from God, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness.

III. The birds and beasts of prey shall rest upon the carcases of the slain while they remain unburied and it shall be impossible to prevent them, Eze 39:17, etc. We find a great slaughter represented by this figure, Rev 19:17, etc., which is borrowed from this.

1.There is a general invitation given, Eze 39:17. It is to the fowl of every wing and to every beast of the field, from the greatest to the least, that preys upon carcases, from the eagle to the raven, from the lion to the dog; let them all gather themselves on every side; here is meat enough for them, and they are all welcome. Let them come to God's sacrifice, to his feast; so the margin reads it. Note, The judgments of God, executed upon sin and sinners, are both a sacrifice and a feast, a sacrifice to the justice of God and a feast to the faith and hope of God's people. When God broke the head of leviathan, he gave him to be meat to Israel, Psa 74:14. The righteous shall rejoice as at a feast when he sees the vengeance, and shall wash his foot, as at a feast, in the blood of the wicked. This sacrifice is upon the mountains of Israel; these are the high places, the altars, where God has been dishonoured by the idolatries of the people, but where he will now glorify himself in the destruction of his enemies.

2.There is great preparation made: They shall eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, Eze 39:18, Eze 39:19. (1.) It is the flesh and blood of men that they shall be treated with. This has sometimes been an instance of the rebellion of the inferior creatures against man their master, which is an effect of his rebellion against God his Maker. (2.) It is the flesh and blood of great men, here called rams, and bullocks, and great goats, all of them fatlings of Bashan. It is the blood of the princes of the earth that they shall regale themselves with. What a mortification is this to the princes of the blood, as they call themselves, that God can make that blood, that royal blood, which swells their veins, a feast for the birds and beasts of prey! (3.) It is the flesh and blood of wicked men, the enemies of God's church and people, that they are invited to. They had accounted the Israel of God as sheep for the slaughter, and now they shall themselves be so accounted; they had thus used the dead bodies of Gods' servants (Psa 79:2), or would have done, and now it shall come upon themselves.

3.They shall all be fed, they shall all be feasted to the full (Eze 39:19, Eze 39:20): "You shall eat fat, and drink blood, which are satiating surfeiting things. The sacrifice is great and the feast upon the sacrifice is accordingly: You shall be filled at my table." Note, God keeps a table for the inferior creatures; he provides food for all flesh. The eyes of all wait upon him, and he satisfies their desires, for he keeps a plentiful table. And if the birds and beasts shall be filled at God's table, which he has prepared for them, much more shall his children be abundantly satisfied with the goodness of his house, even of his holy temple. They shall be filled with horses and chariots; that is, those who ride in the chariots, mighty men and men of war, who triumphed over nations, are now themselves triumphed over by the ravens of the valley and the young eagles, Pro 30:17. They thought to make an easy prey of God's Israel, and now they are themselves an easy prey to the birds and beasts. See how evil pursues sinners even after death. This exposing of their bodies to be a prey is but a type and sign of those terrors which, after death, shall prey upon their consciences (which the poetical fictions represented by a vulture continually pecking at the heart), and this shame is but an earnest of the everlasting shame and contempt they shall rise to.

IV. This shall redound very much both to the glory of God and to the comfort and satisfaction of his people. 1. It shall be much for the honour of God, for the heathen shall hereby be made to know that he is the Lord (Eze 39:21): All the heathen shall see and observe my judgments that I have executed, and thereby my glory shall be set among them. This principle shall be admitted and established among them more than ever, that the God of Israel is a great and glorious God. He is known to be so even among the heathen, that have not, or read not, his written word, by the judgments which he executes. 2. It shall be much for the satisfaction of his people; for they shall hereby be made to know that he is their God (Eze 39:22): The house of Israel shall know, abundantly to their comfort, that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward. (1.) He will be so from that day and forward. God's present mercies are pledges and assurances of further mercies. If God evidence to us that he is our God he assures us that he will never leave us. This God is our God for ever and ever. (2.) They shall know it with more satisfaction from that day and forward. They had sometimes been ready to question whether the Lord was with them or no; but the events of this day shall silence their doubts, and, the matter being thus settled and made clear, it shall not be doubted of for the future. As boasting in themselves is hereby for ever excluded, so boasting in God is hereby for ever secured.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 8–22. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Chapter 39, Verse 1 onwards) \"But you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. Then I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand. On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you.' I have given you as food to the wild animals, birds, and all flying creatures, and to the animals of the earth. You will fall on the face of the field (or the plain): for I have spoken, says the Lord God. And I will send fire on Magog, and on those who dwell securely on the islands (or the coastlands): and they will know that I am the Lord. And I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not allow my holy name to be profaned (or polluted) anymore; and the nations will know that I am the holy Lord of Israel. Behold, it comes, and it will happen (or you will know that it will be), says the Lord (Vulgate adds God): this is the day of which I spoke. And the inhabitants of the cities (Vulgate: of the cities) of Israel will go out and burn weapons, shields, spears (or bucklers and thrusting spears), bows and arrows, staffs of the hands (Vulgate: of the hands), and spears (or lances): and they will set them on fire for seven years. And they will not gather (or take) wood from the fields (or the plains), nor cut down from the forests: for they will burn the weapons with fire, and those who had been their plunder will plunder them; and they will loot their looters, says the Lord God. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the valley of the travelers east of the sea, which will cause those passing by to marvel. (Or the πολυάνδριον of those who come to the sea, and they will build around the mouth of the valley; and there Gog and all his multitude will be buried; and the valley (or Ge ) will be called the multitude of Gog. And the house of Israel will bury them there, to cleanse the land (or so that the land will be cleansed) for seven months. But the whole population of the earth will bury them (Vulg. they are silent) and there will be a day named for them, in which I have been glorified, says the Lord God. And they will continuously appoint men, traversing (or encircling) the earth, who will bury and seek out those who remain (Vulg. remained) upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it. But after seven months they will begin to search. And they will go around exploring the earth: and when they see the bone of a man, they will set up a marker next to it, until the embalmers in the Valley (or Ge ) of the multitude of Gog bury it. The name of the city is Amona (or Polyandrion): and the earth will be cleansed (or will be cleansed). And these are the heirs of the Jewish tradition and the disciples of endless fables, who contend that after a thousand years of reign, Gog, the prince of Ros, Mosoch, and Thubal will be killed in the borders of Israel; and they will be devoured by all the birds and beasts: and the inhabitants of the cities of Israel will not use wood for seven years, but instead will use the weapons of Gog, namely shields and spears, arrows and clubs or poles: but Gog himself will be buried in a valley called Ge in Hebrew, and his tomb will be called polyandrion; where, indeed, a multitude of men will be buried. But he must be buried for seven months from the house of Israel, so that the land may be cleansed. And a glorious day will come when Gog is killed, and those who diligently search for and bury the bones must be appointed, so that nothing remains unburied on the land. After the months have passed, or rather after seven months have passed, a great expanse of land must be traversed; and wherever they see a human bone, they must mark it with a nearby sign, so that it can be buried later by those in charge of this task. And the city must be named Amona, which is called πολυάνδριον in Greek, meaning a multitude of buried men; and thus the land will be cleansed. They said this to him. But we, starting the explanation, will discuss each thing that we proposed, keeping the meaning. Gog himself has his own Trinity: Ros, Mosoch, and Thubal; head, namely, and insanity, and everything; so that there is no vice that does not consist in the possession of Gog. This [person] will be educated, whether revolving or being touched, and whether suckled or caressed: so that, hoping for victory, he may be led to battle to be killed. And he will ascend from the sides, or from the farthest parts of the North, from where evil is ignited upon all the earth (Jeremiah 1). And he shall be led by the same over the mountains of Israel, whom we must understand to be the apostles and apostolic men and ecclesiastics, so that after he has been led to the mountains of Israel, the bow in his left hand and the arrows held in his right hand may be struck. And he himself, in order to kill those whom he has deceived, imitates having weapons in both his left and right hands, through good and bad reputation. These are the arrows and javelins of which the Psalmist speaks: For behold sinners have bent the bow, they have prepared their arrows in a quiver, to shoot in the dark at the upright of heart (Psalm 10:2). The fiery darts of the devil must be extinguished by the shield of faith (Ephesians 6). Moreover, Gog, who had ascended over the mountains of Israel, will fall and be cast down on those same mountains with all his army and all his troops. And he will be food for the wild beasts, birds, and all the flying creatures and beasts of the earth, namely the adversarial powers that devour the seed along the way and the bloodthirsty beasts. For just as it is written about the dragon, 'You have given him as food to the peoples of Ethiopia' (Psalm 73:14), so those deceived by heretics are food for demons. But Gog, whether in the breadth of the field or in the cultivated land, which is cared for by the farmers of God. For it cannot be that the words of the Lord are in vain. Then fire will be sent upon Magog, that is, upon those who have accepted the teachings of Gog, and upon those who are beaten by the waves of the world like the likeness of islands, and think that they should be secure. That fire of which the Lord speaks: I came to send fire upon the earth; and how I wish that it should burn! (Luke XII, 49); that all may know and understand that I am the Lord, and that the name of my holiness may be made known among my people, who are in no way deceived by the authority of Gog: nor is my name defiled in heretics by the occasion of false knowledge; and that the nations, which are around, may know that I am the Lord. But what follows is said about the judgment of Christ: Behold, he is coming, and it shall be done, the Lord says: He who is coming will come, and he will not delay (Hab. 2:3). And this is the day of punishment and vengeance, of which the Lord spoke through all the prophets. And the inhabitants of the cities of Israel will go out, the people who believe: but by the cities of Israel we understand the Churches of the right faith. And they will set on fire and burn the weapons, of which it is also written in another place: He will break the bow, and shatter the weapons, and burn the shields and spears with fire (Ps. 43:10), shields and spears, bows and arrows, staves of their hands, with which they celebrated the perverted Passover: lances or poles, with which they inflicted wide and incurable wounds of false doctrines: shields, bows and arrows, of which it has been said above. And what follows: And seven years later they will perish by fire, as is explained in Exodus and Leviticus (Exod. XXI; Levit. XXV), in which the Law prescribes that in the seventh year of release, when freedom is restored to the Hebrew slaves and all debts are paid, and the ancient possession is returned to the masters, and rest is given to the land, and all produce is forgiven to the poor, so that in the sacred and perfect number of seven years the armor of the heretics may disappear, and the men of the Church may not cut wood from the fields and regions, and the forests and woods of the nations, which they most desire to save rather than to destroy; but from the heretics whom they have conquered, with shields, spears, arrows, staves, and lances. For they also have various weapons to attack the Church of Christ, which must be ignited by learned men with the fire of the Holy Spirit; namely, the ecclesiastical word, which whoever possesses can say: Was not our heart burning within us while He was opening the Scriptures to us? (Luke 24:32) We cannot have full peace and confidence of habitation unless we plunder all the belongings of our adversaries, so that all may perish and be turned to ashes; and let us plunder those who had previously plundered us, and let us devastate those who had previously devastated the Church. In Hebrw, in the clear light of preaching, he says, 'I will give Gog a named place, a tomb in Israel; according to the Hebrew, a valley of travelers to the east of the sea, which astonishes passers-by. The meaning of this statement is that the tomb of Gog will not be in the mountains, but in the low valleys and in rugged places, which are called Ge in Hebrew. The heretics, although they are in the West, claim that these places are in the East, in order to deceive travelers, namely those who pass through this world and are not residents but strangers, saying that prophetic verse: I am a stranger and a sojourner, like all my fathers (Ps. 38:12).' For who among those passing by, of whom it is written: 'And those who pass by did not say, the blessing of the Lord be upon you' (Ps. 128:8), does not marvel and stand amazed when he sees the valley of travelers, which appears as a valley to travelers but as a mountain to its inhabitants? This is according to the Hebrew. However, the Septuagint translated it as the polyandrion of those who come to the sea; and they shall build around the entrance of the valley. For it is the labor of those who go out from the cities of Israel to close and enclose every entrance and exit of heretical corruption from those who come to the sea, and they delighted in its bitterness, and with the crashing waves and the cruelty of shipwreck, they shall close and enclose, and bury in the depths of the earth, so that they may no longer go out and deceive others with their deceit. Therefore, there they will bury Gog and his entire multitude, which always delights the heretics. And the name of that valley where Gog is buried will be called the Valley of the Multitude, or πολυάνδριον, that is, the tomb of a very large multitude. And as we said above, the weapons of the adversaries will be burned for seven years: thus, for seven months, the land will be cleansed of the filth of the heretics. For from the first month, when we celebrate the Passover of the Lord and avoid the destroyer of Egypt, the lamb with the blood on our doorposts, until the end of the year, that is, until the seventh month when we pitch our tents and are protected among the other branches of palm trees, in order to demonstrate a complete victory against the enemies. We fulfill all the festivals among the people: not only the teachers, but also the entire population will do this eagerly, to bury Gog and cover the land, and by no means allow the free air to be shared. But after the killing and destruction, or the burial of Gog, Ecclesiastical men shall be chosen, who have this study, so that nothing of the former impurities remains in the land of Israel, nor anything of death. They shall search the land, and seek the dead, and bury them, so that the land of the Church may be cleansed. But if, after seven months, when everything should be cleansed, those who go through and surround the land find in any place the bone of a man, that is, the hardness of heretical corruption, or anything of the previous doctrine of death, they shall place it beside that, or they shall build a monument: so that once those who are of this kind have been marked, then they shall either be cleansed or buried with Gog, and cast into the tomb ((or crowd)) of his burial. The name of the city, where the victory of the Lord's servants is, and the adversaries lie down, and the whole multitude of its enemies is prostrated, will be called Amona, or Polyandrion, so that it may be the end of all things, the restoration of purity. Finally, it follows: And they shall cleanse the earth; no doubt those of whom it is written above will begin to seek, and will go around the earth.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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