Ezekiel 39:14

And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.

And they shall sever out {H914} men {H582} of continual employment {H8548}, passing through {H5674} the land {H776} to bury {H6912} with the passengers {H5674} those that remain {H3498} upon the face {H6440} of the earth {H776}, to cleanse {H2891} it: after the end {H7097} of seven {H7651} months {H2320} shall they search {H2713}.

'They will then pick men for the continual duty of going through the land and burying with the travelers the corpses still lying out on the ground, in order to cleanse it; they will begin their search after the seven months.

And men will be employed to continually pass through the land to cleanse it by burying the invaders who remain on the ground. At the end of the seven months they will begin their search.

And they shall set apart men of continual employment, that shall pass through the land, and, with them that pass through, those that bury them that remain upon the face of the land, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.

Ezekiel 39:14 is part of the profound prophecy detailing the aftermath of God's decisive victory over Gog and his vast confederacy. This verse outlines the meticulous and extensive efforts required to cleanse the land of Israel following the destruction of this massive invading army.

Context

This verse immediately follows the description of God's judgment on Gog and Magog in Ezekiel chapter 38 and the initial phase of their destruction and burial in Ezekiel 39:11-13. The sheer number of casualties is so immense that even after the initial burial in the Valley of Hamon-gog, a systematic effort is needed to purify the entire land. This speaks to the scale of God's judgment and the devastating impact on the invaders.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Victory: The verse underscores the completeness of God's victory over His enemies. The aftermath requires an unprecedented cleanup, signifying the totality of the defeat.
  • Sanctification and Cleansing of the Land: For ancient Israel, contact with dead bodies rendered the land and people ceremonially unclean (as seen in Numbers 19:11). The intensive seven-month effort described here highlights the critical importance of ritual purity for the land where God's presence dwells.
  • Thoroughness of God's Work: The long duration of "seven months" and the need for "men of continual employment" emphasize the exhaustive nature of the cleansing. This speaks to God's meticulous attention to detail, whether in judgment or restoration.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "men of continual employment" (Hebrew: anshei tamid) suggests a dedicated, permanent task force. This is not a casual or temporary effort but an organized, sustained operation, indicating the gravity and scale of the task. The word "cleanse" (Hebrew: taher) is a key term in biblical ritual law, signifying purification and removal of defilement, often in preparation for worship or God's presence.

Practical Application

This prophecy serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His people and His land. It assures believers that all evil will ultimately be dealt with, and God will bring about a thorough and complete restoration. Just as the physical land of Israel needed extensive cleansing, so too does humanity require spiritual cleansing from sin, a work continually accomplished through Christ. The thoroughness of this cleanup also points to the comprehensive nature of God's future plans, including the final defeat of evil in the end times and the establishment of His righteous kingdom.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 39:12

    And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.

  • Numbers 19:11

    ¶ He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.

  • Numbers 19:19

    And the clean [person] shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.

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