Ezekiel 38

6. Future invasion of the Promised Land chs. 38-39

This is the sixth and last message (a proof oracle [Note: Ibid., p. 431.] ) that Ezekiel received from the Lord the night before the refugees reached the exiles with the message that Jerusalem had fallen (cf. Ezekiel 33:21-22). It too deals with God’s plans for Israel in the distant future, when He would restore her to her land. It answers the question, What about future enemies of Israel? This message guarantees Yahweh’s protection of Israel. This section of the book consists of seven messages each marked by the introductory phrase, "Thus says the Lord God" (Ezekiel 38:3; Ezekiel 38:10; Ezekiel 38:14; Ezekiel 38:17; Ezekiel 39:1; Ezekiel 39:17; Ezekiel 39:25). This is another apocalyptic passage.

"In Ezekiel 38-39 the prophet used parallels from Israel’s first Exodus to describe God’s ’new’ exodus preceding the kingdom era. All that God intended for Israel during the first Exodus will be accomplished in the ’new’ one.

• Destruction of Gentile oppressors (Exodus 5-12; Ezekiel 38-39)

• Plans for building God’s house (Exodus 20-40; Ezekiel 40-43)

• Climax: God’s glory enters His house (Exodus 40:35; Ezekiel 43:5)

• Instructions for worship (Leviticus; Ezekiel 43-46)

• Land boundaries for Israel (Numbers 34; Ezekiel 47)

• Division of land among the tribes (Joshua 14-21; Ezekiel 48)" [Note: Dyer, in The Old . . ., p. 691.]