And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamon-gog.
the multitude of gog; the name of an emblematic place in palestine
Analysis & Commentary
I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea—The Hebrew maqom sham qever (מָקוֹם־שָׁם קֶבֶר) literally means "a place there, a grave," emphasizing the ironic destiny of Gog. Instead of conquering Israel, Gog receives only burial ground. The valley of the passengers (gey ha-overim, גֵּי הָעֹבְרִים) refers to a major thoroughfare, likely the valley between the Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee, where travelers would pass.
The name Hamon-gog (הֲמוֹן גּוֹג) means "multitude of Gog" or "horde of Gog," memorializing the magnitude of this eschatological defeat. The phrase it shall stop the noses of the passengers graphically depicts the stench of unburied corpses blocking the route—the Hebrew chosemes (חֹסֶמֶת) means "stopping up" or "obstructing." This vivid imagery emphasizes the totality of divine judgment against those who assault God's covenant people.
Historical Context
Ezekiel prophesied this during the Babylonian exile (593-571 BCE), addressing both immediate concerns about Israel's enemies and eschatological themes of final judgment. The "valley of the passengers" likely refers to major trade routes through Israel connecting Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Arabia. In ancient Near Eastern warfare, unburied corpses were considered both a military disgrace and ritual defilement (Deuteronomy 21:23).
The seven-month burial period and the valley's renaming demonstrate that this prophecy concerns an unprecedented event. Many Reformed interpreters see this as unfulfilled eschatology pointing to Revelation 19-20's final battle, though some apply it symbolically to God's ongoing protection of the church against worldly powers.
Questions for Reflection
How does God transform Gog's intended conquest into a monument of divine judgment?
What does the detailed burial account teach about God's concern for both justice and ritual purity?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea—The Hebrew maqom sham qever (מָקוֹם־שָׁם קֶבֶר) literally means "a place there, a grave," emphasizing the ironic destiny of Gog. Instead of conquering Israel, Gog receives only burial ground. The valley of the passengers (gey ha-overim, גֵּי הָעֹבְרִים) refers to a major thoroughfare, likely the valley between the Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee, where travelers would pass.
The name Hamon-gog (הֲמוֹן גּוֹג) means "multitude of Gog" or "horde of Gog," memorializing the magnitude of this eschatological defeat. The phrase it shall stop the noses of the passengers graphically depicts the stench of unburied corpses blocking the route—the Hebrew chosemes (חֹסֶמֶת) means "stopping up" or "obstructing." This vivid imagery emphasizes the totality of divine judgment against those who assault God's covenant people.