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CHAP. XXXVIII.
SEt thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. * 1.1 By Gog Lyra understands Antichrist, who should arise and persecute the Church of Christ towards the end of the world, for which it is said, v. 8. * 1.2 After many dayes in the latter yeers thou shalt come into the land, that is brought back from the sword, &c. And he saith, that he is called Gog, signifying tectus covered, be∣cause he should be the devil in the shape of a man, and in the land of Magog, signifying de tecto, of the covered, as if he had said of his retinue or family, that is, such as took part with him. To approve which, he citeth Revel. 20. where Gog and Magog setting forth Antichrist are again spoken of after the thou∣sand yeers, in which time Satan was shut up, expired, and 2 Thes. 2. 8. But Junius taking that which is here prophesied of to be concerning the enemies, * 1.3 by whom the Jews should suffer after their return out of captivity, and living againe in prosperity for a time in their own land, by Gog understands a people in Asia the lesser, and particularly their king Halyartes, who at this time possessed that kingdom, who came of Gyges, that slew Candaulus the king of the Lydians, being therefore called Gog the name being a little changed. From hence Croesus succeeding him, that king of the Lydians so much spoken of for his riches, in larged that kingdom to the parts neer the land of Israel up to mount Lebanon, where there was a City spoken of by Geographers by the name Gygarta called in the Syrian tongue Gogkarta, the City of Gog, and this kingdom when Alexanders Empire was divided amongst his captaines, was called the kingdom of Syria, wherein Antiochus Epiphanes, Seleucus, Demetrius and Nicanor successively reigning, did much mischief to the Jews, as in the books of Maccabees appeareth, persecuting and coming with great Armies a∣gainst them, as is here foretold. Magog was the City called Heliopolis noto∣rious for all kind of idolatry, which was built by the Scythians or Sarmati∣ans, * 1.4 after that making incursions into those parts they had subdued Syria Coelem, for so the Syrians called that City, as Pliny saith. That of Lyra is most generally received, but Junius speaketh much more probably, that by Gog may be understood the king of Syria, who should afterward reigne, the Empire of the Medes and Persians being at an end, and the Grecian Monarch, ending after that at the death of Alexander. For this was after many dayes and in the latter yeers, viz. about three hundred after the Jews returning againe to inhabit Judea. And of their great sufferings then Daniel also prophesieth. * 1.5 Whereas this Gog is said to be in the land of Magog and prince of Mechek and Tubal, these three are said to have come of Japhet, Magog the father * 1.6 of the Scythians or Sarmatians, who, as Josephus saith, were anciently called Magogites, Tubal of the Iberians and Albanians, Meshech of the Cap∣padocians, three great nations, but now under one King or head, Gog as he is here called for the reason before going. And whereas Revel. 20. 8. Gog and Magog are againe spoken of it, it is only in allusion to that, which is here said, the enemies of the Church under the Gospel both Hereticks and Pagans being meant.
The thing threatened against Gog is like that before against the king of E∣gypt, to put an hook in his jawes, and to bring him back together with his * 1.7 forces, which are thus reckoned up, Persia, Ethiopia, Lybia, Gomer and the house of Togarmah. Persia, Heb. Elam, of which Jer. 49. 34. was in part under Antio∣chus, * 1.8 as is shewed 1 Mac. 3. 32. of the Ethiopians and Lybians, see Mac. 10. 11. and how Ptolemee Euergetes restored Demetrius to his kingdom again by their help, when he had bin by Alexander cast out. Of Gomer & Togarmah, see Gen. 10. 2, 3. they also came of Japhet, and then were under the dominion of Antiochus and Seleucus, of all which Gog composed his Army. And for what end this great Army was gathered together is shewed, v. 8. 9. 10. viz. to subdue & to spoile the * 1.9