Is it really the War of Gog from the Land of Magog?
Preamble byYair Davidiy:
Tovia Singer posted a podcast concerning the present situation.
Following this Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz wrote an article in which he summarized what Tivoia Singer wrote.
see:
The war with Iran is Ezekiel's 'War of Gog', unfolding in real time
https://israel365news.com/418934/rabbi-tovia-singer-the-war-with-iran-is-ezekiels-war-of-gog-unfolding-in-real-time/ by Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz.
Alexander Zephyr has now written a reply of his own. It stands alone and is self-explanatory and does not need any other source.In Principle we agree with what Alexander Zephyr has written. It is what the Bible says.
Alexander Zephyr writes:
In the Article A. E. Berkowitz quoting Tovia Singer, as in many others related writings posted on the subject of the Gog and Magog war, R. Singer has insisted that "the war now underway between Israel and Iran is not a future event awaiting fulfillment. It is the end-time war described in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, and it is happening as Israelis read these very words. It's not around the corner anymore. It's actually happening right now." Is this a correct assessment? Is it what God's prophet Ezekiel says? Not at all. Actually, the prophet's words totally contradict R. Singer' statements.
First of all, Ezekiel never mentioned that Persia is Gog and its territory is Magog. He just said that Gog is the Supreme leader of invading Israel armies and Persia is Gog's ally in the list of other allies, such as Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer, the house of Togarmah, and so on. "Be thou prepared, thou (Gog!) and all thy company that is assembled unto thee, and be thou (Gog!) a guard unto them" (Ez.38:2-7). This passage clearly shows that Gog is the undisputable despot ruler, who leads its ally countries, including Persia-Iran, in an attack against Israel.
Second: Did Ezekiel say that Gog from the land of Magog war would take place in Persia-Iran? That is what R. Singer is trying to convince us. No, the prophet says quite the opposite – the Gog's war will take place on the geographical territory of Israel, not in Iran (Ez. 38:8, 11, 18; 39:2, 11-15). In the words of the prophet, "You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel", "On that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel".To be buried in the Land of Israel, all the hordes of Gog must invade this Land, physically presenting 'boots on the ground'. How can R. Singer dispute this well established Scriptural fact?
Third: Speaking of the military victory the USA and Israel achieved over Iran, R. Singer presents it as a part of the prophetic narrative described by Ezekiel 38-39. But the important point here is that the IDF will not fight Gog's armies – it is the God of Israel who will personally deal with Gog. That is what the prophet Ezekiel revealed of the Almighty actions: "Behold, I am against thee, O Gog. I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou and all thy bands. I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. I will give unto Gog a place of graves in Israel" (Ez. 39:1-4, 11). In the Midrash, Esther Rabbah 7:23, the confirmation of God's intention towards Gog punishment is followed: "I have many messengers whom I can send into battle. But the war against Gog and Magog I shall wage myself. Their destruction shall be complete"
Forth: One of the most important condition of the beginning Gog's war emphasized by Ezekiel is this verse: "I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates" (38:11).Gog will attack Israel only when Israelites meet this requirement, that is, be at rest and safety, "having neither bars nor gates". Is Israel truly living now in security and safely? Not even close! The neighboring Arab-Muslim states, including Iran, have continued threatening Israel's existence and aiming for its destruction since the tiny country was born. Israel literally imprisons itself behind walls and fences. By no means has Israel dwelt in safety; it has become a defensive fortress among "evil neighbors" (Jeremiah 12:14–17). The October 7, 2023 and continued attacks of Iran, its proxies, and various terrorist groups inside are proven testimony that today's situation in Israel does not conform that the nation "dwelt in safety".
Fifth: R. Singer does not differentiate between the terms "Judah" and "Israel". Sadly, most people do not understand the difference between the people of Judah and the people of Israel. Despite the fact that these nations are of the same Semitic stock being twelve sons of the Patriarch Jacob, after the separation and exiles, they became different nations, living in the different countries of the world, having different histories, cultures, languages, traditions, and religions. Exactly, as the Bible predicted.Today the two terms are not synonymous. Likewise, the Israelites are not the Jews. It is safe to say that all Jews technically can be called 'Israelites', like New-Yorkers are Americans, whereas not all Israelites can be called Jews, like not all Americans are New-Yorkers.
Analyzing events of the war of Gog, R. Singer points out a specific sequence, before the starting of this war, "Regathering of the Jewish people to their land comes first". Who lives today in the Promised Land? The answer is – the descendants of Judah, Benjamin, and Levy, known to the world as the Jewish people. Of course, there are some insignificant numbers of people representing the other Tribes, but they are all absorbed among the Jews.
"According to figures released by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics this year, the global Jewish population stands at approximately 15.8 million, with roughly 7.2 million, or about 45%, living in Israel, compared to roughly 6.3 million, about 40%, in the United States," writes R.Singer.
Meanwhile, there are a few hundred millions of Israelites, who are not Jews and live in exile. They are called "The Lost Ten Tribes of Israel". There is no name of Judah, House of Judah, or Daughters of Jerusalem in Ezekiel 38-39. What does it mean? Ezekiel informs us that at the time of Gog's attack the whole House of Israel (12 Tribes) will be dwelled in the Promised Land, "all of them" (Ez. 38:8, 11). Hence are the names God uses to identify the people of Israel, "My people Israel", "The House of Israel", "The whole House of Jacob" (Ez. 38:16; 39:7, 12, 22, 29). The ingathering of the whole House of Jacob (12 Tribes of Israel) is a prophesied event of the future, "after many days". There are more than 40 prophecies in the Hebrew Bible predicting reunification of Judah and Joseph in the time of the Messiah son of David. The names of Ephraim or Manasseh are collective terms used in the Bible to identify the entire body of the Ten Tribes of Israel.Throughout the Scripture, the Almighty speaks separately of the house of Judah and the house of Israel. "I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first" (Jeremiah 33:7).
The best description concerning the destiny of Israel and Judah in the last days can be found in the famous 'Two Sticks' prophecy of Ezekiel: "And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms anymore" (Ez. 37: 16-24). Please pay attention that this very important prophecy was placed before the beginning of the Gog from the land of Magog war..
Six: R. Singer, as many others, insists that Gog's war is the pre-Messianic one. R. Maimonides disagrees: "The plain meaning of the words of the prophets seems to indicate that the war of Gog and Magog will take place at the beginning of the Messianic Era" (Mishneh Torah, Hilkhos Melakhim 12:2).R. Ezekiel confirms that in the time of Gog's war "all Israel was brought back from the sword and is gathered out of many nations, and they shall dwell safety, all of them. All of them are at rest and dwell safely" (Ez.38:8, 11).
R. Singer also said that when the Messiah comes "it will be peace". Not so! There will be few Messianic wars at the beginning of the Messianic Age, in which the Messiah will be victorious. According to Maimonides, the Messiah most definitely will fight God's wars, "If a king will arise from the House of David who diligently contemplates the Torah and observes its mitzvoth... and fight the wars of God, we may, with assurance, consider him Mashiach" (Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars).
There is another important message in the 11th-century CE Midrash Vayosha, confirming the events of the Gog and Magog War are the Messianic: "And when the days of the Messiah arrive, Gog and Magog will come up against the LORD of Israel, because they will hear that Israel is without a king and sits in safety." In another place it says: "After Moshiach comes, a major war will be instigated against Israel, as mentioned in the Holy Zohar (Shemos 7b), and in Parashas Vayaira (119a), and Toldos (139). This is the War of Gog and Magog spoken about in Yechezkel (38, 39).
Conclusion: The War of Gog is the Messianic one, with the Messiah revealed, and the "whole House of Israel" (12 Tribes, "all of them"!) dwell in the Land of Israel (Ez. 38:8, 11; 39:7, 25, 29). There is not even one mandatory condition of the War of Gog', outlined by the prophet Ezekiel 38-39, which is in line with R. Singer interpretation of this prophecy. Since the Messiah has not yet come, the Israelites have not dwelled at rest and security, and the Messianic Era has not begun, how is it remotely possible that the War of Gog and Magog has already started ... in Iran?