Teks -- Ezekiel 38:12 (NET)

38:12 to loot and plunder, to attack the inhabited ruins and the people gathered from the nations, who are acquiring cattle and goods, who live at the center of the earth.”

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

JFB: Eze 38:12 - midst of the land

Literally, "the navel" of the land (Jdg 9:37, Margin). So, in Eze 5:5, Israel is said to be set "in the midst of the nations"; not physically, but morally, a central position for being a blessing to the world: so (as the favored or "beloved city," Rev 20:9) an object of envy. GROTIUS translates, "In the height of the land" (so Eze 38:8), "the mountains of Israel," Israel being morally elevated above the rest of the world.

Clarke: Eze 38:12 - To take a spoil - and a prey

To take a spoil - and a prey - When Antiochus took Jerusalem he gave the pillage of it to his soldiers, and spoiled the temple of its riches, which were immense. See Josephus War, B. 1. C. 1.

TSK: Eze 38:12 - take a spoil, and to take a prey // turn // the desolate // and upon // midst

take a spoil, and to take a prey : Heb. spoil the spoil, and to prey the prey, Eze 29:19 *marg. Isa 10:6; Jer 30:16

turn : Isa 1:24, Isa 1:25; Amo 1:8; Zec 13:7

the desolate : Eze 36:33-35; Jer 32:43, Jer 32:44, Jer 33:12, Jer 33:13; Zec 1:12, Zec 1:17

and upon : Eze 38:8; Zec 10:8-10

midst : Heb. navel, Jdg 9:37 *marg.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Eze 38:12 - To take a spoil // To take a prey // The desolate places // Now inhabited // Which have gotten cattle and goods // have gotten

To take a spoil: the Scythians, and those other nations in this army, were from their original a violent, unjust, and thievish people, addicted to robberies; and they now, under this Gog, follow the old trade.

To take a prey the same repeated. To turn thine hand : either it speaks the ease with which Gog presumeth he shall do what he intendeth, or the sad desolation which he would cause to return upon the Jews.

The desolate places made so by the Babylonians, and continued so till of late years past.

Now inhabited newly repeopled and rebuilt upon their return out of Babylon.

Which have gotten cattle and goods or which are now by their husbandry and diligence getting somewhat of estate and riches; or, as we read it,

have gotten for it was to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes from their return near three hundred and fifty years, and from the finishing the walls of Jerusalem by Nehemiah to the time of Antiochus two hundred years, so that in that time the Jews might be grown rich enough to be accounted a great prey to him, if he were this Gog. However, such the Jews will be thought, when Gog attempts this enterprise.

Haydock: Eze 38:12 - Midst

Midst. Literally, "navel." Hebrew, "Thabor," intimating a mountain rising in a plain, Judges ix. 7. (Calmet) ---

Alluding to this intended blunder of the Jews lately returned, he speaks of Antichrist and of all heretics, who seek to pervert or suppress Catholics rescued from the power of the devil, by the sacraments of Christ. (Worthington)

Gill: Eze 38:12 - To take a spoil, and to take a prey // to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited // and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations // which have gotten cattle and goods // that dwell in the midst of the land

To take a spoil, and to take a prey,.... These are the words of Gog continued; suggesting that he should have no occasion to fight; should have nothing else to do but to seize upon the goods and plunder the substance of these people:

to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited: such as were before desolate, and had lain long so, but now peopled and cultivated; these he would attack and demolish, and make a spoil and prey of:

and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations; a description of the Jews, as before; Eze 38:8.

which have gotten cattle and goods; so that it should seem that Gog or the Turks will not immediately attack the Jews upon their possession of the land of Judea; but some time after, when they have settled in it, and have acquired much wealth and riches in cattle and goods, and then think to have a fine booty of them:

that dwell in the midst of the land; or, "the navel of the land" ^p; which may design Jerusalem, situated in the midst of the land of Israel, and so called the navel of it, as that is in the midst of the body; as Enna is said by Cicero to be the navel of Sicily: or, as Kimchi thinks, the land of Israel itself is meant; which is in the midst of the world, and so the navel of it; though the former seems best.