Reading for March 17th

Read Ezekiel 39.1-16 Unburied corpses on the mountains recall the imagery of the vision of dry bones (37.1-14), the death of the Babylonian king in the open (Isa 14.3-23), and the defeat of Assyria in the mountains of Israel (Isa 14.24-27). The victory fires that burn for seven years throughout the land recall the seven-years; the seven year sabbatical agricultural and economic cyle (Lev 25.1-7; Ex 23.10-11; 21.1-6; Deut 15.1-18). The burialof Gog constitues the final stag of the cleansing of the land of Israel prior for its restoration. The valley of the Travelers or the "Valley of those who passby" is apparently a wordplay on the Valley of Abarim east of the Dead Sea. Hebrew for "travelers, passersby" is "ha'abrim." The Valley of Hamon-gog, "the valley of the horde of Gog," is a wordplay on the Valley of Hinnom, southwest of Jerusalem, which was known for idolatry, the burning of children, and dead bodies (2 King 23.10; Jer 7.30-34). The seven months of burial purity the land so that God's glory or presence may appear. Hamonah: "horde." Comments or Questions..