Yehezkiel 21:2

21:2 “Son of man, turn toward ¹  Jerusalem ²  and speak out against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel

Yehezkiel 28:7

28:7 I am about to bring foreigners ³  against you, the most terrifying of nations.

They will draw their swords against the grandeur made by your wisdom, ⁴ 

and they will defile your splendor.

Yehezkiel 29:2

29:2 “Son of man, turn toward ⁵  Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

Yehezkiel 38:2

38:2 “Son of man, turn toward ⁶  Gog, ⁷  of the land of Magog, ⁸  the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. ⁹  Prophesy against him

¹ tn Heb “set your face toward.”

² map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

³ sn This is probably a reference to the Babylonians.

⁴ tn Heb “they will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom.”

⁵ tn Heb “set your face against.”

⁶ tn Heb “set your face against.”

⁷ sn This may refer to a Lydian king in western Asia Minor in the seventh century b.c. Apart from Ezek 38-39, the only other biblical reference to this king/nation is in Rev 20:8. For a study of the names appearing in this verse, see E. Yamauchi, Foes From the Northern Frontier, 19-27.

⁸ sn One of the sons of Japheth according to Gen 10:2; 1 Chr 1:5.

⁹ tn Heb “the prince, the chief of Meshech and Tubal.” Some translate “the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal,” but it is more likely that the Hebrew noun in question is a common noun in apposition to “prince,” rather than a proper name. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:434-35. As Block demonstrates, attempts by some popular writers to identify these proper names with later geographical sites in Russia are anachronistic. See as well E. Yamauchi, Foes From the Northern Frontier, 19-27.

sn Meshech and Tubal were two nations in Cappadocia of Asia Minor. They were also sons of Japheth (Gen 10:2; 1 Chr 1:5).