Verse 8 is one of the longest verses in Ezekiel 38-39 and describes when this invasion of the land of Israel will take place. There are a total of seven descriptive phrases used in verse 8 to tell us when this event will occur. Weh ave already examined the first three and have seen that the invasion will take place "after many days," "in the latter years," and when the land of Israel "is restored from the sword." We must keep in mind that this event will unfold when all seven indicators are in place at the same time...
The final two of seven descriptive phrases in verse 8 will now be examined. These phrases provide a framework for determining when this invasion will take place...
Verses 10 through 13 record the intentions of the invaders. It is no problem for the God of the Bible to know the thoughts and intentions of one's mind and heart (Heb. 4:12–13) and thus reveal to us what one's motives are. Even though the Lord "put hooks in their jaws" (38:4) in order to bring the invaders down, the human thought process is revealed in this section...
Twice Israel and Jerusalem are said in Ezekiel to dwell at the center of the earth. "Thus says the Lord God, 'This is Jerusalem; I have set her at the center of the nations, with lands around her'" (Ezek. 5:5). Rabbi Fisch says, "Following Ezekiel, Dante places Jerusalem at the centre of the world, with the Ganges as the extreme east and the pillars of Hercules as the extreme west." Israel and its chief city Jerusalem was created by God and placed in the center of the earth so that she could be alight to the nations as the Lord desired to use her to spread His message across the globe...
It appears that Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish are clearly a trading community that is not involved in the invasion and from the sidelines ask the motives of the invaders. "Have you come to capture spoil?" "Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?" Even though these are questions, they also clearly reveal in them the intent of the invaders, which were also stated in verse 12...