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The Message of Gog U-Magog

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The Message of Gog U-Magog The Message ofGog u-Magog he haftarot read on Shabbat Chol ha-Moed Pesach and Shabbat Chol ha-Moed Rabbi Netanel Wiederblank TSukkot both address esoteric Maggid Shiur, RIETS and Rabbi, YU Community Shul eschatological themes from the book of Yechezkel. On Pesach, we read about the resurrection of the dry bones and on Sukkot, we study many commentaries assume that all of restored autonomy. In fact, the story war of Gog u-Magog.1 While this the aforementioned passages refer to in Yechezkeil explicitly takes place gory and tumultuous story seems the same events, though they present after the Jews have returned to their to contradict the joyous tone of this the cataclysmic events from differing land, when their peaceful renewal is holiday (though not necessarily the perspectives.5 shattered by a treacherous conflict. somber tenor of Kohelet read on the Magog’s identity is extremely unclear. Rambam writes that a simple reading same day), it is consistent with the The only clue from Tanach is Bereishit of Tanach suggests that it will take holiday’s emphasis on our relationship 10:2, which identifies Magog as a place at the beginning of the messianic with the nations of the world.2 In son of Yefet, who was one of Noach’s era, after the coming of Eliyahu: addition, there is a tradition that this three sons. Malbim writes that we יראה מפשוטן של דברי הנביאים, שבתחילת war will take place during Sukkot.3 will not know what Magog is until the ימות המשיח תהיה מלחמת גוג ומגוג, Accordingly, let us briefly explore the prophecies concerning it are fulfilled.6 ושקודם מלחמת גוג ומגוג יעמוד נביא לישר .message of this haftara ישראל ולהכין לבם, שנאמר הנה אנכי שולח Chapters 38-39 of Yechezkeil describe לכם את אליה וגו'. Magog’s identity is a great war in the end of days. This is The simple interpretation of the known as the war of Gog u-Magog, on extremely unclear. prophets’ words implies that the war account of the following passage: Malbim writes that we of Gog u-Magog will take place at the will not know what beginning of the messianic age. Before א וַיְהִי דְבַר-ה’, אֵ לַי לֵ אמֹר. ב בֶן-אָדָ ם, ִ שים the war of Gog u-Magog, a prophet will ּפָ נֶיָך אֶ ל-גֹוג אֶרֶ ץ הַ ָמגֹוג-נְ ִ שיא, רֹאש מֶ ֶ שְך Magog is until the arise to inspire Israel to be upright and וְתֻבָל; וְהִ ּנָבֵא, עָלָ יו. 1 And the word of Hashem came to me, prophecies concerning prepare their hearts, as Malachi 3:22 saying: 2 “Son of man, set your face states: “Behold, I am sending you Eliyah.” toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the it are fulfilled. Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 12:2 chief prince of Meshech and Tuval, and Nevertheless, other commentators Will the individual known as prophesy against him.” offered their own suggestions. For mashiach arrive before or after Yechekzeil ch. 38 example, Abarbanel suggests that the this war? Chazal seem to provide war of will involve a Yechekzeil prophesies that Gog, the Gog u-Magog conflicting answers to this question. leader of a country called Magog, great war between Christianity and 7 Perhaps the resolution lies in the idea will lead a campaign to destroy the Islam. of two messianic figures, Mashiach Jewish people in their land. He will be When exactly will this war ben Yosef and Mashiach ben David. defeated when God reveals Himself commence? The Zecharya-vision The war will occur after the coming and is sanctified before the entire compares the events to the splitting of Mashiach ben Yosef, who will lead world. This war also is described in of the sea, which came after the the Jewish people in battle and fall Zecharya 12-13, Yirmiyahu 30, and exodus from Egypt; this may indicate tragically, but before the coming of Daniel 11-12.4 While the names Gog that the war will take place after we Mashiach ben David. and Magog appear only in Yechezkeil, already have returned to our land and 23 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Sukkot 5778 Alternatively, Chazal may be All these and similar matters cannot be Ve-Hitgadilti ve-hitkadishti, a prophesy describing different possible ways [clearly] known by man until they occur, predicting that God’s name will in which the redemption will for they are undefined in the words of become great and sanctified, becomes unfold. Chazal frequently identify the prophets. Even the sages have no yitgada(i)l ve-yitkada(i)sh, a petition different models of redemption in established tradition regarding these asking that His great name become the text of Tanach itself.8 It would matters beyond what is implied by magnified and sanctified. With the not be surprising, therefore, if they the verses; hence, there is divergence of coming of mashiach, all of humanity themselves adopted a similar approach opinion among them. In any case, neither will recognize and serve God. in their discussion of the messianic era. the sequence of these events nor their Yechezkeil stresses how redemption The prophecies relating to the war of precise details are among the fundamental will mark the end of the terrible that galut naturally Gog u-Magog seem to suggest such principles of the faith. One should not chilul ha-Sheim a dichotomy. Zecharya describes occupy himself at length with the aggadot engenders. significant Jewish casualties and, and midrashim that deal with these and Likewise, Tur (O.C. 56) notes that the according to the Talmud, the death similar matters, nor should he deem them phrase “Yehei shemeih raba mevorach of prime importance, for they bring one to of Mashiach ben Yosef. However, 10 le-olam u-lolmei olmaya” — May Yechekzeil suggests that Gog and neither awe nor love [of God]. His name become great and blessed Magog will be destroyed in such a Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 12:2 forever and ever — is a petition for miraculous manner that the Jewish Rambam also discourages one from His name to become great. Thus, the nation will not even have to fight:9 focusing on these matters, as they do verse in Zecharya chapter 14, also not promote love and fear of God and referring to the culmination of the war וְ נִ ְ שּפַ טְ ִתי אִ תֹו, ב רְדֶבֶ ּובְדָ ם; וְ גֶ ֶ שם שֹוטֵ ף וְאַבְ נֵי :are not fundamental matters of faith. of Gog u-Magog, states אֶ לְ גָבִ יש אֵ ש וְגָפְרִ ית, אַמְטִיר עָלָיו וְעַל-אֲ גַּפָ יו, ביום ההוא יהיה ה’ אחד ושמו אחד Thus, we shall not explore the matter וְעַ ל-עַ ִמים רַ בים, אֲ שר אִ ת ִֶֹו. further. However, regardless of how And I will punish him with pestilence On that day, He will be one and His the events will unfold, their ultimate and with blood; and I will cause to rain name will be one. purpose is the same — the revelation upon him, and upon his bands, and upon of God’s oneness. Thus, Yechezkeil In Kaddish, we implore God to make the many peoples that are with him, an proclaims: “I will be exalted and I His name great, that is, to make His overflowing shower, and great hailstones, will be sanctified, and I will make name one. This is troubling, however: fire, and brimstone. Myself known before the eyes of many is God not already one? Don’t we Yechekzeil 38:22 nations” (Yechezkeil 38:23). Likewise, believe that “Hashem Elokeinu Hashem While Rambam suggests a basic Zecharya predicts that “On that day, echad?” What is meant by “On that outline, he also reminds us that we do God will be one and His name will be day, He will be one and His name will not really know how things will turn one” (Zecharya 14:9). be one?” out: Indeed, it is this aspect of the wars The way to understand this difficulty Rambam informs us that we do not that has become most prominent in is the realization that even though we have a tradition about how exactly our liturgy. We declare the verse from know of His oneness, when we look at mashiach will come: Zecharya at the end of Aleinu and the world, we do not always perceive Psukai d-zimra, and the passage from His oneness. Cognitively, we are aware וכל אלו הדברים וכיוצא בהן לא ידע אדם Yechezkeil serves as the basis for the that He is just and kind, but when we איך יהיו עד שיהיו, שדברים סתומין הן אצל prayer of Kaddish: see the righteous suffer, the wicked הנביאים, גם החכמים אין להם קבלה בדברים prosper, innocent children die, and וְהִתְ גַדִ ילְתִ יוְהִתְקַדִשְתִ וְנֹודַ עְתִ י לְעֵ ינֵי גֹויִם רַ בִ ים אלו, אלא לפי הכרע הפסוקים, ולפיכך יש infants wail from the burning pain of וְיָדְ עּו כִי אֲ נִי ה’. להם מחלוקת בדברים אלו, ועל כל פנים אין incurable diseases, we do not see His סדור הויית דברים אלו ולא דקדוקיהן עיקר Thus will I manifest My greatness and oneness. My holiness, and make Myself known in בדת, ולעולם לא יתעסק אדם בדברי ההגדות, the sight of many nations. And they shall This is what we mean when we say ולא יאריך במדרשות האמורים בענינים אלו know that I am the Lord. that His name is not one. God’s name וכיוצא בהן, ולא ישימם עיקר, שאין מביאין Yechezkeil 38:23 refers to the manner in which He לא לידי יראה ולא לידי אהבה.
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