Martin Luther's Preface to the 38th and 39th Chapters of Ezekiel, by Gog.
1. because in the Revelation of St. John, chapter 20, v. 8, the Gog is described as fighting against Christianity with a great army, like sand on the sea, innumerable, and finally to be destroyed with fire from heaven, whom we consider to be the Turk,
Because I am sitting here so idle, I have undertaken to translate the two chapters of Ezekiel, namely the 38th and 39th, which are almost the same as the Revelation; and see that St. John has taken it from Ezekiel, and directs us here in the pro-
*) The Jena edition adds to the date: Anno 1530 the closer determination: Nenss ^prili, which in any case comes very close to the truth. For after Luther was brought to the fortress of Coburg on April 23, he immediately took up the work and wrote the translation of these two chapters of Ezekiel after the "Admonition to the clergy, assembled at the Imperial Diet in Augsburg". Already on May 12, he wrote about it to Melanchthon (De Wette, IV, p. 15): "I have long since finished my exhortation to the clergy and sent it to Wittenberg. I have also translated the two chapters of Ezekiel from the Gog and provided them with a preface, which will appear in print at the same time (with the admonition!)." The admonition came out at the beginning of June, for on June 11 the Elector sent copies of it to Dolzig (De Wette, vol. IV, p. 11); to this time, therefore, we also have the
phets Ezekiel, who speaks a little further about it. Otherwise one finds nowhere in the holy scripture of the name Gog.
(2) And it seems to me that the Holy Spirit shortens the name of the Turk, and does not call him badly "Magog", which is the right whole name, Gen. 10:2, but breaks off his head, takes away the first letter, and calls him "Gog"; although both Gog and Magog are one name, in this place and in Revelation, and also both mean the same Turk. He does this to show us comfort that he is almost an enemy of Gog. Just as every man calls his enemy by half his name when he wants to show his anger or displeasure. As when one otherwise daily calls one John, and out of anger calls one Hans. And the prophet Jeremiah Cap. 22, 24. calls King Jechaniah badly Chanja, whom he otherwise often calls Jechanja. So here the Turk, whose whole name is Magog, must also be called Gog by half his name. Although such shortening of names is often done out of love, as one says: Lippes, Lene, Thrine, or even, du Schälklein, 1) du Büblein.
3 And Gog is a name from the Hebrew; Gag, which means a roof. That Gog or Magog means so much, as a roof manu, or who lives under the roof. Which rhymes, both, with the Turks, and their fathers, the Tatters. They are both a wild, predatory people, who do not ask for houses, but, like cattle, they live in huts, as under roofs and showers, 2) always ready for robbery and war. And they want to be praised that they, as vain great saints, do not build large, beautiful houses, as happens with us. And is also fine; as the saints are, so is the holiness, and such saints shall have such holiness, full of avarice, fornication,
1) In the original edition: "schelcklin"; in the Wittenberg and Jena editions: "Secklin".
2) Orig.: Schawren.
To choose a roof for a house, just as all hypocrites do for sanctity.
(4) Moreover they keep not house, according to the scripture, Ps. 128:3: For they regard not marriage, neither is there any purpose set for their fornication; they take and leave wives as they will, and so their tents are open behind and before, and on every side, that they run after fornication like cattle. But they have the roof as a testimony of great abstinence and temperance.
(5) It is sufficiently shown before, how Gog, the Turk, has his origin from the Tattern or red Jews, since the great Cam 3) is king; as the countrymen say, who originally have the name Magog, Gen. 10, 2. Therefore also the Turk must inherit such his fatherland's name here, according to custom of the Scriptures, since sometimes a single person of a whole country has a name; like St. Paul 1 Mos. 49, 27. and Ps. 68, 4) 28. Benjamin, of the whole family name, inherits, as if he alone would be Benjamin [Rom. 11, 1.]. Which way also we Germans have, when we thus say: Saxony or Saxonia held firm, since one chose the emperor, Saxony did the best. Hereby we no longer mean Duke Frederick of Saxony, the individual person; and if a Spaniard fights with a Venetian, one would say: Hui Hispania, defend yourself; Hispania conquers, Venice lies, and the like much. So here the Holy Spirit calls the Turk after his fatherland "Magog", and out of anger "Gog".
(6) In the same way the word "Israel" is to be heard in these two chapters. For the apostles and other disciples of Christ, coming from the Jews, were true Israel, and have also the names of all the people of Israel.
3) Cam -Khan.
4) Jni original correct, according to the Vulgate count: "in the 67th Psalm". Here the Erlanger has adopted Walch's incorrect correction "Ps. 78".
To put our writing into print. It appeared under the title: "Das XXXVIII vnd XXXIX Capitel Hesechiel vom Gog. Verdeudscht durch Mart. Luther. Wittemberg MVXXX." At the end: "Gedruckt zu Wittemberg durch Nickel Schirlentz. MDXXX." In the collective editions: in the Wittenberg (1551), vol. II, p. 491d; in the Jena (1566), vol. V, p. 3; in the Altenburg, vol. V, p. 2; in the Leidiger, vol. VII, p. 493; and in the Erlanger, vol. 41, p. 220. According to the latter, which offers the text of the original edition, we have reproduced the writing. The Wittenberg edition brings dm text of our Bible. Both Walch and the Erlanger have noted the "deviation" of our Bible in the margin; we have omitted this as something superfluous.
as St. Paul inherited the name Benjamin. Therefore the name Israel remained with the apostles and was inherited by all their disciples, so that now holy Christendom, and we also, and all who believe the word of the apostles and are their disciples, are called Israel. Just as all countries here must be called Gog, because they are under the Turk and follow him, although they are not all Gog by birth, but Greeks, Moors, Arabs and the like. For the hemp is called after the head of which is the banner.
(7) Therefore, by the "mountains of Israel" here we must not understand the mountains near Jerusalem where Gog is to be slain; it is the Christian churches now and then. Among the Christians he shall lie down; but not with the sword, but with lightning, thunder, hellish fire from heaven. For our princes, the dear apostles, are true natural Israel; so we Christians are under their banner, that is, under your gospel; therefore, after their name, we are rightly and truly called Israel. Did not the rascal Julianus call the Christians Galileans, because they were attached to Jesus from Galilee? And all Asia must be called Gog and Turks, because of their tyrant. Why should we not also be called Israel for the sake of our Lord Jesus, since he is a true natural Israel, indeed, the chief treasure of Israel, and his apostles, our dukes, are also true Israel.
(8) I say this so that the interpretation of the Jews may not be changed; this text does not concern them. Daniel Cap. 9, 26. 27. has indicated to them their end, that they may no longer hope for an assembly. We are the ones who have been brought together from all nations under one Lord, Christ. And especially now, in these last times, we are hardly brought together a little by the gospel from all erroneous faiths. The devil notices this in Gog (says Ezekiel here) and wants to wear us out. Because he sees that pope, emperor, kings and princes do not like to dampen the gospel, he thinks to destroy it with power through his Gog. For I cannot leave the thoughts, nor can I miss the devil, that he should destroy me and the gospel.
my heap should not primarily seek mine. We must also call him Germany. If our gospel is right, I do not lack these thoughts, and I know that the devil must have such in mind, for he does not want and cannot stand our gospel; he would rather tear heaven and earth apart, lest he should wake up his Gog.
For this reason, I have omitted these two chapters all the more to comfort and exhort our people to correction and to diligent, earnest prayer, so that we may see the promised redemption in this text, and the downfall of Gog, blessedly and with joy. He shows off, and has it in mind: Gog has tasted the German blood, he intends to drink himself full inside. Thus the devil is an enemy to us, he wants to turn us away pure.
Thus we see here at the end of the 39th chapter, v. 23, who has made the Turk so great and powerful, who gives him so much and great victory. Not, indeed, his multitude or power, but our sin, says the text, which has aroused God's anger, and hidden his face from us, and caused the Gog to rage so horribly.
(11) Let every man therefore repent, fear God, and honor his gospel. Let us confess our sin and not deny it, then with strong prayer and heartfelt groaning ask for help and mercy. For our presumption shall not smite the Gog, let God's wrath first be removed by our repentance and prayer, as He says here in the text, that with the Gog His wrath shall go forth. Thunder, lightning and hellish fire shall strike him down, just as it happened to Sanherib [Isa. 37:36], that is his judgment and his end. What judgment Christians must urge and promote with their sighing and pleading, otherwise no one will do it. For this is why the Gospel has now appeared so brightly, that Christ wants to execute and remedy both the Pope (as he began) and the Turks, and to redeem us once and for all with his glorious future, which we await daily. May His grace and mercy help us to believe firmly and to pray sincerely, amen.