The war of Gog and Magog
Question
Dear rabbi,I heard the war of gog of magog and children of israel yet not have been started.But today a big war has been going to start between israel and iran.Does the prediction of Ezekiel (Ezekiel chapter 38 and 39) are going to be fulfilled?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
For the benefit of readers allow me to first note that you are referring to the battle known as “Gog and Magog” as described in the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 38-39, among other places in Scripture.
The prophet Ezekiel describes an apocalyptic battle that will be started Gog and/or Magog against the Jewish people. The defeat of Gog and Magog will then usher in the Messianic Redemption. The relevant passages are very difficult to understand and are shrouded in mystery. It is very unclear what the war of Gog and Magog is all about, whether it is a physical war or a spiritual war, nor is it even clear who and what is Gog and Magog actually is! As the Rambam writes, “All these and similar matters cannot be definitely known by man until they occur.”
Even if the prophecy of Gog and Magog does refer to a horribly violent war, there is a rule in Torah tradition that bad prophecies do not necessarily need to be fulfilled. Indeed, as the Shem Mishmuel, Vayigash, writes, “We have it by tradition from our holy teachers that as of this time we have been exempted from the wars of Gog and Magog, and that after the “ingathering of the exiles” the Jewish people will dwell peacefully on their land forever.”
It is not for us to speculate if current events are fulfillment of Biblical prophecies. The prophecies should certainly be springboard for inspiration, but we must sit back and allow G-d to run the world. Our job is to study Torah and perform mitzvot.
Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 12:2; Hilchot Yesodei Hatorah 10:4