39:9 cities of Israel. Remarkably, the earthquake and the storm will be so providentially controlled by the Lord that it will destroy Gog’s armies while leaving the cities of Israel virtually unaffected. No wonder the people of Israel and the other nations recognize the hand of God.

39:9 seven years. The inhabitants of Israel will be able to use the burnable parts of the army’s weapons as their fuel for seven years—possibly the same seven-year period as that described in Daniel 9:27, Revelation 11:3; 13:5 (see notes).