Commentary

The Tanach is self-explanatory, and you shouldn't rely on anything else.
But these comments will expand the detail of the passages and apply them to our time.

Ezekiel 33-39

Introduction
These chapters from Ezekiel speak of the "End of Days." The End of Days is a recurring them in the Torah and the writings of the prophets. Whenever it says, "a prophesy for the End of Days," it is speaking of a certain time. I am convinced this "End of Days" will come in our time. In fact, I see it coming rather soon. However, it doesn't matter when it will come, until it comes. Many people in the past have awaited the fulfillment of these prophesies, and mankind has waited till this day, yet nothing has happened. Therefore, I speak of these things as something that will happen, although I cannot say when it will happen, since this is a matter for mankind to decide; and the decision rests firmly upon Israel.

Some people might say we are already in the "End of Days," since Israel has been reborn and many of her exiles have returned, although this is not so. This has happened even long ago, when the Temple was rebuilt, Israel was reborn, and many of her exiles returned...during the second Temple period. But those weren't the "End of Days" just as today is not the "End of Days." In that time, like today, Israel was a nation of its people and did not accept the Rule of G-d. In that time, like today, most of Israel remained in exile. Furthermore, in that time, like today, the prophesies for the End of Days did not come true. The only difference between that time and today, is that many things can still happen today, while that time is history. This is why I say, the "End of Days" will come in our time, because we can make it arrive. We can live for a Purpose, instead of repeating the mistakes of our past.

Ezekiel 33
This chapter speaks of Israel, actually the kingdom of Judah, in the time of its destruction and exile. G-d Made Ezekiel a "sentinel" over His people, that he should warn them about what was to come. Ezekiel was a prophet amongst them, and his role was to warn the kingdom of Judah, that they should repent and prevent their death and destruction. Apparently they did not heed his warning, and all of Israel was destroyed; its remnant driven into exile. I included this chapter as a sort of introduction, because it is upon this backdrop that the Redeeming prophesies for the End of Days were made. Israel faced defeat, destruction, and exile, and only the hope of Redemption has kept it alive.

What's ironic is that the people of Israel have never given up hope, yet they have also never learned their lesson. The second Temple was built upon the same failures of the past, and modern Israel was built upon the same mistakes of the second Temple. The second, like the first, ended in destruction and exile. Modern Israel would have to be completely insane and foolish to expect to be the same yet merit Redemption. Let that be the dividing factor, that Israel will separate itself from the past and redeem its future. Only as such, can Israel survive and deserve the Redemption that has been Foretold.

Ezekiel 34
This chapter speaks of the corrupt leaders of Israel, that are misleaders, and the Leadership of G-d, when He Will Rule Israel and Firmly Restore His people in the Land. Israel has had a long history of bad leadership, and even today, Israel cannot find a good leader. This is because Israel can be Ruled only by the Will of G-d, according to His Laws.

The children of Israel are like sheep wandering around the many lands. They are lost and misguided; they have been consumed yet no one defended them; they had become scattered, yet no one searched; only they have been used and cheated, even when they returned. The analogy of people as sheep is appropriate when G-d is their "Shepherd," but the leaders of Israel have indeed treated their people as sheep and led them with corruption. Therefore, it Says, G-d Will Judge amongst his people and Save Israel from its leaders. He Will Lead Israel to their Land and Bless them with wealth and abundance. He Will Establish His Rule over Israel, through His servant "David," and Israel Will live securely on its Soil; G-d Will Be With His people and Watch Over them.

Ezekiel 35
This chapter is a prophesy against edom--which is the nation of esav. The land of edom is contained by the southwestern boundaries of jordan and a small part of northwestern arabia. Although "edom" is not exactly a nation anymore, the arabs follow in the ways of esav, in their rejection of G-d and their eternal hatred for Israel. This is a prophecy of destruction for edom, as G-d Says, "I Will Turn you to blood, and blood will pursue you... I Will Make mount seir desolate and a waste... I Will Fill his mountains with corpses; your hills and your valleys and all your streams... Those slain by the sword will fall in them... I Will Make you an eternal desolation, that your cities will never be restored; then you will know that I Am Hashem."

The arabs thought they would inherit both lands--meaning edom and Israel, in our time, but in the time of the Bible, this probably refers to edom's plot to make both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel into a heritage for themselves. And the arabs have continuously tried to make Israel theirs; as G-d Says, "I Have Heard all your provocations that you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, 'They are desolate; they are presented to us to devour.'" For the arabs had tried to occupy Israel in the past, although the Land "rejected" them and did not give forth its fruit (as G-d Rejected them), and to this day they have tried to take Israel, as they settled the Land while the Hebrews redeemed her Soil (as G-d Removed the curse from upon the Land, while His people have been Restored in her Soil)... Therefore, "Thus Said the Lord Hashem/Elohim: When all the earth rejoices, I Will Make you desolate. In accordance with your rejoicing that the Heritage of the House of Israel had become desolate, so Will I Do to you; you shall be desolate, mount seir and every bit of edom! Then they will know that I Am G-d."

Ezekiel 36
Israel was once a desolate wasteland, but its Soil has been Restored and its people have returned...and its Soil will be further Redeemed and the children of Israel will multiply upon the Land and be very numerous upon her Soil; the Word of G-d, according to Ezekiel 36. The nations have tried to make Israel their own, in contempt of G-d, "because of Israel's expulsion in scorn," and thus they thought they would rid the earth of Israel and of the memory of G-d's Laws, but it will not be so. Israel has been Restored in its Land, the entire House of Israel Will Be Restored in its Land, and the Rule of G-d Will Be Restored upon Israel; thus Israel Will Be Blessed with wealth and abundance.

But this will not be for the foolishness of Israel, that they might think they had done good in the "Eyes" of G-d. To the contrary, Israel has been Blessed for the sake of the world, that G-d's Name will no longer be disdained and His Laws will no longer be ignored. As it Is Said, "It is not for your sake that I Act, O House of Israel, but for My Holy Name that you have desecrated among the nations where you came...let this be known to you! Be embarrassed and ashamed of your ways, O House of Israel!" For "I Will Put My Spirit within you, and I Will Make it so that you will follow My Decrees and guard My Ordinances, and fulfill them. You will dwell in the Land that I Gave to your forefathers; you will be a people to Me, and I Will be a Judge Over you." That Israel should merit Redemption and deserve the many Blessings that will be earned.

Ezekiel 37
G-d Shows Ezekiel a vision of dry bones coming to life. This was a sign that Israel would be reborn. The dry bones are the remnant of Israel, and G-d Lifts them up from their graves in exile, Restores their form, and Breathes life into them once more. Some people have assumed G-d would literally bring the dead to life. G-d has literally brought Israel back to life, but only fools would think dead people would be brought back to life. It was important to make this clarification because the world cannot be filled with dead people and dead thoughts brought back to life. Israel must not look to the past, hoping to bring back its failures; it must look to the future, walking in the Ways of G-d. Judaism and Jewish law should be left behind in the "graves," as Israel must not be filled with the death of these confusing and contradicting texts. If you're looking for the Laws of G-d, you need only look into His Torah--the Book of Life. Don't try to uncover the texts buried in history nor clean off the dust from the books of the corrupt.

Then G-d Commands Ezekiel to hold two pieces of wood and bring them together in his hands, making them one. This is a sign that Israel will be united, and it will never again be divided into kingdoms or tribes, as it had been in the past. In fact, this has happened, although Israel has yet to be Ingathered in the Land. But the entire House of Israel will be Restored in the Land of Israel, the Temple Will be rebuilt, and Israel will dwell in its Land forever, by the Will of G-d, according to His Laws. Thus Said the Lord, "I Will Be A G-d to them and they will be a people to Me. Then the nations will know that I Am Hashem Who Sanctifies Israel, when My Sanctuary Will be among them forever."

Ezekiel 38
This prophesy is very clear, and there's not much for me to say, nor can it be summarized properly. Once all of Israel dwells in its Land, by the Will of G-d, according to His Laws, none will make them afraid and none will succeed in the wickedness of their attempts. There's no use pointing fingers, as I won't accuse anyone until they dare to attack. But it is clear that many will attack, thinking they can destroy Israel in the time of its rebirth and rebel against G-d in the moment His Laws have been exalted upon the earth. These people will fail and their evil will be returned unto them. Those that thought to destroy will themselves be destroyed and those that conceived a wicked plan, will receive the evil they had planned.

Ezekiel 39
Either it will be a continuous war, or it will be divided into two wars, as is the division of these two chapters (38 and 39). However, the grouping of chapters in the Bible is a relatively recent phenomena, and the Tanach is not supposed to be read in terms of these groupings, but rather according to the topic of the narrative. Just as modern Israel has faced a continuous state of war, so will this be one continuous war, that will be fought until it ends. And it will end in destruction and defeat for the enemies of Israel, both for the invaders and in the invaders' lands. As it is Said, the invaders will attack and they will be defeated, all of them dying. Then for seven years Israel will attack--"They will plunder those that had plundered them and despoil those that had despoiled them," and they will set fire to the lands of their enemies, destroying their enemies in their lands. Then Israel will cleanse the Land and bury the multitude of invaders in its Soil.

Thus Said the Lord, "I Will Manifest My Glory among the nations, and all the nations will see My Judgement that I Have Executed and My Hand that I Have Placed upon them. Then the House of Israel will know that I Am Hashem, their Judge, from that day and onward... They will bear their shame and all their betrayal that they had committed against Me when they dwelt securely upon their soil, and none will make [them] afraid, when I Return them from the peoples and Gather them in from the land of their enemies and I become sanctified through them in the eyes of the many nations... Then I will not hide My Countenance from them again, for I Will Pour out My Spirit upon the House of Israel--the Word of the Lord Hashem/Elohim."