Ezekiel 39:9-16

New International Reader's Version

⁹ “ ‘ “At that time those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and light a fire. They will use it to burn up the weapons. That includes small and large shields. It also includes bows and arrows, war clubs and spears. It will take seven years to burn all of them up. ¹⁰ People will not gather wood from the fields. They will not cut down the forests. Instead, they will burn the weapons. And they will rob those who robbed them. They will steal from those who stole from them,” announces the Lord and King.

¹¹ “ ‘ “Gog, at that time I will bury you in a grave in Israel. It will be in the valley where people travel east of the Dead Sea. It will block the path of travelers. That’s because you and your huge armies will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley of Gog’s Armies.

¹² “ ‘ “It will take seven months for the Israelites to bury the bodies. They will do this to make the land ‘clean’ again. ¹³ All the people in the land will bury them. The day that I show how glorious I am will be a time to remember.” This is what the Lord and King announces. ¹⁴ “People will keep being hired to make the land ‘clean’ again. They will go all through it. They and others will bury any bodies lying on the ground.

“ ‘ “After the seven months they will search even more carefully. ¹⁵ As they go through the land here is what they’ll do. When anyone sees a bone, they will put a marker beside it. Then those who dig the graves will take the bone to the Valley of Gog’s Armies. There they will bury it. ¹⁶ That is how they will make the land ‘clean’ again.” ’ ” Also a town called Gog’s Armies is near there.