Gog and Magog

Gog and Magog refers to a ruler and a land which has been identified as modern-day Russia, and is mentioned as having a part in the Biblical end times, leading to her destruction in Israel.

Biblical references

Magog (מָגוֹג) is first mentioned in Gen 10:2, but as a person rather than a place; he is the son of Japheth and grandson of Noah:

The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

The individuals named here each founded a nation, with the Scythian peoples of what is now southern Russia and Georgia being the descendants of Magog.

In the Old Testament book of Ezekiel (chapters 38 and 39), Gog (Hebrew גּוֹג, etymology unclear) is introduced, the prince of Meshech and Tubal and who lives in the land of Magog; both chapters describe a war undertaken against the land of Israel, with resultant heavy losses. In the New Testament, Gog and Magog go into battle with the devil on the last day, but would be defeated by the divine Christ in the end (Rev 20:8). The apocalyptic motif of Gog and Magog was widespread in Europe and the Middle East since late antiquity and the early Christian Middle Ages and was interwoven with various traditions and legends.

Identification with Russia

Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: 

And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. (Ezekiel, 39:1-3)

The Jewish Encyclopedia states that Magog represents a loose confederation or connotation of barbarian tribes to the extreme north of Israel, with the ancients calling the land Scythia. The Jewish historian Josephus identifies Magog with the Scythians in his Antiquities oi the Jews, written about A.D. 70:

"Magog founded those that from him were named Magogites; but who are by the Greeks called Scythians."

In Ezekiel 38:1, the "chief prince" has a root word in Hebrew according to Strong's Numbers. From "chief" is the word רֹאשׁ, pronounced rô'sh, which had an unused meaning, but apparently meant "to shake", in addition to the obvious connotations of "head" and "captain". The word "prince" meant "exalted one" (Hebrew: נָשִׂא    or נָשִׂיא; nâśı̂y'  or nâśi' ). The word "rô'sh" is the root word for Russia, while the words Meshech and Tubal have been claimed as root words for Moscow and Tobolsk, cities within Russia itself.

Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: 

Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. (Ezekiel 38:5-6)

As of 2023, Russia has entered into alliances with Iran (Persia), Ethiopia, Libya, and quite possibly in word if not via treaty, NATO ally Turkey (Gomer, Togarmah), the purpose of which is to undermine support for Ukraine in Russia's war with that country, as well as to isolate Israel. Russia, however, is led by Vladimir Putin, who is considered by many to be irrational, and it is just such irrationality which is described by Daniel, who calls him the "king of the north" in his book:

And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 

But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 

But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 

And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Dan 11:40-45) 

Traditions and legends

Islamic myths

Gog and Magog are known in Islam as Yaʾjūdsch and Maʾjūdsch (Arabic يأجوج ومأجوج, Yaʾǧūǧ wa-Maʾǧūǧ). In Sura 18, verses 83-98, the Koran tells how the Two-Horned One, who is sometimes equated with Alexander the Great in Islamic tradition, fought against Gog and Magog and finally defeated them by using a wall made of iron and molten copper poured over it. They couldn't break out because they couldn't destroy that wall. Before the Day of Judgment, however, they will break through the wall and stream from every hill to the earth.

Medieval myths

The Armenian Step'annos Orbelean describes in his Historia that Dhū l-Qarnain had enclosed the wild tribes of the north. However, at the end of time they will be freed by Gog and Magog, ravage the entire world, and the "Son of Destruction" will arise, followed by the return of Christ and the destruction of the unbelievers.

Geoffrey of Monmouth tells in the Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain) (1, 17, c. 1136) how the island of Britain was settled by Trojan refugees under Brutus. Corineus, one of his followers, became the ruler of Cornwall, where there were particularly many giants. The most hideous of these, as well as their leader, was Gogmagog (or Goëmagot), was three and a half meters tall and so strong that he could uproot entire oak trees. When Gogmagog and twenty other giants attacked Brutus during a church service, he had them killed except for Gogmagog, who was supposed to wrestle with Corineus for his entertainment. Gogmagog broke three of Corineus' ribs, but then Corineus dragged him to the shore and threw him off the cliffs into the sea, where he was killed.