the chief...: or, prince of the chief

Geneva Study Bible

Son of man, set thy face against {a} Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

(a) Who were a people that came from Magog the son of Japheth, Ge 10:2. Magog also here signifies a certain country so that by these two countries which had the government of Greece and Italy he means the principal enemies of the Church, Re 20:8.

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] Gog

That the primary reference is to the northern (European) powers, headed up by Russia, all agree. The whole passage should be read in connection with Zech 12:1-4 14:1-9 Mt 24:14-30 Rev 14:14-20 19:17-21, "gog" is the prince, "Magog," his land. The reference to Meshech and Tubal (Moscow and Tobolsk) is a clear mark of identification. Russia and the northern powers have been the latest persecutors of dispersed Israel, and it is congruous both with divine justice and with the covenants (e.g. See Scofield Note: "Gen 15:18" See Scofield Note: "Dt 30:3" that destruction should fall at the climax of the last mad attempt to exterminate the remnant of Israel in Jerusalem. The whole prophecy belongs to the yet future "day of Jehovah" Isa 2:10-22 Rev 19:11-21 and to the battle of Armageddon Rev 16:14 See Scofield Note: "Rev 19:19" but includes also the final revolt of the nations at the close of the kingdom-age. Rev 20:7-9.Ezekiel 38:2 Parallel Commentaries