Ezekiel 39:9 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And they shall burn them, &c.— That is, for a long time; a certain for an uncertain number. There shall be in the country so great a quantity of military weapons, that they shall serve them for a long time for fuel. We should remember, that they do not make very large fires in those hot countries. Mariana, in his Spanish History, book 2: chap. 24 relates, that after the victory which the Spaniards gained over the Saracens in 1212, they found so many spears, and other warlike weapons of wood, as served them four years for fuel. See Calmet. Bishop Lowth observes, on Isaiah 9:4-5 that some heathen nations burnt heaps of arms to the supposed god of victory; and that among the Romans this act was an emblem of peace. Among God's people it might shew trust in him as their defender. Archbishop Newcombe observes on the present passage, "The victory shall be so great, that, during this period of time [seven years], they shall suffice for fires on the mountains, and in the open fields; where the rain shall fall, and whither the inhabitants of the adjoining cities shall occasionally go forth."