יחזקאל, פרק ל״ט, פסוק י״א

Following the crushing defeat of Gog, the Land of Israel is left covered with countless bodies. God designates a specific valley to serve as a mass grave for this fallen army, an act that carries a dual significance. The primary approach among commentators is that this burial serves a strictly practical purpose. The sheer volume of casualties threatens to defile the land and pollute the air. Rather than receiving honorable, individual burials, the dead will be cast together into a massive trench simply to cleanse the land from the overwhelming defilement and stench [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. Conversely, an alternative perspective views this burial as a historical reward for Gog. Because Gog is a descendant of Japheth, who respectfully covered the nakedness of his father Noah, God repays his descendants measure for measure, ensuring their bodies are respectfully covered by the earth [רש״י, רד״ק, צאינה וראינה].

The designated mass grave is located in a valley east of a sea. Some identify this body of water as the Sea of Galilee, noting that the valley was a regular route for travelers transporting local fruits [רש״י, רד״ק]. Others suggest the valley lies either between the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Zion in Jerusalem [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל], or directly adjacent to the Mediterranean [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Regardless of its exact location, the route will become entirely impassable. One explanation is that the blockage is physical; the enormous accumulation of corpses will completely fill the expansive valley, leaving no room for anyone to pass [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם]. Another explanation suggests the obstruction is sensory. The unbearable stench rising from the decaying bodies will force travelers to cover their noses and mouths, making it impossible to even approach the area [רש״י, רד״ק, אברבנאל, צאינה וראינה].

Faced with this severe nuisance and the completely blocked travel routes, the Israelites will be compelled to gather together and bury all the remains [רש״י, צאינה וראינה]. Once the land is finally cleared, the site will be named the Valley of Gog's Multitude, serving as a lasting marker of the massive army buried within it [מצודת דוד].