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Rev 16:16. Καὶ συνηγαγεν, and he gathered them together) We cannot here suppose that a singular verb is used for a plural (as the Syrian Version expresses it), because the neuter noun πνεύματα. precedes by so long an interval, Rev 16:13-14; and in Rev 16:14 itself, the plural verb εἰσὶ is used. Who was it therefore that gathered together the kings? The sixth angel. Throughout the whole of this chapter, the noun angel is often understood. Without inconvenience this verse is connected by a leap with Rev 16:12. See Franc. Junius and E. Schmid.-Ἀρμαγεδὼν) Thus many MSS.;[184] but some few, Μαγεδὼν, which is also the reading of the Alex. MS. in 2Ch 35:22, ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ Μαγεδών. Magedon or Megiddo was a city, of which there is frequent mention in the books of the Old Testament. The copyists, as it appears, had reference to these passages, who took away the first syllable from the word Ἀρμαγεδὼν in the Apocalypse: but on account of this very syllable, in particular, the word Ἑβραϊστὶ appears to be used. Armagedon signifies either ער, the city Megiddo, as Hiller teaches in Syntagmatis, p. 229, or הר, the mountain Megiddo. for where there is בקעה, a valley, as the valley of Megiddo, 2Ch 35:22, there is also a mountain. We do not equally inquire, whence Megiddo itself is derived; for it is used as the proper name of a place in Palestine, very well known, on account of the great occurrences which had there taken place in ancient times. Nor, in a word, is it mentioned with this allusion on account of the mournful slaughter of Josiah, but on account of the slaughter of the Canaanite kings: Jdg 5:19.
[184] Rec. Text, with B, Syr. h read Ἁρμαγεδδων. A Vulg. Memph. read Αρμαγεδών. Fuld. (inferior to Amiat.) MS. of Vulg. has Magedon.-E.