Gog and Magog, a span and a half tall
Editorial contextSallam asked the guards at the gate whether they had ever seen one of Gog and Magog. They said they had once glimpsed several on top of the mountain before a violent wind blew them back, and at that distance they looked no more than a span and a half tall. On the same page he describes the wall's striped look, yellow copper and black iron in alternate layers.
We asked the guards of the gate whether they had ever seen one of the race of Gog and Magog; they told us that one day they had glimpsed several on top of the mountain, but a violent wind had thrown them back to their own side. Seen at that distance, they seemed no taller than a span and a half.
Working translation
Original wording
Nous demandâmes aux gardiens de la porte s'ils avaient jamais vu un individu de la race de Gog et Magog; ils nous racontèrent qu'ils en avaient aperçu, un jour, plusieurs au-dessus de la montagne, mais qu'un vent impétueux les avait rejetés de leur côté. Vus à cette distance, leur taille ne paraissait pas dépasser un empan et demi.
About Gog and Magog (legendary peoples)
Keep in mind
Hearsay from guards, told by Sallam; de Goeje's footnote discusses which side of the wall the wind blew them to.
