1 Chronicles 1:6

[See comments on 1 Chronicles 1:5]

The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Riphath, or Diphath; for those two Hebrew letters which answer to our D and R, being very like, are oft confounded and exchanged, as ,41,46,50.

THE SONS OF JAPHETH THE FAIR—(1 Chronicles 1:5-7). The Oriental theory of political and even social communities refers each to a common ancestor. The Israelites are known as “sons of Israel,” the Ammonites as “sons of Ammon” (Authorised version, “children”). In the same way, an Arab tribe is called. the “Bκni Hassan” (sons of Hassan), and Assurbanipal styles his subjects “sons of Asshur.” Sometimes a people is called “sons” of the land or city they inhabit; e.g., the Babylonians are styled “sons of Babel.” The “sons of Japheth” are probably the fair Caucasian race. (5) Gomer.—The Cimmerians of the Greek writers; called Gi-mir-ra-a-a in Assyrian inscriptions. Their country was Cappadocia, called Gamir by the ancient Armenians. The Arabic version has “Turkey.” Magog.—Ezekiel 38:2-3; Ezekiel 38:6 speaks of Gog, king of Magog, and suzerain of Tubal, Meshech, Gomer and the house of Togarmah. With the name Gog compare Gβgu, king of Salii, mentioned in connection with Assurbanipal’s campaign against the Mannβ-a. Magog appears to be a general name for the peoples north of Assyria, i.e., in Armenia. Madai.—The Medes. 2 Kings 17:6; Isaiah 13:17. Assyr., Ma-da-a-a.Javan.—The Assyrian Yavnan, i.e., Cyprus, mentioned in the Behistun Inscription, as here, along with Media, Armenia, and Cappadocia. (Comp. Joe 3:6; Isaiah 66:19.) Tubal and Meshech, the Tibareni and Moschi of classical writers; and the Muski and Tabali of Assyrian records. Tiras has been compared with the Tyras or Dniester. Perhaps we may compare Tros and the Trojans. (6) Ashchenaz.—Jeremiah 51:27, near or in Armenia. Apparently the Asguzβa mentioned by Esarhaddon in the account of his campaign against the Cimmerians and Cilicians. The Arabic has Slavonia.Riphath.—The reading of Gen 10:3, some Heb. MSS., the LXX., and Vulg. The common Hebrew text (Van der Hooght’s) wrongly reads Diphath (Syriac, Diphar). Togarmah seems to be the Tulgarimmη on the border of Tabali, which Sennacherib reduced in his expedition against Cilicia (Smith, Sennach., p. 86). (7) Elishah.—Usually identified with Hellas, or the Hellenes. Perhaps, however, Carthage is meant: comp. the name Elissa, as a by-name of Dido, Virg. Ζn. iv. 335. Tarshish.—Usually identified with the Phoenician colony of Tartessus, in Spain. (Comp. Psalms 72:10.) Dodanim.—So many Heb. MSS., the Syriac, Vulg., and Genesis 10:3. The LXX. has “Rhodians,” which implies a reading, Rodanim, which we find in the common Hebrew text. Dodanim might be the Dardauians of the Troad, or the Dodoneans (Dodona, the seat of an ancient oracle, the fame of which might have reached Phoenician ears). Thus far the list appears to deal with Asia Minor and adjacent lands; and Japheth, whose name is curiously like the Greek Iδpetus, seems to include the western races so far as known to the Hebrews.

Verse 6. To this verse the Targum adds, "And the names of their countries were Asia, and Persia, and Barbary."

6. Ashchenaz] R.V. Ashkenaz, as in Genesis 10:3. In Jeremiah 51:27 “the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz” are to be summoned against Babylon. Ararat being Armenia, and Minni (= Mannai of the Assyrian monuments) being a neighbour of Armenia, Ashkenaz also is probably a neighbour of Armenia and to be sought on the N. or E. of Cappadocia, the seat of its “father” Gomer. Riphath] so LXX. and Vulg. R.V. Diphath, following the Heb. text which however has a note added that another reading is “Riphath.” The letters D and R are easily confused in Hebrew. Nothing certain is known of either Riphath or Diphath. Togarmah] In Ezekiel 27:14 Togarmah is mentioned (after “Javan, Tubal, and Meshech,” Ezekiel 27:13) as trading with Tyre in horses, war-horses and mules, and in Ezekiel 38:6 mention is made of “the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all his hordes” in connexion with “Gomer and all his hordes.” The geographical position of Togarmah is unknown, but it must have been a neighbour of Gomer, Tubal and Meshech.