10:2 The sons of Japheth 1 were Gomer, 2 Magog, 3 Madai, 4 Javan, 5 Tubal, 6 Meshech, 7 and Tiras. 8
1 sn The Greek form of the name Japheth, Iapetos, is used in Greek tradition for the ancestor of the Greeks.
2 sn Gomer was the ancestor of the Cimmerians. For a discussion of the Cimmerians see E. M. Yamauchi, Foes from the Northern Frontier (SBA), 49-61.
3 sn For a discussion of various proposals concerning the descendants of Magog see E. M. Yamauchi, Foes from the Northern Frontier (SBA), 22-24.
4 sn Madai was the ancestor of the Medes, who lived east of Assyria.
5 sn Javan was the father of the Hellenic race, the Ionians who lived in western Asia Minor.
6 sn Tubal was the ancestor of militaristic tribes that lived north of the Black Sea. For a discussion of ancient references to Tubal see E. M. Yamauchi, Foes from the Northern Frontier (SBA), 24-26.
7 sn Meshech was the ancestor of the people known in Assyrian records as the Musku. For a discussion of ancient references to them see E. M. Yamauchi, Foes from the Northern Frontier (SBA), 24-26.
8 sn Tiras was the ancestor of the Thracians, some of whom possibly became the Pelasgian pirates of the Aegean.
9 tn Heb “and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; it [i.e., Calah] is the great city.”