(2) (
Hebrew characters) (Ἀσχαναζ): Jer. 5127, after Ararat and Minni.[1] It has been
usual (Bochart, al.) to connect the name with the Ascania of Il. ii. 863,
xiii. 793; and to suppose this was a region of Phrygia and Bithynia
indicated by a river, two lakes, and other localities bearing the old name.[2]
Recent Assyriologists, however, find in it the Ašguza[3] of the monn.,—a
branch of the Indo-Germanic invaders who settled in the vicinity of
lake Urumia, and are probably identical with the Scythians of Herod, i.
103, 106. Since they are first mentioned by Esarhaddon, they might
readily appear to a Heb. writer to be a younger people than the Cimmerians.
See Wi. ll.cc.; ATLO2, 259 f.
(3) (Hebrew characters) (Ῥιφαθ, Ἐριφαθ: but 1 Ch. 16 (Hebrew characters)): otherwise unknown.
According to Josephus, it denotes the Paphlagonians. Bochart and
Lagarde (Ges. Abh. 255) put it further west, near the Bosphorus, on the
ground of a remote resemblance in name to the river Ῥήβαζ and the
district Ῥηβαντία. Che. (EB, 4114) favours the transposition of Halevy
((Hebrew characters)), and compares Bit Burutaš, mentioned by Sargon along with the
Muški and Tabali (Schr. KGF, 176).
(4) (Hebrew characters) (Θεργαμα, Θοργαμα) = (Hebrew characters), Ezk. 385 2714: in the latter
passage as a region exporting horses and mules. Jos. identifies with
the Phrygians. The name is traditionally associated with Armenia,
Thorgom being regarded as the mythical ancestor of the Armenians;
but that legend is probably derived from G of this passage (Lag.
Ges. Abh. 255 ff.; Symm. i. 105). The suggested Assyriological equivalent
Til-Garimmu (Del. Par. 246; ATLO2, 260; al.), a city on the
frontier of the Tabali mentioned by Sargon and Sennacherib, is not
convincing; even though the Til- should be a fictitious Ass. etymology
(Lenorm. Orig.2 ii. 410).
(5) (Hebrew characters) (Μαγωγ): Ezk. 382 396. The generally accepted identification
with the Scythians dates from Jos. and Jer., but perhaps reflects
only a vague impression that the name is a comprehensive designation
of the barbarous races of the north, somewhat like the Umman-manda
of the Assyrians. In one of the Tel-Amarna letters (KIB, v. 5), a land
Ga-ga is alluded to in a similar manner. But how the author differentiated
Magog from the Cimmerians and Medes, etc., does not appear.
The name (Hebrew characters) is altogether obscure. That it is derived from (Hebrew characters) = Gyges,
king of Lydia (Mey. GA1, i. p. 558), is most improbable; and the
suggestion that it is a corruption of Ass. Mât Gôg (Mât Gagaia),[4] must
also be received with some caution.
(6) (Hebrew characters) (Μαδαι): the common Heb. name for Media and the Medes;
2 Ki. 176 1811, Is. 1317 212, Jer. 2525 5111. 28, Est. 13. 14. 18f. 102, Dn. 820 91 [111]
- ↑ Ass. Mannai, between lakes Van and Urumia, mentioned along with Ašguza in KIB, ii. 129, 147.
- ↑ Lag. (Ges. Abh. 254) instances Ashken as an Armenian proper name; and the inscription μὴν Ἄσκηνος on Græco-Phrygian coins.
- ↑ Whether the Heb. word is a clerical error for (
Hebrew characters) (Wi. Jer.), or the Ass. a modification of Ašgunza, the Assyriologists may decide (see Schmidt, EB, iv. 4330 f.).
- ↑ Del. Par. 246 f.; Streck, ZA, 321; Sayce, HCM2, 125.
