pares the word Gog with Kak or Chak, the general name of the kings among the ancient Turks, Moguls, Tartars, Cataians, and Chinese Spic. Geogr. p. 34. and thinks that Magog denotes those vast tracts of country to the north of India and China, which the Greeks called Scythia, and we Tartary. The Turks are generally allowed to be of Scythian origin. And Pliny fays (L. v. ch. xxiii.) that the city in Syria called Hierapolis, was by the Syrians called Magog; which name it is supposed to have derived from the Scythians, when they made an excursion into Syria, and took this city. On the like account it is that the city of Beth shean in the territories of the tribe of Manaffeh on this fide Jordan, being feized on by the Scythians, when they enlarged their conquests in Syria, and which was kept by them as long as they continued in Afia, was afterwards called Scythopolis. As to W, I must observe that it is not an appellative, as in the common tranflation of the Bible; but is a proper name; and denotes the people called Rhoffi. For as Bochart obferves from the Nubian Geogarpher, that the river in Armenia, called by the Greeks Araxes, is by the Arabi ans ans called Rob. This alfo, (according to Dr. Wells*,) makes it probable that the Mofcovites, or Mufcovites in Europe, were a colony originally of Methech, or Mofoch, called by the Greeks, Mofchi, not only on account of the likeness of names, but also of the respective fituations of the Afiatick and European Mofchi one to the other. And therefore, he farther obferves, that "the Mofchi+ and Roffi being thus neighbours in Afia, their colonies kept together in Europe; those of the Moschi seating themselves in the province of Mufcovy, properly fo called, that is, the parts about the city of Moscow: thofe of the Roffi feating themselves in the parts adjoining on the fouth. For the learn ed Bochart has obferved from Tzetzes, that the people called Tauri, and from whom the Taurica Cherfonefus took its name, were in the days of Tzetzes better known by the name of Ros, than of Tauri. Upon the whole therefore it may very probably be believed, that the Muscovites and Ruffians in Europe were colonies of Mefbech, or elfe of Mefhech * Hift. Geogr. Old Test. Vol. Ift. page 158. Q92 and and Tubal jointly." As to Tubal, they are supposed to be the Afiatick Iberians; the fame whom the Greeks called Iberi, and who were originally feated to the north of Methech. And Bochart fuppofes that they are the people called Tibirani; who were seated towards mount Caucafus. Having thus given as good an account as we poffibly can of these nations, at this dif tance of time; we proceed to the farther explanation of the prophecy. The Prophet then in ftrong, forcible, grand, and fublime language, adorned with magnificient imagery, fhews that God will allure Gog, to come up against the land, by turning of him about, with hooks in his jaws for the nations that then will have poffeffion of the holy land, will be as the hooks to draw him and his powerful hoft thither; in like manner as Deborah faid to Barak, "Go, and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men, &c, -And I will draw unto thee, to the river Kishon, Sifera the captain of Jabin's hoft, &c." For by Barak's afcending mount Tabor, Judges. iv. 6-7. he Thus will "And I he drew out Sifera and his hoft. it also be with Gog. ver. 4-13. will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws; and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horfes and horfemen, all of them clothed (in) gorgeous apparel, (even) a great company (with) bucklers and shields, all of them handling fwords: Perfia, Ethiopia, and Lybia with them; all of them (with) shields and helmets: Gomer, and all his bands; the houfe of Togarmah (from) the north quarters, and all his bands; (even) many people * with thee." Thus the Prophet enumerates the different nations, that are to come with Gog; the three former of which, are known to us; and Gomer denotes the ancient celts; the "Cimmerians, a very old and celebrated people, who inhabited the peninsula of Crim Tartary." Michaelis's note on this place. Togarmah, fome think denotes Cappadocia; and which in a manner lies due * Heb. Peoples. + The people called Cimmerij, according to Heredotus, (Lib. 4.) who originally inhabited the greatest part of the northern tract of the leffer Afia, north north of Judea*. Though Michaelis thinks it denotes Armenia†. <t The Prophet goes on to defire him to prepare for the war. Prepare even prepare thyfelf, thou and all thy company that are affembled unto thee; and be thou a guard unto them. After many days thou shalt be visited; in the latter years thou shalt come into the land brought back from the fword, (and) gathered out of many people, unto the mountains of lfrael which have been continually defolate; Abarbanal obferves that, "" ,does not denote the Jews מְקְבֶּצֶת מֵעַמִּים רַבִּים as gathered from among the different nations; but properly fignifies an assemblage of many people and denotes a collection of the different Chriftian nations, that will then be in poffeffion of the holy land; having lately difpoffeffed the Mahometans of it: and in this manner it was continually defolate; as being first laid wafte by the Romans; afterwards taken by the Saracens; then by the Christians afterwards by the Turks; and now again by the Chriftians, as mentioned : * Geogr. O. Test. p. 124. + Spic. geogr. page 76.. Heb. Thy affembly: or, Congregation. |