Meshech

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The World as known to the Hebrews. This 1854 map locates Meshech together with Gog and Magog, roughly in the southern Caucasus.
The World as known to the Hebrews. This 1854 map [1] locates Meshech together with Gog and Magog, roughly in the southern Caucasus.

In the Bible, Meshech, משך, [ me'ʃek ], "price" or "precious", literally "a drawing up (getting)", is named as a son of Japheth in Genesis 10:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:5.

Another Meshech is named as a son of Aram in 1 Chronicles 1:17 (corresponding to the form Mash in Genesis 10).

[edit] Interpretations

Meshech is named with Tubal (and Rosh, in certain translations) as principalities of "Gog, prince of Magog" in Ezekiel 38:2 and 39:1, and is considered a Japhetite tribe, identified by Flavius Josephus with the Cappadocian Moschoi (Mushki, also associated with Phrygians or Bryges) and their capital Mazaca. In Hippolytus of Rome's chronicle (234 AD), the "Illyrians" were identified as Meshech's offspring. In addition, Georgians have traditions that they, and other Caucasus people including Armenians, share descent from Meshech (Georgian: Meskheti), Tubal, and Togarmah.

According to one legend, found in 17th c. Russian sources (eg. Timothy Kamenevich-Rvovski), Moscow (Moskva) was founded by King Mosokh son of Japheth (i.e. Meshech), and was named for him and his wife, Kva. In this legend, they are also said to have had a son, Ya, and daughter, Vuza, who gave their names to the nearby Yauza river[2].

[edit] References

  1. ^ From Historical Textbook and Atlas of Biblical Geography by Coleman (1854)
  2. ^ The First Records of Moscow
v • d • e
Descendants of Noah in Genesis 10
Shem and Semitic
Elam · Ashur · Aram · Arpachshad · Lud
Ham and Hamitic
Cush · Mizraim · Phut · Canaan
Japheth and Japhetic
Gomer · Magog · Madai · Javan · Tubal · Meshech · Tiras