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FAMILY ORIGINS

The Sons of Japheth

Based on Genesis 10:2-5
By David Ben-Abraham 7/31/2013

The sons of Japheth are Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Yawan, and Tuval, and Meshech and Tiras. Now, the sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, and Rifath and Togarmah. Moreover, Yawans sons were Eli shah, Kitim and Dodanim. From these the isles of the nations were divided, according to their respective lands, each man by his native tongue based upon their families in their respective nations. (Genesis 10:2-5)

A review of the proto-type nations descended from Japheth, the son of Noah, based on ancient Jewish records. Bear in mind, however, that nations are not stationary and many have since migrated into other countries and regions, and have intermixed with other nations, while some have even taken upon themselves the language of their host country. It is, therefore, difficult to ascertain which people are descended from any given nation amongst the original nations ascribed in the following documents. For all practical purposes, this short treatise is merely an academic exercise.

2 The SONS of JAPHETH (Genesis 10:2-5) In the Jerusalem Talmud, Megillah 1:9 (10a), we find the following teaching concerning the sons of Japheth: A Boraitta has come down in the name of Bar Kapara which says: G-d will beautify Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem. [Meaning], they will one day speak in the language of Japheth within the tent belonging to Shem. The sons of Japheth are Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Yawan, and Tuval, and Meshech and Tiras (Gen. 1 10:2). Gomer is Germamia; Magog is Getae [Leiden MS. = Goths]; Madai is as stated; and Yawan is Eisus [Leiden MS. ;]Tuval is Bithynia;2 Meshech is Mysia;3 As for Tiras, it was Rabbi Simon who said it is Persia, but the Sages say it is Thrace; The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, and Rifath and Togarmah (Gen. 10:3), [which names correspond with] Asia,4 and Hadeath5 and Germanica.6 The sons of Yawan were Elisha, and Tarshish-Kitim and Dodanim (Gen. 10:4), [which names correspond with] Elestarsus, Abiah and Dardania. The old Aramaic Targum of pseudo-Yonathan ben Uzziel also adds invaluable anecdotal material on Genesis 10:2-5: The sons of Japheth are Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Yawan, and Tuval, and Meshech and Tiras, while the names of their diocese are Africa proper, 7 and Germany, and Media,8 and Macedonia, and Bithynia, and Moesia (var. Mysia) and Thrace. Now, the sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, and Rifath and Togarmah, while the names of their diocese are Asia, and Parthia and the land of the barbarians. The sons of Yawan were Elisha, and Tarshish, Kitim and Dodanim, while the names of their diocese are Elis, 9 and Tarsus, Achaia10 and Dardania.11

Possibly referring to the nation Getae mentioned in Strabos Geo graphy (Book VII, chapter 3, vss. 1-5, 8), who settled along either side of the Ister. 2 A Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). 3 Mysia, a country next to Thrace, but separated by the broad Hellespont, or what is now in north-west Turkey. Variant: Moesia. 4 Asia, in the language employed by Israels Sages, is always associated with the western part of Turkey (i.e. Asia Minor), the largest city of which region during the period of Israels sages was Ephesus, situate on the coast of Ionia, near present-day Seluk, Izmir Province, in west Turkey (cf. Josephus Antiquities, Book 14, chapter 10, verse 11). 5 Perhaps the sense here is to Adiabene, in northern Iraq. 6 Germania, Germani, Germanica have all been used to refer to the group of peoples comprising the German Tribes, which include such peoples as Goths, whether Ostrogoths or Visigoths, Vandals and Franks, Burgundians, Alans, Langobards, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Suebi and Alamanni. The entire region east of the Rhine River was known by the Romans as Germania (Germany). 7 The sense here is to present-day Tunisia. 8 The western and north-western portion of present-day Iran. 9 Now called Ilida (in Greece). 10 Consisting of most of the island known as the Peloponnese, in southern Greece. 11 This area was immediately adjoining Macedonia to the north, in present-day Kosovo and southern Serbia.

3 I. Gomer12 = called by the Greeks Galatians, a people that originally inhabited those lands stretching from Turkey to Spain.13 He had three sons: A. Ashkenaz = considered the progenitor of the ancient Gauls (the people of Gallia, meaning, from Austria, France and Belgium)14 and the ancient Franks (of, both, France and Germany). So, too, the Sarmatians of ancient Iran are said to have descended from Ashkenaz.15 Others say that he was the progenitor of the Rheginians.16 One of our commentators takes the view that Ashkenaz was the progenitor of the Slavic peoples (Slovenes, etc.).17 Originally, they had settled in Asia Minor before spreading out.18 B. Rifath = considered the progenitor of the ancient Britons, the people of Britain, which would include the Scots of Ireland (a Celtic race) and the Picts of Scotland, as well as the inhabitants of the mainland, known as Britons (of England). Some also settled in France.19 Others say that Rifath was the progenitor of the Paphlagonians, an ancient people who settled on the south coast of the Black Sea in Asia Minor (now Turkey).20 Some of the Paphlagonians eventually settled in Venice, Italy.21 One of our commentators takes the view that Rifath was the progenitor of the Franks.22 Another ancient source puts Rifath as the progenitor of the old inhabitants of Abiabene in the region of northern Iraq.23 C. Togarmah = considered the progenitor of the original Turks, of whom were the Phrygians.24 He had ten sons:25 1. Kuzar (Khazar) = the ancestor of the people of Ukraine 2. Pechineg (Pizenaci) = the ancestor of a people that settled along the Danube River.26 Some Pechenegs had also settled along the river Atil (Volga), and likewise on the river Gech (Ural), having common frontiers with the Khazars and the so-called Uzes. They are originally of Turkish origin. 3. Elikanos
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In the Babylonian Talmud (Yoma 10a), this man is said to have been the progenitor of the Germanic tribes of Germany. 13 Josephus, Antiquities (Book 1, chapter 5, verse1); Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah) 14 According to Philostorgius Ecclesiastical History (Epitome of Book III, chapter 24), the Julian Alps divide Gaul (Gallia) from Italy. 15 Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah) 16 Josephus, Antiquities (Book 1, chapter 5, verse1) 17 Rabbi Saadia Gaon on Genesis 10:3, who writes in Judeo-Arabic, . 18 Cf. Midrash Rabba (Genesis Rabba 37:1) who places Askkenaz as Asia. 19 Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah) 20 Josephus, Antiquities (Book 1, chapter 5, verse1); Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah) 21 Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah) 22 Rabbi Saadia Gaon on Genesis 10:3, who writes in Judeo-Arabic, . It is to be noted that in the early 5th century CE, most Franks resided on the east bank of the Rhine River. Eventually, they crossed over the west bank and went as far as France. 23 Mirash Rabba (Genesis Rabba 37:1). 24 Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Gene sis (P. Noah) 25 Yosefon, book I; Sefer HaKuzari of Rabbi Yehudah Halevi. 26 Yosefon, book I

4 4. Bulgar = the ancestor of the first inhabitants of Bulgaria. These also settled along the lower courses of the Danube River.27 5. Ranbina 6. Turkey = perhaps the ancestor of the Phrygians of Asia Minor (Turkey). 7. Buz 8. Zavokh 9. Ungar (Hungary) = the ancestor of the first inhabitants of Hungary. These also settled along the Danube River.28 10. Dalmatia = the ancestors of the first inhabitants of Croatia. II. Magog = called by the Greeks Scythians,29 a people that originally inhabited those lands stretching between the Black and Aral Seas (S.E. Europe and Asia).30 He is also considered the progenitor of the Goths, a people who eventually settled in Italy and in France and in Spain.31 The old Aramaic Targum of pseudo-Yonathan ben Uzziel on Genesis 10:2 associates Magog with Germany. Likewise, Midrash Rabba (Genesis Rabba 37:1) associates Magog with Germany. Magog had two sons: A. Alioraf32 B. Lubav33 III. Madai = the progenitor of the Medes, an ancient people whose original settlement was in the lands between Persia and Syria.34 Others say that the ancient people

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Yosefon, book I; Rabbi Saadia Gaon, on Genesis 10:3, also takes the view that the Bulgarians (JudeoArabic: )are the progeny of Togarmah. 28 They are the ancestors of the first inhabitants of Bulgaria. These also settled along the Danube River. 29 Herodotus (Book IV. 3-7; pp. 203-207) speaks on the origins of the Scythians (those descended from Magog): "Lipoxais, it is said, was the father of the Scythian clan called Auchatae; Arpoxais, the second brother, of those called Katiari and Traspians; the youngest, who was king, of those called Paralatae. All these together bear the name of Skoloti, after their king; 'Scythians' is a name given them by Greeks." (NOTE: their ancient homeland is north of the Black Sea and the Azov Sea, or what was formerly called Maeotis Palus, in those lands adjoining to and directly north of the Crimea. Their first king was Targitus). 30 Josephus, Antiquities (Book 1, chapter 5, verse1) 31 Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah) . This also seems to be the opinion of the Jerusalem Talmud, Leiden MS. (Megillah 1:9), where it associates Magog with Gotei (Goths ?). Historical records show that by the 4th century CE, some Goths were living in northern Bulgaria where they produced the translation known as the Wulfila Bible in Nicopolis ad Istrum. These Goths spoke at that time an eastern Germanic language, but later, their descendants adopted a common language on the basis of Slavonic. 32 Sefer Hayashar, pp. 18-19. 33 (ibid.) 34 Josephus, Antiquities (Book 1, chapter 5, verse1); Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah). Media is a country to the east of Babylonia, with Hamadan as its metropolis, although the territory of Media stretched northwards as far as the city of Amadiya (Amedia), now in Iraqi Kurdistan.

5 of Khorasan (in N.E. Iran) were derived from the Medes. 35 Madai had four sons: A. Ahoun36 B. Zilla37 C. Huni38 D. Luti39 1. In Herodotus day, the Medes were known primarily by six distinct tribes: the Busae, the Paraetaceni, Strukhat, the Arizanti, the Budii and the Magi. IV. Yawan = the progenitor of the ancient Grecians who settled in Turkey of Asia Minor,40 in Macedonia,41 as also in the Grecian isles. He had four sons: A. Elisha = considered the progenitor of the Aeolians, those who settled in Ilida (formerly known as Elis) in Greece, and in the regions thereabout.42 They also established a large colony in Sicily, whose inhabitants are known as Sicilians.43 Others say that they are the ancestors of some of the ancient Germans and that the indigenous people of Lombardy in Italy also sprung from them, the latter of whom eventually subdued the entire country of Italy.44 The Burgundians of Burgundy (France) and some settlers along the Rhine River (Germany) are also said to have descended from Elisha.45 B. Tarshish = considered the progenitor of the ancient people of Tarsus in Cilicia, now in present-day Turkey.46 Some of the descendants of Tarshish eventually settled in Tuscany and Lombardy in Italy, especially in the cities of Florence, Milan and Venice.47 C. Kitim = considered the progenitor of the Cypriots of Cyprus.48 Based on the old Aramaic Targum of pseudo-Yonathan ben Uzziel on Genesis 10:4, Kitim corresponds with Achaia in southern Greece, although in Numbers
35 36

Yosefon, book I. Sefer Hayashar, pp. 18-19. 37 ibid. 38 ibid. 39 ibid. 40 Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah) 41 Yosephon, book I; Babylonian Talmud (Yoma 10a), in one of the variant readings; Midrash Rabba (Genesis Rabba 37:1). 42 Josephus, Antiquities (Book 1, chapter 5, verse1); the old Aramaic Targum of pseudo-Yonathan ben Uzziel on Genesis 10:4. 43 Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah) 44 Yosephon, book I. This opinion seems to be supported also by the Midrash Rabba (Genesis Rabba 37:1) who places Elisha and Tarshish as Elesutros and Italy. 45 Yosephon, book I. 46 Josephus, Antiquities (Book 1, chapter 5, verse1); Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah); the old Aramaic Targum of pseudo-Yonathan ben Uzziel on Genesis 10:4. 47 ibid. 48 Josephus, Antiquities (Book 1, chapter 5, verse1); Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah); Rabbi Saadia Gaons Judeo-Arabic translation of the word Kitim in Numbers 24:24.

6 24:24 he says Kitim is Italy.49 Others say that Kitim is the father of the Romans who settled in the Apennine Valley along the Tiber River.50 It is also said that they built for themselves two cities upon the sea. The one they called Porto and the other they called Ariza.51 D. Dodanim = considered the progenitor of the ancient people of Rhodes.52 However, based on the old Aramaic Targum of pseudo-Yonathan ben Uzziel, Dodanim corresponds with Dardania, an area directly north of Macedonia, around Kosovo and southern Serbia.53 The Dardanians are said to have comprised two sub-groups during the time of Strabo, viz., the Galabri and the Thunaki.54 The Slovakians and the Croatians, which by extension would also include the Slovenes of Illyria (i.e the indigenous people of Albania and Yugoslavia), are also believed to be the progeny of Dodanim.55 In I Chronicles, chapter 1, Dodanim is written as Rodanim.

V. Tuval = the progenitor of the ancient Spaniards of the Iberian Peninsula, who originally came from Pisa, in Italy. Some of these spread as far as the Seine River in France, and in the country of Britain.56 Another source says that they originally inhabited the area of Tuscany in Italy, along the Arno River which empties into the Sea of Pisa.57 It is said, moreover, that the progeny of Tuval built the city of Sabina in Tuscany.58 One of our commentators takes the view that Tuval was the progenitor of the Chinese people.59 Tuval had three sons: A. Eripi60 B. Chasad61 C. Thari62
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The old Aramaic Targum on Genesis 10:4 reads: The sons of Yawan were Elisha, and Tarshish, Kitim and Dodanim, while the names of their diocese are Elis (Ilida), and Tarsus, Achaia and Dardania. 50 Yosephon, book I; Sefer Hayashar, p. 45; cf. the Aramaic translation of Onkelos (Aquilas) on Numbers 24:24. Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah) also agrees that Kitim is, both, Italy and the Romans. 51 Sefer Hayashar, p. 45. 52 Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah) 53 See: Aramaic Targum of pseudo-Yonathan ben Uzziel on Genesis 10:4; the same teaching is brought down in the Jerusalem Talmud in the name of Bar Kapara (Megillah 1:9). 54 Strabos Geography 55 Yosephon, book I. 56 Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah) 57 Yosefon, book I. 58 Sefer Hayashar, p. 45; The early Roman historians (Dio's Roman History, et al.) mention the Latins and the Sabines as two distinct peoples living in Italy. The Sabines, at some point in time, came from outside of Italy and settled among them, and they had the Etruscans as their allies when they invaded the Roman territory. (Dio's Roman History, Book II, Zonares 7,8). 59 Rabbi Saadia Gaon on Genesis 10:2, who writes in Judeo-Arabic, . By way of conjecture we might say that Rabbi Saadia based his translation upon the word ( var. / ), which in the Babylonian Talmud (Yoma 10a) is said to be Tuval. The word given in the Talmud resembles somewhat the old Chinese name for the country of China, Zhnggu. 60 Sefer Hayashar, pp. 18-19. 61 ibid. 62 ibid.

VI. Meshech = the progenitor of the ancient people of Cappadocia (of Turkey), near the country of Armenia.63 Later, these people migrated and eventually settled in Moesia.64 Meshech had three sons: A. Radon65 B. Zadon66 C. Shibsheni67 VII. Tiras = called by the Greeks Thracians, these ancient peoples inhabited the country formerly known as Thrace, a place partly comprised of the countries of Bulgaria and Romania (Dacia).68 So, too, the ancient Bosnians (in the Balkans) are said to have taken their origin from this people.69 Some say that the kingdoms of Russia and England had their beginnings from his descendants.70 Some of our commentators take the view that Tiras was the progenitor of the Persian people, based on a teaching in the Babylonian Talmud.71 Tiras had five sons: A. Benayoub72 B. Gera73 C. Chazion74 D. Lufarion75 E. Gillek76

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Josephus, Antiquities (Book 1, chapter 5, verse1); Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah); Philostorgius, in his Ecclesiastical History, also makes mention of this fact. 64 Based on the old Aramaic Targum of pseudo-Yonathan ben Uzziel on Genesis 10:2, where the author places the diocese of Meshech in Moesia, a region incorporating most of Bulgaria today. Alternatively, he may have been referring to Mysia in Asia Minor (Turkey). According to Strabo, both places were inhabited by the same people. During the reign of Diocletian, Moesia was situated in the Balkans, along the south bank of the Danube River. It included territories of modern-day Southern Serbia (Moesia Superior), the Northern Republic of Macedonia, Northern Bulgaria, Romanian Dobrudja, Southern Moldova, and Budjak (Lower Moesia). 65 ibid. 66 ibid. 67 ibid.; Yosefon, book I. 68 Josephus, Antiquities (Book 1, chapter 5, verse1); Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah). According to Philostorgius Ecclesiastical History (Epitome of Book III, chapter 24), the Sucian Alps are the frontier between Dacia (Romania) and Thrace. 69 Yosefon, book I; Sefer Hayashar, p. 45. 70 Don Isaac Abarbanels commentary on Genesis (P. Noah) 71 RASHI on Genesis 10:2, and Rabbi Saadia Gaon on Genesis 10:2, who writes in Judeo-Arabic ;See the Babylonian Talmud (Yoma 10a) where there is a dispute concerning this eponym. One Rabbi says that Tiras is Persia, while another says it is the family of Thrace (i.e. the ancient Romanians and Bulgarians). The same dispute is brought down in the Midrash Rabba (Genesis Rabba 37:1). 72 Sefer Hayashar, pp. 18-19. 73 ibid. 74 ibid. 75 ibid. 76 ibid.