V. 1. This is the lineage of the children of Noah: Shem, Ham, Japheth. And they begat children after the flood.
It seems from the appearance that this 10th chapter does not have much special about it, nor is it very useful or necessary; especially because we, who were born after so many changes of regiments, countries, and people, have nothing that we could say about each person that is told here: so it is not proper that we remain completely silent about it.
First of all, it is to be noted in this chapter that Moses divides the world after the Flood and differentiates it into three parts according to the three sons of Noah. Although our writings and histories also divide the world into three parts, into Asia, Europe and Africa, Moses nevertheless leads a different division, which is not the same as ours. For to the part, which we call Europe, he counts also this part, which we call Asia after midnight, which extends up to the Mediterranean Sea, where it joins Palestine. The same whole line after midnight with whole Europe he counts to the sons of Japheth. For because of their much
They have also taken up a larger share than Sem.
3. to the other part of the world he makes this, so we call Africa, among which are also the Moors or Ethiopians, and reaches to the two mountains Abyla in Africa and Calpe in Spain, called the Pillars of Hercules.
(4) The third part, Judea, he gives to Shem, and not only that, but he adds Persia and the other countries after the east and south.
V. 2. The children of Japheth are these: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Thubal, Mesech and Thiras.
5 Japheth leaves behind him seven sons, whose names the holy scripture keeps all, without that only the name of Thiras is lost and is nowhere to be found in the scripture. The first son is Gomer, whom Jerome considers to be the father of the Galatians. However, it seems to me that this part is somewhat smaller than that it can be attributed to this patriarch. Thus one knows that the Galatians are Germans; as one then says that they should still use today the German language, as it is current in Saxony.
From Ezekiel, Cap. 38, 6, it is clear that they live after midnight. Therefore I think that they are the peoples who live in Scythia, at the Cimmerian Bosporus (Strait of Kaffa). For the consonance of the words Gomer and Cimmerius is
no small proof. Although the peoples who live there today are bordered and not original inhabitants, there is no doubt about the place. So it is also common that one puts the letters g and s or o for each other, as they make almost the same words and are not at all dissimilar to each other; as the Italian and Belgian pronunciation proves. Therefore I think that Gomer and his descendants lived at the Cimmerian Bosporus, at the lake or sea Mäotis and at the countries, which lie first after midnight.
(7) As for Magog, I am sure that Ezekiel, Cap. 38, 2, says about Gog and Magog. But Gog means a roof. Therefore Gog is considered to be the Scythians, who do not live in houses like us, but under huts alone or tents.
(8) For this reason the Turks boast that they do not build for splendor, as we do, who adorn the cities with magnificent buildings and build castles and fortresses as if we would live here forever. For the sake of such diligence or ambition, as it may be called, the Turks ridicule us and consider it a piece of peculiar sanctity if one does not live in delicious houses. That is why they ravage vineyards and tear down beautiful buildings. The same kind of life is led by those peoples after midnight who are called Tartars, for they also live in huts and are, as the Hebrews call them, Magogs, among whom are also the Scythians and other peoples.
9 What Madai means is known. For there is no doubt, as the name also indicates, that they are the Medes. Although the histories of the holy scriptures indicate something more certain and call Darms Madai, who was a Mede, as the histories of the pagans also testify.
10 Javan is undoubtedly Janus, from which the city is called Janiculum (near Rome). And although some think that from Javan are called the Greeks, who are called Jones, it is certain that before times also in Italy the Greek language was in use. Hence the countries, first of all situated at the sea, were called Great
Greece, and the histories report that Pythagoras taught there. Therefore, we can conclude without any obstacle that Javan and his family held Asia Minor and the whole coast of the Mediterranean Sea from Cilicia to the outermost borders of the Spaniards. Therefore Moses says afterwards of his sons clearly that from them the islands of the sea are spread out; because the Mediterranean Sea has many islands. Thus one did not know before the Trojan time, which it had for a shape around Italy, that I consider it for the fact that in the same places much changes took place.
According to Jerome, Thubal is the Spaniards. But methinks he belongs to the Tartars. And he is also remembered by Ezekiel, Cap. 38, 3.
Jerome thinks that Mesech is the Cappadocians. But from the Psalm it can be seen that it is Great Armenia, where the Georgians and Caspians are. For in the 120th Psalm v. 5. it says: "I am a stranger under Mesech, and must dwell among the tents of Kedar." Now it is certain that Kedar is the stony Arabia, where the Moabites, Edomaeans and Ammonites sat. They have Meshech on the side after midnight. And I would gladly say, according to the word, that they are the Muscovites; and it may well be that they came out of Armenia into the countries where they are now; as often one people drives out another, and one settles in another's place.
It is not known what peoples are signified by Thiras, because this name is nowhere found in the Scriptures. Jerome thinks that it means the Thracians; as the name Thiras indicates to some extent.
14 So this is the lineage of our father Japheth, of whom also the heathen know and call him Japetus. And from him have their origin all peoples who live after midnight, as Medes, Scythians, Tartars, Cimmerians, Poles, Vandals, Danes, Germans, Greeks, Italians, Gauls, Spaniards. But because the languages have often been changed, it is an indication that also the inhabitants have often changed.
V. 3. But the children of Gomer are these: Askenas, Riphath and Thogarma.
15 The Jews say strongly and unanimously that Askenas means the Germans. Although this cannot be proved from the holy scriptures, we gladly accept it, because we have nothing more certain about it. This name is also remembered by Jeremiah Cap. 51, 27, although our translation does not have a personal name, but a people's name. Eusebius says that they were the Goths; but of them it is known for certain that they were Germans.
Thus we Germans come through the whole line from the firstborn of Japheth. Although this is not a glory before God, it indicates that because this Askenas is the firstborn, he must also have land and people. After that, this is also indicated, although in obscure words, that it should come to pass with him that he comes to the knowledge of the gospel; for all this both entails the right of the firstborn. And it is not unclearly indicated herewith that God graciously regarded this nation and wanted to honor it especially; as also the histories testify that the German nation has always been considered the most praiseworthy.
17 Riphath is nowhere mentioned in the holy scriptures, neither Thiras. So the pagans have nothing of it in their writings, unless they speak of the Riphaeans and of mountains, which they also call mountains, and fable that the griffins read gold in them. But that everything they say about such mountains is a fable and a fictitious thing, no one doubts.
(18) Therefore we hold that these were also nations that dwelt after midnight, but were destroyed or driven out by the Tartars; for in this way God punishes the land and the people for their sin; as He says in the prophet Amos, Cap. 9, v. 8: "The eyes of the Lord look upon a sinful kingdom, that I may utterly destroy it from the face of the earth"; and Daniel, Cap. 2, v. 21: "He removes kings, and sets up kings. 2, v. 21: "He removeth kings, and setteth up kings." Therefore the names of the countries and kings
The kingdoms are devoured as they are able, but those who dwell in them are destroyed and perish for their sins. Thus the Turk devoured Greece, the Goths Spain, and yet the old names remain. And this is the course of the world, and it is no different in it; which is all written in honor of the holy scriptures.
19. no one knows who Thogarmah is^ Ezekiel remembers his Cap. 27, 14. and counts him among the nations after midnight. Methinks he belongs to the Tartars. Some still guess and pretend that it is the Phrygians, because the word Tigranes is not far from it; but what to build on this, each reader may judge for himself.
V. 4. 5. The children of Javan are these: Elisha, Tharfis, Kittim and Dodanim. From these are spread the islands of the Gentiles in their lands, each according to their language, gender and people.
Jerome thinks that Elisha was the Aeolians. But I think it was a larger landscape. Ezekiel also remembers Cap. 27, 7.
21 Tharsis, they say, is Cilicia, where Tharsus is, St. Paul's fatherland; I am not against that either.
22. the Kittim are often called in the holy scripture, and is almost understood by it Italy; but in my opinion it is actually Greece with the next area after Italy and France. Balaam remembers this name 4 Mos. 24, 24: "The ships from Chittim will come and destroy the Affur" etc. and Isaiah Cap. 23, 1. where he prophesies about the devastation of Tyre and Ashdod, which should happen through Alexander.
23 So Macedonia also takes its name from Kittim, for when the Hebrews add the letter m to Kittim, it becomes makittim, which we call Macedonia. But someone might say: Why should Greece have its name from Macedonia, which is an unsightly part of Greece? Answer: How unsightly and despised this part is, yet Alexander, the monarch and regent of the whole world, came from it. Therefore it is rightly praised as the head of the whole of Greece.
des, because it is also the head of the whole world.
024 Of Dodanim I hold that it perished. For if the Dodonaeans, who had a name from the temple of Jupiter, which was with them, are called by this name, they are truly, compared with the whole kingdom, of which they remained, like a small branch, compared with a large tree; as still today Rome is only a small oert and piece of the very large monarchy, to which it belonged before times.
(25) Therefore, these sons of Javan were the most powerful kings, and were undoubtedly properly instructed in doctrine and religion by their grandfather Japheth, and were the holiest men, especially until the time when the Jewish people were distinguished from the other peoples by a certain law, order and rule.
(26) That Moses says that the islands of the sea were spread out by him indicates that they were skilled and experienced mariners, which they undoubtedly learned from the example of the box in the Flood. But because God has confirmed their kingdom and made it permanent, I consider it that they have kept the right worship, which they inherited and received from the fathers, and have used it in their church. For God does not confirm the rule of the ungodly and idolatrous, but overthrows them. But that Pliny says that some islands have not always been, but have emerged and risen from the sea, I do not know whether the same is true. But that seems to me to be more credible, that they were discovered and inhabited by people who were experienced in navigation, as Moses indicates here.
27 These are the descendants of Japheth, among whom were undoubtedly the most holy fathers, who governed their family both spiritually and physically, well and rightly, and set up altars and worship in the places where they lived. For there was no law that worship should be held in a certain place,
When the Lord's gift was given, each one was free to sacrifice wherever he wished, just as we are now free to pray wherever we wish.
(28) But the same race, as time went on, fell more and more into idolatry, and began to worship the sun and the stars (2c). Which idolatry undoubtedly originated from right worship and invocation; as superstition and false worship commonly arise from right faith and religion. For the pious fathers taught their children to pray in the morning when the sun rose, and to pray to God for such a beautiful light, by which not only everything is illuminated, but also preserved and nourished. But this the descendants turned into idolatry. Just as the Chaldeans worshipped fire, just as the Turks used circumcision, and we, having abandoned the apostles' teaching, have fallen into abominable idolatry, which the godless swarm of the popes introduced into the church for the sake of great profit and gain. For when the pious and godly have rightly known, rightly believed and rightly served God, the godless have always wanted to imitate them; from which all the misery in the church has followed and sprung.
Our ancestors, however, were great and excellent people, among whom our Askenas was a special hero and of a God-fearing way of life, and also ready with his fist. How then today, praise God, Germany, above other glorious gifts she has, is also graced with the bright light of the Gospel, which is the highest gift of all. And good to those who make good and holy use of it.
(30) With special diligence Moses reports that these descendants have divided their tongues and families into certain places, so that he wants to show that the regiments were ordered and appointed. And this was undoubtedly done and ordered by Noah, their grandfather himself, who sent one to Asia, the other to Greece, the third to Italy, and established police forces and churches there; and since his children and his children's children were to be
If they have obeyed, they have experienced God's blessing. Therefore, all this is held up to us as examples of special obedience to the Father Noah and also special diligence in the appointment of the churches and regiments. After that, they are also examples of righteous unity, by which both the church and the secular government stood well until the accursed Ham brought the whole world into turmoil, as will be heard in the following chapter.
But it would be useful and good, that because these histories have perished, one would know the etymology (origin) of these names, from which or on which each one was conceived. For I cannot believe that the holy fathers, who were full of the Holy Spirit and had seen beforehand everything that would happen in the future in the church and in the worldly regimes, had thought up such names and put them on their children; as I have shown similar examples several times above, in which the names indicate either the times or other circumstances. But because the histories have perished, one would have to guess the reason of such derivation, if one could find the etymology.
32 Gomer means one who concludes and ends a thing, or a completion. From this it can be inferred that at the same time a special emergency occurred, so that everyone thought that it was now over with the church. But since we certainly cannot know this, such thoughts are in vain. Therefore, we command such reflection on the name of the cause to the idle.