Verses 5-23 are an abbreviation of the genealogical information of Gen. 10. The account is compressed within narrower limits, chiefly by omitting the opening and closing notes, and passing over the remarks on the kingdom of Nimrod at Babel, and the spread of the Shemites and Hamites in their countries (see Gen. 10:5, 8-12, 18-20).
Gomer.
See on Gen. 10:2; Eze. 38:6. The descendants of Gomer are probably to be identified with the Cimmerians known to the Greeks, mentioned by Homer (Odyssey xi. 12-19) as inhabiting the far north; mentioned also by Herodotus (iv. 11-13) as the early inhabitants of what is now south Russia, who were driven out by the Scythians. The Cimmerians made their way into Asia Minor, and for a time threatened the Assyrian Empire, but were defeated by Esarhaddon. According to Ashurbanipal, Guggu (Gyges), king of Lydia, defeated the Cimmerians, who had been harassing his land, but was later overthrown by the Cimmerians. Alyattes, the great-grandson of Gyges, who had waged war with Cyaxares the Mede, later drove the Cimmerians out of the district of Asia (Herodotus i. 15, 16).
Magog.
See also on Gen. 10:2. The progenitor of a people who came from the north (Eze. 38:15). Josephus identified Magog with the Scythians (Antiquities i. 6. 1). But see Vol. IV, pp. 704, 705.
See also on Gen. 10:2. The two names are mentioned together in Gen. 10:2; Eze. 27:13; 32:26; 38:2, 3; 39:1. Tubal is mentioned with Tarshish, Pul, Lud, and Javan (Isa. 66:19). Tubal is listed with Tarshish, Javan, and Meshech (Eze. 27:12, 13) as trading with Tyre. Tubal and Meshech are most probably to be identified with Tabal and Mushki frequently named in the Assyrian inscriptions, and with the Moschoi (Moshians) and Tibarenoi of Herodotus (iii. 94; vii. 78).
Tiras.
See also on Gen. 10:2. Probably the progenitor of the Tyrsenians, who occupied the coast of the Aegean Sea (Herodotus i. 57, 94).