The Hebrew speaks of a people called Rosh, Ezek. xxxviii, 2, 3.
“The orientals hold,” says D’Herbelot, “that Japheth had a son called
Rous, not mentioned by Moses, who peopled Russia, that is, Muscovy.” We
question not but Rosh, or Ros, signifies Russia, or the people that
dwell on the Araxes, called Rosch by the inhabitants; which was the
habitation of the Scythians. It deserves notice, that the LXX. render
the passage in Ezekiel, Γὼγ, ἄρχοντα Ῥὼς, Μεσὸχ, καὶ Θοβὲλ, _Gog, the
chief of Ros, Mesoch, and Thobel_; and Jerom, not absolutely to reject
this name, inserts both renderings: _Gog, terram Magog, principem
capitis_ (_sive_ Ros) _Mosoch, et Thubal_. Symmachus and Theodotion also
perceived Ros to be in this place the name of a people; and this is now
the prevailing judgment of interpreters. Bochart, about A. D. 1640,
contended that Russia was the nation meant by the term Ros; and this
opinion is supported by the testimony of various Greek writers, who
describe “the Ros as a Scythian nation, bordering on the northern
Taurus.” Mosok, or Mesech, appears to be the same as the Moskwa, or
Moscow, of the moderns; and we know, that not only is this the name of
the city, but also of the river on which it stands. See Gog.
“The orientals hold,” says D’Herbelot, “that Japheth had a son called
Rous, not mentioned by Moses, who peopled Russia, that is, Muscovy.” We
question not but Rosh, or Ros, signifies Russia, or the people that
dwell on the Araxes, called Rosch by the inhabitants; which was the
habitation of the Scythians. It deserves notice, that the LXX. render
the passage in Ezekiel, Γὼγ, ἄρχοντα Ῥὼς, Μεσὸχ, καὶ Θοβὲλ, _Gog, the
chief of Ros, Mesoch, and Thobel_; and Jerom, not absolutely to reject
this name, inserts both renderings: _Gog, terram Magog, principem
capitis_ (_sive_ Ros) _Mosoch, et Thubal_. Symmachus and Theodotion also
perceived Ros to be in this place the name of a people; and this is now
the prevailing judgment of interpreters. Bochart, about A. D. 1640,
contended that Russia was the nation meant by the term Ros; and this
opinion is supported by the testimony of various Greek writers, who
describe “the Ros as a Scythian nation, bordering on the northern
Taurus.” Mosok, or Mesech, appears to be the same as the Moskwa, or
Moscow, of the moderns; and we know, that not only is this the name of
the city, but also of the river on which it stands. See Gog.