Meshech

1. A people in Asia Minor. In the Table of Nations in Genesis chapter 10, Meshech is listed after Javan and Tubal as the sixth son of Japheth. It is generally identified with Mushki of Assyrian, and Moschoi of classical sources. The first known mention dates from 1116 B.C. in the first year of Tiglath-Pileser I, who vanquished the five kings of Mushki ruling in the southeastern part of Anatolia. They are mentioned again in Assyrian sources from the reign of Ashurnasirpal II (884-859 B.C.) as paying a tribute of copper vessels, cattle and wine. They do not appear in the Assyrian sources from the era of Assyrian decline, but are mentioned again in conjunction with clashes with Assyrians in the period of Shalmaneser V, reaching a climax in the reign of Sargon (722-705 B.C.). The Assyrian sources seem to identify Mita king of the Meshech with Midas of the Greek sources. This indicates that the peoples the Greeks called Phrygians are the Mushki of the Assyrians. The statement in Psalm 120:5 “Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar” refers to Meshech as the border of the civilized world in the north, as Kedar was its southeastern extremity in the Babylonian and Persian periods, Meshech and Tubal denote the land of central Anatolia and its peoples (Ezek 32:26). Meshech, Tubal and Javan (i.e. Greece) traded in slaves and copper vessels (Ezek 39:1).
2. See MASH

Concordance
Gen 10:2. I Chr 1:5, 17. Ps 120:5. Ezek 27:13; 32:26; 38:2-3; 39:1

1 Son of Japheth. It is also spelled Mesech.

2 Son of Shem.

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

In the Bible, Meshech 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).

Interpretations

Meshech is named with Tubal as a principality of the prince of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38:2 and 39:1, considered a Japhetite tribe, identified by Flavius Josephus with the Cappadocian Moschoi (see Mushki) and their capital Mazaca.

Meshech is seen as ancestor of the Russian people by some Bible scholars^{[attribution needed]} who consider it possible that geographic names in Russia such as Moscow, the Meschera tribe and the Meshchera Lowlands, could be related to Meshech. In addition, the people of Georgia have traditions of descent from Meshech, among others.

Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
Ezekiel 27:13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market.
Ezekiel 38:2-3 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

Sons and Grandsons of Noah in Genesis 10
Sons of Shem	Elam • Ashur • Aram • Arpachshad • Lud
Sons of Ham	Cush • Mizraim • Phut • Canaan
Sons of Japheth	Gomer • Magog • Madai • Javan • Tubal • Meshech • Tiras

References

1. ^ From Historical Textbook and Atlas of Biblical Geography by Coleman (1854)

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