Ezekiel 38:2-3

2, 3. The chief prince of Meshech and Tubal The nasi rosh (chief prince) named here has often been connected with the kohen rosh (priest-chief) of 1 Chronicles 27:5, and this translation finds some support from a somewhat similar use of the word rosh on Persian coins, yet probably the R.V. is better, “the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.” (For Meshech and Tubal, see notes Ezekiel 27:13.) Hommel has recently connected Meshech with “the Mosks of Asia Minor” (Hastings’s Dictionary, 1900). Where the land of Rosh was is not certain. Schroder refers to the cuneiform inscriptions which mention a land, Mat Ra-a-si, situated on the Tigris, at the frontier of Elam; but notices that the position does not harmonize with its close connection here with two peoples of Asia Minor. Perhaps this may be the land which was occupied by the Scythian people, whom Byzantine and Arabian writers have called οι Ρως , and who dwelt on the shores of the Black Sea and on the banks of the Volga ( Pulpit Commentary). Rosh has no connection with Russia. The mention of these unknown lands and people only shows that Ezekiel had a better knowledge of the barbarian tribes lying on the frontier of civilization in his day than even the best archaeologists of our time.