DOES GOG MAGOG REFER TO RUSSIA?

Various people who claim to be "prophecy experts" are getting very excited about current events and have identified Gog/Magog as Russia. We should be very careful not to engage in "newspaper eisegesis" and come to conclusions that may mislead the body of Christ regarding the end times.

Claims of a Russian connection with Gog/Magog is a hotly debated subject amongst bible teachers. The majority of Hebrew scholars today reject the translation of rosh as a proper noun. Gog and Magog are mentioned jointly in the scriptures. The Table of Nations in Genesis 10 identifies Magog as a people group who are among the descendants of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. (Genesis 10:2). In Ezekiel 39 Gog is identified as an individual: the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.. from the uttermost parts of the north. (Ezekiel 39:1-2). Critics are divided as to the people and country intended under these names. The Scythians, the Goths, the Persians and several other nations have been identified as Magog by various scholars. A number of modern bible versions interpret Ezekiel 39:1 as prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. (e.g. NSAB, NKJV, ASV). Apart from similarities in the names, evidence to support the view that Rosh refers to Russia, or that Meshech and Tubal refer to the Russian cities Moscow and Tobolsk is problematic. CS Scofield introduced the Rosh/Russia notion in 1917, having taken the idea from Hebrew scholars, Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm Gesenius and Carl Fiedrich Keil. I do not doubt the considerable expertise of Gesenius and Keil as Hebrew lexicographers. However, from a historical perspective, the identification as Rosh as a proper noun is more uncertain. 

TG Pinches: "The identification of Rosh is not without its difficulties. Gesenius regarded it as indicating the Russians, who are mentioned in Byzantine writers of the 10th century under the name of Rhos. He adds that they are also noticed by Ibn Fosslan (same period), under the name of Rus, as a people dwelling on the river Rha (Volga). Apart from the improbability that the dominion of Gog extended to this district, it would be needful to know at what date the Rus of the Volga arrived there." {1} 

The Rosh/Russia view was further advanced by Hal Lindsey and Tim LaHaye and it is now a predominant belief amongst the dispensational pretribulation rapture camp. I support the view that the modern versions of נְשִׂ֕יא רֹ֖אשׁ (chief prince) are a mistranslation of the text, and that Rosh is an adjective and is a title for Gog rather than a proper noun. From historical records, it appears that Meshech (Mushku) and Tubal (Tabal) were geographical areas located in Georgia, Armenia and parts of Asia Minor (Turkey). While it is possible that some of the Japhethites may have migrated from the Black Sea to neighboring Russia, it should be noted that Israel's enemies from "the north" are always identified as its immediate neighbors in the scriptures. This critical information puts those who promote a prominent Russian role in the future Gog/Magog event in error. For further information on this subject, I recommend the publication written by J Paul Tanner: Daniel's "King of the North": Do We Owe Russia An Apology? JETS_35-3_315-328_Tanner.pdf (etsjets.org)

Scofield Study Notes - Genesis 10: "From Magog are descended the ancient Scythians, or Tartars, whose descendants predominate in the modern Russia." {2} 

Scofield Study Notes - Ezekiel 38: "That the primary reference is to the northern (European) powers, headed up by Russia, all agree.* The whole passage should be read in connection with Zechariah 12:1-4; Zechariah 14:1-9; Matthew 24:14-30; Revelation 14:14-20; Revelation 19:17-21; Revelation 19:17-21 'gog' is the prince, 'Magog,' his land. The reference to Meshech and Tubal (Moscow and Tobolsk) is a clear mark of identification. Russia and the northern powers have been the latest persecutors of dispersed Israel, and it is congruous both with divine justice and with the covenants (e.g. (See Scofield 'Revelation 19:17-66.19.21- :') See Scofield 'Revelation 19:17-66.19.21- :' that destruction should fall at the climax of the last mad attempt to exterminate the remnant of Israel in Jerusalem. The whole prophecy belongs to the yet future 'day of Jehovah' ; Isaiah 2:10-22; Revelation 19:11-21 and to the battle of Armageddon Revelation 16:14 See Scofield 'Revelation 16:14- :' but includes also the final revolt of the nations at the close of the kingdom-age. Revelation 20:7-9." {3} *Actually all do not agree with Scofield that the northern European powers will be headed up by Russia. The accepted translation was "the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal" until "Rosh" was challenged by Gesenius and Keil in the nineteenth century. 

Hebraeae et Chaldaeae Veteris Testamenti, Gesenius has about a page of notes dealing with the word Rosh and the alleged Rosh/Russian connection mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39. Unfortunately Gesenius' notes are not available in an English translation. James D Price gives a good overview of Gesenius' position: Rosh: An Ancient Land Known To Ezekiel (Grace Theological Journal 6.1 (1985) 67-89). 06-1_067.pdf (biblicalstudies.org.uk)

Keil and Delizsch's commentary on Ezekiel 38 can be read on the following link: Ezekiel 38 - Keil & Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org

Jewish historian Flavius Josephus identified Meshech as an area in modern Turkey (Asia Minor). Josephus: ..and the Mosocheni were founded by Mosoch; now they are Cappadocians. {4}

Josephus: Magog founded those that from him were named Magogites, but who are by the Greeks called Scythians. {4} 

According to the non-canonical book of Jasher, the children of Meshech built cities by the Caspian Sea (Jabus Sea) which lies to the east of the Caucasus Mountains and to the west of the vast steppe of Central Asia. The river Cura (Kura?) is situated in the South Caucasus.  

And the children of Meshech are the Shibashni and the children of Tiras are Rushash, Cushni, and Ongolis ; all these went and built themselves cities ; those are the cities that are situate by the sea Jabus by the river Cura, which empties itself in the river Tragan. (Jasher 10:14). {5}

According to Herodotus, the Scythians originally inhabited Asia. They were pushed west by a hostile tribe and eventually reached the Black Sea region and the eastern outskirts of Europe. In the first century BC Greek writer Diodorus Siculus claimed that the Scythians moved north into the steppe region from the south, possibly from the modern area of Armenia or even farther south along the western border with India.

Herodotus: "Then, for the first time, we won the friendship of the Moschi, a nation which became pre-eminently attached to Rome, and they overran the wilds of Armenia." {6} 

Heroditus: "There is yet another story, to which account I myself especially incline. It is to this effect. The nomadic Scythians inhabiting Asia, when hard pressed in war by the Massagetae, fled across the Araxes river to the Cimmerian country (for the country which the Scythians now inhabit is said to have belonged to the Cimmerians before).." {7} 

1. Rosh (2) - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (biblestudytools.com)

2. Genesis 10 - Scofield's Reference Notes - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org

3. Ezekiel 38 - Scofield's Reference Notes - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org
4. Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews, Book I (uchicago.edu)
5. Microsoft Word - Ancient Book of Jasher.1st_ed.1840.v14.docx (archive.org)
6. Cornelius Tacitus, The Annals, BOOK XIII, chapter 37 (tufts.edu)
7. Herodotus, The Histories, Book 4, chapter 11, section 1 (tufts.edu)