ROSH

The Hebrew speaks of a people called Rosh, Ezek. xxxviii, 2, 3. “The orientals hold,” hold,” says D’Her be lot, “that Japheth had a son called Rous, not mentioned by Moses, who peopled Ru ia, that is, Muscovy.” We question not but Rosh, or Ros, signifies Ru ia, 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 pa age 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 Ru ia 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 .