“The sons of Yefet: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Yavan, and Tuval, and Meshekh, and Tiras” (Genesis 10:2). “The sons of Yefet: Gomer, and Magog [and Madai]” – these are Africa, Germania, Madai. [“And Yavan, and Tuval and Meshekh”] – Macedonia, Isnia, and Tonia. “Tiras” – Rabbi Simon said: This is Persia. The Rabbis say: Thrace.
“And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Rifat, and Togarma” (Genesis 10:3). “And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Rifat, and Togarma” – Asia, Adiabene, and Germania; Rabbi Berekhya said: Germanicia. “And the sons of Yavan: Elisha, and Tarshish, Kitim, and Dodanim” (Genesis 10:4). “And the sons of Yavan: Elisha, and Tarshish, [Kitim, and Dodanim]” – Hellas and Tarsus, Italia, and Dardania.
One verse says: “And Dodanim” and another verse says: “and Rodanim” (I Chronicles 1:7).1Referring to the same nation. Rabbi Simon and Rabbi Ḥanin, Rabbi Simon said: Dodanim – because they were Israel’s cousins [benei dodin]. Rodanim – because they would come and oppress [rodin] them.2They sometimes regarded themselves as close as kin to Israel, and at other times they oppressed them. Rabbi Ḥanina said: When Israel is ascendant, they say to them: ‘We are your cousins,’ and when they are in decline, they come and oppress them.