The Nations Descended from Japheth and Ham

"The sons of Japheth: Gomer and Magog" (Genesis 10:2-9). Rabbi Shmuel bar Ami said: these are Africa and Germania and Media and Macedonia, Asia and Tunia. "Tiras," this is Persia and Turkey. "And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah," Asa and Charif and Germania. Rabbi Berekhiah said: Gormanikaya. "And the sons of Javan: Elishah and Tarshish," Alsotrus, Italia, and Dardania. One verse says "and Dodanim," and another verse says "and Rodanim" (1 Chronicles 1:7). Rabbi Simon and Rabbi Chanin: Rabbi Simon says, "Dodanim," for they are the cousins [dodim] of Israel; "Rodanim," for they come and oppress [rodin] them. Rav Chanin said: when Israel is set on high, they say, "We are your cousins"; and when they are set low, they come and oppress. "And the sons of Ham: Cush and Egypt and Put and Canaan." Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: we had thought that the family of Put had been swallowed up; Ezekiel came and explained, "Cush and Put and Lud and all the mixed multitude" (Ezekiel 30:5). "Therefore it is said, like Nimrod a mighty hunter." It is not written merely "a mighty hunter," but "like Nimrod": just as this one trapped people with his mouth, saying, "I did not steal, who stole with you? I did not kill, who killed with you?" "He began to be a mighty one on the earth," and so on. (This is written above in remez 40.)