6 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. (NIV)
The Targum also adds “And the names of their countries were Asia (אסיא) Persia (ופרכווי) and Barbary (וברבריא).”
Ashkenaz in western Russia was eventually the dwelling of some of the deported Northern or “Lost” tribes of Israel, which were exiled by the Assyrians in the Eighth Century BC.
The people of Riphath seem to have been associated with the Paphlagonians, on the southern part of the Dead Sea near Pontus.
Togarmah appears to be a region either in or identical with Armenia. Togarmah will also be mentioned in Ezekiel 27 associated with Tyre and in Ezekiel 38 associated with Gog.
As we see the descendants of Japheth spreading out and making nations of their own, we see people who would, according to Noah's own prophecy, dwell in the tents of Shem, and these people would much, much later be visited by Christian missionaries and be brought to faith in Jesus. The Armenians in particular were among the earliest converts to Christianity. Their translation of the New Testament was so old and so faithful that it is one of the witnesses used to establish the original text.
God's word always accomplishes what the Lord sends it out to do (Isaiah 55:11). When we realize when we were brought to faith, and how far removed so many of us are from Shem, how can we see anything but the grace of God, his undeserved love sweeping into our lives and rescuing us from destruction? The God we worship loves us, and through Jesus, he has given us peace.
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