Javan (father of Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim, and son of Japheth, Genesis 10:2, Genesis 10:4) stands generically for Greece, and probably represents Ionia. Tubal and Meshech are sons of Japheth in Genesis 10:2, and are always grouped together, except in Psalms 120:5, where Meshech appears alone, and in Isaiah 66:19, where Tubal is named, but not Meshech.
In Ezekiel 32:26 they are associated with Elam and Asshur (Assyria); in Ezekiel 38:2, Ezekiel 38:3 and Ezekiel 39:1 with Gog. The two names probably represented the tribes on the southeast coast of the Black Sea.
Here the chief traffic was in slaves, the Tyrian traders probably buying them in exchange for their manufactured goods, and selling them to the cities of Greece as well as Phoenicia. In Greek history the names appear as Tibaroni and Moschi (Herod; 3.
94; Xenophon, 'Anab.,' 5.5. 2, etal.). In Joel 4:6 Tyriaus are represented as selling Israelites as slaves in Greek cities (Hebrew "sons of Javan"). Thrace and Scythia were at all times the chief countries from which Greece imported her slaves.
Vessels of brass. Here, as throughout the Old Testament, we should read "copper," the mixed metal which we know as "brass" not Being known to ancient metallurgy. Copper-mines were found near the Caucasus, and Euboea was also famous for them.
The region was also noted for its iron.