On the Origins or the Antiquity of the Hebrew Language

ni, who first burst forth from the Northern parts into those places where they now act. For just as the moment colonies were led from the Medes or Assyrians into the whole world, just as Pliny says the Iaxamatae Meotici descended from them, so by a certain fruitfulness of men they are accustomed to invade other parts of the world through frequent incursions. The Sicambri, Germans, Huns, Goths, Vandals, the Persians of our century, the Turks, and the Circassians: they affirm this to be truer than it is proper to affirm, and show it by the very deed. The Hebrews today call the Germans Ashkenazim, which is also Asiatic. Riphat attributed the origin of the name to the Rhipaean peoples, whom we call by another Hebrew name, "Sarmatians" instead of "Ashchenaz," and to the mountains. Regarding Togarma, the word by which they are so called by the Hebrews today confirms for me that he begat those who today hear the name "Turks." The posterity of Javan, however, is as follows:
Elisa Elisha, the first of his children, named the Aeolians in Asia, then the region of Elis in the Peloponnese or Morea, having left behind the city named Elis; however, it is called Elisia by Ptolemy and Strabo.
Tharsis Another is Tarshish, who had given the ancient name to Cilicia, which remained to the city of Tarsus in that same province, which once flourished so much in both studies and in the frequency of trade that it was called the mother of cities by the authors of humanity. But because the word "Tarshish" signifies very different things in sacred texts, it will not be contrary to the reason of our plan to discuss it somewhat. Here, in Genesis 10, Judith 2, and Jonah 1, it is certainly certain to be taken for Cilicia. Elsewhere, it denotes different places, which nevertheless it is permitted to attain by vehement conjecture. We must first touch upon the passage in 3 Kings 9. King Solomon also made a fleet in Ezion-Geber, which is near Elath, on the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom. It appears that by this word "Ophir," Tarshish is understood in 2 Paralipomenon chapter 9, where he reveals this history. And in the same book, chapter 20, where he says that later kings were also accustomed to equip ships in Ezion-Geber to send them to Tarshish; when, however, the prophets rebuke the princes for such a study of money, they do it perpetually under the name of "Tarshish," never under "Ophir." Nor do I find that which many doctors want, where that word is taken for the sea. For when David says, "Kings of Tarshish and the isles"