It has been commonly thought that Media was peopled by the
descendants of Madai, son of Japheth, Gen. x, 2. The Greeks maintain
that this country took its name from Medus, the son of Medea. If,
however, Madai and his immediate descendants did not people this
country, some of his posterity might have carried his name thither,
since we find it so often given to Media, from the times of the Prophets
Isaiah and Jeremiah, and from the transportation of the ten tribes, and
the destruction of Samaria under Salmaneser, A. M. 3283. Media Proper
was bounded by Armenia and Assyria Proper on the west, by Persia on the
east, by the Caspian provinces on the north, and by Susiana on the
south. It was an elevated and mountainous country, and formed a kind of
pass between the cultivated parts of eastern and western Asia. Hence,
from its geographical position, and from the temperature, verdure, and
fertility of its climate, Media was one of the most important and
interesting regions of Asia. Into this country the ten tribes who
composed the kingdom of Israel were transplanted, in the Assyrian
captivity, by Tiglath-pileser and Salmaneser. The former prince carried
away the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, on the east side of
Jordan, to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river of Gozan. His
successor carried away the remaining seven tribes and a half, to the
same places, which are said to be cities of the Medes, by the river of
Gozan,” 1 Chron. v, 26; 2 Kings xvii, 6. The geographical position of
Media was wisely chosen for the distribution of the great body of the
captives; for, it was so remote, and so impeded and intersected with
great mountains and numerous and deep rivers, that it would be extremely
difficult for them to escape from this natural prison, and return to
their own country. They would also be opposed in their passage through
Kir, or Assyria Proper, not only by the native Assyrians, but also by
their enemies, the Syrians, transplanted thither before them. The
superior civilization of the Israelites, and their skill in agriculture
and in the arts, would tend to civilize and improve those wild and
barbarous regions.
descendants of Madai, son of Japheth, Gen. x, 2. The Greeks maintain
that this country took its name from Medus, the son of Medea. If,
however, Madai and his immediate descendants did not people this
country, some of his posterity might have carried his name thither,
since we find it so often given to Media, from the times of the Prophets
Isaiah and Jeremiah, and from the transportation of the ten tribes, and
the destruction of Samaria under Salmaneser, A. M. 3283. Media Proper
was bounded by Armenia and Assyria Proper on the west, by Persia on the
east, by the Caspian provinces on the north, and by Susiana on the
south. It was an elevated and mountainous country, and formed a kind of
pass between the cultivated parts of eastern and western Asia. Hence,
from its geographical position, and from the temperature, verdure, and
fertility of its climate, Media was one of the most important and
interesting regions of Asia. Into this country the ten tribes who
composed the kingdom of Israel were transplanted, in the Assyrian
captivity, by Tiglath-pileser and Salmaneser. The former prince carried
away the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, on the east side of
Jordan, to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river of Gozan. His
successor carried away the remaining seven tribes and a half, to the
same places, which are said to be cities of the Medes, by the river of
Gozan,” 1 Chron. v, 26; 2 Kings xvii, 6. The geographical position of
Media was wisely chosen for the distribution of the great body of the
captives; for, it was so remote, and so impeded and intersected with
great mountains and numerous and deep rivers, that it would be extremely
difficult for them to escape from this natural prison, and return to
their own country. They would also be opposed in their passage through
Kir, or Assyria Proper, not only by the native Assyrians, but also by
their enemies, the Syrians, transplanted thither before them. The
superior civilization of the Israelites, and their skill in agriculture
and in the arts, would tend to civilize and improve those wild and
barbarous regions.