Meshech and Tubal are there: Meshech and Tubal are the next countries on the list of great nations who went to the underworld before Egypt. These two countries are mentioned in the Table of Nations in Gen 10.2, and they are named among the countries that traded with Tyre in 27.13 (see the comments there). They were located in Asia Minor, in what is now modern Turkey. They also were destroyed not long before the time of Ezekiel. Although most translations refer to them as separate nations, the Hebrew text here puts them together as a single entity, saying “Meshech-Tubal” (English Standard Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). It will be best if translators render it in this way.

And all their multitude: See verse 24.

Their graves round about them: See verse 22.

All of them uncircumcised: See verse 21.

Slain by the sword: See verse 22.

For they spread terror in the land of the living: See verse 23.

A model for this verse is:

• “The nation of Meshech-Tubal is there with the graves of all her people [or, soldiers] all around her. They were godless people and were killed in warfare [or, died in war]. When they were still alive, they used to terrify everyone.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .