Verse 1. “Now these are the records of the generations of
Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the
flood.”
The opening chapters of the Book of First Chronicles
provide an additional chronology of the descendents of the sons of Noah, which
shall be referred to as we proceed through this Chapter in the Book of Genesis.
There are other genealogies in Scripture as well, and they will be mentioned
when such references are needed for understanding. We will examine “the generations of Shem, Ham and Japheth, the sons of
Noah…” One of the interesting facts about the names of their descendents
in this chapter is that less is known about them than we would hope, but what is
known will be shared. Almighty God knows EVERYTHING about them, and He
is acquainted with you as well. If you ever feel lost, you're not, for God is with you,
even if the world does not know who you are.
Note that the children of these men and their wives
consisted of “sons (and daughters)…
born to them after the flood,” suggesting
that the three sons of Noah and their wives previously did not have children before the flood came and none of
them were born during the year that the eight survivors of the Great Flood
remained on the ark. All “were born to them after the flood,” as it says in this
verse. Eight people and eight people only were survivors of the Pre-Flood
world.
Verse 2. “The sons of Japheth were Gomer
and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras.”
The “sons of Japheth,” as also named in 1 Chronicles
1:5-7, are listed first among the grandsons of Noah, even though Japheth was not
to be in the line of the Messiah. That honor would be a blessing given to Shem,
progenitor of the Asian peoples,
as seen in the genealogy contained in Luke 3:36 and its context. “Gomer” likely
meant “completion,” and if he was the oldest of Japheth’s sons, then his name
represents that feeling of completion when a child is brought into the world.
Nations that have been thought to be descended from "Gomer" and his wife include
many early settlers of Europe, defined as those west of the Caucasus mountains,
such as the Irish, Welsh, Germans, Turks and also the Scythians.
“Magog” likely meant “region of Gog,” two names that
will be seen again as part of the final battle mentioned in Revelation 20:8. Nations
associated with the name, “Magog,” have included the Irish and Scythians
(again), along with the Finns and the Slavs. “Madai” was Japheth’s third son and his name
meant “middle.” Nations descending from him are said to include the Persians, Medes and
Kurds. “Javan” literally meant “Greece,” including
not only today's Greeks, but it also refers to a people that originally settled
across the water from Greece in the area called Ionia. The people of “Tubal” include the original
settlers of the Iberian Peninsula, such as the Basques, and also those to the
east in the country of Georgia. “Meshech” meant “tall” and he was likely the
progenitor of the Great Russians. “Tiras” was the ancestor of certain Germanic
tribes, including the Jutes, Goths and Teutons. Many of the Jutes sailed
to Britain in later centuries, along with the Angles and Saxons; conquering and
establishing territory on that island.
Verse 3. “The sons of Gomer were
Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah”
Listed in this section of Scripture are the sons of Noah, followed
by a listing of his grandsons and other descendents, beginning in this verse with seven sons of
Japheth. The names and probable future lineage of his sons was given in Verse 2.
Three sons of “Gomer” (completion) are listed here. The first one is “Ashkenaz,”
listed also in Jeremiah 51:27 as among the national groups that would in the
future attack Babylon in God's retribution for what that city-state did in later years
to Israel.
“Riphath” is called by the name, “Diphath,” in 1
Chronicles 1:6, reflecting one of the difficulties in discovering facts about
their lives and descendants. Names of ancient people and nations tend to differ
depending on who wrote about them. Countries don’t have the same names for other
nations, such as the largest country on the Iberian Peninsula, which calls
itself “Espana,” but the English call it “Spain” and the French, “L'Espagne.”
The historian Flavius Josephus placed “Riphath” at the north of the Caspian Sea.
The last grandson of Japheth named in this verse is “Togarmah,” who is thought to be
the ancestor of the Armenians, who are still called “the House of Thorgom,”
which indeed is a derivation of the name, “Togarmah.”
Verse 4. “The sons of Javan were Elishah
and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim.”
“Javan” is the fourth son of Japheth listed in Verse 2,
and Javan’s own sons, the grandsons of Japheth are listed here. “Elishah” can be
translated “God is salvation,” suggesting that at least some members of this
family looked to the Lord, and the descendents of this man settled in Ionia,
part of what is now Western Turkey. The famous “blue and purple” dyes produced
by the people of "Elishah" are mentioned in Ezekiel 27:7. “Tarshish” is mentioned
a number of times in Scripture. It was the place Jonah intended to go to in his attempt to
avoid the call of God (Jonah 1:3). The
place had many ships (Psalm 48:7) and it is thought this “Tarshish” was located
on the coast of Spain.
“Kittim” or “Chittim” in Scripture is the island of
Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea. In Daniel 11:30, the descendents of "Kittim" are described as a
maritime people, a nation of sailors and shipbuilders. Less is known of the
descendents of “Dodanim,” likely Japheth’s youngest son. 1 Chronicles 1:7 calls
him “Rodanim,” and Flavius Josephus, the Jewish historian of 2000 years ago does
not mention him or his descendents at all.
Verse 5. “From these the coastlands of
the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his
language, according to their families, into their nations.”
Up until the time of this verse, and for a likely
extensive time after the moment, there was only one language utilized by all in
the human race. The very thought of “another language” would not have been
comprehended by anyone on earth. The phrase, “every one according to his language” tells
us this verse refers to a time after the building of the so-called “tower”
associated with “Babel” and the scattering of human
languages, as seen in Genesis 11:1 and in the verses that follow.
The act in which “nations were separated into their
lands” is also future from the moment of this verse, referring to the sudden
event reflected in Genesis 11:8 when God abruptly “scattered (humanity)
abroad…
over the face of all the earth.” The various languages of the earth did not come
about through a gradual process, though such a process has been occurring since
that time and it is still happening today. The evolution of languages
into their present forms began by a sudden change. And the “nations were separated into their
lands” through an unexpected wrenching of individuals from one place to another.
Father, We place our trust in You. We need You so
much. Forgive us our sins and help us to learn from the past, especially
as it revealed in Your Word, the Bible. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and
let us learn from You. We thank You and praise Your Holy Name. In
Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - Genesis 10:6-10
Verse 6. “The sons of Ham were Cush and
Mizraim and Put and Canaan.”
We now look at a historical sketch about the offspring of “Ham,” son
of Noah. One of Noah's grandsons was to be “Nimrod,” a most unusual man who “became
a mighty one on the earth,” as we will see in Verse 8. Nimrod’s father was
“Cush,” son of Ham. The word “Cush” literally means “black,” and you can see
the words “Cush” and “Ethiopia” used interchangeably in various Bible
translations, as in Isaiah 18:1 and Jeremiah 13:23 - depending on which
translation you might be using. Many of the Cushites became settled in
Eastern Africa and the ancient Egyptian name for Ethiopia was a
corrupted form of the name, “Cush.”
“Mizraim” in the Hebrew literally meant “Egypt.” This
son of Ham was the progenitor of the ancient Hamitic Caananites and Mizraim also
contributed his DNA to the
modern Egyptians. Those of “Put” are thought to be the Libyans of North Africa.
The words “Libya” and “Put” or “Pul” are often used interchangeably in various
translations, in places
like Nahum 3:9. “Canaan” meant “Low.” Egyptian inscriptions preserved since 1800
BC used the name “Canaan” for coastal dwellers who lived anywhere
north from Egypt
into what is now Lebanon and beyond.
Verse 7. “The sons of Cush were Seba and
Havilah and Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and
Dedan.”
Several sons of “Cush” are listed in this verse and one
more is named in Verse 8. “Seba,” a son of Cush has often been confused with
“Sheba,” his nephew, the son of his brother, Raamah. However, Psalm 72:10 refers
to “the kings of Sheba and Seba,” indicating that this is a real historical
division, describing peoples descended from two separate men. “Seba” has been named as the ancestor
of the people who live in the countries of Yemen and Eritrea East Africa, north
of Ethiopia.
“Havilah” meant “circle” and this grandson of Ham is
thought to be an ancestor of the inhabitants of the Sinai Peninsula. “Sabtah”
has been associated with the Hadhramis people to the east of Yemen. “Raamah”
meant “trembling” and his descendents have been associated with the Arabian
Peninsula and a coastal people of the Red Sea. “Sabteca” has been thought to be
the ancestor of a Sabaean people north of Ethiopia and near Eritrea. Raamah’s
son, “Sheba,” has been connected with Sabaean people in a variety of African
locations. “Dedan” was one of the ancestors of the people of Saudi Arabia.
Verse 8. “Now Cush became the father of
Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth.”
We now discover a great grandson of Noah who “became a
mighty one on the earth.” We have always had “mighty” people among us. Generals,
admirals, kings, queens, presidents, rock stars, famous athletes, and so on, but
this “Nimrod” was much greater than someone who just had a title and seemed to
be someone important. He was more along the line of Alexander the Great of
Macedonia, who took Greece and then conquered the Persian Empire. The historian,
Flavius Josephus, credits him with instigating the Tower of Babel project.
“Nimrod” was indeed a “mighty one,” a legendary person
for any time.
He was a military conqueror, a city builder, and
probably much more. Records were no doubt written during those times, passed on
for future readers such as Moses, who ultimately wrote the Book of Genesis.
Verbal records also are a part of every generation, and Nimrod probably came
into the lore of humanity in distorted forms, and he may well have become part
of Greek and Roman legends. Some have wondered if he possibly came into
“history” as the part horse, part man, Sagittarius, considered in mythology to
be a “mighty hunter” like it says about Nimrod in Verse 9.
Verse 9. “He was a mighty hunter before
the Lord; therefore it is said, ‘Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.’”
“Nimrod” can be translated as “strong,” but the more
likely translation is “we will revolt,” which says something about his father,
Cush (Verse 8), and it also speaks about the character of Nimrod himself. He was
a “mighty hunter,” an activity which is further described as “before the Lord” or
more likely, “against the Lord.” The “Targums” were later Jewish translations from the
Hebrew (which was becoming a “dead" language at the time the Targums were
written), into the various Aramaic dialects
of that later time.
The Targums translated “before the Lord” as “in the face
of the Lord” or “in defiance of him” as both Flavius Josephus and the Targums
viewed it. Nimrod very likely WAS a hunter of animals, but the name and the context
of his life suggests that he was a “hunter of men,” subduing them, conquering
and enslaving them for what was to be the world’s first great Hamitic empire,
though the scale of his wars would have been less numerically than wars fought
in later empires. This was an ungodly,
violent man.
Verse 10. “The beginning of his kingdom
was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.”
“Nimrod” (Verses 8 and 9) was a great general, a
conqueror, the builder of the first great Empire in what might be called
“modern” times. And he did all this “before the Lord” (Verse 9), which might
better be translated “in the face of the Lord” for he was not a godly man. Flavius
Josephus, a Jewish historian of 2000 years ago, said that Nimrod “changed the
government into tyranny… turning men from the fear of God…
to bring them into a
constant dependence upon (Nimrod’s) power” (Antiquities IV).
Nimrod’s first conquest was the city-state of “Babel,”
also known as “Babylon,” a symbol of ungodly rebellion throughout history. He
then turned his armies southeast to “Erech” which meant “size,” taking that
place as well. He then marched on “Accad” and “Calneh.” All of these city-states
were located in the alluvial plain of the “land of Shinar,” which
in later centuries was to
be called Babylonia. Today, much of that area is called “Iraq.”
Father, we put aside our own attempts at power;
instead placing our faith in You. Help us to truly be Your people, in the
power and love of God. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Friday Study 4/17/09 - Genesis 10:11-15
Verse 11. “From that land he went forth
into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah,”
Nimrod, son of Cush, grandson of Ham, had become a “mighty
one on the earth,” as we saw in Verse 8. He was the first recorded conquering emperor who
marched forth into battle and subdued the known world of that time. As reflected in this verse, his armies now
marched from the area of Babylonia “into Assyria,” where, after defeating the
armies in that place militarily, he began to build cities, as conquerors sometimes
do.
“Ninevah” was to become, in future centuries, the
capital of "Assyria," a city renowned in antiquity for its remarkable size (Jonah
3:3). He also built “Rehoboth-Ir,” a name which can be translated “broad places”
or “broad streets,” and “Calah,” another great city of ancient Assyria.
“Ninevah” is well known to historians and archaeologists, whereas the latter two
cities disappear from Scripture after the time of this verse.
Verse 12. “and Resen between Nineveh and
Calah; that is the great city.”
Some have thought that “Rehoboth-Ir” and “Calah” of the
preceding verse were actually suburbs of “Nineveh,” but in this verse, “Resen,”
which meant “fortress,” is stated as being “between Nineveh and Calah,”
suggesting that there was some distance between these three cities. All of them were
becoming essentially just one place though, because Nimrod the conquering dictator was
busily attacking all over the region and making these places his own.
In the “Zondervan Bible Dictionary,” “Calah” was said to
have been “rebuilt by Shalmanezer I” in subsequent centuries, then later
"abandoned and rebuilt once more” in about 1000 BC. Out of all of these notable
cities, it was “Resen” that was called “the great city” by contemporaries, as
reflected in these words written somewhat later in time by Moses, prince of Egypt, leader
of Israel, and the human author of this Book of Genesis.
Verse 13. “Mizraim became the father of
Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim”
At the time of what is called the “Genesis Flood,” the number of
people in humanity went from probably millions to very few indeed. A civilization had been destroyed
and many were killed. It had become a world of unrepentant sinners who
committed unspeakable acts (Genesis 6:11-13). And yet God loves us all
and He provided well for the
future because in the eight survivors were all the genetic dominant and
recessive characteristics necessary to produce humanity out of those few. Previously in this
chapter, we were given a look at the sons of Japheth, who would eventually
be found all over the earth, but predominantly they had been placed into what is
now called Europe, becoming in time also the dominant group of the North American nations of today.
The names in Verse 13 and its context, now reveal the sons and grandsons
of Ham, son of Noah, and these were to be the various peoples that not only populated Africa,
but also these “Hamitic” people became the first “world” conquerors, dominating
other groups for many centuries. Four great-grandsons of Noah are mentioned in
this verse, notable because they banded together, forming villages, tribes and
then nations. “Mizraim” is the Hebrew name for Upper and Lower Egypt, which is
called the “land of Ham” in Psalm 105:23. “Ludim… Anamim…
Lahabim and Naphtuhim”
are all associated with North Africa and Egypt especially. The "Ludim" have been
thought to be the “Moors” who were to successfully invade Spain in later
centuries. They were NOT
the “Lud” of Genesis 10:22.
Verse 14. “and Pathrusim and Casluhim
(from which came the Philistines) and Caphtorim.”
This verse continues the listing of great grandsons of
Noah, through his son, Ham, and his grandson, "Mizraim."
Moses, the author of the Book of Genesis, was helpful in this verse because he
revealed that the Philistines descended
from this man, "Casluhim," who was the progenitor of a group that extended from
the Nile River in Egypt, along the coast and inland, north into today’s country
of Lebanon. They also traveled in ships throughout the Mediterranean and the people of the island of
Crete are included in their lineage.
All three of these descendents of Noah were Hamitic
people, which is to say they came from Noah’s son, Ham, who carried the genetic
predisposition for offspring that were more adept at producing melanin, a brown-colored skin pigment. Historically, a predominance of the various Hamitic people
have been thought of in relation to the continent called “Africa,” but the descendents
of Ham are also seen over much of the world.
Verse 15. “Canaan became the father of
Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth”
Another grandson of Noah, through his son, "Ham," was the “Canaan”
of this verse. This is the same “Canaan” who was “cursed” by his grandfather,
Noah, as seen in Genesis 9:24-27. Noah was upset because he had been embarrassed by his
“youngest son,” Ham, and essentially wrote Canaan “out of his will” in relation
to what had happened. The Canaanites of the future would ultimately and for a
time, become
subservient to the descendents of Shem, events that may stem from Noah’s blessing and curse.
At various points in history, it should be noted that all three of these basic groups
that came from Shem, Ham and Japheth, have risen to power and then declined, and that process
is continuing.
“Sidon” was to become, in future centuries, an
important, fortified Phoenician city-state, about 20-miles north of the city of Tyre, in what is now called “Lebanon.” Sidon was about fifty miles from Nazareth
and would be visited by Jesus Christ, as seen in Matthew 15:21. “Heth” was to be an ancestor of
a powerful people known as the “Hittites.” Mention of them is made in Genesis
23:3 and 27:46, where we see that Isaac and Rebecca's son, Esau, married two
women from that lineage. It's interesting that somewhat recent scholars
denied the existence of the Hittites, scoffing about Biblical accounts of them,
until archeological evidence proved beyond any doubt that the Hittites actually
were a very real people in the history of the world.
Thank You, Father, for revealing so much about the
history of this world. There is much we don't understand, and we pray that
we may become open to Your leading as to what our ancestry is really all about.
Help us to see that all of us are one people, one human race. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - Genesis 10:16-21
Verse 16. “and the Jebusite and the
Amorite and the Girgashite”
Moses, the human author of these verses, now mentions
future tribes rather than simply naming the first person in the bloodline of
the various groups he is mentioning. These are all peoples descended from Ham, son of Noah, and Mizraim, grandson of Noah. These verses are a sketch, giving us a brief, but
valuable synopsis of the Cushite people who spread from the mountains of Ararat,
into Africa and over much of the world.
The word “Jebusite” refers to a literal people who
resided in and around the city of Jerusalem, in what is now Israel. They were
never to be completely driven out of the Land of Promise by the Israelites and it is written that, “the Jebusites dwell with… Benjamin in Jerusalem
to this day” (Judges 1:21). The “Amorites,” a name which meant “mountain
dwellers,” became a tribe of people who lived on both sides of the Jordan River in Israel,
chiefly in the Judean mountains (Genesis 14:7, Joshua 10:5). “Girgashite” refers
to a group of people who were named in Joshua 24:11 as having been “delivered” into the
“hand” of Israel.
Verse 17. “and the Hivite and the Arkite
and the Sinite”
“Hivite” can be translated “villagers” or “settlers in
cities,” referring to groups who lived in Shechem (Genesis 33:18 to 34:2 &
context), at Gibeon (Joshua 9:1-3), and at the foot of Mount Hermon (Joshua
11:3), all roughly within the land known as “Canaan.” The “Arkite” tribes were
located, according to Flavius Josephus, in the city of Arka, in Lebanon, a city
later called “Caeserea Libani,” under the Romans. “Arkite” meant “belonging to Arka.” “Sinite” meant “people in the east,” and they were likely located to the
east of Arka, in what is present-day Lebanon.
Note that the descendents of Shem, Ham and Japheth also
included groups of people in many parts of the world who are not named in these
verses. The focus of this and other genealogies in Scripture is upon
those nations and people who immediately relate to to the people who were to be
called "Israel," and through that nation, to the
Messiah, the Christ, who was to emerge from Israel into the midst of these national
groups.
Verse 18. “and the Arvadite and the
Zemarite and the Hamathite; and afterward the families of the Canaanite were
spread abroad.”
“Arvad” translates as “wandering” and “Arvadite” meant
“inhabitant of Arvad.” The Arvadites in 800 BC, occupied and held the small,
rocky island called Arados, north of Tripoli, in what is now Northern Lebanon.
The people called “Zemarite” inhabited a now-ruined Phoenician city called
“Simya” - the remains of that place is called “Sumrah” to this day. The place
of the “Hamathite” was a fortified city north of Damascus, Syria, and the word,
“Hamath,” meant “fortification.” The place is called “Hamath the Great” in Amos
6:2 and marked the extent of King Solomon’s kingdom, as seen in 1 Kings 8:65.
The people of Hamath were overrun by the armies of Assyria, where they merged into
the populace and later became known as Samaritans (2 Kings 17:24, 30).
The phrase, “the families of the Canaanite were spread
abroad,” refers to the events following the building of the “tower,” as seen in
Genesis 11:4 & forward. “The Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face
of all the earth,” causing many to be sent from the “land of Shinar” (Genesis 11:2) and
into other parts of the world. “The Lord confused” their languages, and from
the moment of Genesis 11:12, humanity began to settle in divergent groups, like
the Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites of this verse.
Verse 19. “The territory of the
Canaanite extended from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; as you go
toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.”
The furthest extent of Canaanite expansion is seen in
this verse. They would inhabit the land that would later be promised to Abraham
(Genesis 13:14-15) and is now called Israel. The southern border of Canaan
included what is
presently
the “Gaza” Strip. “Sidon” was a coastal city in the center of what is now called
Lebanon. “Gerar” was a Canaanite city in the northern Negev where Abraham made
treaties with King Ambimelech (Genesis 20 and 26).
It’s interesting that the cities of “Sodom and Gomorrah”
were still in existence at the time of this verse. The Book of Genesis was
written by Moses, but those cities had been destroyed before he was born,
suggesting that Moses used earlier written materials while the cities were still
in existence to compile this Book. It’s
possible that oral histories were also consulted, but considering that “Moses
was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22), he likely had
studied within the extensive libraries in Egypt. “Admah” and “Zeboiim” were at the
southern end of the Dead Sea and were “cities of the plain” that were
later destroyed
with Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24-29). “Lasha” is thought to have been on
the eastern side of the Dead Sea.
Verse 20. “These are the sons of Ham,
according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, by
their nations.”
For centuries “the sons of Ham” dominated much of the
world. They conquered and ruled, enslaved people, waged war and then
somewhat declined. It’s so
interesting that God knew everything about them, just as He knows everything
about all nations today. Many of the places, languages
and people in these verses are obscure, though well-meaning historians have
conflicting opinions about them, but God knew
and knows every person who has ever lived, whether from “Ham” or not.
And He has loved them, just as He loves each one of us.
“The sons of Ham,” including those who lived in the place called “Canaan” were
deeply loved by God, to the extent that God sent His precious Son right into the
heart of that land, that place, and what the people had to do was trust in Him, just
as it is for us today. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life” (John 3:16). Will we find many of “the sons of Ham” in what is called
“heaven” or "eternity?" Yes, we will.
Verse 21. “Also to Shem, the father of
all the children of Eber, and the older brother of Japheth, children were born.”
“Shem” was the oldest of the three sons of Noah. “Ham”
was the youngest of the three, as seen in Genesis 9:24, and “Japheth” was the
middle son. As it says in this verse, Shem was the “older brother of Japheth.”
And also we see that “children were born” to Shem and his wife, which was also
true for his brothers and their wives. Those descended from “Shem” have often been
termed as “Semitic” people. The special significance of the life of Shem was
found in
God’s choice that he was to be in the line of the Messiah, the Christ of God.
As we will see, the predominance in the line of Shem
that will follow, is that his descendents ended up mostly in the direction of what
we call the continent of Asia. And his offspring carried what became a dominant
characteristic for many of his descendents – the production of carotene in the
skin. Another typical factor is blood type. Only 16% of the world’s population
is Type B, but that type is very common in Asia. The Jews, including Jesus, are
sons of Shem; so are the Chinese, along with the "Indian" people of the
Americas.
Father, we confess that as a people, we actually know
very little about what life is all about. You are the wellspring of life
and we ask that You will send us Your Holy Spirit so that we will grasp Your
Word and be led into real life, real understanding. We look to You, Lord.
Please lead us in the way everlasting. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - Genesis 10:22-26
Verse 22. “The sons of Shem were Elam
and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram.”
Twenty-six “sons of Shem” are named in the verses that
follow. Actually, most of them would be better described by the term
“descendents” since they actually were mostly his grandsons and great grandsons.
The first one listed is his son, “Elam,” a name that is translated, “hidden.”
Elam’s immediate descendents stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, and
some say to the Caspian Sea, and they were a Persian group that spoke a language not normally
considered “Semitic” (of Shem). The principal area of ancient Elam is now called “Iran.”
“Asshur” meant “level plain,” a name associated with not
only the Assyrians, but also with their chief “god” as well. It has been said
that Asshur built a
significant city on the Tigris River. “Arpachshad” was born “two years after the
flood” (Genesis 11:10) and out of all these people, he and his father were
selected to be in the line of the Messiah, the Christ (Luke 3:23, 36).
Arpachshad has been associated with the people of southern Turkey and also with
the Sumerian city of Ur, on the Euphrates River. “Lud”
was to become the ancestor of the Lydians of
Asia Minor, called “Luddu” in Assyrian inscriptions from 700 BC. “Aram” (“high,
exalted”) was the ancestor of the Aramaeans. They were a people centered on the Balikh
River in Northwestern Mesopotamia, which is now in the country of Turkey.
Verse 23. “The sons of Aram were Uz and
Hul and Gether and Mash.”
“Aram,” as we saw in the preceding verse, was the most
notable ancestor of the tribe and nation called the Aramaeans. Aram was possibly
the youngest of the sons of Shem, because he was listed last among them. Four of
Aram’s sons, Seth’s grandsons, are listed in this verse. Obviously, all of
Seth’s sons had daughters as well, or the human race would have died out right
at the time of this verse, and this can be seen in Genesis 11:11, where we see
that Seth had "other sons and daughters."
“Uz” likely meant “firmness” and his descendents blended
into the people of the deserts of Arabia. “Hul” translates as “circle,” a name
associated with the old Egyptian name for the modern Syrians. The historian,
Flavius Josephus said they were ancestors of the people of Armenia. “Gether”
meant “fear” and this man was the ancestor of people who blended into the people
of Arabia. “Mash,” also called “Meshech” in 1 Chronicles 1:17, is associated
with the Armenians, and was mentioned in Psalm 120:5.
Verse 24. “Arpachshad became the father
of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber.”
“Arpachshad” is notable because he was selected to be in
the line of the Messiah, the Christ, as seen in Luke 3:35. His son, “Shelah,”
which translates as “sprout” or “request,” also bore that honor, for he was in
the Messianic line also, as was his son, “Eber” (Luke 3:34). “Eber” meant “the region
beyond” and all three of the men in this verse were listed in the line that led
to Abraham, and through him, to the Hebrew people, today called the “Jews” who
are found in many places around the world, but especially in the resurrected
country called “Israel.”
Verse 25. “Two sons were born to Eber;
the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his
brother's name was Joktan.”
As we saw in the preceding verse, “Eber” may be
translated as “the region beyond.” Eber is the son of Shelah, who was the son of
Arpachshad, son of Shem, son of Noah. In those days, names seemed to often have
been chosen, not because they sounded nice, but as a way of describing notable
events, as we see in this verse. They also often reflected the actions of godly
relatives, who prayed and then chose a name in relation to some prophetic word
from God. Two sons of Eber are named in this verse, but note that Genesis 11:25
observed that Eber had "other sons and daughters," as well.
The first son of Eber named in this verse was “Peleg,” which simply meant, “division,”
relating to the time when two great events occurred that changed history. The
first one was the scattering or division of languages (Genesis 11:6-7). Previously,
all languages were just one with no tendency to change, but now interpreters were needed, for understanding
was remarkably lessened. The second division involved the location of the
various members of humanity. “The Lord (suddenly) scattered them abroad from
there over the face of all the earth…” (Genesis 11:8). One moment they were
building a city in Southwest Asia, and in the next, they were in Australia,
America, Europe, the Far East and just about everywhere else. As it says in Genesis 11:8
about that event,
“They ceased building the city.” “Joktan” meant, “he will be made small.” for
reasons known only to his parents and to God.
Verse 26. “Joktan became the father of
Almodad and Sheleph and Hazarmaveth and Jerah”
“Joktan”’s name meant “he will be made small,” and as
people tend to do, he seems to have attempted to overcome a negative legacy by
having as many children as possible. Thirteen sons of Joktan are named in this
verse and in the ones that follow, and he also would have had numerous daughters
as well, though they are not named in this Book of Genesis. “Almodad" was
apparently the oldest because he was listed first, and his name meant “the
beloved.” He is traditionally associated with the nation called “Yemen.”
“Sheleph” translates as “drawn out” and the name has
been linked to a tribe of central Arabia, and also to “Salif” or “Sulaf,” a
district in Yemen. Note also that some historians have thrown up their hands and said that nothing certain can
be determined about most of these names, but others have provided interesting
information about them. “Hazarmaveth” meant “village of death,”
an interesting choice of names for a child. “Jerah” is translated “moon,” and he
is thought to be another son whose offspring blended into the group called
“Arabians.”
Lord, we are all descended from Noah and one or more
sons of Noah and their wives. Help us to understand we are one people
who need to stop being afraid and start helping each other. Lead us to the
love of God which is in Christ Jesus. In His Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - Genesis 10:27-32
Verse 27-28. “and Hadoram and Uzal and
Diklah and Obal and Abimael and Sheba.”
The listing of the sons of "Joktan,"
a descendent of Shem, son of Noah, continues in these
verses. Joktan's name meant “he will be made small,” for reasons not revealed in
Scripture, and he seems to
have attempted to overcome the possibly prophetic meaning attached to his name by having
as many children as he could.
Thirteen sons are listed and there would have been daughters as well. The Roman
historian, Pliny, said that his son, “Hadoram,” whose
name meant
“Hadar is exalted,” had descendents who lived on the
south coast of Arabia.
“Uzal” was not only the
name of a son of Joktan, but the name has been thought by some to be the ancient name
of a section and city located in the country of Yemen, a place populated by Uzal's
descendents. “Diklah” meant “palm tree” - his
legacy became associated with the date palm region of Arabia, especially between
the mouth of the Tiber River and the Persian Gulf. “Obal” translates “to be
bare,” “Abimael” meant “God is Father” and the
locations of the descendants of these
two sons are not
known. “Sheba” literally meant “seven, an oath,” and the descendents of this Semitic man
apparently blended with Cushites, forming the group represented by the Queen of
Sheba who later visited King Solomon (1 Kings 19:1-13). That Queen was definitely a
historical figure, by the way, for she was specifically mentioned by Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:42).
Verse 29. “and Ophir and Havilah and
Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan.”
The phrase, “all these were the sons of Joktan,” refers
to the thirteen male offspring of Joktan, son of Eber, named in this and in the
preceding verses. For the most part, Joktan’s offspring remain obscure in
history, though it is known they are mostly Semitic people who contributed to
the gene pools of those of Arabian descent who lived in Arabia, Iraq, Yemen and
it would include the Palestinians as well. It is true, however, that the Semitic
people who surrounded the contact point of Asia and Africa, sometimes
intermarried and blended with those who descended from Cush.
“Ophir” meant “rich,” and since it was decided early in
human history that gold had considerable value because of its beauty and
malleability; this son was likely connected with the “gold of Ophir”
mentioned in 1 Chronicles 29:4. “Havilah” meant “circle,” a place and people
mentioned in Genesis 25:16-18 as the limit of Ishmaelite territory, and in 1
Samuel 15:7, it’s the place where King Saul of Israel defeated the Amalekites.
“Jobab” meant “to call shrilly,” and his name is associated with the people of
Arabia.
Verse 30. “Now their settlement extended
from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the hill country of the east.”
The words, “their settlement” refers to the ancient
distribution of the “sons of Shem,” a phrase mentioned in the next verse, which
is really a rendering of more than just his sons. We have just been spending a
considerable time in this section with the “sons of Joktan,” who were actually
Shem’s descendants, in the generations that followed. “Mesha” (retreat) is
thought to have become a people in ancient Arabia, and “Sephar” (numbering) is called “the
hill country of the east.” Some have thought that these early descendants of
Shem, one of the survivors on the ark of Noah, were found all the way from
Arabia to India in the east. But the intent of these genealogies is to
focus on those descendents that relate to the eventual nation Israel, created
out of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who were descended from Shem, son of Noah.
Verse 31. “These are the sons of Shem,
according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands,
according to their nations.”
In these verses in Genesis, the emphasis is on the
various national groups who were in proximity to Israel, a country that would
later come into existence. In addition to the Arabian people, “The sons of Shem,”
son of Noah, produced among their descendants the Chinese and the American
Indians. Those of Israel are also a Semitic people. The line of Shem that led to
the Messiah, the Christ, is stated in reverse order in Luke 3:23-38. Three of
those descendants were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Luke 3:34), the human fathers
of the Jewish people. “Shem” was chosen by God to be in the line of the Messiah,
the Christ of God.
Obviously, there is much cross-over in the world between
the descendants of Shem, Japheth and Ham, the three sons of Noah. It is possible
there is no such person as a true son of Shem or either one of the other
brothers in the world today. But many of these tribes, formed after they were
“scattered,” as seen in Genesis 11:8, were isolated for centuries, and inbreeding tends
to turn recessive genes into dominant characteristics, which is why the
descendents of the three sons of Noah have produced offspring that can be
identified millennia after these events occurred.
Verse 32. “These are the families of the
sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these
the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.”
The word “nations” in these verses would be better
translated as “tribes” that eventually built walled cities for protection and then tended
to emerge into city-states that dominated whole territories. Some of them became
empires that took over entire sections of the world, but our modern concept of
“nations” with specific national boundaries was seldom a part of the ancient
world of that time. Notice, by the way, that even though the "sons of Noah" were
scattered over the world, the emphasis in these verses is on the groups that
would relate in subsequent centuries to the nation Israel. This genealogy,
which may have been taken from previous writings, was written in its final form
by a Jewish author (Moses).
But there is no doubt among those who trust in Scripture
that “out of these,” the three sons of Noah named Shem and Japheth and Ham, the whole
world as we know it, “was separated on the earth after the flood.” Genesis
9:18-19 is very specific that “the sons of Noah" who went out of the ark were
Shem, Ham, and Japheth… "these three were the sons of Noah, and from these the
whole earth was populated.” Those “sons of Noah” are the fathers of all who live.
There was a world-wide flood in which millions lost their lives, an ark that
saved a few, and out of those few came everything and everyone in the world of
today.
Father, thank You for this genealogy, which gives us
a glimpse of how all that is had its beginning. Especially, thank
You for revealing that everything of this world, including the continents and
our own bodies, were created by You, and it was all done for Your good purposes
to bless all who live on this earth. In Jesus Name. Amen.
