Genesis 10

1 Dies ist das Geschlecht der Kinder Noahs: Sem, Ham, Japheth. Und sie zeugten Kinder nach der Sintflut.

2 Die Kinder Japheths sind diese: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Thubal, Mesech und Thiras.

3 Aber die Kinder von Gomer sind diese: Askenas, Riphath und Thorgama.

4 Die Kinder von Javan sind diese: Elisa, Tharsis, die Chittiter und die Dodaniter.

5 Von diesen sind ausgebreitet die Inseln der Heiden in ihren Ländern, jegliche nach ihren Sprachen, Geschlechtern und Leuten.

6 Die Kinder von Ham sind diese: Chus, Mizraim, Put und Kanaan.

7 Aber die Kinder von Chus sind diese: Seba, Hevila, Sabtha, Ragma und Sabthecha. Aber die Kinder von Ragma sind diese: Saba und Dedan.

8 Chus aber zeugte den Nimrod. Der fing an ein gewaltiger Herr zu sein auf Erden,

9 und war ein gewaltiger Jäger vor dem HERRN. Daher spricht man: Das ist ein gewaltiger Jäger vor dem HERRN wie Nimrod.

10 Und der Anfang seines Reiches war Babel, Erech, Akkad und Chalne im Lande Sinear.

11 Von dem Land ist er gekommen nach Assur und baute Ninive und Rehoboth-Ir und Kalah,

12 dazu Resen zwischen Ninive und Kalah. Dies ist die große Stadt.

13 Mizraim zeugte die Luditer, die Anamiter, die Lehabiter, die Naphthuhiter,

14 die Pathrusiter und die Kasluhiter (von dannen sind gekommen die Philister) und die Kaphthoriter.

15 Kanaan aber zeugte Sidon, seinen ersten Sohn, und Heth,

16 den Jebusiter, den Amoriter, den Girgasiter,

17 den Heviter, den Arkiter, den Siniter,

18 den Arvaditer, den Zemariter und den Hamathiter. Daher sind ausgebreitet die Geschlechter der Kanaaniter.

19 Und ihre Grenzen waren von Sidon an durch Gerar bis gen Gaza, bis man kommt gen Sodom, Gomorra, Adama, Zeboim und bis gen Lasa.

20 Das sind die Kinder Hams in ihren Geschlechtern, Sprachen und Leuten. {~}

21 Sem aber, Japheths, des Ältern, Bruder, zeugte auch Kinder, der ein Vater ist aller Kinder von Eber.

22 Und dies sind seine Kinder: Elam, Assur, Arphachsad, Lud und Aram.

23 Die Kinder von Aram sind diese: Uz, Hul, Gether und Mas.

24 Arphachsad aber zeugte Salah, Salah zeugte Eber.

25 Eber zeugte zwei Söhne. Einer hieß Peleg, darum daß zu seiner Zeit die Welt zerteilt ward; des Bruder hieß Joktan.

26 Und Joktan zeugte Almodad, Saleph, Hazarmaveth, Jarah,

27 Hadoram, Usal, Dikla,

28 Obal, Abimael, Saba,

29 Ophir, Hevila und Jobab. Das sind die Kinder von Joktan.

30 Und ihre Wohnung war von Mesa an, bis man kommt gen Sephar, an den Berg gegen Morgen.

31 Das sind die Kinder von Sem in ihren Geschlechtern, Sprachen, Ländern und Leuten.

32 Das sind die Nachkommen der Kinder Noahs in ihren Geschlechtern und Leuten. Von denen sind ausgebreitet die Leute auf Erden nach der Sintflut.

Genesis 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

The sons of Noah, of Japheth, of Ham. (1-7) Nimrod the first monarch. (8-14) The descendants of Canaan, The sons of Shem. (15-32)

Verses 1-7 This chapter shows concerning the three sons of Noah, that of them was the whole earth overspread. No nation but that of the Jews can be sure from which of these seventy it has come. The lists of names of fathers and sons were preserved of the Jews alone, for the sake of the Messiah. Many learned men, however, have, with some probability, shown which of the nations of the earth descended from each of the sons of Noah To the posterity of Japheth were allotted the isles of the gentiles; probably, the island of Britain among the rest. All places beyond the sea from Judea are called isles, ( Jeremiah 25:22 ) . That promise, ( Isaiah 42:4 ) , The isles shall wait for his law, speaks of the conversion of the gentiles to the faith of Christ.

Verses 8-14 Nimrod was a great man in his day; he began to be mighty in the earth, Those before him were content to be upon the same level with their neighbours, and though every man bare rule in his own house, yet no man pretended any further. Nimrod was resolved to lord it over his neighbours. The spirit of the giants before the flood, who became mighty men, and men of renown, ( Genesis 6:4 ) , revived in him. Nimrod was a great hunter. Hunting then was the method of preventing the hurtful increase of wild beasts. This required great courage and address, and thus gave an opportunity for Nimrod to command others, and gradually attached a number of men to one leader. From such a beginning, it is likely, that Nimrod began to rule, and to force others to submit. He invaded his neighbours' rights and properties, and persecuted innocent men; endeavouring to make all his own by force and violence. He carried on his oppressions and violence in defiance of God himself. Nimrod was a great ruler. Some way or other, by arts or arms, he got into power, and so founded a monarchy, which was the terror of the mighty, and bid fair to rule all the world. Nimrod was a great builder. Observe in Nimrod the nature of ambition. It is boundless; much would have more, and still cries, Give, give. It is restless; Nimrod, when he had four cities under his command, could not be content till he had four more. It is expensive; Nimrod will rather be at the charge of rearing cities, than not have the honour of ruling them. It is daring, and will stick at nothing. Nimrod's name signifies rebellion; tyrants to men are rebels to God. The days are coming, when conquerors will no longer be spoken of with praise, as in man's partial histories, but be branded with infamy, as in the impartial records of the Bible.

Verses 15-32 The posterity of Canaan were numerous, rich, and pleasantly seated; yet Canaan was under a Divine curse, and not a curse causeless. Those that are under the curse of God, may, perhaps, thrive and prosper in this world; for we cannot know love or hatred, the blessing or the curse, by what is before us, but by what is within us. The curse of God always works really, and always terribly. Perhaps it is a secret curse, a curse to the soul, and does not work so that others can see it; or a slow curse, and does not work soon; but sinners are reserved by it for a day of wrath Canaan here has a better land than either Shem or Japheth, and yet they have a better lot, for they inherit the blessing. Abram and his seed, God's covenant people, descended from Eber, and from him were called Hebrews. How much better it is to be like Eber, the father of a family of saints and honest men, than the father of a family of hunters after power, worldly wealth, or vanities. Goodness is true greatness.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 10

This chapter gives an account of the posterity of the three sons of Noah, by whom the world was peopled after the flood, Ge 10:1 of the posterity of Japheth, Ge 10:2-5 of the posterity of Ham, Ge 10:6-20 and of the posterity of Shem, Ge 10:21-32.