Genesis 10

The Table of Nations

1 This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.

The Japhethites

2 The sons[a] of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.
3 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.
4 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites.[b]
5 (From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.)

The Hamites

6 The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.
7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteka. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
8 Cush was the father[c] of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth.
9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.”
10 The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in[d] Shinar.[e]
11 From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir,[f] Calah
12 and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah—which is the great city.
13 Egypt was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites,
14 Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.
15 Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn,[g] and of the Hittites,
16 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,
17 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,
18 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites. Later the Canaanite clans scattered
19 and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha.
20 These are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.

The Semites

21 Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was[h] Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.
22 The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.
23 The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.[i]
24 Arphaxad was the father of[j] Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber.
25 Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg,[k] because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.
26 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
29 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.
30 The region where they lived stretched from Mesha toward Sephar, in the eastern hill country.
31 These are the sons of Shem by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
32 These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood.

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.

Cross References 61

  • 1. Genesis 2:4
  • 2. S Genesis 5:32
  • 3. ver 32; 1 Chronicles 1:4
  • 4. Ezekiel 38:6
  • 5. Ezekiel 38:2; Ezekiel 39:6; Revelation 20:8
  • 6. Ezekiel 27:19
  • 7. Isaiah 66:19; Ezekiel 27:13; Ezekiel 32:26
  • 8. Ezekiel 39:1
  • 9. Jeremiah 51:27
  • 10. Ezekiel 27:14; Ezekiel 38:6
  • 11. Ezekiel 27:7
  • 12. Psalms 48:7; Psalms 72:10; Isaiah 2:16; Isaiah 23:1,6,10,14; Isaiah 60:9; Isaiah 66:19; Jeremiah 10:9; Ezekiel 27:12,25; Ezekiel 38:13; John 1:3
  • 13. Numbers 24:24; Isaiah 23:12; Jeremiah 2:10; Ezekiel 27:6; Daniel 11:30
  • 14. Genesis 9:27
  • 15. 2 Kings 19:9; 2 Chronicles 12:3; 2 Chronicles 16:8; Isaiah 11:11; Isaiah 18:1; Isaiah 20:3; Isaiah 43:3; Jeremiah 46:9; Ezekiel 30:4,9; Ezekiel 38:5; Nahum 3:9; Zephaniah 2:12; Zephaniah 3:10
  • 16. Ezekiel 27:10; Ezekiel 38:5
  • 17. ver 15; S Genesis 9:18
  • 18. Isaiah 43:3
  • 19. S Genesis 2:11
  • 20. Ezekiel 27:22
  • 21. Genesis 25:3; 1 Kings 10:1; 2 Chronicles 9:1; Job 1:15; Job 6:19; Job 16:11; Psalms 72:10,15; Isaiah 60:6; Jeremiah 6:20; Ezekiel 27:22; Ezekiel 38:13; Joel 3:8
  • 22. 1 Chronicles 1:32; Isaiah 21:13; Jeremiah 25:23-24; Jeremiah 49:8; Ezekiel 27:15,20; Ezekiel 38:13
  • 23. Micah 5:6
  • 24. 2 Chronicles 14:9; 2 Chronicles 16:8; Isaiah 18:2
  • 25. Genesis 25:27; Genesis 27:3
  • 26. Genesis 11:9; 2 Chronicles 36:17; Isaiah 13:1; Isaiah 47:1; Jeremiah 21:2; Jeremiah 25:12; Jeremiah 50:1
  • 27. Ezra 4:9
  • 28. Isaiah 10:9; Amos 6:2
  • 29. Genesis 11:2; Genesis 14:1; Zechariah 5:11
  • 30. Psalms 83:8; Micah 5:6
  • 31. 2 Kings 19:36; Isaiah 37:37; John 1:2; Jonah 3:2,3; Jonah 4:11; Nahum 1:1; Zephaniah 2:13
  • 32. Genesis 21:32,34; Genesis 26:1,8; Joshua 13:2; Judges 3:3; Isaiah 14:31; Jeremiah 47:1,4; Amos 9:7
  • 33. Deuteronomy 2:23; 1 Chronicles 1:12
  • 34. ver 6; S Genesis 9:18
  • 35. ver 19; Joshua 11:8; Judges 10:6; Isaiah 23:2,4; Jeremiah 25:22; Jeremiah 27:3; Jeremiah 47:4; Ezekiel 28:21; Ezekiel 32:30; Joel 3:4; Zechariah 9:2
  • 36. Exodus 4:22; Numbers 1:20; Numbers 3:2; Numbers 18:15; Numbers 26:5; Numbers 33:4
  • 37. Genesis 15:20; Genesis 23:3,20; Genesis 25:10; Genesis 26:34; Genesis 27:46; Genesis 49:32; Numbers 13:29; Joshua 1:4; 1 Samuel 26:6; Ezekiel 16:3
  • 38. Judges 19:10; 1 Chronicles 11:4; Ezra 9:1
  • 39. Exodus 3:8; Numbers 13:29; Numbers 21:13; Numbers 32:39; Deuteronomy 1:4; Joshua 2:10; 2 Chronicles 8:7
  • 40. Genesis 15:18-21; Deuteronomy 7:1
  • 41. Genesis 34:2; Genesis 36:2; Exodus 3:8; Deuteronomy 7:1; Judges 3:3
  • 42. Ezekiel 27:8
  • 43. 1 Chronicles 18:3
  • 44. Genesis 12:6; Genesis 13:7; Genesis 50:11; Exodus 13:11; Numbers 13:29; Numbers 14:25; Numbers 21:3; Numbers 33:40; Deuteronomy 1:7; Judges 1:1
  • 45. Genesis 11:31; Genesis 12:1; Genesis 13:12; Genesis 17:8; Genesis 24:3; Genesis 26:34; Genesis 27:46; Genesis 28:1,6,8; Genesis 31:18; Genesis 35:6; Genesis 37:1; Leviticus 25:38
  • 46. S ver 15; Genesis 49:13; Joshua 19:28; Judges 1:31; Judges 18:28; 2 Samuel 24:6
  • 47. 2 Chronicles 14:13
  • 48. Deuteronomy 2:23; Joshua 10:41; Joshua 11:22; Joshua 15:47; Judges 1:18; Judges 6:4; Judges 16:1,21; 1 Samuel 6:17; Jeremiah 25:20; Jeremiah 47:1; Amos 1:6; Zephaniah 2:4
  • 49. Genesis 14:2; Deuteronomy 29:23
  • 50. ver 24; Numbers 24:24
  • 51. Genesis 14:1; Isaiah 11:11; Isaiah 21:2; Jeremiah 25:25; Jeremiah 49:34; Ezekiel 32:24; Daniel 8:2
  • 52. Numbers 24:22,24; Ezekiel 27:23
  • 53. Luke 3:36
  • 54. Judges 3:10; 1 Kings 11:25; 1 Kings 19:15; 1 Kings 20:34; 1 Kings 22:31; 2 Kings 5:1; 2 Kings 8:7
  • 55. Genesis 22:21; Job 1:1; Jeremiah 25:20; Lamentations 4:21
  • 56. S ver 21; Luke 3:35
  • 57. Ezekiel 27:19
  • 58. 1 Kings 10:1; Job 6:19; Psalms 72:10,15; Isaiah 60:6; Ezekiel 27:22
  • 59. 1 Kings 9:28; 1 Kings 10:11; 1 Chronicles 29:4; Job 22:24; Job 28:16; Psalms 45:9; Isaiah 13:12
  • 60. S ver 1
  • 61. S Genesis 9:19

Footnotes 11

  • [a]. "Sons" may mean "descendants" or "successors" or "nations" ; also in verses 3, 4, 6, 7, 20-23, 29 and 31.
  • [b]. Some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text and Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Septuagint and 1 Chron. 1:7); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text "Dodanites"
  • [c]. "Father" may mean "ancestor" or "predecessor" or "founder" ; also in verses 13, 15, 24 and 26.
  • [d]. Or "Uruk and Akkad—all of them in"
  • [e]. That is, Babylonia
  • [f]. Or "Nineveh with its city squares"
  • [g]. Or "of the Sidonians, the foremost"
  • [h]. Or "Shem, the older brother of"
  • [i]. See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 1:17; Hebrew "Mash" .
  • [j]. Hebrew; Septuagint "father of Cainan, and Cainan was the father of"
  • [k]. "Peleg" means "division."

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.

Genesis 10 Commentaries

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