Genesis 10 Study Notes

10:21-31 The genealogy of Shem, portions of which will be repeated in 11:10-17, represents the “chosen” line of Noah’s descendants. From Shem’s line will come Abraham, the Israelites, and ultimately Jesus. Larger and more complex than the Shemite genealogy in chap. 11 (26 vs. 12 names) this presentation differs from the other mainly in that it includes the “unchosen” branches of Shem’s lineage, especially that of Joktan with his thirteen sons. The mention of all the sons of Eber brings attention to the point in Shem’s line where the “chosen” branch splits from the rest of the family. The word Hebrew is often understood to be derived from Eber’s name.

Names in the Shemite genealogy that scholars have linked to various people groups or locations include Elam, modern southwest Iran; Asshur, along the Tigris river in Iraq; Aram, eastern Iraq near the Iranian border; Uz, the Arabian peninsula or Edom; and Mash, central Asia Minor. All of the thirteen sons of Joktan that can be confidently connected to a location are associated with locations in the Arabian peninsula.

The name Ophir may not be connected with the Ophir mentioned elsewhere in Scripture (1Kg 9:28; Jb 22:24; Ps 45:9) since the latter name appears to be a distant location, possibly in Africa or India. Joktan’s Havilah should not be equated with Cush’s Havilah, though the two share the same name.

10:21 The phrase Japheth’s older brother is difficult in the Hebrew: several other versions (KJV, NKJV, NIV) understand it to mean that Japheth was the older brother.

10:25 A wordplay exists between the name Peleg and the verbal phrase “was divided.” Both are based on the Hebrew sound sequence p-l-g. Exactly what is meant by the earth was divided is uncertain. It may be a reference to the tower of Babylon event (11:9), a devastating earthquake, a large Mesopotamian canal project, or a political division.