Genesis 10

1 Now these the generations of the sons of Noe, Sem, Cham, Japheth; and sons were born to them after the flood.

2 The sons of Japheth, Gamer, and Magog, and Madoi, and Jovan, and Elisa, and Thobel, and Mosoch, and Thiras.

3 And the sons of Gamer, Aschanaz, and Riphath, and Thorgama.

4 And the sons of Jovan, Elisa, and Tharseis, Cetians, Rhodians.

5 From these were the islands of the Gentiles divided in their land, each according to his tongue, in their tribes and in their nations.

6 And the sons of Cham, Chus, and Mesrain, Phud, and Chanaan.

7 And the sons of Chus, Saba, and Evila, and Sabatha, and Rhegma, and Sabathaca. And the sons of Rhegma, Saba, and Dadan.

8 And Chus begot Nebrod: he began to be a giant upon the earth.

9 He was a giant hunter before the Lord God; therefore they say, As Nebrod the giant hunter before the Lord.

10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babylon, and Orech, and Archad, and Chalanne, in the land of Senaar.

11 Out of that land came Assur, and built Ninevi, and the city Rhooboth, and Chalach,

12 and Dase between Ninevi and Chalach: this is the great city.

13 And Mesrain begot the Ludiim, and the Nephthalim, and the Enemetiim, and the Labiim,

14 and the Patrosoniim, and the Chasmoniim (whence came forth Phylistiim) and the Gaphthoriim.

15 And Chanaan begot Sidon his first-born, and the Chettite,

16 and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,

17 and the Evite, and the Arukite, and the Asennite,

18 and the Aradian, and the Samarean, and the Amathite; and after this the tribes of the Chananites were dispersed.

19 And the boundaries of the Chananites were from Sidon till one comes to Gerara and Gaza, till one comes to Sodom and Gomorrha, Adama and Seboim, as far as Dasa.

20 There the sons of Cham in their tribes according to their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

21 And to Sem himself also were children born, the father of all the sons of Heber, the brother of Japheth the elder.

22 Sons of Sem, Elam, and Assur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Cainan.

23 And sons of Aram, Uz, and Ul, and Gater, and Mosoch.

24 And Arphaxad begot Cainan, and Cainan begot Sala. And Sala begot Heber.

25 And to Heber were born two sons, the name of the one, Phaleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and the name of his brother Jektan.

26 And Jektan begot Elmodad, and Saleth, and Sarmoth, and Jarach,

27 and Odorrha, and Aibel, and Decla,

28 Eval, and Abimael, and Saba,

29 and Uphir, and Evila, and Jobab, all these were the sons of Jektan.

30 And their dwelling was from Masse, till one comes to Saphera, a mountain of the east.

31 These were the sons of Sem in their tribes, according to their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

32 These are the tribes of the sons of Noe, according to their generations, according to their nations: of them were the islands of the Gentiles scattered 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or, simply Gentiles

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.