Bereshis 10

1 0 Now these are the toldot of the Bnei Noach: Shem, Cham, and Yephet; and unto them were banim born after the mabbul (flood).

2 The Bnei Yephet: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Yavan, and Tuval, and Meshech, and Tiras.

3 And the Bnei Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphat, and Togarmah.

4 And the Bnei Yavan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

5 By these were the coastlands of the Goyim divided in their lands; every one after his leshon, after their mishpechot, in their Goyim.

6 And the Bnei Cham: Cush, and Mitzrayim, and Phut, and Kena’an.

7 And the Bnei Cush: Seva, and Chavilah, and Savtah, and Raamah, and Savtecha; and the Bnei Raamah: Sheva, and Dedan.

8 And Cush fathered Nimrod; he began to be a gibbor in ha’aretz.

9 He was a gibbor, a hunter before Hashem; therefore it is said, like Nimrod the gibbor, the hunter before Hashem.

10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Akkad, and Calneh, in Eretz Shinar.

11 Out of that land he went forth to Asshur, and built Nineveh, and Rechovot-Ir, and Kelach,

12 And Resen between Nineveh and Kelach; the same is haIr Hagedolah.

13 And Mitzrayim fathered Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehavim, and Naphtuchim,

14 And Patrusim, and Casluchim, out of whom came Pelishtim (Philistines), and Caphtorim.

15 And Kena’an fathered Tzidon his bechor, and Chet,

16 And the Yevusi, and the Emori, and the Girgashi,

17 And the Chivvi, and the Arki, and the Sini,

18 And the Arvadi, and the Tzemari, and the Chamati; and afterward were the mishpechot haKena’ani spread abroad.

19 And the boundary of the Kena’ani was from Tzidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Azah (Gaza); as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Amora (Gomorrah), and Admah, and Tzevoyim, even unto Lesha.

20 These are the Bnei Cham, after their mishpechot, after their leshonot, in their territories, and in their Goyim.

21 Also unto Shem avi kol Bnei Ever, and the older brother of Yephet, even to him were offspring born.

22 The Bnei Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arpachshad, and Lud, and Aram.

23 And Bnei Aram: Uz, and Chul, and Geter, and Mash.

24 And Arpachshad fathered Shelach; and Shelach fathered Ever.

25 And unto Ever were born two banim: the shem of one was Peleg; for in his days was ha’aretz divided; and his brother’s shem was Yoktan.

26 And Yoktan fathered Almodad, and Sheleph, and Chatzarmavet, and Yerach,

27 And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,

28 And Oval, and Avimael, and Sheva,

29 And Ophir, and Chavilah, and Yovav; all these were the Bnei Yoktan.

30 And their moshav (dwelling) was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar har hakedem.

31 These are the Bnei Shem, after their mishpechot, according to their leshonot, in their territories, after their Goyim.

32 These are the mishpechot of the Bnei Noach, after their toldot, in their Goyim; and by these were the Goyim divided/separated in ha’aretz after the mabbul.

Bereshis 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.