21 Unto Shem H8035 also, the father H1 of all the children H1121 of Eber, H5677 the brother H251 of Japheth H3315 the elder, H1419 even to him were children born. H3205
And ships H6716 shall come from the coast H3027 of Chittim, H3794 and shall afflict H6031 Asshur, H804 and shall afflict H6031 Eber, H5677 and he also shall perish H8 for ever. H5703
These are the generations H8435 of Shem: H8035 Shem H8035 was an hundred H3967 years H8141 old, H1121 and begat H3205 Arphaxad H775 two years H8141 after H310 the flood: H3999 And Shem H8035 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Arphaxad H775 five H2568 hundred H3967 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters. H1323 And Arphaxad H775 lived H2425 five H2568 and thirty H7970 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Salah: H7974 And Arphaxad H775 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Salah H7974 four H702 hundred H3967 H8141 and three H7969 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters. H1323 And Salah H7974 lived H2425 thirty H7970 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Eber: H5677 And Salah H7974 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Eber H5677 four H702 hundred H3967 H8141 and three H7969 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters. H1323 And Eber H5677 lived H2421 four H702 and thirty H7970 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Peleg: H6389 And Eber H5677 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Peleg H6389 four H702 hundred H3967 H8141 and thirty H7970 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters. H1323 And Peleg H6389 lived H2421 thirty H7970 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Reu: H7466 And Peleg H6389 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Reu H7466 two hundred H3967 H8141 and nine H8672 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters. H1323 And Reu H7466 lived H2421 two H8147 and thirty H7970 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Serug: H8286 And Reu H7466 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Serug H8286 two hundred H3967 H8141 and seven H7651 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters. H1323 And Serug H8286 lived H2421 thirty H7970 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Nahor: H5152 And Serug H8286 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Nahor H5152 two hundred H3967 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters. H1323 And Nahor H5152 lived H2421 nine H8672 and twenty H6242 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Terah: H8646 And Nahor H5152 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Terah H8646 an hundred H3967 H8141 and nineteen H6240 H8672 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters. H1323 And Terah H8646 lived H2421 seventy H7657 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Abram, H87 Nahor, H5152 and Haran. H2039
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 10
Commentary on Genesis 10 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 10
Ge 10:1-32. Genealogies.
1. sons of Noah—The historian has not arranged this catalogue according to seniority of birth; for the account begins with the descendants of Japheth, and the line of Ham is given before that of Shem though he is expressly said to be the youngest or younger son of Noah; and Shem was the elder brother of Japheth (Ge 10:21), the true rendering of that passage.
generations, &c.—the narrative of the settlement of nations existing in the time of Moses, perhaps only the principal ones; for though the list comprises the sons of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, all their descendants are not enumerated. Those descendants, with one or two exceptions, are described by names indicative of tribes and nations and ending in the Hebrew im, or the English "-ite."
5. the isles of the Gentiles—a phrase by which the Hebrews described all countries which were accessible by sea (Isa 11:11; 20:6; Jer 25:22). Such in relation to them were the countries of Europe, the peninsula of Lesser Asia, and the region lying on the east of the Euxine. Accordingly, it was in these quarters the early descendants of Japheth had their settlements.
6. sons of Ham—emigrated southward, and their settlements were: Cush in Arabia, Canaan in the country known by his name, and Mizraim in Egypt, Upper and Lower. It is generally thought that his father accompanied him and personally superintended the formation of the settlement, whence Egypt was called "the land of Ham" [Ps 105:23, 27; 106:22].
8. Nimrod—mentioned as eclipsing all his family in renown. He early distinguished himself by his daring and successful prowess in hunting wild beasts. By those useful services he earned a title to public gratitude; and, having established a permanent ascendancy over the people, he founded the first kingdom in the world [Ge 10:10].
10. the beginning of his kingdom—This kingdom, of course, though then considered great, would be comparatively limited in extent, and the towns but small forts.
11. Out of that land went forth Asshur—or, as the Margin has it, "He [Nimrod] at the head of his army went forth into Assyria," that is, he pushed his conquests into that country.
and builded Nineveh—opposite the town of Mosul, on the Tigris, and the other towns near it. This raid into Assyria was an invasion of the territories of Shem, and hence the name "Nimrod," signifying "rebel," is supposed to have been conferred on him from his daring revolt against the divine distribution.
21. Unto Shem—The historian introduces him with marked distinction as "the father of Eber," the ancestor of the Hebrews.
23. Aram—In the general division of the earth, the countries of Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Syria, fell to his descendants.
24. Arphaxad—The settlement of his posterity was in the extensive valley of Shinar, on the Tigris, towards the southern extremity of Mesopotamia, including the country of Eden and the region on the east side of the river.
25. Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided—After the flood (Ge 11:10-16) the descendants of Noah settled at pleasure and enjoyed the produce of the undivided soil. But according to divine instruction, made probably through Eber, who seems to have been distinguished for piety or a prophetic character, the earth was divided and his son's name, "Peleg," was given in memory of that event (see De 32:8; Ac 17:26).
32. These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations, &c.—This division was made in the most orderly manner; and the inspired historian evidently intimates that the sons of Noah were ranged according to their nations, and every nation ranked by its families, so that every nation had its assigned territory, and in every nation the tribes, and in every tribe the families, were located by themselves.