DESCENDANTS OF SHEM, HAM, AND JAPHETH
Genesis 10:1-32
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. (32)
chapter 10
1. This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.
2. The sons 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.
5. (From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.)
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 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 Shinar.
11. From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, 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, 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.
21. Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was 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.
24. Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber.
25. Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, 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.
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1. hapter 10 lists the names of each of Noah’s three sons’ descendants (5) beyond the account of chapter 11. This chapter also explains Genesis 9:19. Many of the sons’ names represent the kingdoms that their descendants later established and the regions they occupied.
2. Among them, Nimrod, a descendant of Ham, was known as a “mighty hunter before the LORD” (8), meaning he was known to be mighty on earth—and opposed the LORD above. He claimed the territory from Shinar, where Babel stood, to Assyria, where he built the great cities of Nineveh and Calah. While Ham’s descendants seemed to prosper despite the curse of his father Noah, God was raising the children of Japheth and Shem as well. God fulfilled his blessing for them to “increase in number and fill the earth” (9:1) with full provision.
3. People want to plan their own way and make their name known according to their pride. Yet God’s purpose for us is clear: through the history of human affairs, we will seek him and come to know him better (Acts 17:26-27).
Prayer: Father, you faithfully provide for us and keep your promise. I want to fix my eyes on you today so that I may not be lost in the rumors and news of the world but see how you consistently carry out your plans and blessings.
One Word: The nations spread out over the earth