About the Book
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Chapter Analysis
Chapter 10: The Table of Nations
Background History and Timeline:Â Genesis, traditionally attributed to Moses, was written around the 15th century BCE. It covers events from the creation of the world to the patriarchs of Israel.
Locations Mentioned:Â The chapter provides a genealogical record of Noah's descendants and the nations that emerged from them.
Themes and Conflicts:Â Genesis 10, often referred to as the Table of Nations, outlines the dispersion of Noah's descendants and the diversity of humanity. It emphasizes the spread of civilization and the fulfillment of God's command to be fruitful and multiply.
Main Characters: The descendants of Noah, particularly his sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—are the main focus of this chapter.
Specific Passages:
Genesis 10:5: "From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations."
Genesis 10:32: "These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood."
Explanation:Â Genesis 10 provides a detailed account of the descendants of Noah and the nations that emerged from them. It traces the genealogy of Noah's sons and their dispersion throughout the earth, highlighting the diversity of languages, cultures, and territories.
The chapter serves to demonstrate the fulfillment of God's command to replenish the earth and the development of human civilization following the flood. It lays the groundwork for the subsequent narratives in Genesis and the broader biblical account of human history.
Moses is traditionally attributed as the author of Genesis, including Chapter 10.
Religious Text
Gen 10:1 These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood. Gen 10:2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Gen 10:3 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. Gen 10:4 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. Gen 10:5 From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations. Gen 10:6 The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. Gen 10:7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. Gen 10:8 Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. Gen 10:9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD. Therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD." Gen 10:10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. Gen 10:11 From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and Gen 10:12 Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. Gen 10:13 Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Gen 10:14 Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorim. Gen 10:15 Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, Gen 10:16 and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, Gen 10:17 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, Gen 10:18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the clans of the Canaanites dispersed. Gen 10:19 And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon in the direction of Gerar as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. Gen 10:20 These are the sons of Ham, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations. Gen 10:21 To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born. Gen 10:22 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. Gen 10:23 The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. Gen 10:24 Arpachshad fathered Shelah; and Shelah fathered Eber. Gen 10:25 To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan. Gen 10:26 Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Gen 10:27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Gen 10:28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Gen 10:29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. Gen 10:30 The territory in which they lived extended from Mesha in the direction of Sephar to the hill country of the east. Gen 10:31 These are the sons of Shem, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations. Gen 10:32 These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.