10
1. Now this is the Genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood. 9:12, 7, 19; 11:10
I would like to insert a short commentary from the UCG website. This commentary helps us to understand the significance of Noah’s descendants:
The Genealogy of Noah (Genesis chapter 10)
Genesis chapter 10 contains what is commonly called the Table of Nations. This genealogical record lists 70 nations descended from the sons of Noah. The Israelites, and the descendants of Abraham generally, are not mentioned, although their common ancestor, Heber, is included in the list.
The genealogical record here is in the form of a clan list, which typically follows the father-son-grandson format—although exceptions to the rule and extended lists (such as we will later encounter with Israel’s clan lists) are not uncommon. The purpose of clan lists is to show affinities between related peoples. At the head of the list stands the common ancestor, in this case Noah. Under the common ancestor are listed the tribes, and under the tribes are listed the smaller clans. The further down the clan list one moves, the greater the cultural and political affiliations between the members of the smaller family units. Thus, Japheth fathered Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras. All of those peoples were related and shared certain general cultural and political affiliations. But Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah, who were fathered by Gomer, are further down the list and therefore shared greater cultural and political affiliations.
Are these ancient historical lists of any importance to us today? While many of the nations recorded in the genealogy disappear from the scriptural record, some of them will reappear in the prophetic books—with a surprising number mentioned in connection with end-time events. God appears to refer to the nations of the world by these family names, and it is interesting to note that the end-time configuration of nations provided by the prophetic books shows the nations allied by their clan affiliations. Surprisingly, these prophecies show that the passage of around 4,000 years of history has done little to alter the basic pattern of international relations.
2. The Sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiris. Ezek. 38:2
There is a lot to say about these sons Of Japheth, with the exception of Madai and Tiras, The rest of the sons all have to do with future prophecies concerning the Day of the Lord(also known as the end times) We can find these prophecies in Ezek. 27:13, 27:19, 32:26, 38:2-3; 39:1,6; Rev. 20:8, Isa. 66:19, instead of going through all these prophecies here I will wait until I come to the above mentioned scriptures and go into more detail then. For the purpose of this verse, and the following verses concerning the sons of Japheth, and Ham, I will list the meaning of the names. Also I have created a sub folder, in my main folder, titled Bible; titled “Prophecies of the end times,” in which their will be files on these sons, with the verses I’ve mentioned above, and also for the sons of Ham, and Shem, concerning end time prophecies.
Gomer: (H1586): גּמר gômer: BDB Definition: Gomer = “complete”: 1) the eldest son of Japheth and grandson of Noah; the progenitor of the early Cimmerians and other branches of the Celtic family (noun proper masculine)
Magog: (H4031): מגוג: mâgôg: BDB Definition: Magog = “land of Gog” 1) the 2nd son of Japheth, grandson of Noah, and progenitor of several tribes northward from Israel (noun proper masculine) 2)the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media and habitation of the descendants of Magog, son of Japheth and grandson of Noah (noun proper locative)
Madai: (H4074): מדי: mâday: BDB Definition: Media or Medes or Madai = “middle land” 1) a people descended from the son of Japheth and who inhabited the territory of Media (noun proper masculine) 2) land inhabited by the descendants of Japheth; located northwest of Persia proper, south and southwest of the Caspian Sea, east of Armenia and Assyria, and west and northwest of the great salt desert of Iram (noun proper locative)
Javan: (H3120): יון: yâvân: BDB Definition: Javan = “Ionia” or “Greece” 1) a son of Japheth and grandson of Noah (noun proper masculine) 2) Greece, Ionia, Ionians (noun proper locative)
2a) location of descendants of Javan
Tubal: (H8422): תּבל / תּוּבל: tûbal: BDB Definition: Tubal = “thou shall be brought”
1) son of Japheth and grandson of Noah (noun proper masculine)
2) a region in east Asia Minor (noun proper territory)
2a) perhaps nearly equal to Cappadocia
Meshech: (H4902): משׁך: meshech: BDB Definition: Mesech or Meshech=“drawing out”
1) son of Japheth, grandson of Noah, and progenitor of peoples to the north of Israel
1a) descendants of Mesech often mentioned in connection with Tubal, Magog, and other northern nations including the Moschi, a people on the borders of Colchis and Armenia
Tiris: (H8494): תּירס: tı̂yrâs: BDB Definition: Tiras = “desire”
1) son of Japheth and grandson of Noah
3. The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
Ashkenaz: (H813): אשׁכּנז: ‘ashkenaz: BDB Definition: Ashkenaz = “a man as sprinkled: fire as scattered” 1)a descendant of Japheth 2)a northern people, perhaps of Bithynia
Riphath: (H7384): ריפת: rı̂yphath: BDB Definition:: Riphath = “spoken”
1) the 2nd son of Gomer
Togarmah: (H8425): תּגרמה / תּוגרמה: tôgarmâh: BDB Definition: Togarmah = “thou wilt break her”
1) son of Gomer, grandson of Japheth, and great grandson of Noah (noun proper masculine)
2) territory settled by the descendants of Togarmah (noun proper territory)
2a) probably the area known as Armenia
4. The sons of Javan were Elisha, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
Elisha: (H473): אלישׁה: ‘ĕlı̂yshâh: BDB Definition: Elishah = “God of the coming (one)”
1) descendant of Noah, son of Javan; perhaps ancestor of the Aeolians
Tarshish: (H8659): תּרשׁישׁ: tarshı̂ysh: BDB Definition: Tarshish or Tharshish = “yellow jasper”
1) son of Javan (noun proper masculine)
2) a city of the Phoenicians in a distant part of the Mediterranean Sea to which the prophet Jonah was trying to flee (noun proper locative)
1a) site unknown but perhaps in Cyprus or Spain
3) a city somewhere near and accessible to the Red Sea to which ships constructed at Ezion-geber on the Elanitic Gulf on the Red Sea were to sail (noun proper locative)
Kittim: (H3794):כּתּיּי / כּתּי: kittı̂y / kittı̂yı̂y: BDB Definition: Chittim or Kittim = “bruisers”
1) a general term for all islanders of the Mediterranean Sea
2) the descendants of Javan, the son of Japheth and grandson of Noah
Dodanim: (H1721): רדנים / דּדנים: dôdânı̂ym / rôdânı̂ym
BDB Definition: Dodanim or Rodanim = “leaders”
Rodaniym (1Ch_1:7)
1) sons or descendants of Javan
5. From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.
This verse here is talking about the Sons of Japheth, and his sons, and the sons of Gomer, and Javan. these families, lived among the coastlands around the Mediterranean sea. After the Tower of Babel, these families moved inland and formed their own nations, with their own languages. I say this because as it is written, “being separated into their lands, according to his language.”
6. The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 9:25
Cush: (H3568):כּוּשׁ: kûsh: BDB Definition: Cush = “black”
1) a Benjamite mentioned only in the title of Ps 7 (noun proper masculine)
2) the son of Ham and grandson of Noah and the progenitor of the southernmost peoples located in Africa (noun proper masculine)
3) the peoples descended from Cush (noun proper masculine)
4) the land occupied by the descendants of Cush located around the southern parts of the Nile (Ethiopia) (noun proper locative)
Mizraim: (H4714):מצרים: mitsrayim: BDB Definition: Egyptians = “double straits”
1) a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows (noun proper locative)
2) the inhabitants or natives of Egypt (adjective)
Part of Speech: see above in Definition
Put: (H6316): פּוּט: pûṭ: BDB Definition: Phut or Put = “a bow”
1) a nation and people of northern Africa; probably Libyans
Canaan: (H3667): כּנע: ן: kena‛an: BDB Definition: Canaan = “lowland”
1) the 4th son of Ham and the progenitor of the Phoenicians and of the various nations who peopled the seacoast of Palestine (noun proper masculine)
2) the land west of the Jordan peopled by the descendants of Canaan and subsequently conquered by the Israelites under Joshua (noun proper locative)
3) merchant, trader (noun masculine)
Canaan is the one who is cursed by Noah because of what his father Ham had done to his father. As I said earlier, I believe it was Ham and not Canaan that saw Noah nakedness. There are arguments that go both ways as to who committed the sin. Nevertheless, we can see these curses fulfilled on Canaan throughout the Bible because of this sin against Noah.
7. The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah: and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dan.
The only Descendants of Cush that are mentioned in this particular verse, that has really any relevancy in the Bible are Sheba and Dan(also known as Dedan), Which are actually grandsons of Cush. These sons are mentioned(in regards to their descendants), in Ezek 25:13, 27:15, 20-23, 38:13, concerning the end times.
8. Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth.
9. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” Mic.5:6
10. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11:2 11. From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,
12. and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city).
13. Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamin, Lehabim, Nephtuhim, 14. Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim).
15. Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Heth; 23:3; 25:10
Sidon:(h6721): צידן / צידון: tsı̂ydôn: BDB Definition: Sidon = “hunting”
1) ancient Phoenician city, on Mediterranean coast north of Tyre.
Sidon(also known as Zidon) is mentioned in Ezekial 28: 20-24 in
regards to end times prophecy against his descendants.
When we look above at the BDB definition we Can see where
these descendants settled. Heth is mentioned again in Gen. 23:3-17 and 49:31,32 Heth’s descendants are focused on Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
16. the Jebusite, the Amorite, and the Girgashite;
17. The Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite;
18. the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed.
19. And the borders of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; Then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zebolim, as far as Lasha.
Nimrod: (H4258): נמרד / נמרוד: nimrôd: BDB Definition: Nimrod = “rebellion” or “the valiant”
1) the son of Cush, grandson of Ham, and great grandson of Noah; a mighty hunter, he established an empire in the area of Babylon and Assyria
From verses 8-19 above we can see that God describes Nimrod as a “mighty hunter” I believe that because of his strength, Bravery, and provider of food, that this made him great among all the people of the Earth. So much so, that he was able to establish a great kingdom. We can see that his kingdom stretched out to all the peoples of the earth (at this time in history).
20. These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands and In their nations.
From verse 6-20 above we see the description of the descendants of Ham, Mostly given us just a name only, with the exception of Nimrod (son of Cush), who is one of the sons of Ham. which tells us a little about his character (a mighty hunter), and the kingdom he built: most notably the city of Nineveh, and the land of Assyria. And the area of the land in which they dwelt, in the time when everyone on the face of the earth was of one nation, and spoke one language.
21. And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder. 22. The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.
The children of Eber are widely believed to be where the name “Hebrews” originates from. A reminder again, it is thru the seed of Shem that our Lord Jesus Christ is to be born.
Elam:(H5867): עולם / עילם: ‛êylâm / ‛ôlâm: BDB Definition: Elam = “eternity”
1) a Korhite Levite in the time of David
2) a chief man of the tribe of Benjamin
3) ancestor of a family of exiles who returned with Zerubbabel
4) a chief of the people who signed the covenant with Nehemiah
5) another ancestor of another family of exiles who returned with Zerubbabel
6) a priest who assisted at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah
7) another head of a family of returning exiles n pr loc 8) a province east of Babylon and northeast of the lower Tigris (noun proper locative)
Asshur: (H804): אשּׁר / אשּׁוּר: ‘ashshûr: BDB Definition: Asshur or Assyria = “a step”
1) the second son of Shem, eponymous ancestor of the Assyrians (noun proper masculine)
2) the people of Assyria (noun proper masculine)
3) the nation, Assyria (noun proper locative)
4) the land, Assyria or Asshur (noun proper locative)
Arphaxad: (H775):ארפּכשׁד: ‘arpakshad: BDB Definition: Arphaxad = “I shall fail as the breast: he cursed the breast-bottle”
1) third son of Shem
Lud: (H3865): לוּד: lûd: BDB Definition: Lud or Lydia = “strife”
1) the 4th listed son of Shem and supposed progenitor of the Lydians (noun proper masculine)
2) descendants of Lud the son of Shem who settled in northern Africa (noun patrial)
Aram: (H758): ארם: ‘ărâm: BDB Definition: Aram or Arameans = “exalted”
1) Aram or Syria the nation
2) the Syrian or Aramean people
3) fifth son of Shem
23. The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.
Uz: (H5780):עוּץ: ‛ûts: BDB Definition: Uz = “wooded”
1) son of Aram and grandson of Shem (noun proper masculine) 2) son of Nahor by Milcah
3) an Edomite, son of Dishan and grandson of Seir n pr loc 4) the country of Job; probably east and southeast of Palestine somewhere in the Arabian desert (noun proper locative)
Mash: (H4851):משׁ: mash: BDB Definition: Mash = “drawn out”
1) one of the sons of Aram; also known as ‘Meshech’ in 1 Chronicles. 1:17
Hul: (H2343): חוּל: chûl
BDB Definition: Hul = “circle”
1) the second son of Aram and grandson of Shem
Gether: (H1666): גּתר: gether
BDB Definition: Gether = “fear”
1) the third in order of the sons of Aram
I Mention Uz here because this is the land in which
Job comes from; in the book of Job. The reason for Mash
being listed is because his name is changed in 1 chronicles
(as shown in the Strong’s definition) other than that I don’t
see any significance That these sons of Aram have in the
overall scheme of things when it comes to God’s master
Plan. That said, God Does find it necessary to mention
them, So I don’t want to take away from God’s word. God
has the final say here, and if it is important to him to
mention them then that’s all that matters. Whether I find
any significance with Hul and Gether is insignificant.
24. Arphaxad begot Salah, and Salah begot Eber.
According to the Masoretic text, the Vulgat, and Targum;
Septuagint, this verse reads as follows: Arphaxad begot Cainan, and Cainan begot Salah. (Compare Luke. 3:35, 36)
25. To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, For in his days the earth was divided; and his brothers name was Joktan.
Eber: (H5677):עבר: ‛êber: BDB Definition: Eber or Heber = “the region beyond”
1) son of Salah, great grandson of Shem, father of Peleg and Joktan
It is commonly believed by most scholars, that it is by
Eber’s name, that the word “Hebrew” is derived from.
Peleg: (H6389): פּלג: peleg: BDB Definition: Peleg = “division”
1) son of Eber and brother of Joktan
It is thru Peleg that the seed of Jesus is to come from. It is
also during this time of Peleg, that God destroyed Nimrod’s
Tower of Babel, and confused all mans languages, and
separated them throughout all the face of the earth. This could explain why God says his days were divided. his life began as of one nation and one language, until God confused their language and Peleg then became another nation and another language.
26. Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazermaveth, Jerah,
Amodad: (H486): אלמודד: ‘almôdâd
BDB Definition: Almodad = “not measured”
1) a descendant of Shem
Sheleph: (H8026): שׁלף: sheleph
BDB Definition: Sheleph = “a drawing forth”
1) the 2nd son of Joktan and a descendant of Shem
Hazermaveth: (H2700): חצרמות: chătsarmâveth
BDB Definition: Hazarmaveth = “village of death”
1) the 3rd in order of the sons of Joktan (noun proper masculine)1) the 3rd in order of the sons of Joktan (noun proper masculine)
Jerah: (H3392): ירח: yerach
BDB Definition: Jerah = “new moon”
1) a 4th son of Joktan and a progenitor of an Arabian tribe
27. Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
Hadoram: (H1913): הדרם / הדורם: hădôrâm
BDB Definition: Hadoram = “noble honour”
1) the 5th son of Joktan
Uzal: (H187): אוּזל: ‘ûzâl
BDB Definition: Uzal = “I shall be flooded”
1) sixth son Joktan
Diklah: (H1853): דּקלה: diqlâh
BDB Definition: Diklah = “palm grove”
1) a son of Joktan of Arabia (noun proper masculine)
2) an Arabian territory or people? (noun proper locative)
28. Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
Obal: (H5745): עובל: ‛ôbâl
BDB Definition: Obal = “stripped bare”
1) a son of Joktan and the founder of an Arab tribe
Abimael: (H39): אבימאל: ‘ăbı̂ymâ’êl
BDB Definition: Abimael = “my father is El (God)”
1) son of Joktan, descendant of Shem
Sheba: (H7614): שׁבא: shebâ’
BDB Definition: Sheba = “seven” or “an oath”
1) son of Joktan and a descendant of Seth (noun proper masculine)
29. Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of
Joktan.
Ophir: (H211): אופר / אפיר / אופיר: ‘ôphı̂yr / ‘ôphir
BDB Definition: Ophir = “reducing to ashes”
1) eleventh son of Joktan
2) a land or city in southern Arabia in Solomon’s trade route where gold evidently was traded for goods
3) characteristic of fine gold
4) fine gold
Havilah: (H2341): חוילה: chăvı̂ylâh
BDB Definition: Havilah = “circle”
1) a part of Eden through which flowed the river Pison (Araxes); was probably the Grecian Colchis, in the northeast corner of Asia Minor, near the Caspian Sea (noun proper locative)
2) a district in Arabia of the Ishmaelites named from the 2nd son of Cush; probably the district of Kualan, in the northwestern part of Yemen (noun proper locative)
3) a son of Cush (noun proper masculine)
4) a son of Joktan (noun proper masculine)
Jobab: (H3103): יובב: yôbâb
BDB Definition: Jobab = “a desert”
1) the last in order of the sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem
2) one of the kings of Edom
Joktan: (H3355): יקטן: yoqṭân: BDB Definition: Joktan = “smallness”
1) son of Eber and descendant of Shem and patriarch of various Arabian tribes
30. And their dwelling place was from Mesha as you go
toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.
Mesha:(H4852): משׁא: mêshâ’: BDB Definition: Mesha = “freedom”
1) a region marking one of the limits of the territory of the Joktanites when they first settled in Arabia
Sephar: (H5611):ספר: sephâr: BDB Definition: Sephar = “a numbering”
1) a place in southern Arabia
31 These were the sons of Shem, according to their families,
according to their languages, in their lands, according to
their nations.
32. These were the families of the sons of Noah, according
to their generations, in their nations; and from these
nations were divided on the earth after the flood. 9:19; 11:8
To summarize, Chapter ten is known today as the table of
nation’s. As can be seen by the Strong’s definition, most of
the time, not only is the meaning of the name giving, but it
also tells us where these descendants settled on the earth.
When it comes to end times prophecy, we can get a clearer
picture as to which countries God is talking about when he
mentions them by the names of these descendants listed in
this chapter. Most of The countries that we know, by their
modern day names, are not mentioned in end time prophecy.
However There are a few exceptions, like Egypt, Syria,
Damascus and Persia, in these cases we can come to this
chapter to find out what sons Of Noah, and their descendants,
that are being prophesied against. By studying the Strong’s
definition of these names closely, we can get a better
understanding of bible prophecy in regards to the latter days.