GENESIS 10 NOAH’S DESCENDANTS THROUGH JAPHETH & HAM
GENESIS 10
These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations.
6 The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 8 Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and 12 Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. 13 Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14 Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whomthe Philistines came), and Caphtorim.– Genesis 10:1-12
GENESIS 10 NOAH’S DESCENDANTS THROUGH JAPHETH & HAM
In this whole chapter, we are given the list of descendants of two sons of Noah, Japheth and Ham. This account leads us to the formation of many different nations that arose from the people that God saved from the flood. According to ESV study bible notes, Japheth’s offsprings spread through the coastal regions and islands of the Mediterranean Sea. Ham’s descendants formed many of Israel’s enemies, such as the Egyptians, Babylonians, Philistines and various Canaanite groups. Ham, Put and Cush are regions south and west of Egypt and Cush is linked geographically with Africa.
Nimrod is linked with the great cities of Babel and Nineveh in Assyria. In verse 8, Nimrod was described to be the first on earth to be a mighty man. According to commentaries, this description is more a rebellion against God. In the following verses, Nimrod built Babel and Nineveh. We hear of these cities that were eventually destroyed because of their wickedness. Remember Jonah’s story where he was told by God to prophesy to Nineveh but he didn’t want to because he knew how evil the Ninevites were?
Here, we get a glimpse of the different nations
REFLECTION
- Why do you think it is important for us believers to know Noah’s descendants?
