Exposition of Genesis 1-11 The Toledoth of Noah’s Sons a.k.a. The Table of Nations Gen 10:1-32

The Sons of Noah Gen 9:18 – 11:9 The listing of Noah’s sons who exited the ark (9:18-19) –From these three will come all the peoples of the earth. The story of Noah’s intoxication (9:20-27) –This story serves to reveal the character and destiny of the three sons and their descendants. A concluding passage on Noah’s death (9:28- 29) The history (toledoth) of Noah’s descendants (10:1-32) The scattering at the Tower of Babel (11:1-9) –This event happened chronologically before the listing in chapter 10.

The Genealogy in Gen 10 The Pattern of the Genealogies in Gen 5 and 11: Linear –When a had lived x years, he became the father of b; a lived y years after the birth of b and had other sons and daughters. [So all the days of a were x + y years, and he died in Gen 5 only]. The Pattern of the Genealogy in Gen 10: Segmented and Selective –Branches out and shows the development and relationships between families and nations –Note: this entire chapter is repeated in 1 Chron 1:4-23 in almost identical form, with minor changes in the details.

The Toledoth of the Sons of Noah 1 Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan were Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim. 5 From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations. 6 And the sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan. 7 And the sons of Cush were Seba and Havilah and Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. 8 Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD." 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. 13 And Mizraim became the father of Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim 14 and Pathrusim and Casluhim (from which came the Philistines) and Caphtorim. 15 And Canaan became the father of Sidon, his first-born, and Heth 16 and the Jebusite and the Amorite and the Girgashite 17 and the Hivite and the Arkite and the Sinite 18 and the Arvadite and the Zemarite and the Hamathite; and afterward the families of the Canaanite were spread abroad. 19 And the territory of the Canaanite extended from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; as you go toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, by their nations. 21 And also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, and the older brother of Japheth, children were born. 22 The sons of Shem were Elam and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram. 23 And the sons of Aram were Uz and Hul and Gether and Mash. 24 And Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber. 25 And two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. 26 And Joktan became the father of Almodad and Sheleph and Hazarmaveth and Jerah 27 and Hadoram and Uzal and Diklah 28 and Obal and Abimael and Sheba 29 and Ophir and Havilah and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 Now their settlement extended from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the hill country of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, according to their nations. 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.

The Toledoth of the Sons of Noah 1 Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan were Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim. 5 From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations. 6 And the sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan. 7 And the sons of Cush were Seba and Havilah and Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. 8 Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD." 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. 13 And Mizraim became the father of Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim 14 and Pathrusim and Casluhim (from which came the Philistines) and Caphtorim. 15 And Canaan became the father of Sidon, his first-born, and Heth 16 and the Jebusite and the Amorite and the Girgashite 17 and the Hivite and the Arkite and the Sinite 18 and the Arvadite and the Zemarite and the Hamathite; and afterward the families of the Canaanite were spread abroad. 19 And the territory of the Canaanite extended from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; as you go toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, by their nations. 21 And also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, and the older brother of Japheth, children were born. 22 The sons of Shem were Elam and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram. 23 And the sons of Aram were Uz and Hul and Gether and Mash. 24 And Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber. 25 And two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. 26 And Joktan became the father of Almodad and Sheleph and Hazarmaveth and Jerah 27 and Hadoram and Uzal and Diklah 28 and Obal and Abimael and Sheba 29 and Ophir and Havilah and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 Now their settlement extended from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the hill country of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, according to their nations. 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.

Geographic Spread of the Table of Nations

Some Highlights from the Table of Nations Nimrod (Heb “Rebel”; cf. Gen 10:8-12) – a notable hero of the land of Shinar, and possibly the driving force behind the construction of the Tower of Babel. Known for: –hunting exploits –military conquests in the lands of Babylon & Assyria –building cities, including Nineveh Eber (Gen 10:21) – connected to the term “Hebrew”; sons of Abraham will be descended from this line. Peleg (Heb “division”; cf. Gen 10:25) – could be a reference to the division of peoples brought about through the confusion of languages, but hard to say this for sure.

Purpose for the Table of Nations This is not a chapter that provides us with a complete ethnology for all subsequent people groups. Instead it serves to: –show the unity of all mankind, in the sense of their descent from the three sons of Noah; –show God’s divine hand in spreading peoples across the earth; –show the relation of these different peoples to the nation of Israel, descended from Eber in the line of Shem. The land is key! –By God’s command Israel will drive out the Canaanites and take possession of the land of promise. –God’s plan for Israel and the nations is closely tied to this particular piece of real estate.

Next Week: The Tower of Babel Gen 11:1-9