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Genesis Chapter
Ten
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Descendants of Noah and Origin of the
Nations
A. The sons of Noah (v.1);
B. The descendants of Japheth (v.2-5);
C. The descendants of Ham;
1. The descendants of Ham (v.6);
2. The descendants of
3. The descendants of Mizraim (v.13-14);
4. The descendants of
5. The closing words of Ham’s descendants
(v.20);
D. The descendants of Shem (v.21-31);
E. The closing words of Noah’s descendants
(v.32);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
Gen. 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.”
YLT: “And
these births of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and born to them are
sons after the deluge.”
Meaning
of Words: “Noah”: rest comfort; “Shem”: name,
reputation; “Ham”: darkness, hot; “Japheth”: enlargement, sound;
Literal
Meaning: this chapter is
written to prove that all human beings are of the same ancestor, the
descendants of the three sons of Noah. Most of the names in this chapter are
names of individuals. And there are also names of nations and families and
cities. Probably, they were named after the names of the initiators.
Moreover, some Bible
scholars think when the Bible records “the sons of someone are…”, it emphasizes
“the man himself”, and that when the Bible records “someone begot another one”,
it emphasizes “the son”. E.g., “the sons of Ham were
Gen. 10:2 “The sons of Japheth were
Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.”
YLT:
“`Sons
of Japheth Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and
Tiras.”
Meaning
of Words: “Gomer”: perfect, hot; “Magog”: a barbarous northern region, place of
Gog; “Madai”: central, my
garment; “Javan”: dust, effervesce,
young; “Tubal”: posterity, propagation, preach; “Meshech”: be plucked, sowing, high; “Tiras”: desire, longing;
Literal
Meaning: “Gomer”: the ancestor of the Northern Europeans;
“Magog”: the ancestor of Tatars in the northern
part of the
“ Madai”: the ancestor of the Persians;
“ Javan”: the ancestor of the Southern Europeans;
“Tubal,
Meshech”: the ancestor of
the Russians in the southern part of the
“Tiras”: the ancestor of the Turks;
Gen. 10:3 “The sons of Gomer were
Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.”
YLT: “And
sons of Gomer Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.”
Meaning
of Words: “Ashkenaz”: Germans;
“Riphath”: what is said; “Togarmah”: fortress;
Gen. 10:4 “The sons of Javan were
Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.”
YLT: “And
sons of Javan Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.”
Meaning
of Words: “Elishah”: a firm covenant;
“Tarshish”: strong, hard, stony; “ Kittim”: execration, mashed,
he who boxes; “Dodanim”: leader;
Literal
Meaning: “Elishah”: the ancestor of the Italians;
“Tarshish”: the ancestor of the Spaniards;
“
Kittim”: the ancestor of
the Cypriots;
“Dodanim”: the ancestor of the Greeks;
Gen. 10:5 “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.”
YLT:
“By
these have the isles of the nations been parted in their lands, each by his
tongue, by their families, in their nations.”
Literal
Meaning: it is the will of
God that men shall be scattered in the lands (see Gen. 9:1, 7). And the
principles of the dispersion involve three aspects of regions and races and
languages. However, after the dispersion, regionalism and racism and divergence
of languages were brought forth among all the people. And such discrimination
turns out to be the main reason for men’s failure of living in concord with
others.
“Coastland”, the word is not seen among the
descendants of Ham (v.20) and Shem (v.31), which shows that the descendants of
Japheth at that time were scattered in the coastal land along the
Gen. 10:6 “The sons of Ham were
YLT: “And
sons of Ham
Meaning
of Words: “
Literal
Meaning: “
“Mizraim”: the ancestor of Egyptians;
“Put”: the ancestor of the Libyans;
“
Gen. 10:7 “The sons of
YLT:
“And
sons of Cush Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtechah; and sons
of Raamah
Meaning
of Words: “Seba”: drunkard; “Havilah”: circular, twist, bring forth, sorrow; “Sabtah”: attack; “Raamah”: trembling; “Sabtechah”:
assault; “
Gen. 10:8 “
YLT: “And
Meaning
of Words: “Nimrod”: rebellious,
strong, powerful;
Literal
Meaning: “he began to be a mighty one
on the earth”, it indicated that
he had a strong stature and was mightier than others. Nimrod was the descendant
the Ham (v.6), the father of
Spiritual
Meaning: “Nimrod” means rebellion, standing for the leaders
that rebel against God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Satan often uses those who are forsaken by God
to be leaders of rebellion against God.
2) The
world adores heroes since the ancient time. And even many Christians like to
hold high the talented leaders.
3)
Indeed believers have to respect the spiritual leaders, but shall not be above
what is written in the Scriptures, lest we should lose the balance (1Cor. 4:6)
and cause difficulties in the oneness of the church.
4) Let
us not know one according to flesh, but pay attention to his character and
spiritual life.
Gen. 10:9 “He was a mighty hunter
before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod the mighty hunter
before the LORD."”
YLT:
“he
hath been a hero in hunting before Jehovah; therefore it is said, `As Nimrod
the hero hunting before Jehovah.'”
Meaning
of Words: “mighty”: powerful, strong;
Literal
Meaning: “a might hunter”: it
showed that his character was strong and aggressive.
“He was a mighty hunter
before the LORD”, he was addicted
to killing life (including people) in a supercilious manner before God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God does not look for “a mighty hunter”, but man
who fears God and seeks God and walks with God.
2) All
who take the sword will perish by the sword (Matt. 26:52). He who overcomes by
violence will finally be subdued by violence.
Gen. 10:10 “And the beginning of his
kingdom was
YLT:
“And
the first part of his kingdom is
Meaning
of Words: “
Literal
Meaning: “the beginning of his
kingdom”, according to
chapter eleven of Genesis, all the people lived in the land of Shinar to build
the city of Babel and the towel of Babel (see Gen. 11:1-4) before the dispersion
of all the people all over the world. It could be inferred that Nimrod ought to
be the man that made himself a king and established a kingdom.
“
“The
Spiritual
Meaning: the people of God
had ever been captivated to
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) When God has His plan on the earth to testify
Himself by His people, Satan also gets ready to rebel against the works of God
by manipulating someone or something.
2) Let
believers seek the “kingdom” of God and the righteousness of God (Matt. 6:10,
33) instead of building our own sphere of influence.
Gen. 10:11 “From that land he went to
Assyria and built
YLT:
“from that land he hath gone out to Asshur, and buildeth
Meaning
of Words: “Assyria”: plain,
successful, procedure; “
Literal
Meaning: ‘from that land he went to
Assyria”, he extended his
land to
“
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) There is no limit to man’s ambition ---- even
though he has got some land, he covets for more. Even though he has some
wealth, he seeks more.
2) Let
believers be satisfied with present circumstances (Heb. 13:5). Piety with
contentment is great gain (1Tim. 6:6).
Gen. 10:12 “and Resen between
YLT: “and
Resen, between
Meaning
of Words: “Resen”: curb, halter, jaw;
Literal
Meaning: someone believed the
great city of
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Man’s building always takes the view to “scale”.
For instance: the more number of believers a church has got, the greater and
more prosperous she will be. The more magnificent the building of the church
is, the more successful she will be.
2) Let
us take heed of the building of the church, for all human buildings will be
burnt up by fire one day (1Cor. 3:10-15). May the Lord make our buildings
abide.
Gen. 10:13 “Mizraim begot Ludim,
Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,”
YLT: “And
Mitzraim hath begotten the Ludim, and the Anamim, and the Lehabim, and the
Naphtuhim,”
Meaning
of Words: “Ludim”: fight, struggle,
grief, he who incites others;
“Anamim”: stoneman, the
disaster of the flood;
“Lehabim”: fire; “Naphtuhim”: open;
Gen. 10:14 “Pathrusim, and Casluhim
(from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim).”
YLT: “and
the Pathrusim, and the Casluhim, (whence have come out Philistim,) and the
Caphtorim.”
Meaning
of Words: “Pathrusim”: the southern
part, wet food;
“Casluhim”: guard, he who is
forgiven; “Caphtorim”: strings of beads; “Philistines”: rolling, migratory, alien land;
Literal
Meaning: “Philistines”, this verse mentions the Philistines
purposefully for they became the opponents of Abraham and his descendants (Gen.
chap. 20; 26:8, 18).
Gen. 10:15 “Canaan begot
YLT:
“And
Canaan hath begotten
Meaning
of Words: “
Gen. 10:16 “the Jebusite, the
Amorite, and the Girgashite;”
YLT: “and
the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,”
Meaning
of Words: “Jebusite”: be trembled; “Amorite”: mountaineer, he who is fond of speaking,
publicity; “Girgashite”:
a stranger draws near;
Literal
Meaning: “the
Jebusite”, when the Israelites subdued the
“The Amorite”, they dwelt in the mountain land and
became the enemies of the Israelites afterwards (Jos. 10:6-11; Judges 1:34-36).
Gen. 10:17 “the Hivite, the Arkite,
and the Sinite;”
YLT:
“and
the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,”
Meaning
of Words: “Hivite”: declare, breathe; “Arkite”: vagabond; “Sinite”: thorny;
Gen. 10:18 “the Arvadite, the
Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were
dispersed.”
YLT: “and
the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite; and afterwards have the
families of the Canaanite been scattered.”
Meaning
of Words: “Arvadite”: the land of
vagabond; “Zemarite”: be circumcised by
fury, fortress;
“Hamathite”: stronghold;
Gen. 10:19 “And the border of the
Canaanites was from
YLT: “And
the border of the Canaanite is from
Meaning
of Words: “Gerar”: a rolling
country, drag off, stopping place; “
Literal
Meaning: this verse describes
the boundary of the
Gen. 10:20 “These were the sons of
Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands
and in their nations.”
YLT:
“These sons of Ham, by their families, by their tongues, in their lands, in
their nations.”
Literal
Meaning: this chapter uses
nearly a half chapter, from verse six to twenty, to introduce the offspring of
Ham, for most of them had serious enmity against the Israelites.
“Families” emphasize the relationship of blood; “languages” emphasize the relationship of language; “lands” emphasize the relationship of territory; “nations” emphasize the relationship of politics.
Gen. 10:21 “And children were born
also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth
the elder.”
YLT: “As
to Shem, father of all sons of Eber, brother of Japheth the elder, he hath also
begotten:”
Meaning
of Words: “Eber”: quarter, opposite side, ferry crossing;
Literal
Meaning: “the father of all the
children of Eber”, the emphasis of
this verse is to introduce “Eber”. Probably he himself had great fear of God
and was a prominent character among the direct fathers of the Israelites. And
it was also possible that “Eber” was the origin of “the Hebrews”, and the
Israelites were also called the Hebrews (Ex. 1:19-20). Therefore, Moses
particularly mentioned his name when writing this book.
Gen. 10:22 “The sons of Shem were
YLT:
“Sons
of Shem
Meaning
of Words: “
Gen. 10:23 “The sons of
YLT:
“And
sons of Aram Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.”
Meaning
of Words: “Uz”: stable, fat,
consider; “Hul”: sorrow; “Gether”: fear; “Mash”: try, pull out of;
Gen. 10:24 “Arphaxad begot Salah, and
Salah begot Eber.”
YLT: “And
Arphaxad hath begotten Salah, and Salah hath begotten Eber.”
Meaning
of Words: “Salah”: weapon, sprout;
Gen. 10:25 “To Eber were born two
sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his
brother's name was Joktan.”
YLT: “And
to Eber have two sons been born; the name of the one Peleg (for in his days
hath the earth been divided,) and his brother's name Joktan.”
Meaning
of Words: “Peleg”: division, river,
earthshaking; “Joktan”: tiny;
Literal Meaning:
“the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was
divided”, the manner of
its record is rather particular. Probably it suggests that when Jehovah
scattered all the people over the face of the whole earth (see Gen. 11:8-9), it
was exactly the time when “Peleg” the direct father of the Israelites was on
the earth. And the original meaning of “Peleg” is “division and dispersion”.
Eber named his son “Peleg”, which indicated that he feared God and obeyed the
will of God that all people had to be scattered all over the earth and kept it
in mind.
Gen. 10:26 “Joktan begot Almodad,
Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,”
YLT:
“And
Joktan hath begotten Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,”
Meaning
of Words: “Almodad”: he who stirs up,
measure; “Sheleph”: pulled out of; “Hazarmaveth”: dead yard; “Jerah”: the new moon;
Gen. 10:27 “Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,”
YLT:
“and
Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,”
Meaning
of Words: “Hadoram”: decoration,
might, Hado is lofty;
“Uzal”: vagabond; “Diklah”: palm tree, the forest of palm trees;
Gen. 10:28 “Obal,
YLT: “and
Obal, and Abimael, and
Meaning
of Words: “Obal”: naked; “Abimael”: fat, my father is God, the father of
Mary; “
Gen. 10:29 “Ophir, Havilah, and
Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.”
YLT: “and
Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab; all these sons of Joktan;”
Meaning
of Words: “Ophir”: abundant,
fruitful, fat, rich;
“Havilah”: circle, produce,
make a circuit of, sorrow;
“Jobab”: call, caller;
Gen. 10:30 “And their dwelling place
was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.”
YLT:
“and
their dwelling is from Mesha, thy coming towards Sephar, a mount of the east.”
Meaning
of Words: “Mesha”: release, refuge,
middle ground; “Sephar”: number, household register;
Literal
Meaning: it cannot be sure
where “Mesha” and “Sephar” are at present. Probably, after the dispersion, they
moved eastwards from
Gen. 10:31 “These were the sons of
Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, in their
lands, according to their nations.”
YLT:
“These
sons of Shem, by their families, by their tongues, in their lands, by their
nations.”
Gen. 10:32 “These were the families
of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from
these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood.”
YLT:
“These
families of the sons of Noah, by their births, in their nations, and by these
have the nations been parted in the earth after the deluge.”
Literal
Meaning: this chapter has
altogether listed seventy families. The number “seventy” symbolizes “perfect”
(see Ex. 1:5; 24:1; Judges 1:7). Therefore, this chapter illustrates us how all
nations of men are made of one blood and obtain the boundaries of their
dwelling (see Acts 17:26).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) All the people all over the world are of the
same origin, so let us abolish any attitude of “being not of my family” but
take all as brothers.
2)
What is most important is to make all nations be the Lord’s disciple (Matt.
28:19). In Christ there is no difference in families or cultures or languages,
etc. (Col. 3:11; 1Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:28).
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Nimrod ---- the Type of the Man of Sin
A. His name: “Nimrod” (v.8) means “rebellion”,
which showed he was a lawless (2Thess. 2:8);
B. His might: “be a mighty one on the earth”
(v.8), which showed that he was much mighty (2Thess. 2:9);
C. His disposition: “hunter” (v.9), which
showed that he was cruel and violent (Rev. 13:15);
D. His attitude: “He was a mighty
hunter before Jehovah” (v.9), which
showed that he was arrogant and had no God in his sight (2Thess. 2:4);
E. His work: “the beginning of his kingdom is
F. His ways:
1. “He came from that land” (v.11), which
showed that he “conquered” others everywhere;
2. “Built” (v.11), which showed that he managed
to “build” the power of darkness wherever he went;
3. “This was the great city” (v.11-12), which
showed that he had built a colossal realm of power by the artifices of “union”;
Eber ---- the Type of the Overcomer
A. His name: “Eber” (v.21), which meant
“getting across”, indicating that he had been separated from the world;
B. His origin: “Salah begot
Eber” (v.24), which
indicated that he was “sprouted” (the meaning of Salah) in life;
C. His work: “children were born also to Shem” (v.21), which indicated that he was
engaged in the multiplication and building of life;
D. His ways:
1. “To Eber were born two sons: the name of one
was Peleg” (v. 25), which indicated that he named his son “Peleg” (which means
dispersion) to show his wholehearted obedience to the will of God after he had
sought and understood the will of God (the will of God was scattered all the
people all over the world);
2. “And
his brother’s name was Joktan”, (v. 25), which indicated that he had no great
ambition on the earth and was willing to be humble (the meaning of Joktan was
humbleness) to serve the Lord.
The Disintegration of the Earthly Nation
(Organization)
A. Divide because of “the lands in which they
were inhabited” (v.5, 20, 31): regionalism was thus generated, and people in
different regions occupied their lands respectively without any identification
with others;
B. Divide because of “languages” (v.5, 20, 31):
barriers caused by the different feelings and thoughts and mind;
C. Divide because of “families” (v.5, 20,
31-32): racial discrimination was then formed;
D. Focus on talented and mighty people
(v.8-10): God’s authority was replaced by human authority;
E. Be engaged in the building nothing to do
with the will of God (v.10-13): finally men became “confused” (the meaning of
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou