Before we begin looking at these passages, it’s important to remember that in chronological order, Genesis 10 should come after Genesis 11. The reason for this is simply seen in that God didn’t give different human languages until Genesis 11, but here in Genesis 10, we see people speaking in different languages, Genesis 10:5.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This table shows that Yahweh created all peoples, Deuteronomy 32:8 / Amos 9:7 / Acts 17:26. Like the genealogy in chapter 5, this one traces 10 main individuals, and the last one named had three sons.’
Here we read of another account of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, who had sons after the flood, Genesis 10:1. The lists of names here are for genealogy purposes; later, the Jews, especially if a man wanted to become a priest, had to prove his historical lineage back to Aaron. Some of the places mentioned where the fathers settled are known, and others are unknown.
Concerning the sons of Japheth, Genesis 10:2, they were distinguished by their land territory, probably modern-day Turkey, some islands in the Mediterranean and possibly southern Europe. Madai would be the Median nation, Genesis 10:2.
Javan, Genesis 10:2, is associated with the ancient Greeks, whose sea-faring ways are described in Genesis 10:5. Tubal, Genesis 10:2, would be the Aegean Island inhabitants or the Etruscans. Magog, Genesis 10:2, is a term that probably referred to all northerners, particularly those of eastern Turkey, Ezekiel 38:2 / Ezekiel 39:1 / Ezekiel 39:6.
Concerning the sons of Gomer’s family, Genesis 10:3, they have been identified in the records of Assyria as the Cimmerians. Ashkenaz, Genesis 10:3, would be the residents of the Caucasian mountains near the Black and Caspian Sea, Jeremiah 51:27. Riphath, Genesis 10:3, possibly lived in Anatolia or Turkey. Togarmah, Genesis 10:3, possibly lived near Carchemish.
Concerning the sons of Javan, Genesis 10:4, they would be the Ionian Greeks. Elishah, Genesis 10:4, lived in Cyprus and Tarshish, Genesis 10:4, on the southern coast of Spain. The Kittites, Genesis 10:4, in Cyprus, and the Rodanites, Genesis 10:4, possibly resided on Rhodes of the Aegean Sea.
Notice that these maritime people spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, Isaiah 20:6, each with their own specific language, Genesis 10:5. To us, these may be just a bunch of names, but to the Jews, these names are very important. The Old Testament wasn’t just the word of God for them; it was proof of their origin.
Here we read of the Cushites, Genesis 10:6, who established Kish in the Mesopotamian valley, and later they became the Kassites, some of whom possibly migrated to southern Arabia. They then moved into Abyssinia of East Africa, Ethiopia, Genesis 10:6-7.
In contrast to a shepherd who has the people at heart, Nimrod was a ‘warrior’ and ‘hunter’, Genesis 10:8-9. The reference here is probably to inform us that he subdued people, rather than being a hunter of animals.
Boice, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This is not talking about Nimrod’s ability to hunt wild game. He was not a hunter of animals. He was a hunter of men, a warrior. It was through his ability to fight and kill and rule ruthlessly that his kingdom of the Euphrates valley city-states was consolidated.’
Nimrod, who became the honoured leader of the Cushites, built a great city and kingdom that was composed of the city-states of Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh, Genesis 10:10-12.
Whitelaw, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Eastern tradition has painted Nimrod as a gigantic oppressor of the peoples’ liberties and an impious rebel against Divine authority. Josephus credited him with having instigated the building of the tower of Babel.’
When we read about the building of the Tower of Babel, in the next chapter, Genesis 11:1-9, it appears that the leader of this venture was Nimrod. The Hamites may have been woefully lacking in the religious sense, but they appear to have been extremely creative and inventive in other ways, particularly in the setting up of the first kingdoms.
These ancient cities, or at least what remains of them, have virtually all been discovered, and there is one remarkable thing they all have in common, something unique to that part of the world.
West of Egypt is Ludim or Libyia. Pathrusim were the people of Pathros in upper Egypt, and Casluhim were the Philistines, and Caphtorim, Genesis 10:14, were the people of Crete. The Canaanites, Genesis 10:15, were known as Phoenicians by the Greeks.
Their main cities were the coastal cities of Sidon and Tyre, which still exist in Lebanon. They were the dominant group of Palestine from as far north as Sidon to as far south as Gaza and into parts of Egypt.
The Hittites became established in Palestine and built the city of Hebron, Genesis 10:15. The Jebusites, Genesis 10:16, lived in the area of Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 5:6-10. The Amorites, Genesis 10:16, lived in the highlands of Palestine and the territory east of the Jordan River. Notice again, the sons of Ham also had their own languages, Genesis 10:20.
Shem’s older brother was Japheth, and Shem was the ancestor of Eber, Genesis 10:21.
Willis, in his commentary, says the following.
‘It is the importance of Eber as the ancestor of the Hebrews that leads to the mention of his name at the head of the genealogy, despite the fact of his being not the son, but the ‘great-grandson of Shem.’
The Elamites, Genesis 10:22, lived east of the Mesopotamian valley, whereas Ashur, Genesis 10:22, became the people of Assyria. Northeast of the Assyrians, the descendants of Arphaxad, Genesis 10:22, possibly settled. The descendants of Aram, Genesis 10:22, became the Syrian people. The sons of Uz, Genesis 10:23, established a city-state east of the Jordan in the Arabian Desert where Job lived, Job 1:1.
The children of Eber, Genesis 10:25, came to be referred to as the Hebrew people. They were Semitic-speaking nomadic people who settled around the Arabian Desert.
Eber had two sons, one of whom was named Peleg, and his brother was named Joktan, Genesis 10:25-27. Notice that in Peleg’s time the earth was divided, Genesis 10:25. Some commentators see this as a reference to the earth itself as being divided because of the flood, Genesis 11:1-9 / Psalm 104:6-7. Other commentators suggest this is a reference to the people of the earth being divided.
I tend to agree with the second, as the word ‘earth’ can mean the planet, Genesis 1:1, but it can also mean the population of the planet, Genesis 11:1. Remember, Genesis 10 should come after Genesis 11.
Peleg was born roughly one hundred years after the flood and lived during this major population dispersion, where languages were confused, Genesis 11:8-9. The descendants of Sheba, Genesis 20:28, established the area south of Egypt from which the queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon, 1 Kings 10:1-13.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning Ophir, Genesis 10:29.
‘This was a famous name among the Jews, for it was to Ophir that Solomon’s great triennial navy travelled to bring gold for the decoration of the temple. Strangely enough, we cannot tell exactly where it was located.’
Notice again that the sons of Shem had their own language, Genesis 10:31. Their language, Aramaic, became the international language of communication during the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian empires. It was from these nations that the world’s population would grow, Genesis 10:32.