←Genesis 10→BSB

The fifth account (10:1) in Genesis (see study note on 2:4) unites the Table of Nations (10:2–32) and the Babel story (11:1–9) around the theme of scattering the nations (10:5, 18; 11:4, 8–9). The Table of Nations precedes the Babel story even though the Babel incident caused the geopolitical situation reflected in the Table of Nations. By reversing the order, Genesis links the repopulation of the earth with the blessing conferred upon Noah and his sons (see 9:1 and study note) and shows that Abram’s call (12:1–3) was God’s solution to the problem of human estrangement from God as reflected in the Babel story (11:1–9).

• This section describes the ancestral origin of the nations of the ancient Near East. Ham was at the center (10:6–20), while the descendants of Japheth and Shem spread out to the surrounding regions of Greece, Crete, Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, Madai, the Arabian peninsula, and northeast Africa. The list selectively highlights nations relevant to Israel. The total of seventy (seven times ten) names indicates completeness (see 46:27; Deut 32:8) and symbolizes the totality of the world, which would later be blessed by the descendants of Abraham (Gen 18:18).
• Although Shem is mentioned first in 10:1, he is addressed last in the Table because of his connection to Abram (10:21–31; 11:10–32; 12:1). Although God established the boundaries of all nations (see Deut 32:8; Amos 9:7; Acts 17:26), Israel was his special creation—a microcosm of seventy people (Gen 46:27) called to be a blessing to a world of seventy nations (see 12:3).

Special attention is given to the early history of Babylonia and Assyria, the Mesopotamian empires that would conquer and exile Israel and Judah.

• Babylonia is the area surrounding the Tigris and Euphrates in southern Mesopotamia. This kingdom eventually reached into northern Mesopotamia (Assyria).
• Of the cities mentioned, Babylon is most important because of its role in building the Tower of Babel (see 11:4 and study note).
• Erech was ancient Uruk and is now Warka in southern Iraq (see Ezra 4:9–10).
• Akkad was the ancient Agade north of Babylon, home of the famous ruler Sargon (2370–2295 BC).
• The location of Calneh is uncertain, though it is presumably one of Nimrod’s cities located north of Aram-naharaim in southern Mesopotamia (cp. Amos 6:2).
• building . . . Nineveh: Like Cain, Nimrod built cities (see Gen 4:17 and comments). Nineveh was an ancient Assyrian city on the east bank of the Tigris River in northern Iraq.
• Rehoboth-ir was a daughter-city of Nineveh or was located nearby.
• Calah is modern Tell Nimrud, south of Nineveh.
• Resen is possibly modern Selamiyeh, northwest of Tell Nimrud.

• the Ludites were Lydian tribes located west of the Nile delta.

• The identity of the Anamites is unclear. They might have been Egyptians near Cyrene, west of Egypt.

• the Lehabites were probably a Libyan tribe.

• the Naphtuhites lived in northern Egypt.

• the Pathrusites lived in southern Egypt.

• the Casluhites might have lived in an Egyptian area also known as "Cyrenaica."

• the Caphtorites were Cretans (see Jeremiah 47:4; Amos 9:7).

• the Philistines from Crete were warriors and traders who traveled by ship from Crete to settle in southwest Canaan. They lived there during the time when the Israelites left Egypt and in later periods (Exodus 13:17; Amos 9:7). During the early years of Israel's kings, the Philistines were one of Israel's strongest enemies (see 1–2 Samuel).

• Sidon settled in Phoenicia, north of Canaan.
• Hittites: The Hittites in Genesis were a coalition of cities within Canaan (see 26:34–35; 27:46; Ezek 16:3). They were probably not the same as the Hittites of Anatolia (Asia Minor), whose empire was one of the great empires of antiquity during the patriarchal period.
• The Jebusites were ancient inhabitants of Jerusalem (Josh 15:63; Judg 19:10–11; 2 Sam 5:6–9).
• The Amorites lived throughout the mountains of Palestine in Canaan (see Gen 15:16; 48:22; Num 13:29; Deut 3:8; Josh 10:5; Judg 1:35; 10:8; Ezek 16:3).
• Little is known of the Girgashites, a Canaanite tribe (Gen 15:21; Deut 7:1; Josh 3:10).
• The Hivites were an uncircumcised Canaanite tribe (Gen 34:2, 13–24; Josh 9:1, 7; 11:3; Judg 3:3; 2 Sam 24:7).
• The Arkites resided in Tell ’Arqa in Lebanon.
• The Sinites formed a city-state and inhabited Phoenicia.
• The Arvadites inhabited Ruad in northern Phoenicia, near the El Kebir River. They were known for shipping (cp. Ezek 27:8).
• The Zemarites inhabited Sumur (modern Sumra), north of Arka on the Phoenician coast.
• The Hamathites founded what is now Hama on the Orontes River, the northern boundary of Canaan (see Num 34:8; Josh 13:5; 2 Sam 8:9–10; 1 Kgs 8:65; 2 Kgs 14:25–28).

• Almodad was an ancestor, region, or tribe in modern Yemen.
• Sheleph was a tribe of Yemen.
• Hazarmaveth was related to Hadramaut in southern Arabia.
• Jerah is unknown, but was possibly associated with Mount Barach.
• Hadoram was an Arabian tribe.
• Uzal was Sana’a, an old capital of Yemen in pre-Islamic times.
• Diklah was a southern Arabian oasis in Mina.
• Obal was between Hodeida and Sana’a in southwest Arabia.
• Abimael was a Sabaean.
• Sheba was in southern Arabia (see 10:7).
• Ophir was a region of southern Arabia between Sheba and Havilah; it was a source of gold (Isa 13:12).
• Havilah: See 10:7.
• Jobab was possibly Jobebitai in southern Arabia.

There were fourteen sons of Shem by Eber through Joktan. The placement of the Babel story between the lines of Joktan and Peleg ties Joktan to the judgment of the Babel story (11:1–9) and ties Peleg to Abram (11:27–12:1).