Episode 257 - Table of Nations - Genesis 10

Gen. 10:1 These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

Gen. 10:2 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.

Gen. 10:6 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 whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorim.

Gen. 10:15 Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, 16 and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 17 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the clans of the Canaanites dispersed. 19 And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon in the direction of Gerar as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.

Gen. 10:21 To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born. 22 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 Arpachshad fathered Shelah; and Shelah fathered Eber. 25 To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother’s name was Joktan. 26 Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 The territory in which they lived extended from Mesha in the direction of Sephar to the hill country of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.

Gen. 10:32 These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.

I believe this is the first time in the five year history of this blog and podcast that I’ve covered an entire chapter in the Bible. I think it’s also the first time I’ve elected not to provide an audio recording of my reading the section of Scripture. My choice is based largely my desire to draw your attention to the purpose of why this “Table of Nations” or this genealogy is included in this story. That purpose is largely informed by the context and not so much by the text itself. With that said, let’s begin. I would highly encourage those listening to this to read Genesis 10 for themselves.

First of all, this text clearly gives us a genealogical record of Noah’s sons. It is not an exhaustive list. In fact, it looks a bit strange. In this table are names of people, groups of people, and places associated to people. This tells us that the purpose of this record is not simply to give us a record of descendants of Noah but to give a list of people, groups, and geographical regions of people that are important to the audience of this record. Certain information is included, and much information is excluded due to what the author considers crucial for his audience.

Who is this audience? If Moses wrote this, as I accept he did, the original audience is the Israelites who came out of Egypt. Imagine what it must have been like for such a group of people. They knew nothing about the land of their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, except what may have been passed down in a story. But the LORD was leading them there. They were to take possession of a land that had been taken over by many people who exemplified immorality, idolatry, and violence. The LORD instructed them to not adapt the ways of the people, but to drive them out. The LORD wanted the Israelites to understand Abraham's identity and faith, embody the same faith as Abraham, and be a “Kingdom of Priests” to the world, pointing them to their God. This genealogy helped them understand that the descendants of righteous Noah did not follow in Noah’s faith and righteousness.

Furthermore, it helped them understand that Ham’s offense against his father, bringing the curse upon Canaan and his descendants, led to the gross sins of the various groups now dwelling in the land where God was leading them. The effect of this understanding should have helped these Israelites stop and think, “We don’t want to bring a curse upon us. We don’t want to worship the gods of the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, and others. We must obey the LORD like Noah and Abraham, whom we will soon learn about.”

This genealogical record also shows that God’s command to be fruitful and multiply is being followed. Next week, we will read about how the increasing descendants from Noah’s sons were not completely obedient and the LORD would need to help them disperse across the earth.

This record helps advance the story from the flood to the LORD’s next step in fulfilling his promise of a coming seed. We find in the genealogy of Shem, who was blessed by his father for honoring his father by covering up his nakedness, that the LORD will choose a man named Abram (Abraham) to follow his instruction as Noah had.

This leaves us with the question, “Is there something in this record of Noah’s descendants that is helpful for us beyond advancement of the story?” I would suggest there are a few theological principles that come forth from this account in its context. It shows us that God is all-knowing. Ham made an unrighteous choice with respect to his father and it had consequences through his son Canaan. This is not all that different from Adam’s sin and what happens with Cain. I don’t think the LORD is at fault for what happens. I think he foresees the ripple effect of Ham’s sin, and the curse upon Canaan is in the understanding of the course that it will take through Ham’s descendants. We need to understand and value that God knows all things, and we need to take serious consideration about our thoughts and actions. They affect other people.

Another principle that arises out of this is God’s providence. God has a plan, and some of that will be accomplished through the rebellious actions of others. That doesn’t mean God causes them to be disobedient. People have already demonstrated they are quite capable on their own for their defiance against God’s ways. But God will not allow people to thwart his ultimate plan. We can trust that God will fulfill his promises.