Translations
Original
Notes
God set apart the borders of Canaan to be taken from its people and given to Israel (see 15:18; Numbers 34:2–12; Ezekiel 47:15–20; 48:1–28).
An ancient highway along the seacoast, the Via Maris, ran from Sidon toward Gerar, connecting Egypt to Mesopotamia.
Modern Gaza is 18 kilometers (11 miles) northwest of Gerar.
Sodom and Gomorrah were cities on the southeastern border of the Dead Sea.
Admah, and Zeboiim: The Bible mentions these cities 15 times in connection with Sodom and Gomorrah (14:2, 8; Deuteronomy 29:23; see Hosea 11:8). God destroyed all four cities to cleanse the land (see Genesis 19).
Lasha was possibly in the northern area of the Dead Sea.
This section explains where the ancient Near Eastern nations came from. 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 is selective in focusing on nations important to Israel. The 70 names (seven times ten) indicate completeness (see 46:27; Deuteronomy 32:8). These names represent the whole world, which Abraham's descendants would later bless (Genesis 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 Deuteronomy 32:8; Amos 9:7; Acts 17:26), Israel was his special creation (a small group of 70 people; Genesis 46:27). God called them to be a blessing to a world of 70 nations (see 12:3).
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 appears before the Babel story, but the Babel event explains how the nations and languages in that list came to exist.
By placing these events in this order, Genesis connects the filling of the earth with the blessing God gave to Noah and his sons (see 9:1 and study note). It shows that the growth of the nations comes from God’s blessing.
This order also prepares for Abram’s call (12:1–3). Abram’s call shows God’s answer to the problem seen at Babel (11:1–9), where humans were separated from God. Through Abram, God begins to restore that relationship.
Parallels
Places
Admah: One of the cities destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah Canaan: Ancient region; descendants of Ham; promised to Abraham's descendants Gaza: Philistine city; Samson's exploits; Philip's ministry Gerar: Philistine city; Abraham and Isaac's encounters with Abimelech Gomorrah: Wicked city destroyed by God along with Sodom Lasha: A place marking Canaanite territory; a stop in Israel's journey Sidon: Phoenician city; home of Jezebel Sodom: Wicked city destroyed by God for its sins Zeboiim: One of the cities of the plain destroyed with Sodom
Glossary
Admah Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Biblical Concept of Law Canaan, Canaanite Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Edom, Edomites Gaza Genealogy Genesis, Book of Gerar Greece, Greek Ham (Person) Land Lasha Lud, Ludim, Ludites Mesopotamia Nations Nineveh, Ninevite Palestine Patriarchs, Period of the Perizzite Put (Place) Shem Sidon (Person) Sidon (Place), Sidonian The Flood Togarmah Zeboiim Zeboim Zemarites
Topics
Admah: A City in the Vale of Siddim Canaanites: Eleven Nations, Descended from Canaan Canaanites: Territory of Gaza: Also Called Azzah: One of the Border Cities of the Canaanites Gerar: A City of the Philistines Gomorrah: One of the |Cities of the Plain| Ham: Son of Noah: His Children Lasha: A Place at the Southern Extremity of Canaan Phenicia: Inhabitants of, Descended from Canaan Sciences: Geography Sidon: A City on the Northern Boundary of the Canaanites Sodom: The Southeastern Limit of the Canaanites The Canaanites: Possessions of, How Bounded The Sidonians: Territory of Bordered on the Land of Canaan Zeboim: Also Called Zeboiim: One of the Cities in the Valley of Siddim