Translations
Original
Notes
The descendants of Elam lived in what is now southwestern Iran (see 14:1, 9; Ezra 4:9; Isaiah 11:11).
The descendants of Asshur became the Assyrians, who lived under Nimrod's rule (see Genesis 10:11). Sumerians, who descended from Ham, were expelled by Mesopotamian Semites.
Arphaxad may have settled northeast of Nineveh. There is more information about his descendants in 11:12–26.
Lud was near the Tigris River. The people of Lud were related to the Lydians (see 10:13).
Aram was a kingdom of tribes living in the Mesopotamian plains.
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
People
Aram: Son of Shem, ancestor of the Arameans Arpachshad: Son of Shem, ancestor of Abraham Asshur: Son of Shem; father of the Assyrians Elam: Son of Shem, grandson of Noah Lud: Son of Shem; progenitor of the Lydians Shem: Noah's son, ancestor of Semitic peoples
Glossary
Aram (Person) Arphaxad Asshur Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Eber Edom, Edomites Elam (Person) Elam (Place), Elamites Genealogy Genesis, Book of Greece, Greek Land Lud, Ludim, Ludites Mesopotamia Nations Nineveh, Ninevite Patriarchs, Period of the Perizzite Put (Place) Shem Sidon (Place), Sidonian Syria, Syrians The Flood Togarmah Zemarites
Topics
Aram: Son of Shem Arphaxad: Son of Shem Asshur: Son of Shem, and Ancestor of the Assyrians Eber: The Probable Founder of the Hebrew Race Elamites: Descendants of Elam, Whose Name Was Given to the District of Elam Lud: A Son of Shem Medo-Persian Kingdom: Peopled by Descendants of Eliam Sciences: Geography Shem: Descendants of Syria: Called Aram, from the Son of Shem