Gen 10:1
Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood: There's no mention of Noah having any more sons, even though he lived for 350 more years after the flood. Shem is the line that Abraham would come from, and Japheth would father Europe, Asia and America. Ham was the father of Canaan, who would be in opposition to Israel and father the nephilim. We only follow Ham and Japheth for a short period, but since Jesus comes from the line of Shem, we follow that line more closely. From these lines, the whole earth was populated, so I will point out historically the fathers of different cultures as we go through these. I'm pulling this information from other commentaries, dictionaries, and other sources, since I'm not a historian.
Gen 10:2
The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras: Chuck Smith says that Gomer fathered the Sumerians (SE part of Iraq), Magog fathered the Scythians (Russians), Madai fathered the Medes, Javan fathered the Greeks, Tubal and Meshech populated the area of Moscow, and Tiras fathered the Thracians (where modern day Istanbul is).
Gen 10:3
The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah: Askenaz is mentioned in Jer 51:27 as one of the groups that would siege Babylon with Cyrus in 538 B.C.. Riphath fathered Paphlagonia, which sat on the middle on the north coast of Turkey, along the Black Sea. Togarmah is believed to have founded Armenia and is mentioned in Eze 38:6 as coming against Palestine.
Gen 10:4
The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim: Another of the sons of Japheth. Elishah is mentioned in Eze 27:7 as producers of blue and purple linen and he fathered the Aeolians, part of the Greek people. For Tarshish, there's not a lot of agreement, except that it has something to do with a port in Spain, and that there was commerce between Tarshish and Tyre. Kittim likely founded the island of Cyprus. It's likely that Dodanim should be Rodanim, the founder of the island of Rhodes.
Gen 10:5
From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations: Although the dividing of the peoples into nations because of the confusion of language at the Tower of Babel hasn't been explained yet, we have a mention of it taking place here, resulting in the Gentile nations being formed based on their language.
Gen 10:6
The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan: Josephus says that they possessed the land from Syria to the ocean, but that a lot of the names of their lands are forgotten. Cush was the founder of Ethiopia, but not the Africa one because Moses's wife is called an Ethiopian, and she was an Arabian from Midian. Mizraim founded Egypt (which is why Egypt is sometimes called Mitzraim in scripture.) Put (aka Phut) founded Libya. Canaan was the father of the Canaanites, who occupied much of the Persian Gulf.
Gen 10:7
The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan: Seba is believed to possibly be the founder of same tribe that robbed Job of his cattle in Job 1:14-15. Not much is known about Havilah except that they are possibly placed to the east of the Arabian Scenites. Sabtah settled in Arabia Felix, and Ptolemy makes mention of a town named Sabbatha, attributed to him. Raamah founded the Ragmaeans in Arabia Felix. Not much is known about Sabtechah, but it's possible that he founded the Saracens. Sheba founded the Sabaeans. There's not a whole lot about Dedan, so I'll refrain from commenting.
Gen 10:8
Cush begot Nimrod: Nimrod has been the source of a lot of commentary because some people think he became nephilim. I'm not going to hash that out here, but it is an interesting discussion, although I tend to side with those who don't believe Nimrod became nephilim. Nimrod = “rebellion” or “the valiant”. he began to be a mighty one on the earth: Nimrod was the first to establish a government. It's not clear if he conquered, or if he ruled by consent.
Gen 10:9
He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.": It's likely, based on this verse, that Nimrod ruled by consent, due to becoming famous from his mighty deeds.
Gen 10:10
And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar: This is the same babel discussed in Gen 11:1-9. Babel is likely Babylon also. Here is a map of these cities. I found it here: https://visualunit.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/babylonia_empire.png
Gen 10:11
From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah: Nimrod also founded Assyria, referred to in Mic 5:6 as the land of Nimrod. Nineveh was the capital. I could find nothing concrete about Rehoboth Ir or Calah, so I'll refrain from commenting.
Gen 10:12
and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city): Resen also can't be located, but Nineveh was a great city.
Gen 10:13
Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim: Mizraim is listed as the second son of Ham. The words ending in im here are plural, so this verse is saying that Mizraim was the father of the Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, and Naphtuhim. There is only conjecture about where these people existed, so I will refrain from commenting.
Gen 10:14
Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim): We don't know anything about Caphtorim, but the Philistines are Israel's biggest enemy. So much so that when Hadrian squashed the Jewish revolt in 135AD, he renamed Israel Palestine.
Gen 10:15
Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Heth: Put is skipped, and we discuss Canaan. Canaan was cursed by his grandfather Noah because of his father Ham's disrespect (Gen 9:22-27).
Gen 10:16
the Jebusite, the Amorite, and the Girgashite: The Jebusites settled in Jerusalem, which David conquered in 2Sa 5:7. Canaan's biggest tribe was the Amorites, and they settled in Judah. Some of the Amorites were conquered by Moses, and some by Joshua. The remnants were made slaves by Solomon 1Ki 9:20-21. Not much is known about the Girgashite, so I'll refrain from commenting.
Gen 10:17
the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite: The Hivites were a bit northwest of the Dead Sea in the area of Gibeon. The Arkites were a Phoenician tribe Northeast of Tripoli, Syria, inhabiting Arka. The Sinites were Canaanites, but their location is uncertain.
Gen 10:18
the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: The Arvadites were decendents of Canaan and were a seafaring colony from Sidon. The Zemarites were a Phoenician tibe that lived in the town of Sumra in Lebanon. The Hamathites were closely affiliated with the Hittites and they founded the city of Hamath in Syria, one of the oldest cities in the world. They were conquered by king Solomon.
Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed: This dispersion could be referencing the confusion of tongues at the tower of Babel.
Gen 10:19
And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha: In modern days, this would be the area from the south part of Lebanon, following the coast down to the Gaza Strip, and over to the east side of the Dead Sea. Lasha was on the northeast side of the Dead Sea.
Gen 10:20
These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands and in their nations: The genealogy we just went through was Ham's, one of the sons of Noah. The things to remember about Ham are that he was the one cursed by Noah because of his disrespect, and his lineage ended up against Israel when Israel came back into the land from Egypt after the captivity.
Gen 10:21
And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder: According to the Easton Bible Dictionary, Eber is "The third post-duluvian patriarch after Shem (Gen 10:24; Gen 11:14). He is regarded as the founder of the Hebrew race (Gen 10:21; Num 24:24)," which is why he's listed here.
Gen 10:22
The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram: Most of the information here is taken from the Easton Bible Dictionary. Shem is the line that Abraham comes from.
- Elam founded Elam, the country east of Babylonia that extended to the Mediterranean. Elam is an Assyrian word that means high.
- Asshur built Nineveh, and founded Assyria. Asshur is usually translated Assyria.
- Arphaxad is believed to have founded the Chaldeans.
- Lud is believed to have founded the Lydians.
- Aram is also associated with Syria, like the Hamathites
Gen 10:23
The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash: Uz located himself in the northern part of Arabia, near Babylon. There's not a whole lot known about Hul, so I won't comment. Gether has not been identified. The location of Mash is debated, so I'll skip commenting.
Gen 10:24
Arphaxad begot Salah, and Salah begot Eber: Nobody knows about Salah. Eber is the founder of the Hebrew race.
Gen 10:25
To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided: It's possible that the division here is the division of the languages, but it's also possible that the earth was all one large land mass and divided during this time. It is interesting that the ground is like a puzzle piece that can be put back together to form Pangea.
and his brother's name was Joktan: Fausset's Bible Dictionary concludes that Joktan was the head of the Joktanite Arabs. They settled in South Arabia "from Mesha unto Sephar a mount of the East" (Zafari, a seaport E. of Yemen; an emporium of trade with Africa and India).
Gen 10:26
Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah: The only thing known about Almodad is that he fathered an Arabian tribe. Sheleph founded a district in Yemen named Sula. Hazarmaveth means "the court of death" and reflects the location of Hadramaut's weather. Hazarmaveth settled in the Southeast of Arabia, and it's capital was Shibam. Not much is known about Jerah.
Gen 10:27
Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah: Not much is known about this Hadoram. Uzal possibly founded Sanaa in Yemen. There's not much agreement about Diklah.
Gen 10:28
Obal, Abimael, Sheba: Not much except conjecture is known about Obal. Not much is known about Abimael exept they were located somewhere in Northern Arabia. Sheba was the founder of the Sabaeans.
Gen 10:29
Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan: Not much but a general location of somewhere in Arabia, and that they were famous because of their gold is known about Ophir. Same with Havilah (Gen 2:11). Not much is known about Jobab. And so concludes the genealogy of Joktan.
Gen 10:30
And their dwelling place was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east: Here's a map "The World as Peopled by the Descendants of Noah Shewing the Countries Possessed by Shem, Ham & Japhet and their posterity after the confusion of tongues. - Joktan - Wikipedia."
Gen 10:31
These were the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations: This is like a closing parenthesis for Gen 10:20.
Gen 10:32
These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood: And this verse is like the closing parenthesis for Gen 10:1.
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