Genesis 10

I were sons. Many of the names in this genealogical table are plurals; and several have the formal termination used to designate a tribe. Hence it has been thought that the greater part of them are names of nations; which may, however, have been so called from their founders. These nations were early and frequently intermixed; but it is probable that the descendants of Japheth occupied Armenia, the Caucasus, and Asia Minor, spreading thence through Europe and the northern parts of Asia and India, and perhaps also through America; that the nations descending from Shem settled in the central parts of Asia, extending their colonies into India on the east, and the north of Arabia on the west; and that Ham’s family took possession of the south of Mesopotamia and Arabia, whence they passed on to Palestine and Africa. The brief notes on the succeeding verses chiefly point out the supposed perpetuation of the ancient names in modern forms. “Gomer,” the Cimbri, Cymry, whence the Celtic races. On “Magog,” see Ezek. xxxviii. 2, 3, note. “Madai” are the Medes; “Javan” may be the Ionian Greeks; “Meshech” the Moschi; “Tiras,” the inhabitants of Mount Taurus; “Elishah,” Elis, Hellas; “Tarshish,” the Tyrrheni or Etruscans; “Kittim” was the name of the inhabitants of Cyprus, of which Kitium was one of the most ancient cities; “Cush,” see note on ch. ii. 13; “Mizraim” was a well-known appellation of Egypt; the dual form including Upper and Lower Egypt.

9 hunter. From the chase he went on to war. “Before the Lord,” implying his great power; the hunters of the ancient world naturally became its heroes.

11 went forth Asshur. Rather, “he (Nimrod) went forth into Assyria.” So R.V. This was an aggression upon the heritage of Shem. See ver. 22.

the city Rehoboth. Rather, “Rehoboth- Ir” (R.V.), meaning “Streets of the city” or “its suburbs” (Moffatt). It is not unlikely that this place, with Calah and Resen, ultimately formed part of the “great city” Nineveh. See Jonah i. 2; iii. 2, 3; Nahum ii. 4.

13 begat. That is, the following nations were of the Mizraite or Egyptian race; these names denoting peoples, not individuals, as in ch. xxv. 3, etc.

14. Philistines. Rather, “the Philistines”; who, coming from Egypt, established themselves along the coast of Canaan, and gave their name (Palestine) to the whole country.

21. Eber. The ancestor of the Hebrew race, and therefore prominently mentioned here. The words may read, “the elder brother of Japheth” (so R.V.).

22. Elam. Often used in Scripture for Persia. (Cp. “Elymais.”) Arphaxad was the ancestor of the Casdim or Chaldeans. Lud, according to Josephus, was the ancestor of the Lydians. Aram is Syria, as Asshur is Assyria.