The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
5 7 (= Gen 10:2-4). The Sons of Japheth
5. The sons of Japheth ] The writer begins with the Northern “zone.”
Gomer ] to he identified with the Gimirrai of the Assyrian monuments who in the seventh century b.c. inhabited the district afterwards called Cappadocia. Probably they are also to be identified with the of the Greeks, who migrated from South Russia into Asia Minor under the pressure of the Scythians (Hdt. I. 103; IV. 11, 12; cp. Eze 38:6, R.V.; Sayce, Higher Criticism and the Monuments, p. 124).
Magog ] In Ezekiel 38 judgement is denounced on “Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal” (1Ch 1:2, R.V.) who is represented as accompanied in his migration by the “hordes” of Gomer and Togarmah (1Ch 1:6, R.V.), “all of them riding upon horses” (1Ch 1:15). Magog represents therefore one of several tribes of Northern nomads (Scythians) known to Israel; see note below on Tubal and Meshech.
Madai ] first mentioned in an inscription of the Assyrian king Rammannirar (Rimmon-nirari III.), who reigned b.c. 812 783. They are probably the Medes who lived in small communities ( , Hdt. I. 96) without a central government in Azerbaijan and Irak Ajemi, i.e. in the N.W. provinces of modern Persia.
Javan ] the Ionians ( ) who were already settled on the West coast of Asia Minor at the dawn of Greek history. Being a seafaring nation and having a slave-trade with Tyre (Eze 27:13; Joel 3 [ Heb 4:6 “Grecians”]), they became known to Israel at an early date. In the Book of Daniel the title “king of Javan” (1Ch 8:21) is used of Alexander the Great; cp. “kingdom of Javan” (1Ch 11:2) of the Macedonian Empire.
Tubal and Meshech ] mentioned together Eze 27:13; Eze 32:26; Eze 38:2-3; Eze 39:1; and to be identified with the “Tabal” and “Muski” of the monuments, who in the times of the later Assyrian Empire lived as neighbours in the country N.E. of Cilicia; see Kiepert’s map in Schrader’s Keilinschriftliche Bibliothek, vol. II. This Meshech is to be distinguished from the Meshech son of Shem mentioned in 1Ch 1:17. At a later period the (= Tubal) lived in Pontus, and the (= Meshech) further E. towards the Caspian. They were in the nineteenth nome of the Persian Empire (Hdt. iii. 94).
Tiras ] No probable identification has been proposed for this name.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
5 23. The “Genealogy” of the Nations
The table which follows is taken from Gen 10:2-29. In the A.V. several variations between Gen. and Chron. occur in the spelling of proper names. In the R.V. the spelling has been made uniform.
The table is geographical rather than ethnological, i.e. neighbouring nations are regarded as having the same descent. The world, as known to the writer, is divided into three zones, of which the Northern is assigned to the Sons of Japheth ( 5 7), the Southern to the Sons of Ham ( 8 16), and the Central to the Sons of Shem ( 17 23). Had the arrangement been according to descent the Semitic Zidonians and the (probably Mongoloid) Hittites would not have been equally described as the offspring of Ham (cp. Sayce, Higher Criticism and the Monuments, p. 122).
It must be noticed, moreover, that the passage contains a general table with two appendices. The General Table is derived from the so-called “Priestly” narrative (PC) of the Hexateuch, while the appendices have been inserted by a Redactor from an earlier narrative, the “Prophetical” (J) (cp. Driver, Introduction, p. 13). Thus we get the following scheme:
1Ch 1:5-9.
PC
(General Table of the descendants of Japheth and Ham). 10 16.
J
(Appendix to the descendants of Ham). 17.
PC
(General Table of the descendants of Shem). 18 23.
J
(Appendix to the descendants of Shem).
It must be further noted that though the Priestly source is assigned in its main stock by critics to “the exilic or early post-exilic period,” some elements in it belong to pre-exilic times. This table of the nations in particular agrees with the state of the world as referred to by Ezekiel, and is probably to be assigned to a date anterior to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. (Sayce in Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible, i. 347, suggests that the table is as early as the period of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Egyptian dynasties, when Palestine was under Egyptian suzerainty.)
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 5. After Tiras, the Targum adds, “And the names of their countries were Africa, and Germany, and Media, and Macedonia, Bithynia, and Maesia, and Thrace.” And in another copy, “Germany, Getia, and Media, and Ephesus, Bithynia, and Maesia, and Thrace.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Ver. 5-27. The sons of Japheth, Gomer,…. Here begins the genealogy of the sons of Noah after the flood; of the sons of Japheth the elder, in this and the two following verses; next of the sons of Ham, the younger brother, 1Ch 1:8, then of Shem, whose posterity are mentioned last, because from him, in the line of Heber, sprang Abraham, the ancestor of the Jewish nation, of whom the Messiah was to come, for whose sake this genealogy is given, 1Ch 1:17. The whole is the same with the account in Ge 10:1
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The peoples and races descended from the sons of Noah. – These are enumerated according to the table in Gen 10; but our author has omitted not only the introductory and concluding remarks (Gen 10:1, Gen 10:21, Gen 10:32), but also the historical notices of the founding of a kingdom in Babel by Nimrod, and the distribution of the Japhetites and Shemites in their dwelling-places (Gen 10:5, Gen 10:9-12, Gen 10:18-20, and Gen 10:30 and Gen 10:31). The remaining divergences are partly orthographic, – such as , 1Ch 1:5, for , Gen 10:2, and , 1Ch 1:9, for , Gen 10:7; and partly arising from errors of transcription, – as, for example, , 1Ch 1:6, for , Gen 10:3, and conversely, , 1Ch 1:7, for , Gen 10:4, where it cannot with certainty be determined which form is the original and correct one; and finally, are partly due to a different pronunciation or form of the same name, – as , 1Ch 1:7, for , Gen 10:4, the aa of motion having been gradually fused into one word with the name, , 1Ch 1:11, for , Gen 10:13, just as in Amo 9:7 we have for ; in 1Ch 1:22, for , Gen 10:28, where the lxx have also , and , 1Ch 1:17, for , Gen 10:23, which last has not yet been satisfactorily explained, since is used in Psa 120:5 with of an Arabian tribe. Finally, there is wanting in 1Ch 1:17 before , Gen 10:23, because, as in the case of Noah’s sons, 1Ch 1:4, where their relationship is not mentioned, so also in reference to the peoples descended from Shem, the relationship subsisting between the names Uz, Hul, etc., and Aram, is supposed to be already known from Genesis. Other suppositions as to the omission of the words are improbable. That this register of seventy-one persons and tribes, descended from Shem, Ham, and Japhet, has been taken from Gen 10, is placed beyond doubt, by the fact that not only the names of our register exactly correspond with the table in Gen 10, with the exception of the few variations above mentioned, but also the plan and form of both registers is quite the same. In 1Ch 1:5-9 the sections of the register are connected, as in Gen 10:2-7, by ; from 1Ch 1:10 onwards by , as in Gen 10:8; in 1Ch 1:17, again, by , as in Gen 10:22; and in 1Ch 1:18 by , and 1Ch 1:19 by , as in Gen 10:24 and Gen 10:25. The historical and geographical explanation of the names has been given in the commentary to Gen 10. According to Bertheau, the peoples descended from the sons of Noah amount to seventy, and fourteen of these are enumerated as descendants of Japhet, thirty of Ham, and twenty-six of Shem. These numbers he arrives at by omitting Nimrod, or not enumerating him among the sons of Ham; while, on the contrary, he takes Arphaxad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, and Joktan, all of which are the names of persons, for names of people, in contradiction to Genesis, according to which the five names indicate persons, viz., the tribal ancestors of the Terahites and Joktanites, peoples descended from Eber by Peleg and Joktan.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Post-Rood Races, Verses 5-23
These verses are parallel to Genesis – Chapter 10, for the most part. They enumerate the nations and peoples which stemmed from the three sons of Noah after the flood. Generally, the descendants of Japheth peopled the area of Persia westward through Mesopotamia, Armenia, Asia Minor, and Europe. Those of Ham settled mainly in Canaan, Arabia, and Africa. The descendants of Shem are also found from the Mesopotamian area westward and southward to Canaan.
Students of the Scriptures and of ethnology have identified some of these people with modern nations, or peoples. While there have been widespread mixtures of races since that early time, the Japhetic races are usually identified with the Caucasian races, also called IndoEuropean and Aryan. The sons of Ham produced the early peoples of Canaan, parts of Arabia, and Africa. The Shemites are chiefly represented by the early Mesopotamians, Hebrews, and Arabic nations.
In Japheth’s line the Madai are thought to be the early inhabitants of Media, a part of modern Iran; Gomer and Magog are believed to have peopled eastern Europe and Russia, while some say the name Meshech is the root of Moscow and Tubal of Tobolsk in Russia. Javan, Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim peopled the land of Greece and its islands. The old Greek name, Ionia, comes directly from Javan, while the Bible speaks of the “isles of Elisha.” Kittim is an old name for Crete, and Dodanim (also written Rodanim) of the island of Rhodes.
Among the sons of Ham the most notable name is probably that of Canaan. The various tribes of the Canaanites are enumerated in verses 14-16. They were under God’s curse given through Noah’s prophecy (Gen 9:20-27). Other Hamitic people included the original inhabitants of Phoenicia, the Philistines, and the Cushites. Nimrod, the son of Cush, built the first empire in Mesopotamia (Gen 10:8-12), including the infamous tower of Babel. The black people seem to have come from Mizraim, the ancient progenitor of the Egyptians, though modern Egyptians have a strong infusion of Semitic Arabic blood. These also produced the Lybians and others.
The line of Shem produced the Messianic nation, but there were many other peoples coming from Shem also. These included, besides Eber, who fathered the Hebrews, the Elamites (of western Persia, or Iran), Asshur (the Assyrians), Lud (Lydians of Asia Minor), Aram (the Syrians and Chaldaeans), Us (the areas west and south of the present Persian Gulf). The descendants of Joktan were nomads, who mingled with descendants of Ham in the Arabian desert.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
2. THE DESCENDANTS OF NOAHS SONS AND THE SONS OF ESAU (1Ch. 1:5-54)
TEXT
5. The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 6. And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Diphath, and Togarmah. 7. And the sons of Javen: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.
8. The sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 9. And the sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raama, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba, and Dedan. 10. And Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 11. And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, 12. and Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whence came the Philistines), and Caphtorim. 13. And Canaan begat Sidon his first-born, and Heth, 14. and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite, 15. and the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Smite, 16. and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, an the Hamathite.
17. The sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arpachshad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech. 18. And Arpachshad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber. 19. And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; for in his days the earth was divided; and his brothers name was Joktan. 20. And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, 21. and Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, 22. and Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba, 23. and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. 24. Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, 25. Eber, Peleg, Reu, 26. Serug, Nahor, Terah, 27. Abram (the same is Abraham).
28. The sons of Abraham: Isaac, and Ishmael. 29. These are their generations: the first-born of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, 30. Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema, 31. Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael, 32. And the sons of Keturah, Abrahams concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan. 33. And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah. 34. And Abraham begat Isaac. The Sons of Isaac: Esau, and Israel 35. The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jalam, and Korah. 36. The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek. 37. The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. 38. And the sons of Seir: Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan. 39. And the sons of Lotan: Hori, and HOrnan; and Timna was Lotans sister. 40. The sons of Shobal: Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon: Aiah, and Anah. 41. The sons of Anah: Dishon. And the sons of Dishon: Hamran, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. 42. The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
43. Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 44. And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. 45. And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead. 46. And Husham died, and Hadad the sons of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead; and the name of his city was Avith. 47. And Hadad died, and Samlah of Marekah reigned in his stead. 48. And Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his stead. 49. And Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. 50. And Baal-hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his stead; and the name of his city was Pai: and his wifes name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab. 51. And Hadad died. And the chiefs of Edom were: chief Timna, chief Aliah, chief Jetheth, 52. chief Oholibamab, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 53. chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, 54. chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.
PARAPHRASE,
1Ch. 1:5-9. The sons of Japheth were: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras, The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah, The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.
8. The sons of Ham: Cush, Misream, Canaan, and Put. The sons of Cush were: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca, The sons of Raama were Sheba and Dedan. 10. Another of the sons of Cush was Nimrod, who became a great hero. 11, 12. The clans named after the sons of Misream were: the Ludim, the Anamin, the Lehabim, the Naphtuhim, the Pathrusim, the Caphtorim, and the Casluhim (the ancestors of the Philistines). 1316. Among Canaans sons were: Sidon (his first-born) and Heth. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathitee.
17. The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. 18. Arpachshads son was Shelah, and Shelahs son was Eber. 19. Eber had two sons: Peleg (which means Divided, for it was during his lifetime that the people of the earth were divided into different language groups), and Joktan. 2023. The sons of Joktan: Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Ebal, Abima-el, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Joab. 2427. So the son of Shem was Arpachshad, the son of Arpachshad was Shelah, the son of Shelah was Eber, the son of Eber was Peleg, The son of Peleg was Reu, the son of Reu was Serug, the son of Serug was Nahor, the son of Nahor was Terah, the son of Terah was Abram (later known as Abraham.)
2831. Abrahams sons were Isaac and Ishmael. The sons of Ishmael: Nabaioth (the oldest), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 32. Abraham also had sons by his concubine Keturah: Zimram, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshans sons were Sheba and Dedan. 33. The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were the descendants of Abraham by his concubine Keturah. 34. Abrahams son Isaac had two sons, Esau and Israel. 35. The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. 36. The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek. 37. The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. 3839. The sons of Esau also included Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; and Esaus daughter was named Timna. Lotans sons: Hori and HOrnan. 40. The sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam, Zibeons sons were Aiah and Anah. 41. Ahans son was Dishon: The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 42. The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan. Dishans sons were Uz and Aran.
43. Here is a list of the names of the kings of Edom who reigned before the kingdom of Israel began: Bela (the son of Beor), who lived in the city of Dinhabah. 44. When Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah from Bozrah became the new king. 45. When Jobab died, Husham from the country of the Temanites became the king. 46. When Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedadthe one who destroyed the army of Midian in the fields of Moabbecame king and ruled from the city of Avith. 47. When Hadad died, Samlah from the city of Masrekah came to the throne. 48. When Samlah died, Shaul from the river town of Rehoboth became the new king. 49. When Shaul died, Baal-hanan the son of Achbor became king. 50. When Baal-hanan died, Hadad became king and ruled from the city of Pai (his wife was Mehetable, the daughter of Matred and granddaughter of Mezahab). 5154. At the time of Hadads death, the kings of Edom were: Chief Timna, Chief Aliah, Chief Jetheth, Chief Oholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon, Chief Kenza, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar, Chief Magdi-el, Chief Iram.
COMMENTARY
Japheths descendants are listed in verses five through seven. He was the father of seven sons. Their names are Gomer, Magog, Madai, javan, Tubal, Meschech, and Tiras. The sons of Gomer and Javan are also listed. The initial record is in Gen. 10:2-5. The descendants of Gomer settled in the coastlands of the Black and Caspian Seas and spread westward across Europe. Magog was the father of ferocious warriors identified with the Scythians who lived in the regions beyond the Caspian Sea to the north, Madai is the father of Medes who lived near the south-west shore of the Caspian Sea. Javan was the father of the Greeks who settled near the Aegean Sea. The descendants of Tubal found their place in Asia Minor, while Meschech settled on the south-east shores of the Black Sea in northern Armenia. Tiras is believed to have been the founder of the Thracian people on the west coast of the Black Sea.
The sons of Gomer are named in 1Ch. 1:6. Ashkenaz settled between the Black and the Caspian Seas. There is a possibility that the Germans may have come from him. Diphath, called Riphath in Gen. 10:3, probably settled on the north shores of the Caspian Sea. The Armenians most likely can trace their ancestry to Togarmah. Javans sons named in 1Ch. 1:7 settled in the region of the Mediterranean Sea. Elishah is associated with the islands of the Aegean Sea. Tarshish is usually identified with Tartessus in Spain far to the west. The island of Cyprus is identified with Kittim. Rodanim, called Dodanim in Gen. 10:4, settled at the south-west shore of the Black sea and was probably the father of the Trojans.
The sons of Ham are named in verses eight through sixteen. He was the father of four sons, namely, Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. Cush is identified with Ethiopia. Egypt is often called Mizraim. Put was the father of the Libyan people. Canaan settled in the tract of land between Sidon and the Philistine country at the eastern extremity of the Mediterranean Sea. Cushs sons were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca. These would have settled in the regions of Ethiopia and Africa. The sons of Raama, namely, Sheba and Dedan located in Arabia on the shore of the Persian Gulf. Nimrod, descendant of Cush, is named in Gen. 10:8. His name means rebel. He is identified as a mighty warrior and hunter. He may have been one of earths earliest kings ruling over many people in the Tigris-Euphrates valleys. The descendants of Mizraim were Ludim, Anamin, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim, and Caphtorim. We would expect to locate most of these in the environs of Egypt and the Delta country. Pathros usually refers to Upper Egypt. The name Philistine, according to an Ethiopic root, means emigrants . . . Jer. 47:4 and Amo. 9:7 relate the Philistines to Caphtorum. The Philistines may have come partly from Egypt and partly from the Mediterranean region.
Canaans descendants were Sidon, Heth, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. The Canaanite people all settled at the eastern extremity of the Mediterranean Sea. The personal name Sidon is immortalized in the famed Phoenician city. Heths people were called Hittites and were one of the seven nations which had to be overcome in the conquest of Canaan. The Jebusites very early settled in Jerusalem and had to be displaced in Davids day. The Amorites were mountain people and were located east and west of the Jordan River. The Girgashites were one of the seven nations occupying Canaan in Joshuas day. The Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites settled in the regions of Phoenicia and the Lebanon mountains.
The sons of Shem are of greatest interest to the Chronicler. According to the record in Gen. 10:22, Shem was the father of five sons: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. Elam settled beyond the Tigris River to the east near the Persian Gulf. Asshur is recognized as the ancestor of Assyria and settled in the upper region of the Tigris River. Terah and Abram were Arpachshadites. They lived in ancient Ur, about one hundred and fifty miles north of the Persian Gulf. Lud probably settled in the Euphrates River valley. Later his people moved westward into the regions of Asia Minor. The Syrian people trace their beginnings to Aram. Their ancient capital was Damascus which was located about one hundred and thirty miles NNE of Jerusalem. Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meschech are identified as the sons of Aram.
Of all the sons of Shem (Semites) the writer of this record is most concerned with Arpachshad. The godly line of descent is located in 1Ch. 1:24-27. Shelah was Arpachshads son. Eber was Shelahs son. Eber had two sons, Peleg and Joktan. The sons of descendants of Joktan were Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All of these most likely settled in Arabia. Sheba settled at the south-west extremity of Arabia near the Red Sea. From this place the queen came to visit Solomon. Ophir and Havilah were the names of places in the same general area as Sheba. Both of these were renowned as places which provided the finest gold.[14]
[14] Pfeiffer, Charles F., Bakers Bible Atlas, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1961, pp. 37-44.
In one brief statement the chronicler moves from Shem to Abram. All the persons named in 1Ch. 1:24-27 are Shems direct descendants. The original genealogy is recorded in Gen. 11:10-26. These people are all Semites. Eber is regarded by some as the founder of the Hebrews. The name Eber means regions beyond or to pass over. The Hebrews passed over the Euphrates River. Abraham is the first person in Bible record who is called a Hebrew (Gen. 14:13).
1Ch. 1:28-31 tell about Isaac and Ishmael. Gods promise is bound up in Isaac, the son of the promise. Ishmael, the child of worldly wisdom, became the father of twelve sons and a great desert chieftain. Kedar, Teman, and Dumah are mentioned on occasion in the Bible record. They lived on the edge of the desert adjacent to Palestine and Syria.
Late in life Abraham married another wife, Keturah. She was the mother of six of Abrahams sons. Like Ishmael, they took up their abode in the desert. Midian, Abrahams son, settled east of the Sinai penninsula beyond the Gulf of Aqaba. Moses married among these people.
Isaacs sons were Esau and Israel, or Jacob. Gods purpose was to be worked out through Jacob and his seed. David came through Jacobs line. Nevertheless, Esau was Isaacs son and he was destined to have a place in history. The sons of Esau and the kings of Edom (Esaus country) are named in 1Ch. 1:35-54. Gen. 36:1-5 lists the five sons of Esau. Esaus country was Mount Seir and the land of Edom south of the Dead Sea. All of these persons named in 1Ch. 1:35-54 settled in that general region. The descendants of Seir are listed in 1Ch. 1:38-42. Seir means rough. He is to be identified as a person and he is known as the ancestor of the Horites who had lived in what became the Edomite country. These sons of Seir are not important from the Messianic viewpoint. They are listed here to underscore the fact that Esau was not completely disinherited. His people were numerous and they inhabited an important territory.
The kings and dukes, or chiefs, of Edom are listed in 1Ch. 1:43-54. This information is initially recorded in Gen. 36:31-43. The author of this account is not primarily interested in Esau and his people; but they were a people with whom Israel had to reckon. The genealogies of this chapter with their parallels in Genesis are notable for standing unique in all the worlds writing and in rising far above all the worlds mythology. They retrace the pedigree of the wide family of men and especially of the now scattered family of the Jew to its original.[15]
[15] Spence, H. D. M., The Pulpit Commentary., I Chronicles, Funk and Wagnalls, London, n.d., p. 6.
Chapter two proceeds to present the genealogy of Jacob and Judah. Verses one and two list the twelve sons of Jacob, here called Israel, the name Jacob received at Peniel (Gen. 32:28). First listed are Leahs six sons, namely Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Bilhahs elder son, Dan, then is named. The sons of Rachael, Joseph and Benjamin, follow. Bilhahs second son, Naphtali, is listed. Finally, Gad and Asher, Zilpahs sons complete the twelve names. It is of interest to note that the usual listing of Ephraim and Manasseh does not appear and that their father Joseph is listed in his own place.
The evident design of the chronicler here is to emphasize the importance of Judah. 1Ch. 1:3-54 give attention to Judah and his descendants. Jacob had said (Gen. 49:10) that the sceptre would not depart from Judah until Shiloh should come. Shiloh is a descriptive term signifying a prince of peace, a kingly seed. Gods messianic purpose certainly involves the tribe of Judah. Judahs five sons are named in 1Ch. 1:3-6. They are named originally in Genesis, chapter 38. Sua was a Canaanite, Judah married his daughter who is not named. She bore him three sons, namely, Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er and Onan were stricken down by God. Judah promised Shelah as a husband to Tamar who had been wife to Shelahs older brothers. Judah neglected to fulfil his promise. Tamar joined herself to a heathen temple and played the part of a religious prostitute. Judah visited this Temple and Tamar became the mother of Judahs last two sons, Perez and Zerah. The line of messianic descent came through Perez (Mat. 1:3).
The sons and descendants of Perez and Zerah are named in 1Ch. 1:5-8. Since the promised seed will come through Perez, his son Hezron is named in 1Ch. 1:5, then Hezrons line is continued in 1Ch. 1:9. The sons of Zerah are named in 1Ki. 4:31. In this connection Solomons great wisdom is contrasted with the wisdom of these men. Achar (Achan, Jos. 7:1), is identified with the man who took the devoted things at the time of the overthrow of Jericho. The sons of Hezron are listed in 1Ch. 1:9-24. There are some persons of outstanding importance who are members of this family. Chelubai is identified with Caleb, the faithful spy and great warrior. Boaz became the husband of Ruth and father of Obed. Obed was Jesses father and Jesse was the father of eight sons (1Sa. 16:10-11), of whom David was the youngest. Probably one of Davids brothers died in infancy (1Ch. 1:16). Davids sister, Zeruiah, is renowned in the Bible record as the mother of Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, Davids sister, Abigail, was the mother of Amasa who once was Absaloms captain and later was Davids captain of the host (2Sa. 17:25). Hur (1Ch. 1:20) was the man who along with Aaron supported Moses arms in the conflict with the Amalekites (Exo. 17:12). Bezalel, Hurs grandson, was a master craftsman in the construction of the tabernacle (Exo. 31:2). There was intermarriage between the tribes of Judah and Manasseh as Hezron married a daughter of Machir.
The family of Jerahmeel, Hezrons son, is listed in 1Ch. 1:25-41. Several of the names in this table are familiar Hebrew names: Nadab, Jonathan, Nathan, Jehu, Azariah, and Shallum. Nothing more definitive is known concerning any of these beyond the fact that they are in the line of descent from Perez through Hezron and Jerahmeel.
Hezrons sons were Jerahmeel, Ram and Chelubai (Caleb1Ch. 2:9). 1Ch. 1:42-49 list the sons of Caleb.[16] This Caleb is the one we know as the faithful spy and the one who took his inheritance in Hebron in the tribe of Judah. We are told that his daughter was named Achsah (1Ch. 2:49). She was given as a wife to Calebs nephew, Othniel (Jdg. 1:12-13). There were villages in Judah, such as Ziph and Maon, which probably were named after persons in Calebs family. Hur, who was a son of Caleb, evidently had a son named Caleb. His people, also, lived in the Judah country. Ephrath was an old name for Bethlehem. Kiriath-jearim was in the environs of Jerusalem. Eshtaol (1Ch. 1:53) was the village near Samsons birthplace in the tribe of Dan. The Kenites[17] were a branch of the Midianite people and they lived in Judah toward the southern and western borders of the Dead Sea. Rechab was founder of a people called Rechabites (Jer. 35:2). They were a people whose moral standards were so high that they shamed the Hebrews.
[16] Spence, H. D. M., The Pulpit Commentary, I Chronicles, p. 22.
[17] Cook, F. C., The Bible Commentary, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Mich., I Samuel-Esther, 1967, p. 321.
Davids sons and family are listed in 1Ch. 3:1-9. This third chapter is concerned only with the families of David and Solomon. All that has gone before in the record in Chronicles is preparatory for this account. 1Ch. 1:1-4 list Davids wives and sons during the seven and one-half years he was in Hebron. Davids wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel (there was a town in Judah by this nameJos. 15:56); Abigail from Carmel (also a village in JudahJos. 15:55); Maacah from Geshur (a district beyond the Jordan in the Bashan country); Haggith, Abital, and Eglah. Each of these six wives bore David a son. These were his sons born in Hebron: Amnon, Daniel (or Chileab2Sa. 3:3), Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, and Ithream. Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah figure prominently in the history of Davids reign as king of Israel.
The sons of David born in Jerusalem were Shimea (Shammua), Shobab, Nathan and Solomon.[18] These were Davids sons by Bathsheba. In addition to these, Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Eliada, Elishama (Elishua 1Ch. 14:5), and Eliphelet (Elpelet 1Ch. 14:5) were born to David in Jerusalem. The mothers of these sons are not identified. A daugher, Tamar, was born in Jerusalem to Maacah. The record in 2Sa. 3:2-5 and 2Sa. 5:13-16 lists seventeen sons of David and states that he was also the father of daughters. The record here says that David had sons of the concubines. Of the children of David born in Jerusalem, Solomon and Tamar are the most important in the Bible records. Tamar was humiliated by her half-brother, Amnon (2Sa. 13:14). Solomon succeeded David on Israels throne.
[18] Spence, H. D. M., The Pulpit Commentary, I Chronicles, p. 33.
The descendants of Solomon are listed in 1Ch. 3:10-24. Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1Ki. 11:3). Only one son, Rehoboam, is identified in the Bible as Solomons son. Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joram, Ahaziah, Amaziah, Azariah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah make up the roll-call of the kings of Judah. Josiahs sons were Johanan, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah, and Shallum. Jehoiakims son was Jeconaiah. Redaiah, Jeconiahs son, was the father of Zerubbabel, the Davidic prince who led the Jewish refugees back from Babylonian captivity. Zerubbabels descendants figured prominently in the history of the post-exilic period.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
THE SONS OF JAPHETH THE FAIR(1Ch. 1:5-7).
The Oriental theory of political and even social communities refers each to a common ancestor. The Israelites are known as sons of Israel, the Ammonites as sons of Ammon (Authorised version, children). In the same way, an Arab tribe is called. the Bni Hassan (sons of Hassan), and Assurbanipal styles his subjects sons of Asshur. Sometimes a people is called sons of the land or city they inhabit; e.g., the Babylonians are styled sons of Babel. The sons of Japheth are probably the fair Caucasian race.
(5) Gomer.The Cimmerians of the Greek writers; called Gi-mir-ra-a-a in Assyrian inscriptions. Their country was Cappadocia, called Gamir by the ancient Armenians. The Arabic version has Turkey.
Magog.Eze. 38:2-3; Eze. 38:6 speaks of Gog, king of Magog, and suzerain of Tubal, Meshech, Gomer and the house of Togarmah. With the name Gog compare Ggu, king of Salii, mentioned in connection with Assurbanipals campaign against the Mann-a. Magog appears to be a general name for the peoples north of Assyria, i.e., in Armenia.
Madai.The Medes. 2Ki. 17:6; Isa. 13:17. Assyr., Ma-da-a-a.
Javan.The Assyrian Yavnan, i.e., Cyprus, mentioned in the Behistun Inscription, as here, along with Media, Armenia, and Cappadocia. (Comp. Joe. 3:6; Isa. 66:19.)
Tubal and Meshech, the Tibareni and Moschi of classical writers; and the Muski and Tabali of Assyrian records.
Tiras has been compared with the Tyras or Dniester. Perhaps we may compare Tros and the Trojans.
(6) Ashchenaz.Jer. 51:27, near or in Armenia. Apparently the Asguza mentioned by Esarhaddon in the account of his campaign against the Cimmerians and Cilicians. The Arabic has Slavonia.
Riphath.The reading of Gen. 10:3, some Heb. MSS., the LXX., and Vulg. The common Hebrew text (Van der Hooghts) wrongly reads Diphath (Syriac, Diphar). Togarmah seems to be the Tulgarimm on the border of Tabali, which Sennacherib reduced in his expedition against Cilicia (Smith, Sennach., p. 86).
(7) Elishah.Usually identified with Hellas, or the Hellenes. Perhaps, however, Carthage is meant: comp. the name Elissa, as a by-name of Dido, Virg. n. iv. 335.
Tarshish.Usually identified with the Phnician colony of Tartessus, in Spain. (Comp. Psa. 72:10.)
Dodanim.So many Heb. MSS., the Syriac, Vulg., and Gen. 10:3. The LXX. has Rhodians, which implies a reading, Rodanim, which we find in the common Hebrew text. Dodanim might be the Dardauians of the Troad, or the Dodoneans (Dodona, the seat of an ancient oracle, the fame of which might have reached Phnician ears).
Thus far the list appears to deal with Asia Minor and adjacent lands; and Japheth, whose name is curiously like the Greek Ipetus, seems to include the western races so far as known to the Hebrews.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
The sons of Japheth, which gave rise to the Gentile church, are first mentioned, perhaps because, as in the after ages, they became interested in Christ, though not in the line of his genealogy; honorable mention is made of them in the record.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ch 11:5
“And the inhabitants of Jebus [Jerusalem, which is Jebus (Jos 15:8 ; Jdg 19:10 ),] said [for the full speech of the Jebusites on this occasion see 2 Sam, 1Ch 5:6 ] to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion [the ‘stronghold’ of 2Sa 5:7 is better than the ‘castle’ of this place. The Hebrew word means ‘a fortified place,’] which is the city of David.” [This name is applied in Scripture to two different places. (1) In 2Sa 5 we read that David having taken Jerusalem, and stormed the citadel on Mount Zion, “dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David” ( 1Ch 11:7 ). After that time the castle and palace of Zion appear to have been called “the city of David,” as contradistinguished alike from Jerusalem generally, and from Moriah and other sections of it (1Ki 3:1 ; 1Ki 8:1 ; 2Ch 5:2 ). In it David and most of his successors on the throne were buried (1Ki 2:10 ; 2Ch 9:31 , etc.). Mount Zion, or the city of David, is on the south-west side of Jerusalem, opposite Moriah, or the temple-mount, with which it was connected by a bridge spanning the deep valley of Tyropoean. The tomb of David on Zion is to this day one of the most honoured sanctuaries of the Mohammedans; and the square keep, called the Castle of David, on the northern end of Zion,
Spiritual Portresses
“The castle of Zion.”
THIS beautiful expression may be so accommodated as to yield some useful spiritual suggestions. Understand, however, the difference between accommodation and exposition. In the present instance we avail ourselves exclusively of the uses of accommodation. Every Christian dwells in the castle of Zion; that is to say, he does not dwell in a wilderness, in an uncertain place, in a temporary cloud, but in a fortress or stronghold. Men should always dwell upon the strong points, and not upon those that are doubtful or half-proved in connection with Christian experience and speculation. For example, it is possible for a man to have the distinctest conviction of the existence and government of God, and yet to be quite unable to give any metaphysical explanation of the nature of the Godhead. Be very careful about making clear distinctions here. A child is absolutely sure that such and such a man is his father, and yet he may be wholly unable to give an account of the psychology of that man, that is to say, to represent the attributes, the forces, the mysteries, which constitute the mental genius or peculiarity of his father. A man may be perfectly sure that the earth will do certain things in relation to growth and production, and may operate upon that faith, without having the slightest instruction in geology or chemistry. So it is possible to believe God, to love God, to obey God, and to wait patiently for God, without being a scientific theologian, or a metaphysician who can talk long words and construct lofty and intricate arguments. A man must work, therefore, according to his capacity and power. This suggestion applies also to the true uses of the Bible. It is not every man who can have a distinct and complete theory of inspiration, and be able to defend that theory by ingenious and learned evidences. It is possible for a man to know that the Bible contains the word and will of God, and for him to seek the word and will amid all the miscellaneous contents of the Bible. If some men were to attempt to clear up mysteries in biblical expression, to reconcile discrepancies, or to defend certain historical and other references, they would feel themselves utterly unfit for the work they had rashly taken up; but these very men may have absolute confidence, in traversing the moral line which unites the whole Bible, that they are communing with the spirit of divine righteousness and divine purity. Some parts of the Bible are strong as a castle, mighty as a fortress built by eternal hands; and other parts of the Bible may be felt by untrained or half-trained men to be wholly beyond their power of thorough and useful appropriation. Their wisdom will be to keep within the castellated parts of the Bible: to store their minds with its moral principles and spiritual exhortations and exceeding great and precious promises.
It is the same also with regard to the acceptance of any doctrine respecting Jesus Christ. No one of any authority in Christian literature has successfully disputed the historical existence of Christ. That is a strong point to begin with. It having been certified that such a man as Jesus Christ really lived, the next inquiry will relate as to his spirit, purpose, and doctrine. Thus will arise the noble edifice of the character of Jesus Christ, his patience, compassion, love, philanthropy; his evident desire to do men good; his practical service in the direction of the ignorance, weakness, and suffering of the people round about him. Here all is strong, impregnable, everlasting. It is the lot of some people to remain upon this ground, and not to venture beyond it. Other men can take a larger view, and commit themselves to larger responsibilities, in the matter of statement and defence; as a rule, however, speaking of Christian people in the bulk, it is wise for them to remain within well-defined lines, and to take their stand upon actual experience as tested by themselves. Outside all specifically religious mysteries there stands the great castle of an evident Providence in human life. Here there ought to be no mistake or uncertainty of mind. Look back upon history, altogether apart from the Bible, and see how it has shaped itself: how kingdoms have risen, flourished, decayed: how civilisation has marched in certain directions beyond all control, brightening some places for a time, then deserting them, passing on to other regions, making new disclosures and advances, abandoning them also, and fleeing beyond the sea like an invisible spirit, and there repeating its silent or tumultuous miracles. Look at the individual life: mark its feeble beginnings: note its rise, progress, action, influence, destiny: see how ambition is foiled, how the victor is overthrown, how evil purposes come up to a given degree, and just when they are about to assume all the honour and pride of conquest they are turned back and overwhelmed in confusion: see how the plans we thought the wisest have been turned into cloud and wind, and how things which we were least certain about have become the most energetic factors in life: see what uses have been made of little things, trivial events, unimportant or unrecognised occurrences: let all these be taken into view, then let the man say whether the whole does not suggest the interposition of a wise Mind, a moulding guiding, sustaining Hand. Every man must fix his own strong points. The man in the gospel of John who was cured of blindness steadfastly asserted the one thing which he did know, and therein became a strong man and most dangerous to the enemy “Whether he be a sinner, or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” This is precisely the case in religious experience. It is not necessary in order to be a genuine and a happy Christian to be able to answer every question which may be propounded either by ignorance or candour: here indeed is great scope for what is with proud modesty called agnosticism: the humble Christian does not so much care to know intellectually as to feel morally, lovingly, compassionately, or, in other words, as to enjoy profound and often silent communion with God. Innumerable are the temptations which lie along the purely intellectual line. Men are tempted to be clever, ingenious, superior to their brethren, and are thus led on into a kind of priestly assumption without any official designation or limitation of authority. The thing that is most valued in the Bible, set above all rubies and all precious substances, is the broken and contrite heart, the meek and lowly spirit, the docile and modest mind. Nowhere is mere genius praised or idolised in the Scriptures. Never is God attracted by great intellectual power or dazzling mental acquisitions; but again and again, so to say, he turns aside that he may linger with the contrite in spirit, and hold sweet fellowship with the broken heart. From eternity he bends down to hear the prayer of modesty, and out of heaven he looks to watch the ways of those who have lost confidence in themselves, and are bowed down by the spirit of penitence.
Some men are always living in what Bunyan calls “Doubting Castle.” That indeed, is not so much a castle as a dungeon. Verily, it is strong enough: the walls are high and thick, and windows there would seem to be none. Mere strength, therefore, in any castle is not enough: there must be elevation, light, a sense of enjoyment as well as a sense of security and indeed arising out of the sense of security. Others again are dwelling in castles in the air. They are full of speculation: they are always going to be something more than they are at present: they feed upon the wind: they tempt themselves with impossible promises: they tell lies to their own hearts, and force themselves into dancing and merriment, not knowing that their follies portend their ruin. Many castles there be, but only one in Zion, built by the living Lord, founded upon the eternal rock, and designed for the protection of worthy souls. When a man, therefore, imagines himself to be in a castle, let him ask what kind of castle it is, whether it be darkened by the spirit of doubt, or whether it be unsubstantial as the passing wind or the fading cloud. “Rock of Ages, cleft for me” that is the fortress in which we must hide, if we would calmly survey the storm, or triumphantly defy the spirit of ruin.
Let such as need it comfort themselves with the thought that whilst some men are called to pursue high adventures in theological thinking and in religious argument, others are called upon to remain at home, and do a humbler but hardly less useful kind of work. At the same time let us not forget that there is a great chase work to be done; some men are called upon to be mighty hunters before the Lord, to go out under what to others would be desperate circumstances, scouring the country, fighting wild beasts, and driving off all things which threaten and alarm. There is a great war to be conducted and to be carried on to happy issues. Let not those therefore who remain at home undervalue those who are called to go out to danger and suffering. When a nation is at war some must fight and some must remain at home. Let those who so remain in comparative security and quietude prayerfully think of those who have gone forth with their lives in their hands to uphold the honour of their country. And let not those on the field, whose blood is up, whose temper is heated by contest, look sneeringly upon those who are unable to take part in the war. We must recognise the great divisions appointed by Providence, and each work according to his own undoubted vocation. Let every man say to himself from a spiritual point of view, Am I dwelling in the castle of Zion? Am I steadfast in those few or many principles about which I have no doubt? Do I delight in the certainties of my faith? or am I troubled as by an evil spirit, and moved in the direction of doubt, speculation, hesitancy, compromise? I am not fitted for high speculation; it was never the purpose of God that I should lead hosts to war; I was meant to do a quieter work; yea, God hath surely chosen me to the enjoyment of some of the highest privileges of the Christian life namely, to communion with himself, to pursue in quietness the most tender portions of the Holy Book; I am not called upon to answer the trumpet of battle, but to wait patiently at the altar of prayer. Work within the lines of your strength. Do not imagine that you are nothing because you are not everything. Abide in the station appointed of God, and though it be not on the highest hill which first catches the morning light, yet God will not leave you without visitation and succour and comfort.
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
XVII
DISTRIBUTION AND TERRITORIES OF THE NATIONS
Gen 10:1-11:9
1. Resume of previous chapter
2. Some necessary statements
3. The Japheth nations: which and where
4. The Ham nations: which and where
5. The Shem nations: which and where
RESUME OF PREVIOUS CHAPTER In our last chapter it was shown that Gen 10 , and to the ninth verse of the eleventh, constitute a distinct section of the book, and that while the first part gives a table of the nations we must rely on the second part to explain how they became separate nations with diverse languages. Hence in order of time much of the second part precedes much of the first part. It was shown that, instead of these two parts being independent, unrelated, and contradictory documents as claimed by destructive higher critics, each part fits into the other with dovetailed exactness and demands the other in order to a complete account of the most marvelous origins in the annals of time since the creation.
Following a chronological order, except in one point, that chapter arranged for discussion the scriptures of the two parts thus:
(1) One stock and one language (Gen 11:6 ; Gen 11:1 ).
(2) One trend of migration (11:2-3).
(3) The leader of the migration and settlement (10:8-10).
(4) His attempt at centralization (11:4).
(5) The defeat of the movement by confusion of tongues (11:6-7).
(6) The consequent groupings into nations according to tongues and family ties (10:5, 20, 31-32).
(7) The prior divine partition of the earth territory among these nations (10:5, 20, 25, 31-32; Deu 32:8 ; Act 17:26 ).
(8) Their dispersion (11:9) to their respective allotted territories (10:2-5; 10:6-20; 10:21-32).
(9) The secular object of the dispersion was to carry out the divine mandate, fill the earth and subdue it (Gen 1:28 ; Gen 11:1 ). And the religious object to seek and find God (Act 17:26-27 ).
It was also shown that this account is not merely the most ancient, but the only extant history of the origin of nations and languages, and that it furnishes the only solution of the irreconcilable differences in the few great parent languages, a problem before which human philology is not only dubious, but dumb. Therefore this one bit of inspired record is the only sure foundation of the human sciences, ethnology and philology; and the root of history, prophecy, and religion.
That chapter closed with the announcement that this chapter would consider more particularly the dispersion of the nation groups to their respective territories as set forth in the tenth chapter. This resume of the preceding chapter must be kept in mind in order to a proper understanding of the present one.
A higher critic thus testifies concerning the tenth chapter of Genesis: “This ethnographical table is not only the most ancient and reliable description of the various nations and peoples, but it has no parallel in it? attempt to exhibit all the races of the earth as related to one another. The ancients universally considered the various races of man to be divided from one another by some impassable interval. The idea that all were of one blood was unfamiliar and unaccountable to them. And it is only in recent times that science has set itself to the task of tracing the relationship which exists between each race and every other, a task which, with all the aids of philology and anthropology available in modern times, cannot be said yet to be independent of this ancient record.” Will it ever be independent?
And now before entering into the details of this nation distribution let us settle and fix in our minds:
CERTAIN NECESSARY STATEMENTS This lesson roots in the prophecy of Noah concerning his children and fruits in the book of Chronicles. The book of Chronicles gives a summary of world history from Adam to Cyrus which is continued in Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, and Esther to the times of Ahasuerus. Hence in 1Ch 1:5-24 , this genealogy of nations is repeated, with variations in some names, helpful to an understanding of our text, and must, therefore, be studied in connection with it.
The time period is ten generations from Shem to Abraham and in round numbers about 300 years. There might well be a population of 30,000,000 on the earth at the call of Abraham. So far as this record is a genealogy of individuals, not all, but only the most illustrious names are given, or when less illustrious, only those bearing prominently on subsequent Bible history.
When the record says that Cush, a son of Ham, begat Nimrod, it does not necessarily follow that Nimrod was a grandson of Ham in our sense of the word, but a descendant of Ham through the Cush line. Compare genealogical tables in Matthew and Luke.
This record is not merely or mainly a genealogy of individuals, but of peoples. For example we find: (a) the dual form of names: as, Mizraim; (b) the plural form: as, Ludim, Ananim, Lobahim, Naphthalim, Pathruaim, Cashhuhim, Caphtorim, Zebaim; (c) tribal or Gentile forms: as, Jebusite, Amorite, Girgashite, Hivite, Arkite, Sinite, Arvadite, Zemarite, Hamathite; (d) forms for groups of tribes: as, Canaanites; (e) forms for nations: as, Gomer, Magog, and Madai.
The record is not merely an ethnological table, but geographical as well. We not only have such expressions as “the isles of the Gentiles,” “their countries,” “their lands,” with border lines occasionally marked out, but even the names of some of the peoples, which either were originally or soon came to be geographical expressions; as, the dual name, Mizraim, certainly meaning, later, upper, and lower Egypt. To these may be added Kittim, Donanim, and Philistim, which are names of countries. Rawlinson’s contention that the record is wholly ethnological is as untenable as the opposite contention of Professor Sayce, that it is wholly geographical. We may take our stand on this broad ground: Some of this record is the genealogy of individuals; more of it is genealogy of families, tribes, and nations; much of it is a table of countries embracing all the geographical world then known.
When the Almighty originally assigned these specific territories, with then well understood metes and bounds, the assignment was subject to certain modifications: (a) He reserved to himself the times and seasons and instrumentalities of a change of ownership in a given territory (Act 17:26 ), nations as units being as responsible to him as individuals are. See in general all subsequent Bible history, but particularly the “burdens” of the prophets; as, Jer 18:7-10 ; (b) some peoples would rebel against the authority of the assignment and encroach on the territories of others. Thus in the very record we find overlapping. A particular and notable illustration is the land of Palestine assigned originally to a branch of Shem’s family, but preoccupied by Canaanites, the descendants of Ham. This territory was subsequently restored by divine intervention in Joshua’s time to the descendants of the original owners.
It is impossible now, so great the lapse of time, and so many the changes in names and nations, to trace accurately on a map all the details of this original allotment of territory and the distribution of peoples. Yet it is marvelous, notwithstanding time and changes, how much and how well we can trace from this ancient record the principal nations and the countries settled by them. In general terms we may say that the north was assigned to Japheth, the south to Ham, and the middle territory to Shem. This assignment of an intermediate place to Shem was from religious reasons, as the revelation from God, both as to the Bible and the incarnation, was to come through the Shem line and could thus more speedily and effectively reach the other branches of the human family. The middle portion of Shem, in general terms, would reach from the southern part of Armenia to the Persian Gulf, and its western border would be the Mediterranean and the Red Seas. North of this, including Europe and the greater part of Asia, would be Japheth’s territory. South of this would be all of Africa, Ham’s territory. But from the causes previously cited, namely, God’s government of nations and the rebellion of some nations through unwillingness to confine themselves to their allotted territory, there was and has been much overlapping, with some intermingling and complicating so as to cause endless and insoluble perplexities. Notwithstanding these perplexities this record, even in its minutest details, is found to be exact so far as modern knowledge can verify it.
Philology, an infant and imperfect science, has discovered three parent groups of languages and peoples: Aryan, Semitic, and Turanian, corresponding to Japheth, Shem, and Ham. But the highest authorities differ about the origin of the Turanian peoples and tongues, some confidently affirming Japhethic origin, others with equal confidence the Hamitic. We will now consider the record in order.
THE JAPHETH NATIONS: WHICH AND WHERE The generations of Japheth include seven sons and seven grandsons who became heads of nations. As we trace up their territory and subsequent history we are reminded of Noah’s prophecy, “God will enlarge Japheth and he will dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan will be the servants of them.” All Europe and the greater part of Asia are settled by Japhethic nations. From him are derived both the Indo-European, and, according to many ethnologists and philologists, the Turanian races. Other ethnologists are just as confident that the nations of the Turanian languages are descended from Ham. From Gomer is the Cimmerian race, which located in Crimea around the Sea of Azov and spreads westward and reappears in the Welsh Cymry, in Cambria and Cumberland. He is the father of the Celts, whether in Gaul as found by Caesar, or in Ireland. Through his sons Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah, he peopled much of Armenia and the Carpathian Mountains. Concerning them the prophets say: “Gomer, and all his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all his hordes; even many peoples with thee” (Eze 39:6 ). “They of the house of Togarmah traded for thy wares with horses and war-horses and mules” (Eze 27:14 ). “Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpets among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz: appoint a marshal against her; cause the horses to come up as the canker-worm” (Jer 51:27 ).
Through Magog are the Scythians in Caucasus and the Russians. Eze 38 should be studied in connection with the lesson in locating the nations of Japheth descended from Gomer, Magog, Tubal, and Meshech. From one of these sons apparently come the Turanian race, including the Turks, the dwellers in the Steppes of Asia, the Hungarians, the Finns and many others; the first inhabitants of Hindustan and the Mongolians. From Madai, another son of Japheth, come the Medes; from Javan, the lonians and Greeks; from Turas, the Thracians; Javan’s sons occupy Cyprus, Rhodes and other islands and coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, and the coast of Spain. According to the record: “Of these were the isles of the nations divided in their lands, every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations” (Gen 10:5 ).
Greeks, Romans, Celts, Germans, Scandinavians, Russians, Scythians, Finns, indeed all of what are now called the IndoEuropean, and perhaps the Turanian races, are descended from Japheth.
HAM NATIONS: WHICH AND WHERE According to the psalmist, the land of Ham is Africa, or more particular, Egypt:
Israel also came into Egypt;
And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.,
And he increased his people greatly,
And made them stronger than their adversaries.
He turned their heart to hate his people,
To deal subtly with his servants.
He sent Moses his servant,
And Aaron whom he had chosen.
They set among them his signs,
And wonders in the land of Ham.
Wondrous works in the land of Ham,
And terrible things by the Red Sea.
Psa 105:23-27 ; Psa 106:22
His descendants, however, were the first to leave the territory assigned them. His sons were Gush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan. Cush in many Old Testament references is translated Ethiopia; later, Abyssinia. But commencing with Nimrod, the Cushites began to occupy the Semitic territory, and have left their impress from Nineveh all the way down the Tigris and Euphrates, and in Eastern and Southern Arabia. Mizraim is Egypt, upper and lower. His sons occupied all the Nile regions and Libya. From them came the Philistines who migrated to and occupied the lower part of the Mediterranean coast belonging to Shem. The name means “emigrants.” This migration was one of the earliest and most important in history. It is mentioned in Deu 2:23 ; Jer 47:4 ; Amo 9:7 . From Jer 46:9 , we may infer that Phut also settled in Africa. Canaan, the youngest son of Ham, on whom rested the curse of Noah, disobeyed the divine assignment of territory from the beginning and altogether. Only two sons of Canaan are specified, Sidon and Heth. The first seized upon the upper part of the Mediterranean shore, which was a lowland coast. This coast, Sidon and Tyre, through which cities the name, Phenicia, came, exercised a wide influence on the affairs of the world’s later history. From Tyre, Carthage, the ancient rival of Rome, was colonized. The great epic of Virgil assigns the beginning of the animosity between Rome and Carthage to the unhappy outcome of Dido’s love for Aeneas. Though Ham’s descendants first occupied Phenicia, they must have early lost their hold on the land, for the Phenicians of history are Semitic in language. Ham and Shem are blended in the Phenicians. Heth was the father of the Hittite, a powerful nation, who, in Abraham’s time, occupied Hebron in Palestine. (See Gen 23:4-19 ; Gen 24:3-4 ; Gen 28:1-2 .) The other descendants of Canaan, referred to only by tribal names, we find from the later Bible story thus distributed:
Jebusites, around Jerusalem
Amorites, coasts of the Dead Sea and lower Jordan
Girgashites, westward from the Jordan (Jos 24:11 )
Hivites, base of Mount Hermon and valleys of Lebanon, and at Shechem (Gen 34:2 ; Jos 9:7-17 ; Jos 11:19 )
Arkites and Sinites, near Mount Lebanon
Arvadites, on the Phenician Island, Aradus (Eze 27:8-11 )
Zemarites (2Ch 13:4 )
Hamathites, in Hamath, chief city of upper Syria, on the Orontes
The country thus occupied by Canaan was nearly all the land of Palestine, from which they were dispossessed when their iniquity was full.
SHEM NATIONS: WHICH AND WHERE From Elam came the people just north of the Persians;
Asshur, the Assyrians;
Arphaxad, the Chaldeans;
Lud, the Lydians in Asia Minor;
Aram, the Syrians.
The author contents himself with referring to the sons of only two of these, Aram and Arphaxad. The only familiar name of Aram’s sons is Uz, who occupied Northern Arabia, the land of Job. The interest in Arphaxad’s descendants centers in Eber, the father of the Hebrew nation. The two sons of Eber are Peleg, in whose day the land was divided and from whom Abraham is descended, and Joktan, from whom descended many Arabian tribes.
QUESTIONS
1. What was the secular object of the dispersion? The religious object?
2. Show how this lesson roots m the prophecy of Noah and fruits in the book of Chronicles.
3. What is the time period from Shorn to Abraham and what might have been the population?
4. Is this record a complete genealogy of individuals? If not, what principle governed the selection of names?
5. What is the meaning of “Cush, the son of Ham, begat Nimrod” and the New Testament proof?
6. Is this merely or mainly a genealogy of individuals, and what fivefold proof?
7. Rawlinson says that this is an ethnological table; Sayce says it is a geographical table; others say it is a genealogy of individuals. Show how it is all three.
8. The assignment of territories was subject to what modifications? Give examples of each.
9. Locate in general terms the countries occupied respectively by the descendants of Shern, Ham, and Japheth.
10. Why assigned to Shem an intermediate place?
11. What has caused many insoluble perplexities?
12. Philology has discovered what three parent groups of languages and peoples and how do they correspond in general to the sons of Noah?
13. Name the principal nations descended from Japheth and locate them.
14. From Ham, and locate them.
15. From Shem, and locate them.
Fuente: B.H. Carroll’s An Interpretation of the English Bible
1Ch 1:5 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
Ver. 5. Gomer. ] Of whom came the Cymbrians and Danes.
Magog.
Madai.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Japheth. Compare Gen 10:2, &c.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ch 1:5-7
1Ch 1:5-7
“The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Diphath, and Togarmah. And the sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.”
E.M. Zerr:
1Ch 1:5-7. Much of this chapter corresponds with the 10th chapter of Genesis. After running the blood line to Noah, the author gives us information on the three sons of that great man, naming their respective descendants for a few generations. It will be interesting to identify some of the later groups of people with these members of Noah’s family tree. This paragraph deals with the descendants of Japheth. Although mentioned last, he was the oldest son of Noah. (Gen 10:21). He was the ancestor of the great mass of the earth’s population who came to be referred to as the Gentiles. The Gaulic Celts came from Gomer; the Slays from Magog; the Medea from Madai; the Greeks from Javan; the Germans from Tiras. This information is from Origin of Nations, by George Rawlinson.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Magog
Gen 10:2; Eze 38:2; Eze 39:6; Rev 20:8. (See Scofield “Eze 38:2”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Gen 10:1-5, Eze 27:13, Eze 38:2, Eze 38:3, Eze 38:6, Eze 39:1
Reciprocal: Gen 10:2 – General Jer 51:28 – the kings Eze 32:26 – Meshech
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ch 1:5. The sons of Japheth The historian, repeating the account of the replenishing the earth by the sons of Noah, begins with those that were strangers to the church, the sons of Japheth, who peopled Europe, of whom he says little, as the Jews had hitherto little or no dealings with them. He proceeds to those that had many of them been enemies to the church, and thence hastens to the line of Abraham, breaking off abruptly from all the other families of the sons of Noah, but that of Arphaxad, from whom Christ was to come. The great promise of the Messiah was transmitted from Adam to Seth, from him to Shem, from him to Eber, and so to the Jewish nation, who were intrusted above all nations with that sacred treasure, till the promise was performed, and the Messiah was come.