Genesis 10:6-20 in the Bible focuses on the descendants of Ham, one of Noah’s sons, and outlines the nations that emerged from his lineage. This section is part of the “Table of Nations” in the Bible, which provides a genealogical account of the descendants of Noah’s sons after the flood. Here’s an outline of these verses:
- Verse 10:6 lists the sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
- Verses 10:7-12: The descendants of Cush are outlined, including Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah. Raamah’s sons are Sheba and Dedan. Nimrod, a notable figure and a mighty warrior, is also a descendant of Cush, and the founder of several cities including Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar.
- Verses 10:13-14: The descendants of Mizraim (Egypt) are listed, including the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorites.
- Verses 10:15-19: The lineage of Canaan, Ham’s son, is detailed. His descendants include Sidon, Heth, the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. The passage describes the territory of the Canaanites, extending from Sidon toward Gerar, as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
- Verse 10:20: This verse concludes the section by summarizing that these are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
Each of these groups is associated with specific regions and cultures in the ancient Near East and northeastern Africa. The “Table of Nations” in Genesis is an attempt by the biblical authors to categorize and explain the origins of various peoples and nations known to them in the ancient world.