In this chapter we are introduced to the descendants of Noah. History regards this list as an exact and accurate piece of ancient literature. It is known as The Table of Nations. Jehovah God is the Lord of the nations “and …. divided their inheritance to the nations. (Deuteronomy 32:8)
Shem, Ham, and Japheth had sons after the flood. Shem and Japheth showed respect to their father by covering him. They were blessed as opposed to Ham who was cursed. Shem was the ancestor of Abram, the founder of the Hebrew nation. The Lord would bless the Israelites through him and we, in turn, would receive the knowledge of God, His Word and the Saviour Jesus Christ. Japheth would find God through Shem.
Japheth was the father of the peoples from India to Western Europe, also known as the Gentile Nations. His sons were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. From Gomer came the people of most of Western Europe; from Magog, Tubal and Meshech those of northern Europe, the Russians; from Madai, those of Iran, Iraq, and India; and from Javan the Ancient Greeks. Gomer had three sons from whom came those north of Judea and the Armenians. Javan had sons from who we have those of Cyprus and Rhodes.
Ham was the father of Cush (v6), Mizraim, Put and Canaan. Some of Cush’s descendants founded Babylon (Nimrod) and the others Ethiopia. Put (Lydia) Mizraim (Egypt) and Canaan, I think we know about being the nations which were promised to Israel and still causing them problems today.
The descendants of Cush (v7-12) included Nimrod, who was mighty hunter. He ruled over Babel which we will read more about in the next chapter, being the site of rebellion against God.
One of the sons of Mizraim was the father of the Philistines (v13,14).
In verses 15-19 we have the sons of Canaan from whom were the Jebusites, the Amorites and the Girgashites, and the Sinites. There were also those who went north and founded Sidon, then Gaza on the coast to the south, and Sodom and Gomorrah.
In verses 21-31 we are introduced to the descendants of Shem who received the blessing from his father. Shem is said to be the father of ‘all the children of Eber.’ It is thought that the word ‘Hebrews’ comes from the name ‘Eber’ which indicates that Shem is the father of the Hebrews. Of his sons, Elam was the ancestor of the Persians, Ashur, the Assyrians, Lud – the Lydians (Greeks), Aram, the Arameans, or Syrians, and Arphaxad, the ancestor of Abram and the Hebrews.
