X. THE ETHNOLOGICAL TABLE (Genesis 10:1 to Genesis 11:9). THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS (THE _TÔLDÔTH_) OF THE SONS OF NOAH. — The importance of this “table of the nations” can scarcely be over-estimated; and while numerous exceptions were taken only a few years ago to many of its details, the vast incr... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEM, HAM, AND JAPHETH. — This is the un-deviating arrangement of the three brothers. (See Note on Genesis 9:24; Genesis 10:21.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SONS OF JAPHETH. — Of these, seven main divisions are enumerated, some of which are subsequently sub-divided; they are — 1. GOMER, whose name reappears in the Cimmerians. Their original settlement was between Magog and Madai, that is, between the Scythians and the Medes. After remaining some ti... [ Continue Reading ]
GOMER has three main divisions: — 1. ASHKENAZ, a region in the neighbourhood of Armenia (Jeremiah 51:27), whence, following the course of Japhethite migration, the race seems to have wandered into Germany. The derivations are all most uncertain; but the Jews call the Germans Ashkenazites, and are p... [ Continue Reading ]
JAVAN has four main divisions: — 1. ELISHAH, a maritime people of Greece. Traces of the name occur in Aeolis and in Elis, a district of the Peloponessus. Some boldly identify with Hellas. The isles of Elishah are mentioned in Ezekiel 27:7. 2. TARSHISH. At so early a period this could scarcely be T... [ Continue Reading ]
ISLES OF THE GENTILES. — The word rendered “isles” means _any maritime region._ As there were no Gentiles at this time, the phrase should be translated “the coast-lands of the nations.”... [ Continue Reading ]
HAM. — Many derive this word from a Hebrew root, and explain it as signifying _hot, sunburnt,_ and so swarthy. Japheth they connect with a word signifying _to be fair;_ and so Ham is the progenitor of dark races, Japheth of those of a fair complexion, while the olive- coloured spring from Shem. More... [ Continue Reading ]
SONS OF CUSH. — Of Cush there are five subdivisions, of which one is again parted into two. These are — 1. SEBA. — The name at this time of an Arabian tribe, which subsequently migrated into Africa, and settled in Meroë, which, according to Josephus, still bore in his days this appellation. They al... [ Continue Reading ]
CUSH BEGAT NIMROD. — This does not mean that Nimrod was the son of Cush, but only that Cush was his ancestor. In the days of Nimrod population had become numerous, and whereas each tribe and family had hitherto lived in independence, subject only to the authority of the natural head, he was able, by... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS A MIGHTY HUNTER. — When men were still leading a pastoral life, and were but poorly armed, the war with wild beasts was a most important and dangerous occupation. Probably from single combats with fierce animals, Nimrod, now recognised as a public benefactor, was led to organise hunts upon a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BEGINNING OF HIS KINGDOM. — Nimrod’s empire began with the cities enumerated in this verse, and thence extended into Assyria, as is mentioned in Genesis 10:11. First, then, he established his sovereignty “in the land of Shinar: “that is, in Babylonia, the lower portion of Mesopotamia, as disting... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THAT LAND WENT FORTH ASSHUR. — So the LXX., Syriac, and Vulg.; but the Targum and most modern authorities rightly translate, “Out of that land he went forth into Assyria.” We have here nothing to do with Asshur the son of Shem (see Genesis 10:22), but are occupied with Nimrod and the Hamites,... [ Continue Reading ]
“With Mizraim are connected seven inferior African races, the names of which are given in the plural, namely: — 1. The LUDIM. — There were two races of this name: one Semitic, descended from Lud, the son of Shem (Genesis 10:22), and mentioned in Isaiah 66:19; the other Hamite, and subject to the Ph... [ Continue Reading ]
(15-18) CANAAN. — The meaning of this name is uncertain, as, most probably, it is a Hamitic word: if derived from a Semitic root, it may mean the _lowland._ Though the Canaanites spoke a Semitic tongue at the time when we find them in Palestine, yet the assertion of the Bible that they were Hamites... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BORDER... — The boundaries given are Sidon in the north, Gerar and Gaza in the south and south-west, and thence to the Dead Sea. The only Lasha known is a place famous for its hot springs on the east of the Red Sea Though the Phœnicians may-have occupied this town on their way to Palestine, it c... [ Continue Reading ]
(21-23) SHEM... THE BROTHER OF JAPHETH THE ELDER. — Really, _the elder brother of Japheth._ Though the rules of Hebrew grammar will admit of no other rendering, it is remarkable that both the Syriac and the Vulg. make the same mistake as our own version. In designating Shem as “the father of all the... [ Continue Reading ]
ARPHAXAD BEGAT SALAH. — Heb., _Shelah._ The rest of the chapter is devoted to giving an account of the settlements of the Joktanite Arabs, who formed only one, apparently, of the races sprung from Arphaxad, as in this table even the Hebrews are omitted, although Eber’s birth is given with the view o... [ Continue Reading ]
PELEG; FOR IN HIS DAYS WAS THE EARTH DIVIDED. — This may refer to the breaking up of the race of Shem into separate nations, which severally occupied a distinct region; and so, while Joktan took Arabia, and in course of time expelled the Hamites from that country, Asshur, Aram, and Peleg occupied th... [ Continue Reading ]
(26-31) JOKTAN. — “The little one,” as being a younger son. Of the thirteen divisions of his family, few are of any importance, though several of the names are curious from their connection with the Arabic language. The Joktanite country was Arabia Felix, or Yemen, and as the people led a pastoral l... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THEIR GENERATIONS. — Heb., _according to their Tôldôth._ This makes it probable that each family preserved in some way an historical record of its descent; and as this table is called the _Tôldôth of the Sons of Noah,_ it was probably formed by a comparison of numerous _Tôldôth,_ each showing... [ Continue Reading ]