Genesis 10:17-32

Ge 10:17

And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,

The Hivites lived in Gibeon and Shechem.  The Arkites lived about 80 miles (129 km) north of Sidon.  The Sinites lived in southern Lebanon.

Ge 10:18

And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.

The Arvadites lived north of the Arkites on the sea coast and on the island of Aradus which is modern Ruad.  They were the northernmost of the Canaanite tribes, about 105 miles (169 km) north of Tyre.  The Zemarites lived on the coast south of Arvad.  The Hamathites lived on the Orontes River about 250 miles (402 km) north of Jerusalem.  Then from those points the families of the Canaanites began to expand abroad.

Ge 10:19

And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.

The chief territory of the Canaanites was from Sidon to the north which was 120 miles (193 km) north of Jerusalem to Gerar on the south which about 8 miles (13 km) south-southeast of Gaza which was 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Jerusalem.  It included the five cities of the plain south of the Dead Sea and Lasha which was on the east side of the Dead Sea.

Ge 10:20

These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

These were the families of the sons of Ham according to their languages, countries and nations.  The word “nations” refers to the fact these are Gentile people.

Ge 10:21

Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.

Shem is now mentioned as the ancestor of all the children born to Eber which is sometimes called Heber.  Abraham and the Hebrews are identified as descendants of Eber.  The name Eber means “one crossing over or the other side.”  Japheth is also identified as the eldest son of Noah which makes Shem the middle son.  The chosen line of the Messiah came through Shem.

Ge 10:22

The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

Then we are given the names of the children of Shem.  The Elamites settled on the Persian Gulf east of Babylonia with Susa or Shushan as its capital.  Assur was the ancestor of the Assyrians.  Arphaxad settled northeast of Nineveh.  Lud fathered the Lydians in east Asia minor. Aram’s descendants occupied territory from Damascus to north of the Euphrates where Haran is located.

Ge 10:23

And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.

Uz settled northeast of Damascus.  The areas where Gether and Hul settled are uncertain.  Uz was the name of Job’s homeland.  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. (Job 1:1)  Mash probably went into the desert east or southeast of Damascus.

Ge 10:24

And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.

Salah or Shelah was the ancestor of Eber.  Eber was the ancestor of the Hebrews through Peleg.

Ge 10:25

And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.

Eber bore two sons. The name of one was Peleg when in his day the earth was divided.  Up to this point the earth was one large land mass and there were no continents.  Then God formed the seven continents and when he confounded the languages at Babel, each of the people groups scattered and went to the countries which God assigned them to.  Joktan was the father of 13 Arabian tribes.

Ge 10:26

And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,

Each of these thirteen tribes were nomadic in nature and some did not have a specific place where they settled.  Almodad the progenitor of an Arab tribe whose name is preserved in Mudad, or El-Mudad; a person famous in Arabian history as chief of the Joktanite tribe Jurhum, in Southeastern Arabia.  Sheleph may have settled in the area of Yemen.  Hazormaveth known as the court of death: in reference to its unhealthy climate.  Possibly on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Jerah, the settlement of this tribe is probably to be identified with the fortress of Gerakh, in the Nejd which is the central highland of Saudi Arabia.

Ge 10:27

And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,

The location of Hadoram is uncertain.  Uzal’s ancient name was Azal and is identified with the city of Sanaa, southwest of Mareb, the capital city of Yemen.  Diklah is possibly Dakalah which is a place distinguished by palm trees.  It was in the southeastern part of Arabia.

Ge 10:28

And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,

Sheba is thought to be the father of the Sabaeans.  They were the ones who helped plunder Job.  And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (Job 1:15)  Nothing else is known about Obal and Abimael.

Ge 10:29

And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.

Prominent among these 13 tribes was Ophir which was famous for its pure gold.  Ophir could be referring to the country of India.  Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. (Job 22:24)  Havilah was a different person than the direct son of Cush.  It seems all the other sons of Joktan had settled in the area of Southern Arabia but no specifics are known.  Jobab is not identified with any Arabian tribe.

Ge 10:30

And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.

Sephar still retains its ancient name.  It is mount Sabber in Yemen near the town of Taas.  The location of Mesha is unknown but may be considered to be in the northeast section of Arabia.

Ge 10:31

These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.

These were the descendants of Shem according to their languages and lands and nations.  The word “nations” here also speaks about Gentiles.  Remember the promise of God that Japheth, the Gentiles, will dwell in the tents of Shem and what it meant.

Ge 10:32

These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.