The Nations Studies in the Book of Genesis Genesis 10-11 © John Stevenson, 2009

Genesis 9:24-27 Genesis 10 Genesis 11 Prophecy of the nations Listing of the nations Division of the nations Curse on Canaan Career of Nimrod Judgment of languages at Babel

Genesis 10:1 Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood.

Japheth Shem Ham

Japheth Gomer Magog Tubal Meshech Javan Tiras Madai

Ham Canaan Mizraim Put Cush

Genesis 10:8-9 Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.”

Genesis 10:10-12 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city.

Nimrod Nineveh Accad Babel Calneh Erech

Lud Asshur Aram Shem Elam

Genesis 10:25 Seems to be the source of the term “Hebrew” Two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. Seems to be the source of the term “Hebrew”

What does it mean that “the earth was divided”? Genesis 10:25 Two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. What does it mean that “the earth was divided”?

Genesis 10:32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.

What is significant about this number? If we do not count the three sons of Noah, there are a total of 70 names in this table. What is significant about this number? …all the persons of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy (Genesis 46:27)

When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, When He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the sons of Israel. 9 For the Lord’s portion is His people, Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance. (Deuteronomy 32:7-9).

Israel is a microcosm of the world

Jesus is the “better Israel” who came to save the world

PURPOSE OF THE BABEL NARRATIVE Show the Origin of the Division of Languages Show the Origin of the Babylonian Religious System Show the Results of Rebellion against God

Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. Genesis 11:1 Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.

It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there (Genesis 11:2). Shinar

Genesis 11:3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.

Genesis 11:4 They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

Ziggurat

Genesis 11:5 The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.

Genesis 11:6-7 The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech.”

Genesis 11:8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city.

Genesis 11:9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth. lb,B' ll;B'

Major Language Groupings Indo-European (corresponds to Japheth): English, Spanish, Greek, German, French, Latin, Italian. Semitic (corresponds to Shem): Hebrew, Arabic, Akkadian, Aramaic. Hamitic (corresponds to Ham): Egyptian, Berber, Cushitic, and Chadic

Judgment upon man’s rebellion: Languages scatter mankind Babel Abraham Jesus Judgment upon man’s rebellion: Languages scatter mankind One man to become a great nation: All nations to be blessed through him One is judged for all of man’s rebellion: Gift of languages proclaim the good new

Genesis 5 Genesis 11 Adam Seth Enosh Kenan Mahalel Jared Enoch Methuselah Lamech Noah Shem Ham Japheth 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Shem Arphachshad Cainan Shelah Eber Peleg Reu Serug Nahor Terah Abram Nahor Haran

Genesis 5 Genesis 11 Begins with Adam, but is preceded by a genealogy of the antediluvian world found in Genesis 4. Begins with Shem, but is preceded by a genealogy of the postdiluvian world found in Genesis 10. Ten generations are listed. Ten generations are listed. Ends with the birth of three sons. Ends with the birth of three sons.

Genesis 11 not a Strict Chronology The Number of Years is not Totaled. The Name and Years of Cainan are Absent from the Hebrew Text. Genesis 5 and Genesis 11 are Symmetrical in Form. The earth was divided in the days of Peleg (Genesis 10:25). Ancestral connections between people in Biblical genealogies are often abridged

Men began to call upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26). Let us make for ourselves a name (Genesis 11:4). I will bless you, and make your name great (Genesis 12:2).