Genesis Chapter 10
Heavenly Father, as I come before you today. I thank you for my brothers and sisters, reading this right now. I pray that you bless their children on the Earth and those yet to come. As you surround them with your unconditional love, may they always recognise the importance of their lives. As you stir up the gifts and passions within them, may they use it for your glory, in the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen!
Welcome back Brothers and Sisters, to The Heartfelt Studies. I hope you're doing well. Here's to a new week and a new chapter, so lets jump into Genesis Chapter 10.
Descendants of Noah
Genesis chapter 10, verse 1-5:
As we know from Genesis 9, Noah cursed the sons of Ham and now we get to see the records of all (Ham, Shem and Japheth’s descendants, born after the flood.
First, we're given the names of Japheth’s seven sons (Noah's Grandchildren);
Gomer , Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras.
The three sons of Gomer (Japheth's Grandsons and Noah's Great Grandchildren);
Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.
The four sons of Javan (Japheth's Great Grandsons and Noah's Great Great Grandchildren);
Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim.
It's amazing to see the lineage of Noah, from his sons to his grandchildren and to his great grandchildren.
When God shows love, he really shows it and it reflects in the fruitfulness of children born upon the Earth, after the flood.
Next, we find out the names of Ham's four sons (Noah's Grandchildren);
Cush and Mizraim; descendents of the Egyptians.
Also Put and Canaan; descendents of the Canaanites.
Despite Noah setting a curse upon Ham's children, God has still blessed Ham with four sons.
The five sons of Cush (Ham's Grandsons and Noah's Great Grandchildren);
Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteca; descendants of the Cushites.
The two sons of Raamah (Ham's Great Grandsons and Noah's Great Great Grandchildren);
Sheba and Dedan; descendants of the Cushites.
Here we read that Cush (Noah's grandchild) becomes the father of Nimrod, who is named as a mighty hunter before the Lord. What's fascinating here, is that when we look up, Nimrod, it has two different meanings;
A skilled hunter or a foolish person
However, it's interesting to see, is that Nimrod is the first person to be given such a powerful title on Earth, so his purpose must be greater than we know and possibly more meaningful than the latter noun, for God has called him so.
Genesis chapter 10 verse 10-14:
As we know from the previous verses, Nimrod is a mighty hunter (champion) and we read now, that Nimrod holding that status and such power, has allowed him to build his own Kingdom/s.
First he built his kingdom (Babel, Erech, Accad and Calne) in the Land Shinar (Lower Mesopotamia) and from that land, Nimrod went to Assyria (which was situated in northern Mesopotamia and is now located in northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey).
Nimrod built other cities such as; Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, and Calah and he also built Resen (which is between Nineveh and Calah). All of these Kingdom combined, formed the great city Nineveh.
We come across Mizraim again (also known as Egypt and the son of Ham), he becomes a father to;
Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim and Casluhim. These sons, descend from the Philistines and Caphtorim.
Genesis chapter 10 verse 15-18:
As you may be able to tell, Genesis Chapter 10, is more about the genealogy of Noah and we are continuously finding out about their cities and nations.
Now, we find out, about his grandchild Canaan and his great grandchildren.
The sons of Canaan; Sidon (his firstborn) and Heth; descendants of the Canaanites.
Along with; The Jebusite (descendants of the Canaan tribe, who inhabited the city of Jerusalem), Amorite (ancient Semitic people of Mesopotamia), Girgashite (descendants of the Canaan tribe), The Arvadite (descendants of the Canaan tribe, who inhabited the city of Arvad), Zemarite (descendants of the Canaan tribe, who inhabited the city of Zemur) and The Hamathite (descendants of the Canaan tribe, who inhabited the city of Hamath)
After a while, the Canaanite families separate and go their ways.
God reminds us, that there is a time and place for us to go our own ways for a little while, in order to appreciate one another. Taking time apart, will allow us to value the relationships we have.
Genesis chapter 10 verse 19-20:
We continue to look at the different nations and lands of the Canaanites. The earth after the flood, just shows us, how much God cares about his people. Despite what happened before the flood and the curse in which Noah set upon his son, we still see the fruitfulness throughout the descendants.
Here, we are provided the regions on where the Canaanites expand from and to. First from Sidon (third-largest city in Lebanon), to Gerar (A town in the Philistine plain South of Gaza) and as far as Gaza (a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip).
From Sodom and Gomorrah (Two of the five cities of the Plain, located in the Ghor or valley of the Jordan and is about the end of things) Admah and Zeboiim (Two of the five cities of the Vale of Siddim) to as far as Lasha (Meaning fissure is a place apparently Eastern border of the land of Canaan-known as the dead sea).
Genesis chapter 10 verse 21-23:
Here, we are given the names of the five sons (Noah's Grandchildren) of Shem (ancestor of all the descendants of Eber-including the Hebrews);
Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud and Aram; descendants of the Shemites.
The four sons of Aram (Noah’s great grandchildren); Uz, Hul, Gether and Mash; descendants of the Syrians.
Genesis chapter 10 verse 24-31:
Arpachshad (Shem’s son) became the father of Shelah; and Shelah (Shem’s grandchild) became the father of Eber.
The names of Eber’s two sons (Shem’s Great Grandsons and Noah's Great Great Grandchildren);
Peleg (division), for [the inhabitants of] the earth were divided in his days; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
The names of Joktan’s ten sons (Shem’s Great Grandsons and Noah's Great Great Grandchildren);
Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; descendants of the Joktanites.
Now their territory extended from Mesha as one goes toward Sephar, to the hill country of the east.
These are Shem’s descendants according to their families, their languages, by their lands and according to their nations.
There we have it, the break down and geneology of the descendants from Noah's three sons, to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, including their geographical locations, languages and nations.
THOUGHTS
I can’t believe, we have come to the end of Chapter 10! It reminds me; that family is so important. Where we come from, may not be the best of places, but who we raise and how we raise them going forward really matters.
To break those generational cycles, can change the way we are as a family and as a community.
Every family have their ups and downs, but God reminds us, that we as individuals can bless one another. We are all skilled in talents and gifts, that can empower one another.
When we learn to be grateful for what and who we have, life can feel so different.
If you have anything to share with me, then let me know in the comments. I am always willing to learn from you my readers.
Catch you back here soon Xx