Genesis 10:8-12
8 Cush was the father of ▼▼tn Heb “fathered.” Embedded within Cush’s genealogy is an account of Nimrod, a mighty warrior. There have been many attempts to identify him, but none are convincing.
Nimrod; he began to be a valiant warrior on the earth. 9He was a mighty hunter ▼▼tn The Hebrew word for “hunt” is צַיִד (tsayid), which is used on occasion for hunting men (1 Sam 24:12; Jer 16:16; Lam 3:15).
before the Lord. ▼▼tn Another option is to take the divine name here, לִפְנֵי יִהוָה (lifne yehvah, “before the Lord [YHWH]”), as a means of expressing the superlative degree. In this case one may translate “Nimrod was the greatest hunter in the world.”
(That is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.”) 10The primary regions ▼ of his kingdom were Babel, ▼▼tn Or “Babylon.”
Erech, ▼▼sn Erech (ancient Uruk, modern Warka), one of the most ancient civilizations, was located southeast of Babylon.
Akkad, ▼▼sn Akkad, or ancient Agade, was associated with Sargon and located north of Babylon.
and Calneh ▼▼tn No such place is known in Shinar (i.e., Babylonia). Therefore some have translated the Hebrew term כַלְנֵה (khalneh) as “all of them,” referring to the three previous names (cf. NRSV).
in the land of Shinar. ▼▼sn Shinar is another name for Babylonia.
11From that land he went ▼▼tn The subject of the verb translated “went” is probably still Nimrod. However, it has also been interpreted that “Ashur went,” referring to a derivative power.
to Assyria, ▼▼tn Heb “Asshur.”
where he built Nineveh, ▼▼sn Nineveh was an ancient Assyrian city situated on the Tigris River.
Rehoboth Ir, ▼▼sn The name Rehoboth Ir means “and broad streets of a city,” perhaps referring to a suburb of Nineveh.
Calah, ▼▼sn Calah (modern Nimrud) was located 20 miles north of Nineveh.
12and Resen, which is between Nineveh and the great city Calah. ▼▼tn Heb “and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; it [i.e., Calah] is the great city.”
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