Gen 10:21-31 | TNotes | STEP | 10:21 Shem, the older brother of Japheth, was the father of the Semitic peoples. The descendants listed represent countries east of Israel (modern Iraq, Iran, and Syria). The narrator lists these locations within Mesopotamia since Abram, the father of Israel, originated from this area (see 11:27-32 ). • Eber receives special attention because of his connection with Abram (see study note on 10:24).

10:21 ^a Shem, the older brother of Japheth, was the father of the Semitic peoples. The descendants listed represent countries east of Israel (modern Iraq, Iran, and Syria). The narrator lists these locations within Mesopotamia since Abram, the father of Israel, originated from this area (see 11:27-32 ^b).

• Eber receives special attention because of his connection with Abram (see study note on 10:24).
10:22 ^c The descendants of Elam lived in the region of modern southwestern Iran (see 14:1 ^d, 9 ^e; Ezra 4:9 ^f; Isa 11:11 ^g).

• The descendants of Asshur were later Assyrians who lived under Nimrod’s jurisdiction (see Gen 10:11 ^h). Sumerians descended from Ham were ousted by Mesopotamian Semites.

• Arphaxad possibly settled northeast of Nineveh; his descendants are further described in 11:12-26 ⁱ.

• Lud was near the Tigris River; its people were related to the Lydians (see 10:13 ^j).

• Aram was a kingdom of tribes that lived in the Mesopotamian plains.
10:23 ^k The patriarchs later interacted with the descendants of Aram (see 25:20 ^l; 31:20 ^m; Deut 26:5 ⁿ).

• Uz was the chief Aramean tribe, possibly located northeast of the Jordan; it was Job’s home (see Job 1:1 ^o; see also Lam 4:21 ^p).

• Hul is unknown. He possibly founded Armenia.

• Gether is unknown; he was possibly the founder of the Syrians.

• Mash might be associated with Mount Masus in northern Mesopotamia or with a part of the Lebanon Mountains.
10:24 ^q Shelah is unknown, but may be short for Methushelah (cp. 38:5 ^r, 11 ^s).

• Eber was the ancestor of Abram the Hebrew (11:10-26 ^t); his name is at the root of the term “Hebrew” (see 14:13 ^u; 39:14 ^v; 40:15 ^w; 41:12 ^x; Exod 2:11 ^y; 3:18 ^z).
10:25 ^aa Peleg means division, anticipating the separation of people into language groups after Babel (11:1-9 ^ab). Peleg’s line led to Abram (see 11:16-26 ^ac).

• Joktan was the ancestor of the southern Arabian tribes. The Ishmaelite tribes were in northern Arabia (see 25:13-16 ^ad).
Summary for Gen 10:26-32: 10:26-32 ^ae There were fourteen sons of Shem by Eber through Joktan. The placement of the Babel story between the lines of Joktan and Peleg ties Joktan to the judgment of the Babel story (11:1-9 ^af) and ties Peleg to Abram (11:27–12:1 ^ag).
Summary for Gen 10:26-29: 10:26-29 ^ah Almodad was an ancestor, region, or tribe in modern Yemen.

• Sheleph was a tribe of Yemen.

• Hazarmaveth was related to Hadramaut in southern Arabia.

• Jerah is unknown, but was possibly associated with Mount Barach.

• Hadoram was an Arabian tribe.

• Uzal was Sana’a, an old capital of Yemen in pre-Islamic times.

• Diklah was a southern Arabian oasis in Mina.

• Obal was between Hodeida and Sana’a in southwest Arabia.

• Abimael was a Sabaean.

• Sheba was in southern Arabia (see 10:7 ^ai).

• Ophir was a region of southern Arabia between Sheba and Havilah; it was a source of gold (Isa 13:12 ^aj).

• Havilah: See 10:7 ^ak.

• Jobab was possibly Jobebitai in southern Arabia.
10:30 ^al Mesha was a region in northern Arabia, south of Hadramaut.

• Sephar is identified with Isfar, south of Hadramaut in Yemen.