Genesis 10:8-11
Summary for Gen 10:8-12: 10:8-12 a Special attention is given to the early history of Babylonia and Assyria, the Mesopotamian empires that would conquer and exile Israel and Judah.10:9 b Nimrod attained great fame by conquest and terror; his empire extended from Babylonia in the south to Assyria in the north (10:10-12 c).
• the greatest hunter in the world: Assyrian monarchs glorified their own power, often depicting themselves as valiant hunter-conquerors.
Summary for Gen 10:10-12: 10:10-12 d Babylonia is the area surrounding the Tigris and Euphrates in southern Mesopotamia. This kingdom eventually reached into northern Mesopotamia (Assyria).
• Of the cities mentioned, Babylon is most important because of its role in building the Tower of Babel (see 11:4 e and study note).
• Erech was ancient Uruk and is now Warka in southern Iraq (see Ezra 4:9-10 f).
• Akkad was the ancient Agade north of Babylon, home of the famous ruler Sargon (2370–2295 BC).
• The location of Calneh is uncertain, though it is presumably one of Nimrod’s cities located north of Aram-naharaim in southern Mesopotamia (cp. Amos 6:2 g).
• building ... Nineveh: Like Cain, Nimrod built cities (see Gen 4:17 h and comments). Nineveh was an ancient Assyrian city on the east bank of the Tigris River in northern Iraq.
• Rehoboth-ir was a daughter-city of Nineveh or was located nearby.
• Calah is modern Tell Nimrud, south of Nineveh.
• Resen is possibly modern Selamiyeh, northwest of Tell Nimrud.
Copyright information for
TNotes