Genesis 10:21. Unto Shem also, &c.— It is observable that Moses introduces Shem in a particular manner, mentioning him as the father of the children of Eber, that is, more especially of that Hebrew race, Num 24:24 whose history he was about to compile. Eber, says Mr. Locke, signifies "beyond:" so that the sense of that text is, that Shem was the father of all those who dwelt beyond the river [Euphrates]. read more
21. Unto Shem—The historian introduces him with marked distinction as "the father of Eber," the ancestor of the Hebrews. read more
The Nations descended from NoahThis section gives the origins and situations of the nations of the world, as their relationships were conceived by the early Hebrews. Before passing to the history of the chosen race, the author traces the ties by which the rest of mankind are united with his own people, and shows the position of Israel among the nations. Each nation is regarded as a unity, and is summed up in the person of its supposed ancestor. The nations being treated as individuals, it... read more
(21-23) shem . . . the brother of Japheth the elder.—Really, the elder brother of Japheth. Though the rules of Hebrew grammar will admit of no other rendering, it is remarkable that both the Syriac and the Vulg. make the same mistake as our own version. In designating Shem as “the father of all the children of Eber,” attention is called to the fact that the descendants of Peleg, his elder son, are omitted from this table, and reserved for the Tôldôth Shem. (See Genesis 11:10.)The nations... read more
V. THE GENERATIONS OF THE SONS OF NOAH CHAPTER 10 Shem, Ham, and Japheth and Their Seed 1. The sons of Japheth (Genesis 10:2-5 ) 2. The sons of Ham (Genesis 10:6-20 ) 3. The sons of Shem (Genesis 10:21-32 ) Here we have the beginning of the nations. God knows them and keeps track of the nations of the earth. The order of the sons of Noah is here changed. Japheth comes first. Ham’s place is unchanged. Shem comes last. This order is given in view of Noah’s prophecy. Among the descendants... read more
10:21 Unto {i} Shem also, the father of all the children of {k} Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were [children] born.(i) In his stock the Church was preserved: therefore Moses stops speaking of Japheth and Ham, and speaks of Shem extensively.(k) Of whom came the Hebrews or Jews. read more
DESCENDANTS OF NOAH In this chapter the genealogy of Japheth is given first (vs.1-5). Their history is not pursued in the book of Genesis: their character was that of the energy of independence, and though at first it seems they were involved in the building of the tower of Babel (for all Noah's family evidently remained at that time close to that area), yet they soon spread northward and had no significant connection with Abraham and his descendants. There is more said about the family of... read more
THE NATIONS This chapter is more than a list of names of individuals. Several are names of families or nations, and make it the most important historical document in the world. You will see that the stream of the race divides according to the three sons of Noah. Whose division is first traced (Genesis 10:2 )? What part of the world was settled by his offspring (Genesis 10:5 )? This might read: “By these were the coast lands of the nations divided,” and research indicates that the names of... read more
The Fountains of History Gen 10:1-5 Shall I be far wrong if I suppose that few of you have ever read the tenth chapter of Genesis right through? Certainly, from a glance at the long, hard names, one would think that there is not much here for the edification of the reader, and that the best thing that can be done is to skip the chapter. Yet there are some home-words here, and hidden under rough husks are some germs, out of which perhaps we ourselves may have come! In the fifth verse you find... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 10:21
"Shem ... father of all the children of Eber ..." Eber gave his name to the Hebrews. "Hebrew = Eberite."[13] As Willis pointed out, it is the importance of Eber as the ancestor of the Hebrews that leads to the mention of his name at the head of the genealogy, despite the fact of his being, not the son, but the "great-grandson of Shem."[14]"Shem, the elder brother of Japheth ..." There is a marginal reference in the ASV on this place which reads "the brother of Japheth the elder." Willis and... read more