Genesis 10:11. Out of that land went forth Asshur He was the son of Shem, Genesis 10:22: and, it seems that, not being able to endure Nimrod’s tyranny, who possessed himself of other men’s territories, (Chaldea, which Nimrod had seized upon, being Shem’s part,) he went away beyond Tigris, where he founded the empire of Assyria, whose chief city was Nineveh, Isaiah 23:13. read more
Genesis 10:15. The account of the posterity of Canaan, and of the land they possessed, is more particular than that of any other in this chapter; because these were the nations that were to be subdued before Israel, and their land was to become Immanuel’s land. And by this account it appears that the posterity of Canaan were both numerous and rich, and very pleasantly seated; and yet Canaan was under a curse. Canaan here has a better land than either Shem or Japheth; and yet they have a... read more
Genesis 10:21. Unto Shem, &c. The word Shem signifies a name; but two titles are also added whereby to distinguish him: 1st, He was the father of all the children of Eber. Eber was his great-grandson; but why should he be called the father of all his children, rather than of all Arphaxad’s or Salah’s? Probably because Abraham and his seed, from Eber, were called Hebrews. Eber himself, we may suppose, was a man eminent for religion in a time of general apostacy; and the holy... read more
10:1-11:26 GENEALOGIES FROM NOAH TO ABRAMNations descended from Noah (10:1-32)This genealogy must have been written hundreds of years after the time of Noah, when his descendants had multiplied and moved to many places. By that time differences in language, race and culture were noticeable. The purpose of the listing here is to trace the origin of these groups, not to name every single descendant of Noah.Again the genealogy is simplified, being based on a selection of seventy descendants. Most... read more
went forth: Targum of Onkelos says: "he [Nimrod] went forth into Asshur" (i.e. invaded it). Nineveh. The competitor of Babylon as the capital of Assyria. the City Rehoboth = better, "the city boulevards", in parenthesis. read more
great: i.e. the four cities Nineveh, Rehoboth, Calah, and Resen. Resen had ceased to be a great city in the time of Sennacherib. read more
Ludim = the Lydians, compare Jeremiah 46:9 . Ezekiel 27:10 ; Ezekiel 30:5 . read more
Philistim: hence the name of Palestine. Compare Amos 9:7 . Jeremiah 47:4 . The parenthesis in this verse should come after Caphtorim as these gave the name Philistine. The five cities of the Philistines (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath) were on the confines of Egypt (Deuteronomy 2:23 ). read more
Sidon = the oldest Canaanite city. Heth = the Hittites. read more
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Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 10:21-32
- XXXIII. Shem21. אבר 'eber, “‘Eber, yonder side; verb: pass, cross.”22. עילם 'eylām, “‘Elam.” עוּל ‛ûl, “suckle.” עלם ‛ālam, “hide; be mature.” ארפכשׁד 'arpakshad, “Arpakshad.” כשׂד ארף 'arp keśed, “boundary of Kesed, or (von-Bohlen) Arjapakshata, beside Aria.” ארם 'ǎrām, “Aram, high; verb: be high.”23. עוּץ ‛ûts, “‘Uts; verb: counsel; be firm, solid.” חוּל chûl, “Chul; verb: rub, twist, writhe, be strong, await.” גתר geter, “Gether, bridge?” משׁ meshek, “Mash; related: feel,... read more