Genesis 10:21-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 10:21-32

Two things especially are observable in this account of the posterity of Shem:? I. The description of Shem, v. 21. We have not only his name, Shem, which signifies a name, but two titles to distinguish him by:? 1. 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, etc.? Probably because Abraham and his seed, God's covenant-people, not only descended from Heber, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 10:21

Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber ,.... And for the sake of those Shem is particularly said to be the father of, is this genealogy given, and indeed the whole book of Genesis wrote: Eber was the great-grandson of Shem, and is here spoken of by anticipation, and Shem is called not the father of either of his immediate sons, but of the posterity of this man; because the Hebrews sprung from him in his line, among whom the church of God and the true religion were preserved,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 10:22

The children of Shem ,.... Whose names are Elam and Ashur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram ; and who, as Josephus F6 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 6. sect. 4. says, inhabited Asia, from Euphrates to the Indian ocean: his first born, Elam, was the father of the Elymaeans, from whom sprung the Persians, as the same writer observes, and his posterity are called Elamites, Acts 2:10 their country Elam, and is sometimes mentioned with Media, when the Persians and Medes are intended, Isaiah 21:2 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 10:23

And the children of Aram ,.... The four following persons are called the sons of Shem, 1 Chronicles 1:17 being his grandsons, which is not unusual in Scripture: Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash : the first of these sons of Aram, Uz, is generally thought to be the founder of Damascus; so Josephus F20 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 1. c. 6. sect. 4.) says. Usus founded Trachonitis and Damascus, which lies between Palestine and Coelesyria: there was a place called Uz in Idumea, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 10:24

And Arphaxad begat Salah ,.... Or Shelach which signifies "a sending forth"; that is, of waters: it is part of the name of Methuselah, given him by his father, as prophetic of the flood, see Genesis 5:21 and Arphaxad, who was born two years after the flood, gives this name to his first born, as commemorative of it: according to some, from him are the Susians F7 Vid. Bochart. Phaleg. l. 2. c. 13. col. 92. ; and in Susiana is found a city called Sele, by Ptolemy F8 Geograph. l. 6.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 10:21

Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber - It is generally supposed that the Hebrews derived their name from Eber or Heber, son of Shem; but it appears much more likely that they had it from the circumstance of Abraham passing over (for so the word עבר abar signifies) the river Euphrates to come into the land of Canaan. See the history of Abraham, Genesis 14:13 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 10:22

Elam - From whom came the Elamites, near to the Medes, and whose chief city was Elymais. Asshur - Who gave his name to a vast province (afterwards a mighty empire) called Assyria. Arphaxad - From whom Arrapachitis in Assyria was named, according to some; or Artaxata in Armenia, on the frontiers of Media, according to others. Lud - The founder of the Lydians. In Asia Minor; or of the Ludim, who dwelt at the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris, according to Arias Montanus. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 10:23

Uz - Who peopled Caelosyria, and is supposed to have been the founder of Damascus. Hul - Who peopled a part of Armenia. Gether - Supposed by Calmet to have been the founder of the Itureans, who dwelt beyond the Jordan, having Arabia Desert on the east, and the Jordan on the west. Mash - Who inhabited mount Masius in Mesopotamia, and from whom the river Mazeca, which has its source in that mountain, takes its name. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 10:24

Salah - The founder of the people of Susiana. Eber - See Genesis 10:21 . The Septuagint add Cainan here, with one hundred and thirty to the chronology. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 10:21

Verse 21 21.Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber. Moses, being about to speak of the sons of Shem, makes a brief introduction, which he had not done in reference to the others. Nor was it without reason; for since this was the race chosen by God, he wished to sever it from other nations by some special mark. This also is the reason why he expressly styles him the ‘father of the sons of Eber,’ and the elder brother of Japheth. (320) For the benediction of Shem does not descend... read more

Group of Brands