Genesis 10:21

THE SHEMITIC FAMILY, Genesis 10:21-31.

21. Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born That is, older than Ham, though younger than Japheth . Comp . note on Genesis 5:32. This expression, “elder brother,” seems to be inserted here to remind the reader that, although Shem was mentioned after Ham, he was really older than he. Shem’s posterity is mentioned last, to form a more immediate and natural connexion with the following history, which pertains to them exclusively. Shem signifies name, that is, great or distinguished name; made illustrious as the line through which God shines on the world the line in which arose the “NAME that is above every name.” Shem was the ancestor of the Persians, Assyrians, Arabians, and Lydians, (perhaps also of the Phenicians, see Genesis 10:15,) all great nations of western Asia; but he is especially conspicuous in this history as father of the “children of Eber,” the Hebrew people, through whom came revelation and the Messiah. For the meaning of “Hebrew,” see Genesis 10:24 and note. The names of most of these sons of Shem became early transferred to the countries they occupied.