Links

Genesis Chapter 10 “Table of Nations”

Please note unlike my well-referenced sources my content may contain errors and omissions so please be cautious if using for external educational purposes. If you find errors or have comments I am happy to hear from you by e-mail at bottom of any page.

The Generations of Noah, also called the Table of Nations is a genealogy of the sons of Noah, Japheth, Ham, and Shem, according to the Hebrew Bible Genesis 10 and their dispersion into many lands after the Flood. It shows how God preserved the human race through Noah and his family and how they repopulated the earth. The genealogy also highlights the different nations that descended from each son of Noah which helps to explain the diversity of cultures and languages in the world today. The accuracy of the genealogy of the sons of Noah in Genesis is a matter of debate among historians and scholars. Some argue that it provides an accurate account of the generations following the flood while others believe that it may contain some inaccuracies or omissions due to its oral tradition origins. However, many historians agree that this genealogy serves as an important historical document for understanding ancient Near Eastern history and culture.

The following is a summary of the descendants at a high level for Japheth, Ham, and Seth. Please understand rabbinic sources claim much more detail I DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TRY AND SUMMARIZE! "Midrash ha-Gadol” "The total number of the countries was 104; of islands, 99; of languages, 72; and of scripts, 16. To the share of Japheth fell 44 countries, 33 islands, 22 languages, and 5 scripts; Ham received 34 countries, 33 islands, 24 languages, and 5 scripts; Shem, 26 countries, 33 islands, 26 languages, and 6 scripts." The sons of Shem were not identified by the Rabbis because they were known, only the following places are given: Arthasia (city in Phenicia); Gebalene (in Idumea); Acra (in the Lebanon); Aradno (in Phenicia); Emesa (in Syria); Epiphania (in Syria); Callirhoe (to the east of the Dead Sea); Sidon; Tripoli (Phenicia); Cyprus.

Japheth (Son Noah) ► Europe

The 7 sons: 1) Gomer (The Cimmerians) North and South of Black and Caspian Sea, Russia, Persia, Greece, Turkey, Slavs, later Germany, France, Spain, Britain, possibly Africa, 2) Magog (The Scythians) lived north of the Caspian Sea, Russia, 3) Madai (The Medes) settled south of the Caspian Sea, 4) Javan (The Ionians or Greeks), 5) Tubal (The Turks) lived south of the Black Sea, 6) Meschech (The Slavs) lived between the Black and Caspian Seas, and 7) Tiras (The Etruscans) were west of the Black Sea. “North” = cold

Ham (Son Noah) ►Egypt and Africa

The 4 sons : 1) Mizraim (Egypt), 2) Cush (Ethiopia, Mesopotamia), 3) Put (Libya), and 4) Canaan (Canaan / Phoenicia). “south”=hot.

Ludim
Anamim
Lehabim
Naphtuhim
Pathrusim
Casluhim
Caphtorim

Zidon
Heth
Jebusites
Amorites
Girgashites
Hivvites
Arkites
Sinites
Arvadites
Zemarites
Hamathites

Sheba
Dedan

Shem (Son Noah) ► Mideast

The 4 sons: 1) Elam (Persia), 2) Asshur (Assyria [N. Mesopotamia]), 3) Arpachshad (Babylonia, Ur Chaldees), 4) Lud (Anotolia/Turkey), 5) Aram (Syria). “middle”=not too hot not too cold.