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10:1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
10:2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
10:3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
10:4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
10:5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
10:6 And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.
10:7 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtechah: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
10:8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
10:9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
10:11 Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, 10:12 And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.
10:13 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, 10:14 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.
10:15 And Canaan begat Sidon his first born, and Heth, 10:16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, 10:17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, 10:18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
10:19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.
10:20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.
10:21 Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.
10:22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
10:23 And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.
10:24 And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.
10:25 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.
10:26 And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, 10:27 And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, 10:28 And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, 10:29 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.
10:30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.
10:31 These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
10:32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

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King James Bible:Genesis
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 10

Overview:
The sons of Noah, of Japheth, of Ham. (1-7) Nimrod the first
monarch. (8-14) The descendants of Canaan, The sons of Shem.
(15-32)

1-7 This Chapter shows concerning the three sons of Noah, that
of them was the whole Earth overspread. No nation but that of
the Jews can be sure from which of these seventy it has come.
The lists of names of fathers and sons were preserved of the
Jews alone, for the sake of the Messiah. Many learned men,
however, have, with some probability, shown which of the nations
of the Earth descended from each of the sons of Noah To the
posterity of Japheth were allotted the isles of the Gentiles;
probably, the Island of Britain among the Rest. All places
Beyond The Sea from Judea are called isles, Jer 25:22. That
promise, Isa 42:4, The isles shall wait for his Law, speaks of
the Conversion of the Gentiles to the Faith of Christ.

8-14 Nimrod was a great Man in his Day; he began to be mighty
in the Earth, Those before him were content to be upon the same
level with their neighbours, and though every Man bare rule in
his own House, yet No Man pretended any further. Nimrod was
resolved to Lord it over his neighbours. The Spirit of the
Giants before the Flood, who became mighty men, and men of
renown, Ge 6:4, revived in him. Nimrod was a great hunter.
Hunting then was the method of preventing the hurtful increase
of wild beasts. This required great courage and address, and
thus gave an opportunity for Nimrod to command others, and
gradually attached a number of men to one leader. From such a
beginning, it is likely, that Nimrod began to rule, and to force
others to submit. He invaded his neighbours' rights and
properties, and persecuted innocent men; endeavouring to make
all his own By force and violence. He carried On his oppressions
and violence in defiance of God himself. Nimrod was a great
ruler. Some way or other, By arts or arms, he got into power,
and So founded a monarchy, which was the terror of the mighty,
and bid fair to rule all the world. Nimrod was a great builder.
Observe in Nimrod the nature of ambition. It is boundless; much
would have more, and still cries, Give, give. It is restless;
Nimrod, when he had four cities under his command, could not be
content till he had four more. It is expensive; Nimrod will
rather be at the charge of rearing cities, than not have the
honour of ruling them. It is daring, and will stick at nothing.
Nimrod's name signifies rebellion; tyrants to men are rebels to
God. The days are coming, when conquerors will No longer be
spoken of with praise, as in Man's partial histories, but be
branded with infamy, as in the impartial records of the Bible.

15-32 The posterity of Canaan were numerous, rich, and
pleasantly seated; yet Canaan was under a Divine Curse, and not
a Curse causeless. Those that are under the Curse of God, may,
perhaps, thrive and prosper in this world; for we cannot know
Love or Hatred, the blessing or the Curse, By what is before us,
but By what is within us. The Curse of God always Works really,
and always terribly. Perhaps it is a secret Curse, a Curse to
the soul, and does not work So that others can see it; or a slow
Curse, and does not work soon; but sinners are reserved By it
for a Day of wrath. Canaan here has a better land than either
Shem or Japheth, and yet they have a better Lot, for they
inherit the blessing. Abram and his seed, God's Covenant people,
descended from Eber, and from him were called Hebrews. How much
better it is to be like Eber, the Father of a family of saints
and honest men, than the Father of a family of hunters after
power, worldly wealth, or vanities. Goodness is true greatness.

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