Genesis 10 gives an account of how the earth was repopulated by the sons of Noah, after the flood. Verses 1-5 gives an account of the first son of Noah, Japheth and his children and settlement by the isles of the Gentiles (meaning islands by the sea – Isaiah 11:11; Jeremiah 25:22). Verses 6-14 gives an account of the last son of Noah, Ham and his descendant with special mention given to Nimrod (Verses 8-12), who is one of the descendants of Ham, a mighty hunter and the first king (Genesis 10:10). Verses 15-2o continues the account of the descendants of Ham through his son Canaan, and verses 21-31 lists the families of godly Shem, to whom was born Eber, the forefather of Abram, from whom the Hebrews came. This account is generally referred to as the Table of Nations or the genealogies of the sons of Noah and while one can get lost in the names of the sons, what is of note, is to recognize a few key facts.
First, the earth was repopulated by the sons of Noah, who were born after the flood … meaning that the blessing of God for man to multiply and inherit the earth (Genesis 1:28), to sustain life, despite the destruction in and through the flood, still stood strong.
Second, though Nimrod, is mentioned specifically with reference to his conquests and as the first king, after the flood, seldom do we hear of Nimrod or any of his exploits today, which reassures us, that kings and kingdoms of the earth are short-lived and soon forgotten. The only kingdom that is indestructible and which stands for ever is the kingdom of God, with Christ Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords (Daniel 2:44, Revelation 19:16).
Third, after the flood, Noah’s children and descendants enjoyed the pleasure of a land that was undivided, which geologists refer to as the Pangaea, but the birth of Peleg to Eber, the descendant of Shem was a reminder indicating the hand of God in the matters of the earth. Peleg was so named, because in his days, the Divine divided the land, setting boundaries for the nations (Deuteronomy 32:8), determining their pre-appointed times (Acts 17:26). The continents as we know is, was designed (and divided) by God himself, not mere geological and natural phenomena. Peleg is also known as Phalec (Luke 3:35).
Points to ponder:
Despite the sting of physical death, life goes on, for it is a blessing of God. However, for life to be eternal, and for one to tide over spiritual death, one must know God and his son, Jesus Christ (John 17:3), believing in him (John 3:16), who is the blessing of God for abundant and eternal Life, for all mankind, to all who believe in him.
Even though it may at times seem like the rulers of our lands (some rebellious like Nimrod) are kings over us, only the kingdom of God stands for ever and is indestructible. Whose kingdom are you part of – man’s or God’s? Is the kingdom of God within you (Luke 17:21)?
The Divine Most High God divides his people from the rest so that they are a people that are sanctified (set apart) to praise him and bring glory to his name (1 Peter 2:9). He has, and is, and will always be in control, despite what may seem as divided footholds to us. You can be sure that he will be your boundary (Psalm 3:3) as he has so planned in advance for your life, at its appointed time (Jeremiah 29:11). Are you set apart for God?
Genesis 10:1-32 (KJV)
1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
6 And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.
7 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtechah: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.
10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
11 Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,
12 And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.
13 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
14 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.
15 And Canaan begat Sidon his first born, and Heth,
16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,
17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
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.
20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.
21 Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.
22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
23 And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.
24 And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.
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.
26 And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
27 And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,
28 And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
29 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.
30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.
31 These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
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.