Genesis 10:1

The Table of Nations

10:1 This is the account ¹  of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons ²  were born ³  to them after the flood.

Genesis 10:19

10:19 and the borders of Canaan extended ⁴  from Sidon ⁵  all the way to ⁶  Gerar as far as Gaza, and all the way to ⁷  Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.

[10:1]  ¹ tn The title אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת (’elle tolÿdot, here translated as “This is the account”) here covers 10:1–11:9, which contains the so-called Table of Nations and the account of how the nations came to be dispersed.

[10:1]  ² sn Sons were born to them. A vertical genealogy such as this encompasses more than the names of sons. The list includes cities, tribes, and even nations. In a loose way, the names in the list have some derivation or connection to the three ancestors.

[10:1]  ³ tn It appears that the Table of Nations is a composite of at least two ancient sources: Some sections begin with the phrase “the sons of” (בְּנֵי, bÿne) while other sections use “begot” (יָלָד, yalad). It may very well be that the “sons of” list was an old, “bare bones” list that was retained in the family records, while the “begot” sections were editorial inserts by the writer of Genesis, reflecting his special interests. See A. P. Ross, “The Table of Nations in Genesis 10 – Its Structure,” BSac 137 (1980): 340-53; idem, “The Table of Nations in Genesis 10 – Its Content,” BSac 138 (1981): 22-34.

[10:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “were.”

[10:19]  ⁵ map For location see Map1 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.

[10:19]  ⁶ tn Heb “as you go.”

[10:19]  ⁷ tn Heb “as you go.”