Day 857: History and geography - Genesis 10 vs 1 - 20

1 These are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations.

6 The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 8-9 Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10-12 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city.

13-14 Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorim. 15-19 Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterwards the clans of the Canaanites dispersed. And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon in the direction of Gerar as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations. Genesis 10 vs 1-19 English Standard Version

Did you do history and geography at school? Not everyone's favourite subjects, but they are important in making sense of the world we live in. Genesis traces the family trees of those who survived the worldwide flood and describes places they spread to, and nations that emerged. I highlighted some names to show that the account is selective rather than exhaustive. It shows the great outworking of God's purposes for Israel and the nations that would be part of their journey. So what was said of the descendants of Japheth in vs 5?

At this stage of Bible history not much is mentioned of the descendants of Japheth – people who would be called 'the gentiles'. Verse 5 may imply that they moved furher away from the regions where the initial action would take place – i.e. places like Egypt and Canaan. Moving on from Japheth, what is significant about one of Ham's decendants in vs 10-12?

Descendants of Cush were the founders of great cities such as Babel and Ninevah. They were cities that boasted much of mankinds capabilities, but were inhabited by people who chose idols rather than the God of Noah. They were founders of Assyria, a nation that would conquer Israel.

Two other descendants of Ham were Egypt and Canaan. They are given as persons, and from them large regions of North Africa and the Middle East got their names. Both were to have a big part in the fortunes of Israel. The Israelites were afflicted by Egypt for over 400 years, and the tribes of Canaan were a constant thorn in Israel's side. It seems they grew worse over the years and Sodom and Gomorrah are bywords of how degenerate they became.

An important lesson from a reading like today – which many probably rush over – is that it shows that the Bible accurately records both history and geography. There are websites today which focus on how things said in the Bible are regularly being confirmed by archaeologists. Sites of ancient people and places have been discovered that sceptics thought never existed. The Bible is reliable and trustworthy. This means that the wonderful news of the gospel can also be trusted. Jesus said to His disciples: “It was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’” (Luke 24:46-47 Paraphrased version) Praise the Lord!