Introduction
It appears that redactor combined Genesis 10 with J (vv 1b; 8-19;
21; 24-30) and P (vv 1a, 2-7;20; 22-23; 31-32).[1]
Genesis 11.1-9 understood as another piece of redactor’s work which is
attributed to J[2]
and 11.10-26 to P.[3] P
gives the history of nations in the form of genealogies without any
geographical references and J presents history of nations with geographical
references and notes about their history especially the empire of Nimrod in Gen
10.8b-12.[4]
The summaries of P stress the word goy
(10.5,20,31,32).[5] In
Gen 10, the J’s table of nations starts from the conclusion to the Flood story
(9.18-19). The table of the nations in Gen 10 begins with toledoth/genealogy
formula: the genealogies of Noah.[6]
Nations
in Genesis 10 and 11
The nations are traced its origins from the three sons of
Noah (Gen 10.1).
- Nations from Japheth (10.2-5)
Here the genealogies serve to describe about the nations.
Seven sons/nations descended from Japheth. From one of these sons three nations
originated and from another four. Totally fourteen nations are originated. Scholars
corresponds the name Japheth to one of the Greek titans “Iapeton.” The name is Indo-European.
[7]
Gomer mentioned
in Ez. 38.6 and usually identified with Cimirray
of Assyrian and Kimmeriori of Greek sources. The Cimmerians were powerful Indo-European
people came from southern Russia and settled in Asia Minor (Cappadocia).[8] Magog is described in Ez. 38.2; 39.6. However, it is difficult to
identify Magog to any nation because of lack of evidence especially
non-biblical sources. G.J. Wenham suggests that Magog could be located
somewhere in Anatolia.[9] Madai or Medes refers to
another Indo-European person (cf. Is.13.17; 21:2; Dan 5:28; 6:16). Yavan indicates the
Inonian Greek people (Ez.27.13; Is.66.19). Tubal and Meshek often mentioned
together and they represent northern military states (Ez. 27:13; 32:26; 38:2–3;
39:1). Tubal is equivalent to Tibarèni in Pontus; and
Meshech is located in the Moschian mountains near Armenia. Their
range was from eastern Asia Minor to the Black Sea.[10] Tyras was
one of the Sea people.[11] Tyras has
been identified in classical writings as the Thracians living in the area of
the river Tiras.[12] But now it is common to identify them with the Aegean
pirates mentioned by Herodotus and Esruscans.[13]
Sons
of Gomer: Ashkenaz identified as the Scythians
by Herodotus.[14] The
Scythians came from southern Russia who removed Cimmerians from their land and eventually
settled in Media.[15]
Riphath is unknown in ancient writings. Josephus identified them with
Paphlagonians who lived between the Black Sea and Bithynia (Ant. 1.6.1).[16]
Togarmah appears as Tagarama (a region and city) in Hittite texts.[17]
Sons
of Javan: Javan had four sons. Elishah
identified to Cyprus, the land of copper.
Tarshsish is frequently identified with Tartesos, the Phoenician colony in
Spain.[18]
Kittim
is located in the island of Cyprus and refers to the people who inhabited
Cyprus as well as other islands east of Rhodes.[19]
In the Dead Sea scrolls, Kittim seemingly refers Romans.[20]
Dodanim is difficult to identify because of a textual problem: Dodanim or
Rodanim. The word, spelled
"Roda-nim" in 1 Chronicles 1:7, would represent the inhabitants of
Rhodes. These descendants of Japheth may be broadly summarized as Cimmerians,
Scythians, Medes, Hellenes, and Thracians.
- Nations from Ham (10.6-20)
The sons of
Ham were Israel’s closest neighbors, who exercised a profound influence on her
political and cultural life.[21] The Hamites inhabit an area from
Mesopotamia across Egypt and down to Sudan. [22]Ham had four sons. Cush refers Nubia
(Greek Ethiopis), the land of south of Egypt. The Egypt is the general Semitc
term for Egypt. Put is Lybia. Canaan includes the various peoples that
inhabited the territory of modern Israel, Lebanon, and part of Syria.[23]
Sons of Cush (10.7): They found in Arabia or close to it. Seba is usually identified with Upper Egypt on the Nile. Havilah
means "sand-land," which is unable to identify. Sabtah is near the
western shore of the Persian Gulf and identified as Shabwat. Raamah appears to be located in southwest
Arabia; Sabteca might be identified with Samudakë, east toward the Persian
Gulf.[24] Though there are various
theries about the identity of Nrmromd, it is clear that Nimrod was the founder
of all gratest citiys of Mesopotamia mentioned in verses 10-12: Babel, Erech,
Akkad, Nineveh and others.[25]
Sons
of Egypt (10.13-14): Ludim, Anamim, Naphtuhim and
Casluhim were unidentified. Among the rest, Lehabim are the Libyans, the
Pathrusim are the inhabitants of Upper Egypt,
and the Caphtorites are the Cretans.[26]
Sons
of Canaan(10.15-19): Sidon refers to all Phoenicia.
Heth indicates to the Hittites. The Jebusites are the inhabitants of Jerusalem
and its environs (Judg.1.21); the Amorites are named agter Amurru, the Early
Babylonian term for Palestine and Syria. The location of the Gigashites is
unknown. The Hivites probably inhabited central Palestine (Josh.11.3). 17b-18a
describes five Phoenician cities which can be identified.[27]
- Nations
from Shem (10.21-31; 11.10-26)
Concerning the compiler of Genesis, Shem’s genealogy
is important. It expresses through placing his genealogy in last and repeating
the same in Gen.11 with some overlapping. The compiler seems to be interested
to show the origin of Israel as a Holy nation through Abraham.
Elam is the country of east Babylon with Susa
as its capital (cf. Gen.14.1). Ashur was located in the middle Tigris.
Arpachshad can not be explained certainly, but here possibly represents
Babylon. Lud is identified as Lidya. Aram is a large group of people in Syria
and Mesopotamia.[28]
Uz,
Hul, Gether, and Mash are the descendants of Aram and are not well known. They seem to be
located in the north between Armenia and Mesopotamia.[29]
Eber is
singled out as the descendent of Shem because his children are most important.
His name easily identified as equal to Hebrew.[30] Thirteen nations or
places are linked to Joktan, the son of Eber (10.26-30). Many of these can be
linked with Yemen and the Hadhramut region of southern Arabia.[31] W.S. Towner argues that
table of nations indicates that Israel acknowledges its close kinship with Arab
people, even as it denies immediate kinship with the Canaanites.
The genealogy
of Shem continues in 11.10-26. It portrays nine generations from Shem to the
three sons of Terah. The patriarchal history starts from 11.27 with the
appended genealogy of Terah. The table of nations and genealogy of Gen.10 and11
show that the Story of Abraham emerges from the general history of the human
race.[32]
- Tower of Babel
God is the creator of the all human race
exists as a multiplicity of nations. After the flood, nations spread out over
the earth (10.32). It fits with “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth
and subdue it” (Gen.1.26). However, the tower of Babel was against this God’s
will and healthy existence of humanity. Babylon was the prototype of all
nations, cities, and empires that despise God's commandments and raise themselves
in pride.[33]
The dispersion of people from the tower of Babel makes sense with God’s wish to
scatter humans over the earth.
Westermann notices that “a multiplicity of nations with the wealth of
opportunities for development open to each is seen as fitting the human
condition and protective of humanity. But multiplicity of nations means
multiplicity of languages.”[34]
Conclusion
Genesis 10
and 11 is Israelites’ reflection upon ethnographic, geographic and historical
data with theological motive. P thinks that the descendants of Noah like people
from Adam to Noah in Gen.5 are receivers of God’s blessing and divine grace
(9.1=1.28). The beneficiaries of such grace are listed in the table of nations.
J thinks the existence of the nations manifests disclosure of God’s grace. K.
Luke observes that all the gentile nations are the children of Noah and through
Noah they are kin of Israel. This relationship causes to extend God’s
universalistic salvation to other nations through Israel (12.1-3).[35]
Bibliography
Ishida, Tomoo. “The Structure and Historical Implications of the Lists
of Pre-Israelites Nations.” Biblica
60/4 (1974):461-490.
Luke, K. “The Nations of the World
(Gen 10).” Bible Bhashyam
(June,1982):61-80.
Ross, Allen P. “The Table of Nations in Genesis 10-Its Content.” Bibliotheca
Sacra (January-March, 1981),22-34.
Ross, Allen P. “The Dispersion of the Nations in Genesis
11:1-9.” Bibliotheca Sacra
(April-June, 1981),119-138.
Speiser,
E.A. The Anchor Bible: Genesis. New
York: Doubleday,1964.
Towner, W.Sibley. Genesis.
Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press,2001.
Wenham, G.J. Word Biblical Commentary: Genesis 1-15. Vol. 1.Texas: Word
Books,1987.
Westermann, Claus. Genesis. Translated by David E. Green. Edinburgh: T&T clark,1987.
[1] K. Luke,
“The Nations of the World (Gen 10),” Bible
Bhashyam (June,1982):61; Claus Westermann, Genesis, Translated by David
E. Green (Edinburgh: T&T clark,1987,72.
[10] Allen P. Ross, “The Table of Nations in Genesis
10-Its Content,” Bibliotheca Sacra
(January-March, 1981),23.
[27] Westermann,
Genesis76-77. Tomoo Ishida, “The Structure and Historical Implications of the
Lists of Pre-Israelites Nations,” Biblica
60/4 (1974):485-487.
[33] Allen P. Ross, “The Dispersion of the Nations in Genesis 11:1-9,” Bibliotheca
Sacra (April-June, 1981),126.