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Sermon preached on Genesis 10 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/18/2023 in Petaluma, CA.
Sermon Manuscript
Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
We come today to what is known as the Table of Nations. Here we have a list of seventy peoples or nations that came forth from Noah’s three sons. While one might be tempted to think of this passage as a dull genealogical record, it really is a wonderful treasure preserved for us. As far as I am aware, such an expansive list of historical nations and their origins is unparalleled in any other ancient document that we have. Such antiquity gives us some challenge as we study this passage, because there are a number of peoples recorded here that are so ancient that we aren’t able to identify every one with certainty. But there is much we do know, and can learn about from this passage, and so we have a wonderful historical artifact to this early history of our postdiluvian world. And yet, while this is a text of history, it is also simultaneously a religious text. Moses recorded Genesis especially for the religious purposes to help Israel understand their past and their current place in the world. Moses’ recording of this for such purposes would help Israel see God’s redemptive plans at work in human history. As Christians, we have been grafted into Israel’s history, so we should put ourselves in Israel’s shoes as we study this. How Israel would have thought about this passage will help us know how to think about this passage. I remind you that Israel would come from Shem’s line, a fact that is seen here, but somewhat muted until next chapter.
Similarly, as we study today’s passage we should also remember the context that set this up. We have two contrasting blessings and curses that stand over this list of seventy nations. First, we have what God gave to Noah and sons after they got off the ark. Genesis 9:1 recorded God blessing them and calling them to multiply and fill the earth. So then, this Table of Nations records how such divine blessing in common grace allowed for this growth and expanse of these three sons of Noah that we find recorded here. But then we have Noah’s prophetic blessing and curse that we just received at the end of last chapter. That is when Noah pronounced a curse upon Ham’s descendant of Canaan and blessing upon Japheth and Shem. We should also be keeping in mind Noah’s blessings and cursing and be looking to see how and in what way it finds fulfillment.
Let us in our first point then begin by considering Japheth and his descendants. This is in verses 2-5. Observe first that this is by far the shortest list among the three sons of Noah. It also contains little to no exceptional notations. What I mean is that generally in Biblical genealogies there is a typical rhythm and template they will follow in chronicling the generations. Yet, sometimes the records will interrupt the formula to provide some additional note of interest. It is often such “interruptions”, so to speak, that provide the things we especially want to observe and think about. But here with the sons of Japheth it is a rather brief account compared to the generations of Ham and Shem, with little to no exceptional notations. One thing that helps us with here is that we can treat Japheth’s records as sort of the basic template. Then when the rest of the records are given with Ham and Shem we have that to help us recognize when there is special notes given to us.
So then, as to the specifics of Japeth’s descendants, we see that it records various descendants who ultimately end up in places throughout Europe and Asia Minor. For example, in verse 2, we read of Javan. Javan is understood to be the patriarch of the Greeks. You might recall from the history books that the Ionian people are part of the Greek heritage, well, the Hebrew word Javan is basically the word Ion. So then verse 5 mentions them as coastland peoples who then spread in their lands. So, we can think of how these peoples settled up and down the coastland of the Mediterranean Sea in Europe and ultimately spread out from there. Likewise, in verse 2 you have Tubal, which the ancient historian Josephus said settled in Asia Minor, i.e. modern Turkey. So then, it is generally assumed that Japheth is the patriarch of various European and Asian peoples. In other words, probably most of our people at our church would have Japheth as their ancestor. Noah’s blessing specifically spoke of how enlarged Japheth would become and that certainly seems to be the case.
Let me then note what I do not see here. There is nothing here that would draw our attention to any possible conflict with Israel. At the time of Moses, there isn’t any significant conflict yet between Israel and any descendants of Japheth. As Noah’s blessing had called for, there would be peaceful fraternal relations between Shem and Japheth. I point that out, because while that was true at the time of Moses recording Genesis, that would not stay that way. As history progresses, eventually the Greeks and later the Romans do afflict Israel. Especially egregious are ways that both Greeks and Romans would defile Israel’s temple in Jerusalem. In terms of Noah’s blessing, by the time of the New Testament, things don’t seem to be the way the story is supposed to go. That, of course, sets us up to see that the story was not yet finished.
Let us turn next to consider the sons of Ham. In general, we see that from his line come peoples that ultimately settle especially in Africa, but also in parts of the Middle East. In verse 6, Cush is understood to be the people who settle in Ethiopia. Egypt, of course, is Egypt, which for a time was quite a large dynasty in antiquity controlling expansive part of both northern Africa and the Middle East. Put is a reference to the Libyans. And Canaan becomes, well, Canaan, with many more specific tribes that come from that line.
Starting at verse 8, we have a break in the normal formula to tell us about this mighty Nimrod. He is described as the first on the earth to be a mighty man. We might immediately recognize that this same language was used back in Genesis 6 to describe the giant Nephilim in the preflood world. So Nimrod may be the first of such mighty men in this new postflood world, but the language is too reminiscent of how the old world had such mighty men before it was destroyed for its wickedness. On the one hand, he might seemed to be described in a positive way. He is described as some sort of mighty hunter that was so well known that it is said that God took notice and that a proverb was made about him. And yet then in verse 10 we are told that he founded a kingdom, which included Babel, also known as Babylon. That’s the same location, by the way, of the infamous Tower of Babel that we’ll learn about next week, where God struck and scattered the nations in their arrogance. He is mentioned as also establishing his kingdom in Accad (Akkad). History elsewhere records the first really known imperialistic empire as the Akkadian empire under the military conquests of Sargon of Akkad. Some wonder if this Nimrod was that Sargon of Akkad. Well, then after that, we see this mighty Nimrod goes on to found Nineveh, which eventually becomes the capital of Assyria. In Israel’s later history, Assyria and Babylon become the two main enemies that end up conquering them. But here, Nimrod is painted as some mighty man to found some expansive kingdom, and likely we are to understand he subdued these places by imperialistic force. So, Nimrod’s might is subtly painted not so much as famous but infamous. Certainly, the results of his founding Nineveh and Babylon would later go on to haunt Israel. I would note that when Moses recorded this, that Babylon and Assyria was not an immediate threat to Israel. But that area by then had already been an imperialistic dynastic power. Genesis here tells us the origin of that imperialism with Nimrod of Ham’s line.
Another item that is called to our attention is in verse 14. There we learn that the Philistines came from the Ham’s line as a descendant of Egypt. We learn elsewhere how they eventually migrate from the island of Caphtor to the coast of the land of Canaan. As Israel would conquer the land of Canaan after the Exodus, a main enemy that would continue to haunt them there would be the Philistines.
So then, verses 15-19 devote a lot of attention to describe all the Canaanite peoples. It also describes the geographical range of their land. Again, from the context of Israel, this was especially relevant. We’ll see soon in Genesis how God will promise the Land of Canaan to Israel, with geographical borders similar to this. It will be because all these Canaanite tribes become so wicked. Here we see that they had grown so big and powerful at first. But again, this doesn’t fit Noah’s curse upon Canaan. They don’t seem to be at this point in subservience to Shem and Japheth. Rather, they seem to be doing quite well on their own, actually. In reality, it was God showing patience to them that they might yet repent. And God gave them warnings as we can infer from verse 19 when Sodom and Gomorrah are mentioned. These are places that God would end up destroying in radical fire because of their wickedness. But that judgment would not cause the Canaanites to repent of their own sin and turn to God.
So then, Ham’s line sets us up with concerns of the enemies that Israel would have to end up facing. Most immediately at the time of Moses, Israel would have to face the Canaanites and soon after that the Philistines. They would ultimately face destruction at the imperialism of Assyria and then the Babylonians. So many of Israel’s early enemies are found right here among the sons of Ham.
Let us now turn to consider the sons of Shem starting in verse 21. Let us begin by noting that the name Shem is where the word Semitic comes from. Properly speaking, Semitic peoples cover a wide group of different peoples and nations that descend from Shem. Also notice that verse 21 begins by mentioning that this is the line that Eber will be from. Eber is then mentioned down in verse 24 as being born in his place in the genealogy. Why does it start by pointing out that Shem is Eber’s line? Well, Eber, as we’ll see next chapter, is a patriarch to Abraham, and thus Israel’s history is traced through Eber. More specifically, the name Eber is where the term Hebrew comes from. The Israelites are also named Hebrews because they come from Eber. So Shem’s genealogy here highlighted for the Israelites reading this that this was their heritage here under Shem.
So then, Shem’s lineage also has some notable peoples and nations flowing from it. Looking at just the first generation mentioned in verse 22, you have Elam which is where the Persians flow from. You have Asshur which is where the Assyrian peoples flow from. You have Arphaxad which antiquity records as where the Chaldean, i.e. Babylonian, peoples flow from. You have Lud which is though to the the Lydians in western Asia Minor. And then you have Aram which is the patriarch of the Syrians.
Let me step back and try to paint all of this on the map. When you compare this on a map, Japheth’s descendants end up mainly to the north and then flowing out from there to the east and the west. Ham’s lineage is especially in Africa but also in the Middle East. So then, Shem’s lineage is really stuck in the middle, with especially a bunch of geographical overlap with Ham’s line. That is why Ham’s Nimrod can be said to have early on conquered and controlled the geographical area of Babylon and Assyria, even though we just noted that the Babylonian and Assyrian ethnic people groups actually flow from Shem’s line.
So then we come to an interesting note for Shem’s line in verse 25. There it goes into some detail regarding Eber. It says that he has two descendants, Peleg and Joktan, and that it was at that time the earth was divided. This likely refers to the Tower of Babel incident that we’ll study next chapter, when all the world ends up divided by God over language and ends us dispersing all over the earth. But here this split between Peleg and Joktan becomes the occasion for Genesis to only follow Joktan’s line from there. Given that this chapter is highlighting all these nations, it might be suggestive that Joktan’s line is of greater world importance. Yet, it is actually Peleg’s line that Israel will come from. We know that because next chapter will turn to focus more specifically just on Shem’s line. It will give us a genealogy there of Shem. But in that genealogy, it will do the opposite. It will not detail Joktan’s line, but instead it would detail Peleg’s line. Through Peleg’s line will come Abraham, patriarch of Israel, and our father of the faith. So, from a world stage, we might infer from Genesis 10 that Israel didn’t really make news. But next chapter, from a perspective of redemption and religion, Israel will quickly become the focus and the main character in God’s story of redemption.
Let me now spend a moment assessing all that we’ve seen today. As we’ve studied these three lines today of Shem, Ham, and Japeth, we could certainly have delved further into the details. I could have told you something of what we know about all seventy of these peoples. But as we consider them today from the perspective of Israel reading them, it is a listing of the Gentiles. I remind you that the term Gentiles just means nations, but in common usage it is meant to distinguish Israel from the rest of the nations. That’s what we have in Genesis 10. As mentioned, it doesn’t even go into the Israel’s specific wing of Shem’s genealogy. This is a table of the nations that are not Israel. This is the earliest register of the Gentiles.
And what have we only begun to see, from the perspective of God’s elect? If you are Israel, a lot of names stand out here because of how they have afflicted you, not to mention for their general wickedness. From the lens of God’s elect, this is a register of nations of which so very many of them have opposed God’s people. As we move farther and farther along into Scripture, we find historical records that chronicle such opposition. And we also find the prophetic books speaking oracles against various nations, declaring God’s judgment not only for their general wickedness, but especially for how they have afflicted God’s people in Israel.
And yet that is where Israel comes in. I mentioned how just next chapter we’ll see the nations divided. And we’ll also see the root of Israel as Abraham is listed in a Shem genealogy through Peleg. Genesis will then immediately turn to focus in specifically on Abraham and his descendants. In other words, in just one chapter we’ll see God’s redemptive plans take a turn to focus on one family, on one nation of people. This chapter and next shows us a world full of nations and begins to hint at the conflicts that will exist. Nation will fight against nation. There will be wars and rumors of wars. God’s people will especially find the nations raging against them. But God will turn to work his plan of redemption through Abraham. And so right away, God will call Abraham into covenant with him. Look at that in Gen. 12:1-3:
Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Through one nation, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Through Abraham’s seed, this table of nations in Genesis 10 can find this blessing. Do you see what’s going on here in Genesis? Today’s chapter and next chapter highlights the many nations on earth and also their division. But then it will turn immediately to draw our attention to God’s plan of redemption. We can talk about all the many wonderful aspects of that redemption plan. But part of that plan is God’s reunification effort of a divided humanity. God will ultimately unite the nations together as one people and one holy nation in the seed of Abraham, in Christ Jesus. To ever think God’s plan of salvation was just for Abrahams ethnic descendants misses how close Genesis 12 is to here in Genesis 10. Genesis 10 sets us up to see all the people who need salvation, and then God turns to tell us in Genesis 12 that the savior of the world will come from this line of Abraham, in King Jesus.
Sadly, so many of the nations will not submit to King Jesus. As Psalm 2 warns, they will find the terrible judgment of Christ for their defiance. But for all who will repent of our sins and turn in faith to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, we will be saved. King Jesus will usher in an eternal era of peace as he unites the nations under his flag. He will bring us united people into the new creation and we live in peace, purity, and unity from then on and forever.
But we don’t have to wait until his return to begin a measure of enjoying this. Remember, Luke chapter 10. Luke 10 is the grand parallel to Genesis 10. That is when Jesus sent out the seventy witnesses to proclaim the good news of his coming kingdom. Another time Jesus sent out twelve witnesses, with that number representing his witness to the twelve tribes of Israel. But in Luke 10 he sent out seventy witnesses and that surely is to be read in light of here in Genesis 10. He was bearing witness to all the nations of the earth on the coming of his kingdom. Since then, he has continued to call his people, even us, to bring that gospel to all the nations.
As we continue to evangelize the nations, we are beginning to unite in the peace of Christ. Even here, as we are gathered today in Petaluma, I look around and see people from various peoples and nations originally. Yes, many of us might have connection as citizens of the United States. But if we are in Christ, we have an even more significant connection as one holy, spiritual nation under God. This is something we have begun to enjoy now as Christians, and will enjoy all the more in the full when he returns.
Amen.
Copyright © 2022 Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
All Rights Reserved.
