Thursday Night Bible Study

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Genesis 10-11 

"Why Do The Nations Rage?" • 1.14.10 • Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro.

- Chapter 10 and 11 are transitional chapters that God has preserved for us. They record for us the movement of men as they spread out over the known world.

- It's official name among those who work with scripture is "The Table Of Nations."

- To us, they are people whose names mean nothing. To the Israelites, these were great, established nations that surrounded them.

- Moses asserts that they all sprung from Noah's three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. Chapter 10 breaks down very simply like this:

I. The Sons Of Japheth (v.1-5)

II. The Sons Of Ham (v.6-20)

III. The Sons Of Shem (v.21 - 32)

- When the location and name are known, I'll just mention it along with the name.

Text

I. The Sons Of Japheth (v.1-5)

• Genesis 10:1-5 : "Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood. The sons of Japheth were Gomer (Sumeria/Eastern Turkey), Magog (Russia), Madai (Iran), Javan (Greece), Tubal, Meshech (Russia), and Tiras (Greece). The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz (German), Riphath (Europe), and Togarmah (Armenians). The sons of Javan were Elishah (Cypress), Tarshish (Spain or Britain), Kittim (Cypress), and Dodanim (Greece). From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations." : Most of Japheth's descendants landed north of Israel. They cover what most people call the Indo-European peoples.

- Of the places that we see here, Tarshish and Magog, will be cities that we hear about again.

- Tarshish was where Jonah fled. Scholars are somewhat divided on whether this is Spain or England. The Spanish believe that the ruins of Tarshish are under the water near Cadiz.

- Magog will be responsible for an attack on Israel someday, which they will lose in a miraculous show of strength from God.

- Notice that they are separated into their lands according to his language, which 11 explains.

II. The Sons Of Ham (v.6-20)

• Genesis 10:6-8 : "The sons of Ham were Cush (Southern Egypt/Northern Ethiopia/Sudan) , Mizraim (Egypt), Put (Libya), and Canaan (Israel). The sons of Cush were Seba (North Egypt), Havilah (North Arabia), Sabtah (Saudi Arabia), Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan." : These last four names are all located in Saudi Arabia.

• Genesis 10:8-12 : "Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, 'Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.' And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city)." : These people who would later become national enemies of Israel. It started when Cush gave his oldest son the name Nimrod! No wonder he was so angry!

- Nimrod's reputation, in English, sure sounds complimentary. In the original, it's not very flattering. Nimrod’s name means “Let’s Revolt!”

- They lived together and had a single purpose: Revolt against God.

˚ "The great success that attended all of Nimrod’s undertakings produced a sinister effect. Men no longer trusted in God, but rather in their own prowess and ability, an attitude to which Nimrod tried to convert the whole world." Jewish Legend

- Nimrod was the founder of the Babylonian kingdom, which included Assyria and Ninevah, who were war like people. The Assyrians were especially noted for it's vicious and cruel army.

- Ninevah, it's capital city, was the city that Jonah did not want to go to!

- His name became a slogan: Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord. Some say a better translation would be "a mighty hunter against the Lord."

- We'll talk more about his influential "ministry" in just a minute.

• Genesis 10:13-20 : "Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim) (Island of Crete). Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Heth; the Jebusite (Jerusalem), the Amorite (Jordan and Syria), and the Girgashite; the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite; the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite (Syria). Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed. And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands and in their nations." : Many of these names will become very familiar to you as we go along.

- The Philistines were exceptionally strong enemies during the time of David.

- Then the Lord shows Israel that the rest of Ham's descendants were their immediate neighbors. The "ites" all filled the land that they were now attempting to occupy.

III. The Sons Of Shem (v.21 - 32)

• Genesis 10:21-32 : "And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder. The sons of Shem were Elam (Persia), Asshur, Arphaxad (Ur Of The Chaldees), Lud (Assyria), and Aram (Syria). The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. Arphaxad begot Salah, and Salah begot Eber. To Eber (Ancient name for Hebrew) were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. And their dwelling place was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east. These were the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations. These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood." : A few notes of interest. Uz was the founder of the Arabian country where the story of Job took place. Joktan's son Jobab may be that same man.

- Most scholars believe that the book of Job is actually the oldest book in the Bible, though most of the chronological charts place the book of Job right here in this period of biblical time.

- A second area of interest is Moses' note on Peleg, the original soccer hero! Peleg's name means "division" and seems to be a reference to the continental shift that must have taken place.

- Finally, we're brought back to the fact that these were the families of the sons of Noah.

- This brings me to consider the purpose of God in leaving this for the people of Israel to digest. First, there is the level of information.

- It was likely of interest to them on basic levels, understanding how these nations came to be.

- The second level is one of inspiration. They are about to settle in the land. What sort of nation will they be?

- They have the same heritage that these other nations had. They too are Noah's sons and daughters. What mark will they leave on the earth?

- I think it's pertinent to remind ourselves that a godly heritage does not mean godly offspring. Noah was their father! This is a man who knew a man who knew Adam!

- These nations however, turned on their heritage and went against the Lord.

- In this way, these nations began to be a negative example to the people of Israel.

- Turn over to Deuteronomy 12. God is aware that the people's heart is wayward.

• Deuteronomy 12:28-30 : "Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. 'When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.'"

- Among all these nations, God would take Israel and make her a distinctive nation that followed after Him. This brings us to chapter 11 and what amounts to a flashback.

• Genesis 11:1-4 : "Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. Then they said to one another, 'Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.' They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.'" : Everyone seems to believe that unity would be a great human achievement.

- "If we could just be unified, what good could be accomplished!" The problem is that whenever unity happens among sinners, the result is a unity against God!

- I am often asked the question, "What language did the people all speak at the this time?" Most people would say that they spoke to one another in the language of Eden.

- Notice the repetition of the word "they." They journeyed, they found, they dwelt. It seems so innocent. However, this action is clear rebellion against God's command to go out and fill the earth.

- Their technology and ingenuity rose to the surface and they began to put their efforts toward a momument to themselves in the form of a tower.

- This ziggurat was a tower that would reach the heavens. It's believed that this was the beginning of the study of astrology.

- The tower was to be a statement: We won't be scattered! God, you cannot stop us!

- There is an interesting idea presented here. Notice that they are intending on making a large, stable tower. They had brick and then had asphalt.

- This tower was going to be waterproof! "God, we've heard that you are a god of water. You won't get us that way!"

- The tenor of their alliance was to promote themselves and to worship anything but God.

• Genesis 11:5-9 : "But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, 'Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.' So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth." : The men in the plain of Shinar have their plans. This is the best they have come with yet.

- They are unified and intent upon defeating God. You have to love the next line: "But the Lord!" It doesn't matter who or what is in the way.

- For the Christian, the phrase "but God" makes all the difference.

- God came down to see. He came down to inspect the work being done.

- This was at some point when a part of the tower was already complete. God admits that their unity will be the problem.

- Their common language would be their unifying factor, and if allowed to completely cooperate, they would completely destroy themselves!

- God, in another moment of creative genius, created language. Literally, He mingled the languages. Today, even when you hear a foreign language, there are different words, but often the same syllables or sounds. This is where the nations spread out into their own languages.

• Genesis 11:10-26 : "This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood. After he begot Arphaxad, Shem lived five hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Salah. After he begot Salah, Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. Salah lived thirty years, and begot Eber. After he begot Eber, Salah lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. Eber lived thirty-four years, and begot Peleg. After he begot Peleg, Eber lived four hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters. Peleg lived thirty years, and begot Reu. After he begot Reu, Peleg lived two hundred and nine years, and begot sons and daughters. Reu lived thirty-two years, and begot Serug. After he begot Serug, Reu lived two hundred and seven years, and begot sons and daughters. Serug lived thirty years, and begot Nahor. After he begot Nahor, Serug lived two hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begot Terah. After he begot Terah, Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years, and begot sons and daughters. Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran." : Shem’s descendants are the only ones that have years ascribed to them.

- This genealogy is different in that it marks the years that these men lived, but then says nothing about their death.

- You’ll note that the ages of these men were dramatically less than the lives of the men of Genesis 5.

- After Noah, who lived 950 years, the life span of these men decreased in each successive generation, until we get to Abraham, who we will learn lived only 175!

- Just like Genesis 5 though, there are 11 men that are followed here. When you do the math, you’ll discover that Abram was born when Noah was 890 years old.

- This means that Abram likely had contact with a man who had second hand information about the beginning of life on earth. Noah’s father was alive when Adam was still alive.

• Genesis 11:27-32 : “This is the genealogy of Terah: Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran begot Lot. And Haran died before his father Terah in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans. Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child. And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there. So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran.” : This last part of chapter 11 is a very significant portion of scripture, if only because it deals with Abraham. Terah's genealogy is singled out by Moses.

- It turns out that Terah was a "Terah"ble father!

- Turn with me to Joshua 24. Joshua gives us some important information about Abram's family life.

• Joshua 24:1,2 : "Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, 'Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods."

- According to Jewish legend, Terah was not just an idol worshipper, but an idol manufacturer!

- His influence spread over Abram, whose name means "exalted father" and Abram's nephew Lot. Lot's Father died before his Father Terah.

- Nobody is quite sure what exactly happened. Legend has it that Haran challenged the validity of the false idolatry of his Father and was put to death as a result.

- Moses comments that Abram's wife Sarai was barren, which was seen as a lack of favor from the Lord.

- So Abram's brother dies in Ur of the Chaldees, his wife is barren and then, as the family caravan stops in Haran, Abram's Father dies.

- Abram's life is certainly going in the wrong direction from the outset of this journey, which we will talk more about next week.

- For us, we come to the place where Moses wants us to concentrate our attention, which is on the life of Abraham.

Conclusion

- As we come to the end of this section, and the end of this first 11 chapters, we need to ask why God left this here for us.

- First, I think that the motif of choice is very strong. Will we choose to walk with Him and be a nation that glorifies Him or a nation that opposes Him?

- Will we choose to let Nimrod influence our life or will we let Abram be our main influence?

- Second, along those same lines heritage means little in the passing on a Father's influence. Noah, a godly man, had descendants who walked away from the Lord.

- At the same time, Terah, an idol worshipping heathen, was unable to pass along his ungodliness to his son Abram. There is both a warning for those who love the Lord and a comfort for those who think that any given background is hopeless.

- Finally, and most importantly, there is a thread that has to be acknowledged here. What happens to redemption? We have seen sin and judgment before, but each time, there is a hope of redemption.

- For Adam and Eve, the sin was rebellion. The judgment was expulsion and death. The hope of redemption was the line of Seth.

- For Cain, the sin was murder. He was forced to live a life in exile. The hope of redemption was in the sacrifice that he refused to offer.

- For the people of Noah's time, there was excessive wickedness. The judgment was a flood judgment. The hope of redemption was the ark.

- But now, the original Babelites have rebelled again. Their judgment is the confusion of their language. Now, what is the hope of their redemption?

- A people who will get up and go wherever the Lord sends them!

- God has a heart for these nations and Christians taking the word of redemption out to the nations is their hope of salvation!