Table Of Nations (Genesis 10)

The history of the world takes into account many ancient documents. Is discounting the history recorded in the world’s most popular document, the Bible, rather dishonest?

Who were Japheth’s descendants? It is possible that the name Japheth was corrupted by the Romans to Jupiter. Many ancient historians identify Madai with the Medes. Many other names have similar possibilities in ancient history.

These are the descendants of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, to whom children were born after the flood. Japheth’s sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Gomer’s sons: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. Javan’s sons: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. From these the island-nations were divided into their own countries, each according to their languages and their clans within their nations. (Genesis 10:1-5 CEB)

Who were Ham’s descendants? Accounts from ancient history appear to reveal where the descendants of Ham settled, largely in Africa and parts of Asia. The original name of Egypt is the land of Mizraim and is still called Misr in many languages including Arabic.

Ham's descendants had their own languages, tribes, and land. They were Ethiopia, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. Cush was the ancestor of Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. Raamah was the ancestor of Sheba and Dedan. Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod, a mighty warrior whose strength came from the Lord. This is why people say: “You hunt like Nimrod with the strength of the Lord!” Nimrod first ruled in Babylon, Erech, and Accad, all of which were in Babylonia. From there Nimrod went to Assyria and built the great city of Nineveh. He also built Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, as well as Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah. Egypt was the ancestor of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim, and Caphtorim, the ancestor of the Philistines. Canaan's sons were Sidon and Heth. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Later the Canaanites spread from the territory of Sidon and settled as far away as Gaza in the direction of Gerar. They also went as far as Lasha in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim. (Genesis 10:6-20 CEV)

Who were Shem’s descendants? Ancient and modern history considers Shem to be the ancestor of peoples from the Middle East to Asia, including the Semites.

Children were also born to Shem, ancestor of all the descendants of ‘Ever and older brother of Yefet. The sons of Shem were ‘Elam, Ashur, Arpakhshad, Lud and Aram. The sons of Aram were ‘Utz, Hul, Geter and Mash. Arpakhshad fathered Shelach, and Shelach fathered ‘Ever. To ‘Ever were born two sons. One was given the name Peleg [division], because during his lifetime the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Yoktan. Yoktan fathered Almodad, Shelef, Hatzar-Mavet, Yerach, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, ‘Oval, Avima’el, Sheva, Ofir, Havilah and Yovav — all these were the sons of Yoktan. Their territory stretched from Mesha, as you go toward S’far, to the mountain in the east. These were the descendants of Shem, according to their families and languages, in their lands and in their nations. These were the families of the sons of Noach, according to their generations, in their nations. From these the nations of the earth were divided up after the flood. (Genesis 10:21-32 CJB)

The history of the world takes into account many ancient documents. Is discounting the history recorded in the world’s most popular document, the Bible, rather dishonest? You decide!