Table of Nations

The beginning of today's nations, from Genesis 10

July 0, 2005

The table of nations in Genesis 10 is the first recorded list of the descendants of Noah; Shem, Ham and Japheth, which provides the genealogy of the nations known at that time. The principle behind it is more theological than hereditary: to make it clear that these descendants exist because of Noah’s righteousness.

The Hamites inhabited the south (Africa); the Japhethites, the north (Europe); and the Semites, the central zone (Middle East) of the world as it was known at that time.

There are a total of 70 nations: 14 sons and grandsons of Japheth, 30 sons and grandsons of Ham and 26 sons and grandsons of Shem, adding up to 70 sons of the ancient fathers, or 70 nations. The Midrash, Tanchuma 26c, states that the earth was divided into 70 languages. The number seven is also used in Matthew’s genealogy, which is divided into three periods of 14 generations each.

Augustine calculates 72 nations because he attributes Elisa and Kenan to Japheth. In the Talmud and in the Midrash, the ancient names were changed to modern names of that time, creating a “modern” geography of the table of nations.

SOURCE: Israel Today