DBG - January 4 - Genesis 10-12

This chapter contain the “Table of Nations” that explains how Noah’s descendants spread and founded the various nations of the world.  A summary of the seventy nations, which includes possible identification for the peoples mentioned, is included after we examine the chapter.

vs. 1 – It is interesting to note that Noah’s sons did not have children until after the Flood.

vs. 2 – The descendants of Japheth largely settle to the north and east.  Most European peoples descend from these.

vs. 8-12 – Nimrod is a fascinating figure.  While the many families were spreading out and settling new territories he unites many of them under his rule.  His is the first empire.  His descendants are not listed but the cities he ruled are.  His name may mean “rebellion” which shows us the motivation for his actions.  He was defying God.

vs. 15-19 – We will encounter many of these Canaanite tribes as God begins to settle His chosen people in the Promised Land.

vs. 20 – The descendants of Ham were largely in Africa, Canaan, and Southern Arabia, but spread also toward Greece and Babylon.

vs. 21 – Eber is highlighted.  His name is the root of the word “Hebrew”.

vs. 25 – Peleg means “divided”.  There are two theories about what inspired his name.  The first is the division of nations after the Tower of Babel (chapter 11), as discussed here: https://answersingenesis.org/bible-history/in-the-days-of-peleg/.  The other is that there was major geologic event, as discussed very technically here: https://www.icr.org/i/pdf/technical/Rightly-Dividing-the-Word-about-Peleg.pdf

vs. 31 – The descendants of Shem largely stayed in the Middle East.

This chapter con

This chapter tells of the events at the Tower of Babel before resuming genealogical records.

vs. 2 – Shinar is believed to be in the region near Babylon.

vs. 3-4 – God is never mentioned in their plans.  This is all out rebellion against God.

vs. 7 – It appears God is talking to Himself (Trinity)  just He did in 1:26

vs. 9 – Babel means “confusion”.  It is interesting the note the history of this place and its ties to confusion and rebellion.  We see it in the historic Babylonian empire that conquered Judah and that Daniel served under.  We see it in the future Babylon whose fall is marked in Revelation 18.

vs. 10-26 – This genealogy connects Shem to Abram. It covers about 352 years in ten generations.  The decline in life spans is glaring and also makes for some interesting chronological possibilities.  Noah died 2 years before Abram was born, but and Abram only outlived Shem by 25 years.  Abram could have met Shem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Reu, or Serug, but not his grandfather Nahor.

vs. 27 – Note that Lot is Abram’s nephew.

vs. 28 – Ur of the Chaldees is believed to have been near the Euphrates River southeast of Babylon.

vs. 31 – Terah led Abram and Lot out of Ur with intent to go to Canaan.  They travel about 600 miles northwest along the Euphrates River before settling in Haran.

vs. 32 – Terah means “delay, loiter” and is often accused of causing Abram to delay in obeying God’s call to go to Canaan.  However it appears that they were only there a short time, likely stopping because of Terah’s failing health and not a lack of faith to move forward.

This chapter is records Abram’s entrance into Canaan and his brief sojourn in Egypt.

vs. 1-3 – This is one of the most important passages in Scripture.  It is the basis for God’s covenant with Abram that leads to the Jewish nation and the Messiah.  It is likely that this call had already been placed on him before he left Ur with Terah, but Terah being the senior family member took the lead.

vs. 4 – Abram is 75 years old and will live another 100 years.

vs. 4 – Abram is not completely obedient to the commands of vs. 1 as he took Lot with him who was from his kindred and from his father’s house.

vs. 6 – Shechem is located in central Canaan.

vs. 7 – God reiterates His promise from vs. 1-3 by confirming that this land would be given to his descendants.

vs. 7, 8 – Note that Abram is careful to worship and thank God by building altars and offering sacrifices.

vs. 10 – Abram was commanded to go to Canaan, not Egypt.  This comes from a wavering in his faith, not trusting God to provide in the famine.  There will be consequences to this action.

vs. 11 – Sarai is 65 years old.

vs. 11-12 – One sin leads to another.  His lack of faith now leads him to lying.

vs. 14-15 – “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” (Sir Walter Scott, Marmion).  The Egyptians believed Abram’s lie and have now taken Sarai to become a wife of Pharaoh.

vs. 16 – Abram is given great gifts by Pharaoh to purchase Sarai as a bride and cement good relations.

vs. 17 – God intervenes to pull Abram and Sarai out of their predicament.  This was not done just for Abram and Sarai’s benefit, but to protect the coming Jewish nation and Messiah.

vs. 19-20 – Pharaoh had better sense about where Abram needed to be than Abram did!

I want to emphasize the shift in narrative we have witnessed in our reading today.  We spent time in chapters 10 and 11 seeing the expansion of human civilization after the Flood.  Chapter 12, though, focuses on one individual, Abram.  It is remarkable to see the hand of God in history bring this about.

As you can imagine after reading these chapters, there are not many hymns based on them.  I have chosen one titled “We Walk By Faith” by Isaac Watts that challenges us to walk by faith just as Abraham did.

 ’Tis by the faith of joys to come,
We walk through deserts dark as night;
Till we arrive at heav’n our home,
Faith is our guide, and faith our light.

The want of sight she well supplies;
She makes the pearly gates appear;
Far into distant worlds she pries,
And brings eternal glories near.

Cheerful we tread the desert through,
While faith inspires a heav’nly ray;
Though lions roar, and tempests blow,
And rocks and dangers fill the way.

So Abrah’m, by divine command,
Left his own house to walk with God;
His faith beheld the promos'd land,
And fir'd his zeal along the road.