2The sons of Yefet were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Yavan, Tuval, Meshekh and Tiras. 3The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Rifat and Togarmah. 4The sons of Yavan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim. 5From these the islands of the nations were divided into their lands, each according to its language, according to their families, in their nations.

6The sons of Ham were Kush, Mitzrayim, Put and Kena‘an. 7The sons of Kush were S’va, Havilah, Savta, Ra‘mah and Savt’kha. The sons of Ra‘mah were Sh’va and D’dan.

8Kush fathered Nimrod, who was the first powerful ruler on earth. 9He was a mighty hunter before Adonai — this is why people say, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before Adonai.” 10His kingdom began with Bavel, Erekh, Akkad and Kalneh, in the land of Shin‘ar. 11Ashur went out from that land and built Ninveh, the city Rechovot, Kelach, 12and Resen between Ninveh and Kelach — that one is the great city.

13Mitzrayim fathered the Ludim, the ‘Anamim, the L’havim, the Naftuchim, 14the Patrusim, the Kasluchim (from whom came the P’lishtim) and the Kaftorim.

15Kena‘an fathered Tzidon his firstborn, Het, 16the Y’vusi, the Emori, the Girgashi, 17the Hivi, the ‘Arki, the Sini, 18the Arvadi, the Tz’mari and the Hamati. Afterwards, the families of the Kena‘ani were dispersed. 19The border of the Kena‘ani was from Tzidon, as you go toward G’rar, to ‘Azah; as you go toward S’dom, ‘Amora, Admah and Tzvoyim, to Lesha.

20These were the descendants of Ham, according to their families and languages, in their lands and in their nations.

21Children were also born to Shem, ancestor of all the descendants of ‘Ever and older brother of Yefet. 22The sons of Shem were ‘Elam, Ashur, Arpakhshad, Lud and Aram. 23The sons of Aram were ‘Utz, Hul, Geter and Mash. 24Arpakhshad fathered Shelach, and Shelach fathered ‘Ever. 25To ‘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. 26Yoktan fathered Almodad, Shelef, Hatzar-Mavet, Yerach, 27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28‘Oval, Avima’el, Sheva, 29Ofir, Havilah and Yovav — all these were the sons of Yoktan. 30Their territory stretched from Mesha, as you go toward S’far, to the mountain in the east.

31These were the descendants of Shem, according to their families and languages, in their lands and in their nations.

32These 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.

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Genesis 10

Nations Grow and Spread

1This is the history of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They are Noah’s sons. These men had children after the flood.

Japheth’s Descendants

2Japheth’s sons were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

3Gomer’s sons were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

4Javan’s sons were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.#10:4 Dodanim Or “Rodanim, the people of Rhodes.”

5All the people who lived in the area around the Mediterranean Sea came from these sons of Japheth. The people separated and went to different countries according to languages, families, and nations.

Ham’s Descendants

6Ham’s sons were Cush,#10:6 Cush Another name for Ethiopia. Mizraim,#10:6 Mizraim Another name for Egypt. Also in verse 13. Put, and Canaan.

7Cush’s sons were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca.

Raamah’s sons were Sheba and Dedan.

8Cush also had a son named Nimrod who became a very powerful man on earth. 9He was a great hunter before the Lord. That is why people compare other men to him and say, “That man is like Nimrod, a great hunter before the Lord.”

10Nimrod’s kingdom spread from Babylon to Erech, to Akkad, and then to Calneh in the land of Babylonia.#10:10 Babylonia Literally, “Shinar,” which may be a form of the name Sumer. Also in 11:2; 14:1. 11Nimrod also went into Assyria. In Assyria, Nimrod built the cities of Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, and 12Resen. (Resen is the city between Nineveh and Calah, the big city.)

13Mizraim was the father of the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh, 14Pathrus, Casluh, and Caphtor. (The Philistine people came from Casluh.)

15Canaan was the father of Sidon. Sidon was Canaan’s first son. Canaan was also the father of the Hittites, 16Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 17Hivites, Arkites, the Sinites, 18Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites.

The families of Canaan spread to different parts of the world. 19The land where the Canaanites lived went from Sidon down along the coast to Gerar and from Gaza as far east as Sodom and Gomorrah and from Admah and Zeboiim as far north as Laish.

20All these people were descendants of Ham. They are arranged by families, languages, countries, and nations.

Shem’s Descendants

21Shem was Japheth’s older brother. One of Shem’s descendants was Eber, the father of all the Hebrew people.#10:21 One … Hebrew people Literally, “To Shem was born the father of Eber’s sons.”

22Shem’s sons were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

23Aram’s sons were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.

24Arphaxad was the father of Shelah.

Shelah was the father of Eber.

25Eber was the father of two sons. One son was named Peleg.#10:25 Peleg This name means “division.” He was given this name because the earth was divided during his life. The other son was named Joktan.

26Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these people were Joktan’s sons. 30They lived in the area between Mesha and the hill country in the East.#10:30 East This usually means the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as far east as the Persian Gulf. Also in 11:2. Mesha was toward the country of Sephar.

31These are the people from the family of Shem. They are arranged by families, languages, countries, and nations.

32This is the list of the families from Noah’s sons. They are arranged according to their nations. From these families came all the people who spread across the earth after the flood.

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B'resheet (Gen) 10

Genesis 10