GENESIS 10
Read Genesis 10:1-32
Chapter 10 is easily overlooked as it is one of those chapters that just seem to be a list of names, one of these genealogies that are scattered throughout the Old Testament. However, it does serve a function in setting us up for the Tower of Babel story in Genesis 11.
We have spent a while in the company of one family. Now we see that Noah and his family have been faithful to the Lord’s command to be fruitful and multiply “and from them, nations spread out over the earth after the flood” (v32).
What Chapter 10 does is to flesh out 9:19, which says of Shem, Ham and Japheth, “These were the three sons of Noah. And from them came the people who were scattered over the earth”. The descendants of the three sons of Noah are listed in three sections in a neat and orderly way. The list, however, is not complete and the genealogies don’t all continue to the same number of subsequent generations. The number of people listed (aside from the names of cities and territories) is seventy. We have noticed the significance of numbers in the Bible and the frequency of the number seven and its multiples, and although the list of names is not comprehensive, the fact that seventy are listed might represent the wholeness, the completeness of humanity. Everyone is faithful to God at this stage in proceedings.
In the list of all the names, a few are highlighted. Nimrod is described as a mighty hunter (v9) but also as a king who founded Babylon (which will feature in Chapter 11) and Nineveh among other cities. It may seem that these are particularly human attributes, personal prowess and political leadership, but in describing Nimrod’s attributes they are said to be “before the Lord”. However skilled and powerful Nimrod is, he is under the authority of God. He, too, is faithful to God.
At this point, the human race seems to be obeying God’s mandate and honouring him. This will change in Chapter 11.