Genesis 10:21-32·~1 min

The Semites

Shem is introduced as the forefather of Eber’s line, and his sons are named through Aram, Arphaxad, Shelah, and Eber. Eber’s sons include Peleg, whose days are marked by the earth’s division, and Joktan.

A²¹nd sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber. ²²The sons of Shem: ²³The sons of Aram: ²⁴Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber. ²⁵Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan.

Joktan’s many sons are listed, and their territory is described from Mesha to Sephar in the eastern hill country. The genealogy again moves from names into land.

²⁶And Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, ²⁷Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, ²⁸Obal, Abimael, Sheba, ²⁹Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan. ³⁰Their territory extended from Mesha to Sephar, in the eastern hill country.

Shem’s descendants are gathered by clans, languages, lands, and nations, and then the whole chapter closes by naming all these families as the source of the earth’s post-flood nations. The table resolves into one human spread from Noah’s sons.

³¹These are the sons of Shem, according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations. ³²All these are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their generations and nations. From these the nations of the earth spread out after the flood.

Section summaryShem’s line is traced through his sons and through Eber, with a brief note that in Peleg’s days the earth is divided. The section then follows Joktan’s descendants into their territory and ends by gathering Shem’s family, along with all Noah’s sons, into the nations spread across the earth.

Role in the chapterThis closing genealogy turns toward the line that will matter most in the chapters ahead while still keeping it inside the wider human family. It completes the table and brings the whole post-flood world into view.