Genesis 10

TABLE OF NATIONS

NOAH
SHEM HAM JAPHETH
26 nations 30 nations 14 nations = 70 nations
Elam
Cush
Gomer

Asshur
Mizraim
Magog

Arphaxad
Put
Madai

Lud
Canaan Javan

Aram Tubal

Meshech
Tiras


Genesis 10 lists the descendants of Noah's sons to explain the origin of the nations and peoples of the known world. The account highlights the ethnic makeup of the ancient world, listing some seventy different ethnic groups that formed the basis of the known world. Genesis 10 underlines the fact that the Bible is based on historical events. Genesis 10 provides the basis for understanding Abraham, introducing his world and his relationship to that world. The account of the Table of Nations, with a few variations, also appears in 1 Chronicles 1:5-23.

The people and lands of the known world fit into one of three families, the family of Shem, Ham, or Japheth.

Japheth's descendants (10:2-5) inhabited the Aegean (Greek) region and Anatolia or Asia Minor. The descendants of Ham (10:6-20) were located especially in the regions of North Africa and the coastal regions of Canaan and Syria. The descendants of Shem (10:21-31) are especially important because Abraham comes from the line of Shem. Thus Abraham is a Shemite or Semite. Because he is also a descendant of Eber, he is called a Hebrew (11:14-32). The descendants of Shem were located generally in north Syria, that is, the region of the upper part of the Euphrates River, and Mesopotamia, especially the eastern part.

The lists of names of fathers and sons were preserved of the Jews alone, for the sake of the Messiah. Many learned men, however, have, with some probability, shown which of the nations of the earth descended from each of the sons of Noah. To the posterity of Japheth were allotted the isles of the gentiles. All places beyond the sea from Judea are called isles, Jeremiah 25:22. That promise, Isaiah 42:4, “The isles shall wait for his law”, speaks of the conversion of the gentiles to the faith of Christ.

1 This is the history of the families of Shem*, Ham**, and Japheth***, the three sons of Noah. Many children were born to them after the Flood.

* SHEM means "name." Noah's oldest son and original ancestor of Semitic peoples including Israel. He carried God's blessing (9:26-27). Through his line came Abraham and the covenant of blessing. The descendants of Shem settled the northern area of Persian Gulf and westward into toward the Indian Ocean. Included in this area are the lands of Syria, Chaldea and parts of Assyria, Persia and the Arabian peninsula. The spiritual blessing promised by Noah, came to all people on Earth through the lineage of Shem to the Messiah.

** HAM mean, "hot" or “passionate”. Noah pronounced a curse on Canaan the son of Ham. Ham became the original ancestor of the Cushites, the Egyptians, and the Canaanites. The land of Ham is Africa; more particularly Egypt (Psalms 78:51; 105:23; 106:22). His descendents also migrated to the Far East (China, etc.)

*** JAPHETH literally means "opened" or "expanded". Genesis 10:2 identifies Japheth's sons as Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. These names point to Japheth as having been the ancestor of the Indo-Europeans and the Medes, peoples who lived to the north and west of Israel, farthest from Israel. Genesis 9:27 pronounces God's blessing on Japheth and his descendants, including living with Shem, thus getting to dwell in the land of promise, and being served by the Canaanites, thus sharing the position as God's people. Here is an early indication of non-Israelites having a share with God's people. His descendents settled all Europe and the greater part of Asia.
The early Aryans knew Japheth as Djapatischta (chief of the race); Greeks referred to Japheth as Iapetos or Japetos; Romans deified him by the name Ju-Pater or Jupiter.
History has recorded Japheth's geographical enlargement. The entire Western hemisphere of our globe is settled by Japhetic peoples, and East Indians are of the same stock.

2 The descendants of Japheth were
1. Gomer,
Gomer, literally means "completion" and is the ancestor of the early Cimmerians and other branches of the Celtic family - people living in area of the Black Sea, Germany and Wales. Settling in Eastern Europe near the Black Sea, he became the Gauls (French), Galatians, Scots, Celts, Irish, Goths, Germans, Scandinavians, Saxons, Britons, Welsh, Dutch, Armenians, Romans and related groups. Josephus says that the Galatians were anciently named Gomerites.

2. Magog,
Magog means "overtopping" or "covering". Settling first in Georgia, a region between the Black and Caspian Seas south of the Caucasus Mountains, he became the Syntians, Russians, Belorussians and Ukranians. Supposed by many to be the father of the Scythians and Tartars; and in great Tartary many names are still found which bear such a striking resemblance to the Gog and Magog of the Scriptures, as to leave little doubt of their identity.
In Ezekiel 38-39, Gog of the land of Magog is the leader of the forces of evil in an apocalyptic conflict against God. In Revelation 20:8, Gog and Magog appear together in parallel construction as forces fighting for Satan after his 1,000 year bondage. Magog is apparently a Hebrew construction meaning, "place of Gog."

3. Madai,
The name means "Middle Land," suggesting that Madai is to be understood as the ancestor of the Medes (Persia) and the East Indians. He settled northwest of Persia proper, south and southwest of the Caspian Sea, east of Armenia and Assyria, and west and northwest of the great salt desert of Iran in the ancient kingdom of Media, now Iraq and the northern part of Iran.

4. Javan,
Javan, means "effervescing" or “one in a state of bubbling heat". He fathered the Ionians and Greeks. His sons occupy Cyprus, Rhodes, and other islands and coasts of the Mediterranean and the coast of Spain, Italy and Portugal.

5. Tubal,
Tubal, means, "you shall be led". The Russian city of Tobolsk was named after him. He settled near Cappadocia in Asia Minor and fathered the Bulgarians, Hungarians, Albanians, Romanians, other related groups.

6. Meshech,
Meshech means "led along". The city of Moscow (Muskovi) is named after him. Initially settling in northern Turkey south east of the Caspian Sea, he fathered the Poles, Finns, Czechs, Yugoslavs and other related groups. Frequently associated with Tubal (Ezek. 32:26; 38:2-3; 39:1)

7. and Tiras.
Tiras means "expulsion", "impoverish" or "disinherit". He fathered the Thracians, maritime groups, and possibly the Etruscans of Italy.

3 The descendants of Gomer were
Through his sons Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah, Gomer peopled much of Armenia and the Carpathian Mountains.

Ashkenaz,
Ashkenaz, means "a man as sprinkled” or “fire as scattered". He settled first in Armenia, migrating thence to Bithynia, the northern islands of Europe and European west coast: Germany, Scandinavia and Denmark.

Riphath, and
Riphath, means "slander; fault". He settled in Czechslovakia, Romania, and Turkey.

Togarmah.
Togarmah, means "you will break her”. His earliest descendants settled in Armenia, Turkey and Germany. In the late eighth century BC, Assyria probably uprooted and transported most of those still living in Armenia.

4 The descendants of Javan were

Elishah,
Elishah, means "my God has disregarded". "Hellas" is a form of word Elishah. His descendants settled in Greece. There are letters from Egypt from the king of Elishah to the pharaoh mentioning copper exports.

Tarshish,
Tarshish, means "she will cause poverty". He settled Spain and Carthage in North Africa. Jonah sailed for Tarshish, the far limit of the western world from the Mediterranean port of Joppa in his futile attempt to escape God's call (Jonah 1:3). Tarshish traded in precious metals with Tyre, another Mediterranean port (Isa. 23:1; Jer. 10:9; Ezek. 27:12).

Kittim, and
Kittim, means "beaters-down" or "bruisers". Kittim settled Cyprus, other Mediterranean islands, and Macedonia. Tribal name for the island of Cyprus, sometimes spelled Chittim. Jeremiah and Ezekiel both mention it in their prophecies (Jer. 2:10; Ezek. 27:6; compare Isa. 23:1,12).

Rodanim.
Rodanim or Dodanium, means "leaders". He settled Rhodes and the Dardanelles.

5 Their descendants became the seafaring peoples in various lands, each tribe with its own language.

6 The descendants of Ham were Cush*, Mizraim**, Put***, and Canaan****.
Ham's descendants settled towards the south west along the Mediterranean into North Africa and southward into the rest of the continent. Ham had four sons, but grandsons are listed for only three.

* The Cushites settled in south Arabia, southern Egypt, the Sudan and northern Ethiopia. Various tribes in these areas trace their heritage back to Shem, which would indicate some mixing of the tribes.

* Cush, means "black", a metaphor for "wickedness" or "terror". Cush settled first in Shinar, thence south Arabia, southern Egypt, the Sudan and northern Ethiopia.
Cush introduced a three god worship of father, son and spirit. But he knew about the seed of the woman coming, so there would have to be a woman and her seed come into the picture. This was brought to pass when Nimrod (verse 8) died. His wife, Semiramis deified him, and thus made herself the mother of the son and also the mother of the gods, just exactly as the Roman church has deified Mary. She (Semiramis) called Nimrod "Zeroashta" which means, "the woman's promised seed". Nimrod is also known as "the husband of the mother”. Semiramis ruled for 42 years after Nimrod's death, conquering Persia, Libya and Ethiopia. The Hebrew word Cush has been traditionally translated Ethiopia, following the Septuagint, or earliest Greek translation, but Cush was not identical with Ethiopia as presently known. Moses' wife came from Cush (Numbers 12:1), probably a woman distinct from Zipporah (Exodus 2:21). Cush was an enemy of Egypt for centuries, being controlled by strong pharaohs but gaining independence under weak pharaohs. Zerah, a general from Cush, fought against Asa, king of Judah (910-869) (2 Chron. 14:9). Ezekiel listed Cush as one of the allies of Gog and Magog in the great climatic battle (Ezek. 38:5).

** Mizraim or “Egypt”
Mizraim, means "double straitness" and is a plural word, perhaps prophetic of the division of upper and lower Egypt where he settled in North Africa. This family certainly peopled Egypt; and Egypt is called Mezr and Mezraim.

*** Put or Phut, means "a bow". Jeremiah 46:9 calls his people archers. They settled Libya and are the Cyrenaeans and North Africans. All references to the men of Put involve mercenaries, that is, soldiers for hire.

****Canaan settled in the land of Canaan. The origin of his name means, "belonging to the land of red purple" after the mollusk sea shells from which this dye was extracted. The Greeks renamed them "phoenicians" from the Greek "Phoniki" which means dark red. The Romans transcribed the Greek "phoenix" to "poenus", thus calling the emigres to Carthage "punic" (the Punic Wars). In Hebrew it means "merchant", or "trafficker" -- "to bend the knee", "humiliate", "bring down low", or "vanquish". Genesis 10:18 said, "the families of the Canaanites (would be scattered, vanquished, or) spread abroad". Canaan receives his first Biblical definition in the Table of Nations as the father of Sidon and Heth, of the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgasites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. The five names following Sidon are familiar as the inhabitants of the "Promised Land" (Exodus 13:5). They occupied the area enclosed by the border of Genesis 10:19, running south from Sidon towards Gaza, through Gerar and across to the cities of the Dead Sea plain. No eastern limit is drawn. At the time of the conquest, the land as a whole was named Canaan (Numbers 35:10).
The Canaanites practiced the most sordid and evil religions based on ritual murder and sexual perversion. Their idol, Baal, was the son of El, the head of a pantheon of deities. God commanded Israel to completely destroy these corrupt civilizations including their animals. The territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River reaching from the Nile to the Euphrates. This represents descriptions in Near Eastern documents and in the Old Testament. Apparently, Canaan meant different things at different times. Numbers 13:29 limits Canaanites to those who "dwell by the sea and by the coast of Jordan." Compare Joshua 11:3. Israel was aware of the larger "Promised Land" of Canaan (Gen. 15:18; Ex. 23:21; Num. 13:21; Deut. 1:7; 1 Kings 4:21; etc.) Israel's basic land reached only from "Dan to Beersheba" (2 Sam. 24:2-8,15; 2 Kings 4:25). At times Israel included land east of Jordan (2 Sam. 24:5-6). At times the land of Gilead was contrasted to the land of Canaan (Josh. 22:9). After the conquest, Israel knew “there remains yet very much land to be possessed" (Joshua 13:1). Canaan thus extended beyond the normal borders of Israel, yet did not include land east of the Jordan. At times land of Canaanites and land of Amorites are identical.
Prior to Israel's entrance into Canaan, the country seems to have been organized around major cities creating rather small principalities. There was apparently no attempt to organize centrally for defense, thus making possible the success the Israelites enjoyed.
El was the king of the gods - he was both the creator god and a fertility god and was depicted in the form of a bull. In practice it was Baal who dominated the worship of the people El was joined by Athirat, apparently his wife, who is represented in the Old Testament as Asherah, with both feminine (Asheroth) and masculine (Asherim) plurals. Athirat was acknowledged as the mother of the deities, having given birth to some seventy gods and goddesses. Thus, she was predominately a fertility goddess and designated "creatress of the gods."
Baal was the chief god in the popular worship of the people. Baal means "master" or "lord". Baal statues have been recovered. These depict Baal wearing a conical hat with horns that conveys the strength and fertility associated with bull imagery. In his right hand Baal holds a club that represents his military strength as well as thunder. In his left hand he grasps a stylized lightening bolt which symbolizes his role as a storm god. He is sometimes portrayed as seated on a throne, indicating his authority as king of gods. All of these symbolic elements point to Baal's role as a storm and fertility god. Baal was joined in his task by Anat, represented in the Bible as Anath. She was portrayed as both sister and consort of Baal. In her role she was both goddess of love, the perpetual virgin, and the goddess of warfare.
Two additional gods fulfilled important roles in the popular mythology. Mot was the god of death and sterility. (In the Hebrew language the word for death is also mot.) Mot was associated with death, whether that refers to the seasonal cycle of vegetation, the sabbatical understanding of a seventh year of agricultural rest, or in some fashion to the individual's death. Mot was clearly understood as a power capable of rendering impotent Baal's regenerative powers.
Yam was called both "Prince River" and "Judge River." (Again, the Hebrew word for sea is Yam.) Yam was the chaotic god of the sea, capable of turning cosmos into chaos. Cultically, the fear of chaos overcoming cosmos was represented in Baal's struggle with Yam.
It took many centuries (note King Josiah's removal from the Jerusalem Temple about 621 B.C. of the vessels made for Baal and Asherah as well as the houses of the male cult prostitutes--2 Kings 23) for Israel in daily practice of popular religion to resist Canaanite practices. The teachings of inspired leaders and the actual practice of religion often stood in stark contrast.
The Canaanite mythology apparently centered around three primary exploits of Baal. Through these events he established himself as the god of supreme power within the pantheon, built the palace or temple which he merited by virtue of his victory over Yam, and in the third scenario struggled with, succumbed to, and ultimately escaped from the clutches of Mot.
El is portrayed as having been unashamedly afraid of Yam, this chaotic god of the sea. In fact, El was so frightened that he hid beneath his throne, fearful himself to encounter Yam but encouraging anyone to come forward who would confront this agent of chaos. Eventually, following some negotiations having to do with his role if successful against Yam, Baal stepped forward and proceeded to engage Yam. Baal was successful, bringing Yam under control by dividing him and thus making helpful an otherwise destructive, chaotic force.
All should be well, but Baal had one more enemy to confront, Mot. According to the mythology, the two met in battle. Baal was defeated, being consigned thereby to the nether world. When Baal was separated from Anat, sterility reigned on earth. The wadis dried up, and Anat anxiously searched for Baal. While she could not find Baal, one day she chanced upon Mot. She had with her a blade with which she cut Mot into many pieces, which pieces she then sifted, with the remains being scattered across the ground, probably an allusion to some type of grain festival. Regardless, this action by Anat enabled Baal to escape from his confinement. Rapidly thereafter, fertility returned! The Israelites were forced to contend with this mythology upon their entrance to Canaan.
The Israelites settling into Canaan were not impervious to their surroundings. In the Ancient Near East people assumed that as a people migrated from one area to another they would take over the gods and religion of the new area in which they settled. At the least, they would incorporate the new religion into their own old religious structure. After all, these gods and goddesses had demonstrated their capability in meeting the inhabitants' needs. For the Israelites the most natural thing would have been to embrace Baalism, although perhaps not to the exclusion of Yahwism. Multiple worship was the norm rather than the exception in antiquity.
Strong argument can be made that a type of Yahwism--Baalism synthesis gradually established itself, particularly in the Northern Kingdom. In the Book of Judges only one Judge, Deborah, is depicted as fighting directly against the Canaanites. Another judge could be called Jerabaal (Judges 6:32), having a father with an altar to Baal (Judges 6:25). Without leadership, Israel worshipped Baal-berith ("Baal of the covenant") mixing Baalism with the covenant of Yahweh (Judges 8:33).
Saul assuredly did not struggle to eliminate Baalism, and he even named a son Eshbaal ("man of Baal," 1 Chronicles 8:33). Jonathan had a son, Merib-baal (1 Chronicles 8:34). In like manner David named a son Beeliada ("Baal knows," 1 Chronicles 14:7). Solomon's politically-motivated marriages brought many other gods and their worship into Jerusalem (2 Kings 11:1-8).
Following Solomon's death and the disruption of the United Monarchy, the identity crisis continued in both north and south, but not as much in the south as in the north. Judah was the base for worship of Yahweh and the site of the Jerusalem Temple. In addition, Judah was geographically isolated from the northern Canaanite area where Baalism was more regularly practiced.
In Israel, however, the initial king, Jeroboam I (922-901 B.C.), erected rival shrines to the Jerusalem Temple at Dan and Bethel. These shrines, in the shape of bulls, are viewed by most scholars as being associated in some fashion with Baalism (recall that both El and Baal could be represented in the form of a bull). Regardless, the adherence to Jeroboam's shrines was for the biblical writers the mark of apostasy for Israel's kings.
Ahab (869-850 B.C.) married Jezebel, a princess from Tyre, as a sign of the diplomatic relationship between Israel and Tyre. Jezebel brought the clearest infusion of Baalism into Israel. Amidst the building of a Baal temple in the capital city of Samaria and the persecution of Yahweh's prophets, the prophet Elijah emerged on the scene. Elijah encouraged a contest atop Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18-19). On the one hand, the contest was an attempt to determine which deity could give the life-giving rain. On the other hand, it had a much greater significance. It clarified that a person must worship either Yahweh or Baal. It was not possible to worship both, for Yahweh demanded exclusive allegiance.
The struggle Elijah initiated with this either-Yahweh-or-Baal imperative, King Jehu (842-815) carried forward politically. Religiously, in the Northern Kingdom, Hosea gave voice to the anti-Baalistic message.
In the South, two kings led the anti-Baalistic struggle. Hezekiah (715-687 B.C.) is remembered as a reforming king (2 Chronicles 29-31), Josiah (640-609 B.C.) was the reformer par excellence.
Judah also had its vocal prophetic spokesmen against Baalism. Isaiah about 740-700 addressed the issue. Jeremiah from 615 B.C. onwards issued the strongest denunciation of Baalism.

7 The descendants of Cush were
Seba,
Seba, the firstborn son of Cush, whose name literally means "drink up", settled the west coast of the Arabian Peninsula, founding the nation of the Sabaeans, nowadays called Yemen. Sabeans destroyed Job's flocks and herds and servants (Job 1:15).

Havilah,
Havilah, meaning "sea land" could refer to northern Arabia on the Persian Gulf near present-day Kuwait or Ethiopia. Supposed by some to mean the inhabitants of the country included within that branch of the river Pison which ran out of the Euphrates into the bay of Persia, and bounded Arabia Felix on the east. The river from Eden is described as flowing "around the whole land of Havilah" (Genesis 2:11), a land noted for gold and other precious stones. The descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son, lived in Havilah (Geneus 25:18).

Sabtah,
Sabtah, literally means "he compassed the mark". He settled on the east coast of southern Arabia.

Raamah, and Sabteca.
Raamah, literally means "thunder". Raamah settled on the east coast of southern Arabia, possibly in present-day Oman. Ptolemy mentions a city called Regma near the Persian Gulf; it probably received its name from the person in the text.
Sabtechah, means "striking". He settled in Yemen

The descendants of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.
Sheba, home of the Queen of Sheba, of I Kings 10, was in southwest Arabia and Dedan in the north.
Sheba means "seven" or "an oath". He settled north of Yemen in a fertile land known as the "Spice Kingdom" whence the queen brought oil of spikenard as a gift to king Solomon. Matthew 12:42 promises the "Queen of the South" will condemn the people of Jesus' day in final judgment, indicating she had more faith than they. Some have tried to identify her homeland as Ethiopia.
Dedan means "low country". He settled in the United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf.

8 One of Cush's descendants was Nimrod, who became a heroic warrior.
Nimrod's name means "to rebel" or "let us rebel". The prophet Micah called Assyria "the land of Nimrod" (Micah 5:6). Nimrod, is called a "mighty hunter". Nimrod built and apparently ruled the first great city after the Flood, Babylon in the land of Shinar. Afterward he extended his rule into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth and Calah. Nimrod was the first world ruler. The Bible does not say that Nimrod was responsible for the Tower of Babel, but it seems logical that he was being the founder and ruler of the city. The Babylonians invented the first false religion which was a worship of the stars, astrology. Babylon is infamous in Scripture as being a wicked city openly rebelling and fighting against God. The people of these great cities were major enemies of Israel throughout history.
Of this person little is known, as he is not mentioned except here and in 1 Chronicles 1:10, which is evidently a copy of the text in Genesis. The Targum, on 1 Chronicles 1:10 says: “Nimrod began to be a mighty man in sin, a murderer of innocent men, and a rebel before the Lord.” The Jerusalem Targum says: "He was mighty in hunting (or in prey) and in sin before God, for he was a hunter of the children of men in their languages; and he said unto them, Depart from the religion of Shem, and cleave to the institutes of Nimrod." The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel says: "From the foundation of the world none was ever found like Nimrod, powerful in hunting, and in rebellions against the Lord."

9 He was a mighty hunter in the LORD's sight. His name became proverbial, and people would speak of someone as being "like Nimrod, a mighty hunter in the LORD's sight."

10 He built the foundation for his empire in the land of Babylonia*, with the cities of Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh.

* Babylonia: Hebrew “Shinar”

Babel is a Hebrew word meaning "confusion," derived from a root which means "to mix." It was the name given to the city which the disobedient descendants of Noah built so they would not be scattered over all the earth (Genesis 11:4,9). Babel is also the Hebrew word for Babylon.
The tower and the city which were built were intended to be a monument of human pride, for they sought to "make a name" for themselves (Genesis 11:4). It was also a monument to mankind's continued disobedience. They had been commanded to fill up the earth but were seeking to avoid being scattered abroad (Genesis 9:1; 11:4). Further, it was a monument to human engineering skills, for the techniques of its building described the use of fired clay bricks as a substitute for stone. Bitumen, found in relative abundance in the Mesopotamian Valley, was used to bind the bricks together.
To bring the people's monumental task to an end, God confused their language. The inspired writer apparently considered this to be the basis for the origin of the different human languages. When the builders were no longer able to communicate with each other, they then fled from one another in fear. The city of Babylon became to the Old Testament writers the symbol of utter rebellion against God and remained so even into the New Testament (Rev. 17:1-5)
It appears that, as Babylon was built on the river Euphrates, and the tower of Babel was in the land of Shinar, consequently Shinar itself must have been in the southern part of Mesopotamia.

11 From there he extended his reign to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah,

Nineveh : The greatest of the capitals of the ancient Assyrian Empire, which flourished from about 800 to 612 B.C. It was located on the left bank of the Tigris River in northeastern Mesopotamia (Iraq today). It was the enemy city to which God called the reluctant prophet Jonah in the 8th century B.C. The Book of Jonah calls it "that great city" (1:2; 4:11), and "an exceeding great city" (3:3). The additional phrase "of three days' journey" (3:3) has been rendered by the NIV: "a visit required three days." The phrase could be an idiom which would refer to the first day for travel to, the second for visiting, and the third day for the return from a site. The phrase "more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left" (4:11) has sometimes been taken to refer to children, which would yield a population of 600,000. The area within the city walls, however, would not have contained more than 175,000.
The final biblical references are from Nahum, who prophesied the overthrow of the "bloody city" by the attack of the allied Medes and Chaldeans in 612 B.C. By 500 B.C. the prophet's words (Nahum 3:7) "Nineveh is laid waste" were echoed by the Greek historian Herodotus who spoke of the Tigris as "the river on which the town of Nineveh formerly stood."
Sennacherib (704-681 B.C.) built an enormous palace. On his reliefs are captive Philistines, Tyrians, Aramaeans, and others working under the supervision of the king himself. His palace covered five acres and had 71 rooms, including two large halls 180 feet long and 40 feet wide. The rooms were embellished with 9,880 feet of sculptured reliefs, depicting Assyrian victories over enemy cities, including the Judean city of Lachish, captured in 701 B.C. Sennacherib's city was enclosed by eight miles of walls with fifteen gates. It had gardens and parks, watered by a thirty-mile long aqueduct.
This city, which made so conspicuous a figure in the history of the world, is now called Mossul.

12 and Resen - the main city of the empire, located between Nineveh and Calah.

13 Mizraim* was the ancestor of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites,
* Mizraim or Egypt
Ludim, literally means "firebrand" or "travailing". They settled Lybia on the northern coast of Africa.
Anamim, means "affliction of the waters". They settled in the Nile Delta but they may have been devastated by the Ethiopic War.
Lehabim, means "flames" or "a glittering blade". They settled in Libya but perhaps this tribe was destroyed in the Ethiopic War. The Libyans.
Naphtuhim, means "openings". This people are known to have settled in the Nile Delta and the western parts of Egypt. Early records refer to them as "they of the delta" or "marshland". Josephus says they were destroyed in the Ethiopic War.

14 Pathrusites, Casluhites, and the Caphtorites, from whom the Philistines came.*
Pathrusim, means "a morsel moistening". They settled Pathros in upper Egypt. Ancestor of the inhabitants of Upper (southern) Egypt who bore his name (1 Chronicles 1:12).
Casluhim, means "forgiven ones". They are the Colchihans of the Egyptian town Chemnis, Panoplis, in northern Egypt.
Caphtorim, means "knob" or "bud". They also migrated to the lower part of the Mediterranean coast belonging to Shem and are the Philistines. Caphtor is the original home of the Philistines (Amos 9:7). In Jeremiah 47:4 and in Deuteronomy 2:23, its inhabitants are called Caphtorim. Though several places have at times been proposed for its location, current scholarship is generally agreed that Caphtor is the island of Crete.

One of the rival groups the Israelites encountered as they settled the land of Canaan. References to the Philistines appear in the Old Testament as well as other ancient Near Eastern writings. Philistine refers to a group of people who occupied and gave their name to the southwest part of Palestine. Ancient Egyptian records from the time of Merneptah and Ramses III referred to them as the "prst." Ancient Assyrian records include references to the Philistines in the terms Philisti and Palastu.
The origin and background of the Philistines had not been completely clarified. Ancient Egyptian records include them as part of a larger movement of people known as the Sea Peoples, who invaded Egypt about 1188 B.C. by land and by sea, battling the forces of Ramses III, who, according to Egyptian records, defeated them.
The most dramatic phase of Philistine history begins in the period of the Judges when the Philistines were the principal enemy of and the major political threat to Israel. This threat is first seen in the stories of Samson (Judges 13-16). The threat intensified as the Philistines encroached on the territory of the tribe of Dan ultimately forcing Dan to move north (Judges 18:11,29). The threat reached crisis proportions in the battle of Ebenezer (1 Samuel 4:1-18), when the Israelites were soundly defeated and the ark of the covenant, brought over from Shiloh (1 Sam. 4:3-4), was captured. During the time of Samuel, the Israelites defeated the Philistines at times (1 Samuel 7:5-11; 14:16-23), but, generally speaking, their advance against the Israelites continued. Saul not only failed to check their intrusion into Israelite territory but in the end lost his life fighting the Philistines at Mount Giboa (1 Samuel 31:1-13). David finally checked the Philistine advance at Baal-perazim (2 Samuel 5:17-25).
Several features of Philistine life and culture are reflected in the Old Testament. Politically, the Philistines had a highly organized city-state system comprised of five towns in southwest Palestine: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron (1 Samuel 6:17).
The Philistines were experts in metallurgy, the skill of processing metals (1 Samuel 13:19-23). Philistine expertise in this area put the Israelites at a decided disadvantage in their struggles with the Philistines (1 Samuel 13:22
The Philistines had a highly trained military organization. Sea and land battles between the Egyptians and Sea Peoples are depicted on large panels at the temple of Ramses III in Thebes. The Philistines were in ships designed with a curved keel and the head of a bird on the bow. Philistine warriors wore a plumed or feathered headdress, a feature which added height to their physical appearance. On land, the Philistines were equipped with horses and chariots, numerous foot soldiers, and archers (1 Samuel 13:5; 31:3). The armor of Philistine soldiers included bronze helmets, coats of mail, leg protectors, spears, and shields (1 Samuel 17:5-7). The story of Goliath indicates that at times the Philistines used individual combat (1 Samuel 17). Most likely, the Philistine warrior went through a cursing ritual just prior to the confrontation (1 Samuel 17:43). David, who recognized the military expertise of the Philistines, selected Cretans and Philistines (2 Samuel. 20:23) for his palace guard or mercenary army. This segment of the army provided protection for David and his family during times of revolt.
While our information on Philistine religion is limited, three Philistine gods are mentioned in the Old Testament - Dagon, Ashtoreth, and Baalzebub. Dagon appears to be the chief god of the Philistines. Temples of Dagon were located at Gaza (Judges 16:21-30) and Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:1-7). Ashtoreth, the fertility goddess of the Canaanites, was most likely adopted by the Philistines. Apparently, the Philistines had Ashtoreth temples at Beth-shan (1 Samuel 31:10 NIV) and, according to Herodotus, at Ashkelon. Baalzebub, the Philistine god whose name means "lord of the flies," was the god of Ekron (2 Kings 1:1-16).

15 Canaan's oldest son was Sidon, the ancestor of the Sidonians. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Hittites,

Sidon, means "to hunt". Sidon is in Palestine on the Mediterranean coast north of Tyre,. on the coastal plain between the mountains of Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea. Sidon and Tyre were ancient cities, having been founded long before the Israelites entered the land of Canaan. Extrabiblical sources first mention Sidon before 2000 B.C. and Tyre just after 2000 B.C. While Sidon seems to have been the most dominant of the two cities during the early part of their histories, Tyre assumed this role in the latter times. Both cities were known for their maritime exploits and as centers of trade. One of Tyre's most coveted exports was purple dye. Joshua could not conquer the territory (Joshua 13:3-4).
Israel had relations with the two cities, but especially with Tyre. David employed Tyrian stonemasons and carpenters and used cedars from that area in building a palace. (2 Samuel 5:11). The construction of the Temple in Jerusalem during Solomon's reign depended heavily on the materials and craftsmen from Tyre. About 870 B.C., Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of the Phoenician king, bringing Baal worship to Israel's court. Ezekiel 28 characterizes the king of Tyre as the ultimate example of pride. Under Roman rule, the two cities were important ports of trade, but they did not enjoy the dominance they previously held. Jesus spent time in Tyre and Sidon and in contrast to the prophets' attitude toward the cities, He contrasted them with the Jews as examples of faith (Matthew 11:20-22). Paul spent seven days in Tyre after his third missionary journey (Acts 21:3-4).
The Hittites were apparently the first nation to smelt iron. The Armarna tablets contain letters that were sent from the Hittite emperor Subbiluliuma to the Pharoah Amenhotep IV. Rameses II also tells us how he engaged the Hittites in what was the earliest recorded battle involving massed chariots. This was the famous battle of Kadesh, and it appears that the Hittites got the better of the Egyptian forces. Rome's ancient rival, Carthage, was colonized through Canaan's sons Sidon and Heth.
Abraham bought his family burial ground from "sons of" or descendants of Heth (Genesis 23).
In Canaan, the Hittites established a claim on the southern hill country, especially the Hebron area. As a result, Abraham lived among this native population as a "stranger and a sojourner" (Genesi 23:4). He was forced to purchase the Cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite as a family tomb, specifically for the immediate burial of Sarah (Geneis 23). Esau's marriage to two Hittite women greatly grieved and displeased his parents (Geneis 26:34,35; 27:46).
The geographical reference to "all the land of the Hittites" (Joshua1:4) on the northern frontier of the Promised Land may indicate a recognition of the Hittite/Egyptian border treaty established by Rameses II and the about 1270 B.C. Moses' listing of the inhabitants of the Promised Land included the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites (Exodus 13:5), a situation that was confirmed by the twelve spies sent to explore the land. They reported that Amalekites occupied the Negev, the Hittites, the Jebusites, and Amorites lived in the hill country, and the Canaanites were concentrated along the Mediterranean coast and the Jordan Valley (Numbers 13:29; Joshua 11:3); thus the Hittites were doomed to displacement by the infiltrating and invading Hebrews (Ex. 3:8,17; 23:23; 33:2; etc.).
Devastation and pressures from the west by the Phrygians and the Sea Peoples brought another Hittite population to Canaan about 1200 B.C. Ezekiel recalled that Jerusalem had Amorite and Hittite origins (Ezek. 16:3,45). David purchased a threshing floor from Araunah the Jebusite (2 Sam. 24:16-25) whose name may suggest a Hittite noble status ("arawanis" in Hittite meaning "freeman, noble"). Later, the account of David's illicit love affair with Bathsheba indicates that Uriah and possibly other Hittites were serving as mercenaries in David's army (2 Samuel 11:3,6; 23:39). The Hittite woman among Solomon's foreign wives was probably the result of a foreign alliance with a Hittite king of north Syria (1 Kings 10:29-11:2; 2 Chronicles 1:17). Hittites together with other foreign elements appear to have been conscripted to forced labor during Solomon's reign (1 Kings 9:20-21).

16 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,

Jebusite, literally means "trodden down by armies" (Daniel 9:27; Luke 21:24). Jebus was the original name for Jerusalem around which the Jebusites settled. In Joshua 10, the king of Jerusalem, Adonizedek, is considered one of the five Amorite kings who fought against Joshua.
In the time of the Judges, Jerusalem was attacked and burned by the men of Judah (Judges 1:8), but the Jebusites were not expelled. Centuries later David captured the city and made it his capital. David purchased a stone threshing-floor from a Jebusite named Araunah (2 Sam. 24:16-24), and this later became the site of Solomon's Temple. The remnants of the Jebusites became bondservants during Solomon's reign (1 Kings 9:20-21).
Amorite, means "a boaster". The Amorites dwelt east of Canaan by the Dead Sea and the Jordan (Joshua 24:11). They conquered Babylonia, subsequently producing one of the most famous kings in the ancient world, Hammurabi (1792-1750 B.C.)., whose own name contains the designation Amarru. God told Abraham, "Israel will return to Canaan when the iniquity of the Amorites is come to the full" (Exodus 15:16).
Abraham assisted Mamre the Amorite in recovering his land from four powerful kings (Geneis 14), but later the Amorites were a formidable obstacle to the Israelites' conquest and settlement of Canaan. They preferred living in the hills and valleys that flank both sides of the Jordan River. Sihon and Og, two Amorite kings, resisted the Israelites' march to Canaan as they approached east of the Jordan (Numbers 21:21-35); but after the Israelite victory here, Gad, Reuben and half of Manasseh settled in the conquered area. Five city-states in south Canaan formed an alliance instigated by the king of Jerusalem and intimidated an ally of Joshua, Gibeon. These Amorites were defeated by Joshua's army and the Lord's "stones from heaven" (Joshua 10:1-27). Amorites also were among those in the north who unsuccessfully united to repel the Israelites (Joshua 11:1-15).
Girgasite, means "dwelling on clayey soil". They lived east of the river Jordan and the Sea of Galilee.

17 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,
Hivite, means "villager". Hivites are found in Gibeon (Josh 9:7; 11:19), Shechem (Gen. 34:2), below Hermon Mount in the land of Mizpah (Josh. 11:3), and in the Lebanon mountains (Judges 3:3). Most frequently the name appears in the list of nations God would drive out of the land during the Israelite conquest (for example, Deut. 7:1).
Arkite, means "my annoyance". They apparently centered around Arqa, modern Tell Arqa in Syria 80 miles north of Sidon. Thutmose III of Egypt conquered it. It appears in the Amarna letters. Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria conquered it in 738 B.C. Romans called it Caesarea Libani and noted its Astarte worship.
Sinite means "thorn", "clay" or "mire". They dwelt on the coast, west of Mount Lebanon. "Sin", a brother of Heth, has many occurrences in variant forms in the Far East. The place most closely associated by the Chinese themselves with the origin of their civilization is the capital of Shensi, namely, Siang-fu or "Father Sin", on the Wei, a tributory of the Yellow River, near important gold and jade mines. The Chinese have a tradition that their first king, Fu-hi, made his appearance on the Mountains of Chin after the world had been covered with water. Their character for ship signifies eight souls in a boat. Sin himself was the third generation from Noah, a circumstance which would provide about the right interval of time.
Moreover, those who came from the Far East to trade with the Scythians were called Sinae (Sin). Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer, referred to China as the land of Sinim or Sin. Reference to the Sinim in Isaiah 49:12 notes they came "from afar," specifically not from the north and not from the west (see Revelation 16:12). Arabs called China Sin, Chin, Mahachin, or Machin. The Sin were spoken of as a people in the remotest parts of Asia. Their most important town was Thin, a great trading emporium in western China. The Sin became independent in Western China, their princes reigning there for some 650 years before they finally gained dominion over the whole land. In the third century B.C., the dynasty of Tsin became supreme. In 217 B.C., Prince Cheng, founder of the Ch'in Dynasty (from which the name "China" is taken) unified China and took the title of First Emperor. He built much of the Great Wall of China, and a network of roads and canals that converged on his capitol.

18 Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites.

Arvadite, means "breakaway" or "restless wanderer". Arvad settled on the Phoenician Island of Arad off the coast of Lebanon near Tripoli. It provided sailors and soldiers for Tyre (Ezek. 27:8,11). It was probably the rocky island called Rouad today, off the coast of Syria.
Zemarites, means "double woolens". They settled the coast adjacent to the Arvadites
Hamathites, means "fortress" or "enclosure of wrath". They dwelt in Hamath, the chief city of upper Syria on the Orontes river.

19 Eventually the territory of Canaan spread from Sidon to *Gerar, near **Gaza, and to ***Sodom, Gomorrah, ****Admah, and Zeboiim, near Lasha.
* Gerar possibly means "drag away." City located between Gaza and Beersheba. Abraham and Isaac made treaties with the king of Gerar (Geneis 20; 26). Gerar was on the border of Canaanite territory (Gen. 10:19).
**Gaza: means "strong." Philistine city on the coastal plain about three miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea. It was the southernmost town of the Philistine city-state system which also included Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath (1 Sam. 6:17). Gaza's important role in ancient history was due to its strategic location on the major coastal plain highway which connected Egypt with the rest of the Ancient Near East. Because of its strategic location, Gaza witnessed the passage of numerous caravans The Amarna Letters identify Gaza as the district headquarters for Egyptian holdings in southern Palestine. For Solomon, Gaza was the major center on the southern border of his kingdom which ran "from Tiphsah even to Azzah (Gaza)" (1 Kings 4:24).
Hezekiah "smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza" as he tried to re-establish Judah's independence (2 Kings 18:8) about 705-704 B.C. Sennacherib reinforced his control of Gaza as a vassal state as he invaded Judah in 701 B.C. Sometime after 605 B.C. the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Gaza and made it a part of his empire.
In addition to the biblical references sighted above, Gaza is mentioned in other biblical accounts. Many of Samson's encounters with the Philistines apparently took place in or near Gaza (Judges 16:1-3,21). Amos charged that along with the city of Tyre, in Phoenicia, Gaza engaged in slave trade with the Edomites (Amos 1:6-10). Gaza's role as a major site on the coastal plain highway during the New Testament period is reflected in the story of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40).
***Sodom, Gomorrah: Two cities in Palestine at the time of Abraham. Sodom and Gomorrah were among the five "cities of the valley" (Gen. 13:12; 19:29; KJV, "plain") of Abraham's time. Exact locations are unknown, but they were probably situated in the Valley of Siddim (Gen. 14:3,8,10-11) near the Dead Sea, perhaps the area now covered by the Sea's shallow southern end. Lot moved to this area, eventually settling in Sodom (Gen. 13:10-12; 14:12; 19:1).
Sodom and Gomorrah were renowned for their wickedness (Gen. 18:20). Despite Abraham's successful plea (18:22-32) not even ten righteous men could be found in Sodom, and the cities were judged by the Lord, then destroyed by "brimstone and fire" (19:24; NIV, "burning sulfur").
The unnatural lusts of the men of Sodom (Gen. 19:4-8; Jude 7) have given us the modern term sodomy, but the city was guilty of a full spectrum of sins including pride, oppression of the poor, haughtiness, and "abominable things" (Ezek. 16:49-50). Together, Sodom and Gomorrah provided a point of comparison for the sinfulness of Israel and other nations (Deut. 32:32; Isa. 1:10; Jer. 23:14). The memory of their destruction provided a picture of God's judgment (Isa. 13:19; Jer. 49:18; Matt. 10:14-15; 11:23-24) and made them an example to be avoided (Deut. 29:23-25; 2 Pet. 2:6).
****Admah means "red soil." City connected with Sodom and Gomorrah as border of Canaanite territory (Gen. 10:19). Its king was defeated along with kings of Sodom and Gomorrah by coalition of four eastern kings (Gen. 14). God destroyed Admah, one of "the cities of the plains" (Gen. 19:29), along with Sodom and Gomorrah (Deut. 29:23). Admah may have been located under what is now the southern part of the Dead Sea.

20 These were the descendants of Ham, identified according to their tribes, languages, territories, and nations.

No doubt all these were well known in the days of Moses, and for a long time after; but at this distance, when it is considered that the political state of the world has been undergoing almost incessant revolutions through all the intermediate portions of time, the impossibility of fixing their residences or marking their descendants must be evident, as both the names of the people and the places of their residences have been changed beyond the possibility of being recognized.

21 Sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth*. Shem was the ancestor of all the descendants of Eber.

*Or “Shem, whose older brother was Japheth”.

Shem, literally means "renown". His descendants settled in Arabia. Shem is so familiar to us that we have no need to discuss him in this study, the purpose of which is to identify the peoples of Japheth, Ham and Canaan.

It is generally supposed that the Hebrews derived their name from Eber or Heber, son of Shem; but it appears much more likely that they had it from the circumstance of Abraham passing over (for so the word rb[ abar signifies) the river Euphrates to come into the land of Canaan.

Shem: Personal name meaning, "name." Noah's oldest son and original ancestor of Semitic peoples including Israel (Gen. 5:32; 6:10; 7:13; 9:18-27; 10:1,21-22,31; 11:10-11). He carried God's blessing (9:26-27). Through his line came Abraham and the covenant of blessing.

22 The descendants of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

Elam, means "eternity". He settled a province east of Babylon and northeast of the lower Tigris and just north of Persia. He is the father of the Kurds and Iranians.
From whom came the Elamites, near to the Medes, and whose chief city was Elymais

Elam : A personal name and a place name 1. Elam was a son of Shem, one of the sons of Noah (Gen. 10:22; 1 Chron. 1:17). He may have given his name to the region known as Elam. 2. The region of Elam is on the western edge of ancient Persia, modern Iran. The Zagros Mountains lie east and north while the Persian Gulf is to the south and the Tigris River is on the west. The ancient capital of the area is Susa. The region has been inhabited since before 3000 B.C., but only a few of the periods are of importance for biblical history.
Elam appeared in history when Sargon of Akkad subdued it about 2300 B.C. Soon, though, Elamites reversed the role, sacked Ur, and set up an Elamite king in Eshnunna. The Elamite presence continued in Babylon until the time of Hammurabi about 1700 B.C.
After Hammurabi, Kassites invaded Elam. Their rule lasted until about 1200 B.C. The next century was the high point of Elam's power. All of western Iran was theirs. Again the Babylonians brought Elamite power to an end. The Assyrian Ashurbanipal brought an end to the periods of strength and weakness. He swept through the region in a series of campaigns and captured Susa in 641 B.C. He may have moved some Elamites to Samaria at that time (Ezra 4:9). Earlier, Elam had incorporated Anshan, later home of Cyrus the Great, into the kingdom. As Assyria weakened, Elam and Anshan became part of the kingdom of the Medes. Thus, they participated, with the Babylonians, in the defeat of the Assyrian empire. Elam had little subsequent independent history, but it continued to be part of the Medes' and the Persians' empires. In Scripture Elam's importance may have been due to its role as a vassal of the great empires, supplying troops for them.
Elam is mentioned in Scripture in narratives and oracles. Abraham fought Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, to secure the return of Lot and others (Gen. 14). Although this king cannot be identified from other records, the events may have occurred during Elam's time of strength prior to Hammurabi. Prophets mentioned Elam in oracles. Isaiah's word of hope included the promise God would recover His people from Elam (Isa. 11:11). In Isaiah 21:2; 22:6 the prophet referred to Elam's military power. He called Elam to attack Babylon in chapter 21. The second mention seems to refer to Elam as part of God's judgment on Judah. Jeremiah 25:25 includes Elam as a kingdom which must drink the cup of God's wrath. Later this same prophet (Jer. 49:34-39), in the days of Zedekiah, pronounced judgment on Elam. No explanation for the judgment is given; but Elam, as a vassal of Babylon, may have participated in the attack on Jerusalem. Still, there is a word of hope in the end (v. 39). Ezekiel pictured Elam in the pit (Sheol) where it experienced shame and punishment for its destructive ways (Ezek. 32:24).

Asshur is the same name as Asher and means "happy" or "successful". He is ancestor to the Assyrians or Northern Iraquis.

ASSYRIA, HISTORY AND RELIGION OF Assyria (uhs sihr' ih uh) was a nation in northern Mesopotamia in Old Testament times that became a large empire during the period of the Israelite kings. Assyrian expansion into the region of Palestine (about 855-625 B.C.) had enormous impact on the Hebrew kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

History Assyria lay north of the region of Babylonia along the banks of the Tigris River (Gen. 2:14) in northern Mesopotamia. The name Assyria (in Hebrew, Ashshur) is from Asshur, its first capital, founded about 2000 B.C. The foundation of other Assyrian cities, notably Calah and Nineveh, appears in Genesis 10:11-12.
The history of Assyria is well documented in royal Assyrian annals, building inscriptions, king lists, correspondence, and other archaeological evidence. By 1900 B.C. these cities were vigorously trading as far away as Cappadocia in eastern Asia Minor. An expanded Assyria warred with the famous King Hammurabi of Babylon shortly before breaking up into smaller city states about 1700 B.C.
Beginning about 1300 B.C., a reunited Assyria made rapid territorial advances and soon became an international power. Expanding westward, Tiglath-pileser I (1115-1077 B.C.) became the first Assyrian monarch to march his army to the shores of the Mediterranean. With his murder, however, Assyria entered a 166-year period of decline.
Assyria awoke from its dark ages under Adad-nirari II (911-891 B.C.), who reestablished the nation as a power to be reckoned with in Mesopotamia. His grandson, Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 B.C.) moved Assyria toward the status of an empire. Ashurnasirpal II used a well-deserved reputation for cruelty to extort tribute and taxes from states within the reach of his army in predatory campaigns. He also rebuilt the city of Calah as the new military and administrative capital. Carved stone panels in Ashurnasirpal's palace there show violent scenes of the king's vicious campaigns against unsubmissive enemies.
Ashurnasirpal's son Shalmaneser III (858-824 B.C.) continued a policy of Assyrian expansion through his annual campaigns in all directions. These were no longer mere predatory raids. Rather they demonstrated a systematic economic exploitation of subject states. As always, failure to submit to Assyria brought vicious military action. The results, however, were not always a complete victory for Assyria. In such a context Assyria first encountered the Hebrew kingdoms of the Bible. In 853 B.C., at Qarqar in north Syria, Shalmaneser fought a coalition of twelve kings including Hadad-ezer (Ben-Hadad, 1 Kings 20:26,34) of Aram-Damascus and Ahab of Israel. This confrontation is not mentioned in the Bible, but it may have taken place during a three-year period of peace between Israel and Aram-Damascus (1 Kings 22:1). In his official inscriptions Shalmaneser claims victory, but the battle was inconclusive. In 841 B.C., he finally defeated Hazael of Damascus and on Mt. Carmel received tribute from Tyre, Sidon, and King Jehu of Israel. A scene carved in relief on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser, unearthed at Calah, shows Jehu groveling before Shalmaneser, the only known depiction of an Israelite king.
With the death of Shalmaneser, Assyria entered another period of decline during which she was occupied with the nearby kingdom of Urartu. For the next century only one Assyrian king seriously affected affairs in Palestine. Adad-nirari III (810-783 B.C.) entered Damascus, taking extensive tribute from Ben-hadad III. He is probably the "savior" of 2 Kings 13:5, who allowed Israel to escape domination by Aram-Damascus. Nevertheless, Adad-nirari also collected tribute from Jehoash of Israel.
Assyrian preoccupation with Urartu ended with the reign of Tiglath-pileser III (744-727 B.C.). The true founder of the Assyrian Empire, he made changes in the administration of conquered territories. Nations close to the Assyrian homeland were incorporated as provinces. Others were left with native rule, but subject to an Assyrian overseer. Tiglath-pileser also instituted a policy of mass deportations to reduce local nationalistic feelings. He took conquered people into exile to live in lands vacated by other conquered exiles. Compare 2 Kings 17:24.
As Tiglath-pileser, also called Pul, arrived on the coast of Phoenicia, Menahem of Israel (2 Kings 15:19) and Rezin of Aram-Damascus brought tribute and became vassals of Assyria. An anti-Assyrian alliance quickly formed. Israel and Aram-Damascus attacked Jerusalem about 735 B.C. in an attempt to replace King Ahaz of Judah with a man loyal to the anti-Assyrian alliance (2 Kings 16:2-6; Isa. 7:1-6) and thus force Judah's participation. Against the protests of Isaiah (Isa. 7:4,16-17; 8:4-8), Ahaz appealed to Tiglath-pileser for assistance (2 Kings 16:7-9). Tiglath-pileser, in response, campaigned against Philistia (734 B.C.), reduced Israel to the area immediately around Samaria (2 Kings 15:29; 733 B.C.), and annexed Aram-Damascus (732 B.C.), deporting the population. Ahaz, for his part, became an Assyrian vassal (2 Kings 16:10; 2 Chron. 28:16,20-22).
Little is known of the reign of Tiglath-pileser's successor, Shalmaneser V (726-722 B.C.), except that he besieged Samaria for three years in response to Hoshea's failure to pay tribute (2 Kings 17:3-5). The city finally fell to Shalmaneser (2 Kings 17:6; 18:9-12), who apparently died in the same year. His successor, Sargon II (722-705 B.C.), took credit in Assyrian royal inscriptions for deporting 27,290 inhabitants of Samaria.
Sargon campaigned in the region to counter rebellions in Gaza in 720 B.C. and Ashdod in 712 (Isa. 20:1). Hezekiah of Judah was tempted to join in the Ashdod rebellion, but Isaiah warned against such action (Isa. 18). Meanwhile, unrest smoldered in other parts of the empire. A rebellious king of Babylon, Merodach-baladan, found support from Elam, Assyria's enemy to the east. Though forced to flee Babylon in 710 B.C., Merodach-baladan returned some years later to reclaim the throne. He sent emissaries to Hezekiah in Jerusalem (2 Kings 20:12-19; Isa. 39), apparently as part of preparations for a concerted anti-Assyrian revolt.
News of Sargon's death in battle served as a signal to anti-Assyrian forces. Sennacherib (704-681 B.C.) ascended the throne in the midst of widespread revolt. Merodach-baladan of Babylon, supported by the Elamites, had inspired the rebellion of all southern Mesopotamia. A number of states in Phoenicia and Palestine were also in rebellion, led by Hezekiah of Judah. After subduing Babylon, Sennacherib turned his attentions westward. In 701 B.C., he reasserted control over the city-states of Phoenicia, sacked Joppa and Ashkelon, and invaded Judah where Hezekiah had made considerable military preparations (2 Kings 20:20; 2 Chron. 32:1-8,30; Isa. 22:8b-11). Sennacherib's own account of the invasion provides a remarkable supplement to the biblical version (2 Kings 18:13-19:36). He claims to have destroyed 46 walled cities (see 2 Kings 18:13) and to have taken 200,150 captives. Sennacherib's conquest of Lachish is shown in graphic detail in carved panels from his palace at Nineveh. During the siege of Lachish, an Assyrian army was sent against Jerusalem where Hezekiah was "made a prisoner ... like a bird in a cage." Three of Sennacherib's dignitaries attempted to negotiate the surrender of Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:17-37), but Hezekiah continued to hold out with the encouragement of Isaiah (2 Kings 19:1-7,20-35). In the end, the Assyrian army withdrew, and Hezekiah paid an enormous tribute (2 Kings 18:14-16). The Assyrian account claims a victory over the Egyptian army and mentions Hezekiah's tribute but is rather vague about the end of the campaign. The Bible mentions the approach of the Egyptian army (2 Kings 19:9) and tells of a miraculous defeat of the Assyrians by the angel of the Lord (2 Kings 19:35-36). The fifth century B.C. Greek historian Herodotus relates that the Assyrians suffered defeat because a plague of field mice destroyed their equipment. It is not certain whether these accounts can be combined to infer an outbreak of the plague. Certainly, Sennacherib suffered a major setback, for Hezekiah was the only ruler of the revolt to keep his throne.
On a more peaceful front, Sennacherib conducted some major building projects in Assyria. The ancient city of Nineveh was rebuilt as the new royal residence and Assyrian capital. War continued, however, with Elam, which also influenced Babylon to rebel again. An enraged Sennacherib razed the sacred city in 689 B.C. His murder, at the hands of his own sons (2 Kings 19:37) in 681 B.C., was interpreted by Babylonians as divine judgment for destroying their city.
Esarhaddon (681-669 B.C.) emerged as the new king and immediately began the rebuilding of Babylon, an act which won the allegiance of the local populace. He warred with nomadic tribes to the north and quelled a rebellion in Phoenicia, while Manasseh of Judah remained a loyal vassal. His greatest military adventure, however, was an invasion of Egypt conducted in 671 B.C. The Pharaoh Taharqa fled south as Memphis fell to the Assyrians, but returned and fomented rebellion two years later. Esarhaddon died in 669 B.C. on his way back to subjugate Egypt.
After conducting a brief expedition against eastern tribes, Esarhaddon's son, Ashurbanipal (668-627 B.C.), set out to reconquer Egypt. Assisted by 22 subject kings, including Manasseh of Judah, he invaded in 667 B.C. He defeated Pharaoh Taharqa and took the ancient capital of Thebes. Some 1,300 miles from home, Ashurbanipal had no choice but to reinstall the local rulers his father had appointed in Egypt and hope for the best. Plans for revolt began immediately; but Assyrian officers got wind of the plot, captured the rebels, and sent them to Nineveh. Egypt rebelled again in 665 B.C. This time Ashurbanipal destroyed Thebes, also called No-Amon (Nah. 3:8, NASB). Phoenician attempts at revolt were also crushed.
Ashurbanipal ruled at Assyria's zenith but also saw the beginning of her swift collapse. Ten years after the destruction of Thebes, Egypt rebelled yet again. Assyria could do nothing because of a war with Elam. In 651 B.C., Ashurbanipal's brother, the king of Babylon, organized a widespread revolt. After three years of continual battles Babylon was subdued, but remained filled with seeds of hatred for Assyria. Action against Arab tribes followed, and the war with Elam continued until a final Assyrian victory in 639 B.C. That same year the official annals of Ashurbanipal came to an abrupt end. With Ashurbanipal's death in 627 B.C., unrest escalated. By 626, Babylon had fallen into the hands of the Chaldean Nabopolassar. Outlying states, such as Judah under Josiah, were free to rebel without fear. War continued between Assyria and Babylon until, in 614 B.C., the old Assyrian capital Asshur was sacked by the Medes. Then, in 612 B.C., Calah was destroyed. The combined armies of the Babylonians and the Medes laid siege to Nineveh. After two months, the city fell.

And all who look on you will shrink from you and say, Wasted is Nineveh; who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for her? ... There is no assuaging your hurt, your wound is grievous. All who hear the news of you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil? (Nah. 3:7,19).

An Assyrian general claimed the throne and rallied what was left of the Assyrian army in Haran. An alliance with Egypt brought a few troops to Assyria's aid; but in 610 B.C. the Babylonians approached, and Haran was abandoned. Assyria was no more.

Religion Assyrian religion, like that of most Near Eastern nations, was polytheistic. Essentially the same as Babylonian religion, official Assyrian religion recognized thousands of gods; but only about twenty were important in actual practice. The important part of the pantheon can be divided into several broad categories: old gods, astral deities, and young gods.
1. The old gods, Anu, Enlil, and Ea, were patron deities of the oldest Sumerian cities and were each given a share of the universe as their dominion. After the rise of Babylon, Marduk was also considered one of the rulers of the cosmos. Anu, god of the heavens and patron god of Uruk (biblical Erech; Gen. 10:10), did not play a very active role. Enlil of Nippur was god of the earth. Ea, the god of Eridu, was lord of the subterranean waters and the god of craftsmen.
2. Astral deities--gods associated with heavenly bodies--included the sun-god Shamash, the moon-god Sin, and Ishtar, goddess of the morning and evening star (the Greek Aphrodite and Roman Venus). Sin was the patron god of Ur and Haran, both associated with Abraham's origins (Gen. 11:31). Ishtar, the Canaanite Astarte/Ashtaroth (Judg. 10:6; 1 Sam. 7:3-4; 1 Kings 11:5), was very popular as the "Queen of Heaven" (Jer. 7:18; 44:17-19,25) and served as the patron goddess of Nineveh.
Younger gods were usually associated with a newer city or none at all. Adad, the Canaanite Hadad, was the god of storms and thus both beneficial and destructive. Ninurta, the god of war and hunting, became a fitting patron for the Assyrian capital Calah. Most important, however, is the unique figure of Asshur. As patron god and namesake of the original Assyrian capital Asshur and the state itself, Asshur rose in importance to be lord of the universe and the supreme god. Since the god Asshur stood above all others, the Assyrian king was duty-bound to show his corresponding dominance on earth. Most Assyrian military campaigns were initiated "at the command of Asshur." See Babylon, History and Religion of.
Although a number of myths concerning the various Babylonian/Assyrian gods are known, the religious function of but one can be determined. The enuma elish, or Epic of Creation, originated in Babylon where it was recited and reenacted at the New Year's Festival. In the Assyrian version Asshur, not the Babylonian Marduk, is shown to be superior to the other gods.
The various gods were thought of as residing in cosmic localities, but also as present in their image, or idol, and living in the temple as a king in his palace. The temples varied in size according to the god's importance. The gilded wooden images were in human form, clothed in a variety of ritual garments, and given three meals a day. On occasion, especially at the New Year's Festival, the images were carried in ceremonial processions or to visit one another in different sanctuaries. It is difficult to know what meaning the images and temples of the various gods had for the average person, and even more difficult to ascertain what comfort or help he might expect through worship of them. It seems clear, however, that beyond the expectations of health and success in his earthly life, he was without eternal hope.

Aprhaxad, means "he cursed the breast bottle". He was the ancestor of the Chaldeans of Southern Iraq, Hebrews, Arabians, Amorites, and the Moabites/Jordanians.

Lud, means "firebrand" or "travailing". He is the ancestor of the Lydians who settled in Asia Minor and spoke an Indo-European language.

Racial name for person from Lydia. Plural in Ludim. 1. son of Egypt in the Table of Nations (Gen. 10:13) and thus, apparently, a people living near Egypt or under the political influence of Egypt. 2. Son of Shem and grandson of Noah in Table of Nations (Gen. 10:22). Attempts to identify them with peoples mentioned in other Near Eastern sources have produced varying results: Lydians of Asia Minor called the Luddu by Assyrian records or the Lubdu living on the upper Tigris River. They were known for skill with the bow (Jer. 46:9; Ezek. 30:5 which place them under Egyptian influence and may refer to 1. above if a distinction is to be made at all; otherwise, the reference is to mercenary soldiers from Lydia in Asia Minor serving in the Egyptians army, a practice apparently testified under Pharaoh Psammetichus before 600 B.C.). Lydian soldiers apparently served in Tyre's army (Ezek. 27:10). God promised even the isolated peoples like Lydia who had never heard of His glory would be invited to share in that glory (Isa. 66:19).

Aram, means "highland". He became the Aramaeans or Syrians and Lebanese.

23 The descendants of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.

Uz means "counsel". Northern Arabia, the land of Job (Job 1:1) between Babylonia and Edom, seems his most likely area of settlement. Peopled Caelosyria, and is supposed to have been the founder of Damascus.

Hul peopled a part of Armenia.

Gether - supposed by Calmet to have been the founder of the Itureans, who dwelt beyond the Jordan, having Arabia Desert on the east, and the Jordan on the west.

Mash inhabited mount Masius in Mesopotamia, and from whom the river Mazeca, which has its source in that mountain, takes its name.

24 Arphaxad* was the father of *Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber.

* Greek version reads “Arphaxad was the father of Cainan, Cainan was the father of Shelah.”

*Shelah: Personal name meaning, "please" or "be still, rest."

Eber, means "emigrants" or "to vanish to the region beyond". Eber is the father of the Hebrews.

25 Eber had two sons. The first was named Peleg--"division"--for during his lifetime the people of the world were divided into different language groups and dispersed. His brother's name was Joktan.

Peleg, comes from the root word "palag", which means (literally or figuratively) "division" or to split. He was the fifth generation after the Flood when the earth was divided by tongues.

In this verse we find a simple statement that Shem had a son named Eber, and he had a son named Peleg, and in his time the earth was divided. Peleg was the fifth generation after the Flood and places the division of languages with in his generation.

Some associate this phrase as referring to the division of the nations. Others see it as a reference of not only the division of nations caused by the confusion of languages, but of the dividing of the world into the present day continents.

Peleg's name comes from the root word "palag", which means to split (literally or figuratively) "to divide". The form or the word, "Peleg", used here means "earthquake".(3)

Geologists today have generally concluded that the continents were once connected in one giant super continent they have named "Pangaea". Computer imaging has shown how all the continents appear to fit together. As an example the eastern shores of North and South America conform to the western shore lines of Europe and Africa. Geologist call have named this the "Continental Drift Theory". The conclude that from the contour of the continents fitting so perfectly together, the rifts on the ocean floor and the present measurable movements of the continents that in the past, at some time the continent were one large land mass.

All of these evidences lead to the conclusion that if the continents did divide this dividing could have occurred in relation to the division of the languages after the Tower of Babel. Possibly, some time after the migrations caused by the confusion of languages, when the people when sufficiently dispersed, God caused the continents of move apart. This would account for man, and animals being on the isolated continents of North and South America and Australia. There were people on the continents when they moved. It appears that God not only divided the people by confusing their languages, He also divided in the land so the dispersion would continue. The division of the land precluded that the people on earth could have physically come back together had they been able to overcome the language barriers.

It is also interesting to note that this event was some five generations after the Flood. Many of the geological mysteries which are difficult to understand in relationship to the Floor could be explain by a second world wide catastrophic event such as would be caused by the sudden global shifting of the continents. Great earthquakes, volcanic activity, uplifts, flowed and sinking of vast land areas and mountain forming would be expected to accompany such vast changes in the earth's surface.

From glp palag, to divide, because in his days, which is supposed to be about one hundred years after the flood, the earth was divided among the sons of Noah. Though some are of opinion that a physical division, and not a political one, is what is intended here, viz., a separation of continents and islands from the main land; the earthy parts having been united into one great continent previously to the days of Peleg. This opinion appears to me the most likely, for what is said, ver. 5, is spoken by way of anticipation.

PELEG (Pee' lehg) Personal name meaning, "division" or "watercourse." Descendant of Shem (Gen. 10:25), ancestor of Abraham (Gen. 11:16-19; 1 Chron. 1:19,25) and Jesus (Luke 3:35). Peleg's name is attributed to one of the many firsts recorded in Genesis, the "division" of the earth or land. Tradition associates this division with the confusing of languages and the consequent scattering of peoples from Babel (Gen. 11:8-9). Noting that peleg often refers to a streams of water (Job 29:6; Pss. 1:3; 46:4; 119:136; Prov. 5:16; 21:1; Isa. 30:25; 32:2), some suggest that the "division" of the land refers to irrigation ditches crisscrossing the landscape. According to this interpretation, Peleg's name commemorates the beginnings of organized agriculture. Though Peleg's descendants are only traced through Abraham, Peleg is recognized as the ancestor of all the Semitic peoples of Mesopotamia, while his brother Joktan was ancestor of the Arabian Semites.

26 Joktan was the ancestor of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

Joktan, means "smallness" or "insignificance". He is the progenitor of no less than thirteen southern Arabian tribes. Only the purest Arabs (it is still maintained), are those Semitic Arabs descended from Joktan; whilst the Hamitic Arabs are referred to somewhat disdainfully as Musta 'rabs, that is, pretended Arabs.

He had thirteen sons who had their dwelling from Mesha unto Sephar, a mount of the east, which places Calmet supposes to be mount Masius, on the west in Mesopotamia, and the mountains of the Saphirs on the east in Armenia, or of the Tapyrs farther on in Media.

Almodad, means "God is a friend." His area of settlement cannot be precisely determined, perhaps Yemen.

Sheleph, means "a drawing out". He became a Yemeni tribe of Arabs.

Hazarmaveth, means "settlement of death". He settled in south-east Arabia.

Jerah, means "new moon". He dwelt on the south-east Arabian coast. The moon was the chief god in South Arabia. Since the surrounding names in the list represent Arabian tribes, this probably indicates the relationship of Semitic tribes in Arabia to the Hebrews.

27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,

Hadoram, means " Hadad (god) is exalted. ". He dwelt in southern Arabia.

Uzal, means "I shall be flooded". He dwelt in Yemen.

Diklah, means "palm grove" or “date palm”. Transposed into the Greek "Tigris", it is supposed that they settled in the north-eastern extremity of the Arabian peninsula.

28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba,

Obal, means "stripped bare". He became a Yemeni tribe.
Personal name meaning, "stout." Son of Joktan and ancestor of an Arab tribe (Gen. 10:28). At 1 Chronicles 1:22 the name takes the alternate form Ebal.

Abimael, means " El (god) is my father". He became a Yemeni tribe.

Sheba, means "seven" or "an oath". He too became a Yemeni tribe.

29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab.

Ophir, means "reducing to ashes" or “dusty”. He dwelt on the coast of south-west Arabia.
Place famous in the Ancient Near East for its trade, especially in gold. Solomon's ships with help from Phoenician sailors brought precious goods from Ophir (1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; compare 1 Kings 22:48). Gold from Ophir was apparently highly valued, the phrase becoming a stock descriptive term in Ancient Near Eastern commercial language (Isa. 13:12; Job 22:24; 28:16; Ps. 45:10). Ophir is mentioned outside the Bible on a piece of broken pottery found at tell el-Qasileh, north of Tel Aviv on the plain of Sharon. See Aphek. This inscription reads, "Gold of Ophir for Beth Horon, 30 shekels."
The geographical location of Ophir is disputed among biblical scholars. Three regions have been suggested: India, Arabia, and Africa. Scholars who support an Indian location do so because of the resemblance of the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) form of Ophir to the Egyptian name for India. The available evidence with regard to trade practices indicates that Egyptian, Phoenician, and Greek fleets obtained eastern goods indirectly through ports in South Arabia and East Africa.
Other scholars have suggested that Ophir was located on the Arabian Peninsula. At least five areas have been identified, but the evidence for certainty with regard to any of them is lacking. The strongest argument for an Arabian location is the occurrence of the name Ophir among the names of Arabian tribes, descendants of Joktan, in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10.
Finally, one location in Africa has been suggested: the East African coast in the general vicinity of Somaliland. This location is supported because of its distance from Palestine and the products that are characteristic of Africa that are mentioned in biblical texts (1 Kings 9:28; 10:11,22).
The location of Ophir will remain a matter of uncertainty. A knowledge of ancient trade routes and practices, maritime ventures in the Ancient Near East, and economic policies in ancient Israel will be helpful in determining the cite of Ophir.

Havilah, means "circle" or "writhe (in anguish)" or "sandy stretch". He occupied the eastern shore of the gulf of Aquaba.
Biblical name for the sand-dominated region to the south covering what we call Arabia without necessarily designating a particular geographical or political area. The river from Eden is described as flowing "around the whole land of Havilah" (Gen. 2:11 NASB), a land noted for gold and other precious stones. The Table of Nations lists Havilah as a son of Cush or Ethiopia, showing Havilah's political ties (Gen. 10:7). Some Bible students think the name is preserved in modern Haulan in southwest Arabia. Havilah is also mentioned in the Table of Nations as a son of Joktan, the grandson of Shem (Gen. 10:29). The descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son, lived in Havilah (Gen. 25:18). Saul defeated the Amalekites from "Havilah as you go to Shur, which is east of Egypt" (1 Sam. 15:7 NASB), a description whose meaning Bible students continue to debate. Some seek to change the Hebrew text slightly. Others look for a Havilah further north and west than Havilah is usually located. Others talk of the fluid boundaries of the area. Thus Havilah refers to an area or areas in Arabia, but the precise location is not known.

Jobab, means "He will cause crying". He settled close by present-day Mecca.

30 The descendants of Joktan lived in the area extending from Mesha toward the eastern hills of Sephar.

31 These were the descendants of Shem, identified according to their tribes, languages, territories, and nations.

32 These are the families that came from Noah's sons, listed nation by nation according to their lines of descent. The earth was populated with the people of these nations after the Flood.

The concluding statement of Chapter Ten makes it clear that everyone on earth today is a descendent of one of Noah's sons. When we look at all the different types of people on earth today it is at first difficult to understand. People are so different all over the world. How can it be explained?

The answer is simple. From each of Noah's sons came the three divisions of called the "races". Anthropologists divide all the world's peoples into three races, Caucasian (white), Mongoloid (yellow) and Negroid (black). Further within each of the sons was the potential to produce all the variations that is evident within the three races of man.