Genesis 10 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Genesis 10

WHEN:

• Using the genealogy in chapter 11, we learn the lifespan of humans decreased rapidly after the flood.

• Most historians date the flood to approximately 2350 B.C.

• We don’t know the lifespan of all the individuals listed in chapter 10, but chapter 11 records how old Shem’s descendants were when they died.

• Of those listed, Shem’s longest living descendent was Eber his great-grandson. Eber lived until approximately 1817 B.C.

• Therefore, it seems safe to say most of the men mentioned in chapter 10 lived between 2350 B.C. and 1800 B.C. (a period of 750 years).

CHARACTERS:

• Shem, Ham, and Japheth – The three sons of Noah who accompanied him on the ark.

• Shem, Ham, and Japheth’s Descendants – They will be discussed in more detail in the outline.

WHERE:

• Shem, Ham, and Japheth disembarked from the ark in the mountains of Ararat.

• Over the next 750 years, their descendants spread across the face of the earth.

• The Tower of Babel incident, which you can read about in Genesis 11, was a catalyst for their expansion.

OUTLINE:

• INTRODUCTION (10:1):

  • Genesis 10 is a record of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

  • Many of the men mentioned in this chapter are significant because they were the patriarchs of the nations of the ancient world and the founders of historically significant cities.

• JAPHETH’S SONS (10:2-5):

  • Japheth had 7 sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

  • As Japheth’s family grew, they developed differing dialects, and many made their homes in the coastlands (10:5). 

• HAM’S SONS (10:6-20):

  • Ham had 4 sons: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.

  • Cush fathered Nimrod who is described as the first “mighty man” on the earth.

  • Nimrod was king of Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh and established the city of Nineveh.

  • The Philistines were descendants of Ham’s son Egypt.

  • Canaan was the father of Sidon and Heth and the nations of the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, and Hivites. These nations are mentioned in other Bible books like Joshua and Judges.

• SHEM’S SONS (10:21-32):

  • Shem had 5 sons: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.

  • Additional details about Shem’s family can be found in Genesis 11:10-26.

  • Abraham (the main character of the next few chapters) was a descendant of Shem.

APPLICATION:

• These genealogies contain very important details which help us date the age of the earth.

• Using the information in Genesis 4, 5, 10, and 11, we can date the creation, the flood, and the rest of the book of Genesis.

• This information reveals the earth isn’t nearly as old as some scientists suggest.

• The Bible’s timeline matches current archeological discoveries regarding the rise of civilizations.