Genesis Part 1 - Week 19

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 10:3-5 

3 The descendants of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The descendants of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. 5 Their descendants became the seafaring peoples that spread out to various lands, each identified by its own language, clan, and national identity. 

Some of these names have later references to areas. “Tarshish” is related to Spain, and “Kittim” is related to Cyprus. Notice that the people “spread out to various lands, each identified by its own language.” This chapter seems to look ahead to Genesis 11 when people will be divided by languages. 

REFLECT 

These verses would be more understandable to current readers at that time rather than to modern readers today.  

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the name “Tarshish.” Together read the four chapter book of Jonah to see he was trying to flee to that country (see Jonah 1:3). There are many valuable lessons in the short book of Jonah.  

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 10:6-7 

6 The descendants of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 7 The descendants of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The descendants of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. 

“Cush” is a reference to Ethiopia. “Mizraim” is a reference to Egypt. “Put” is a reference to Libya. “Canaan” is a reference to Palestine. The descendants of Ham populated these areas. Just as people today sometimes name their children after some place names, this also occurred in Bible times.  

REFLECT 

Do you know people today who have been named after city names? 

RESPOND 

Talk with someone about how to begin conversations that might lead to sharing your testimony about knowing Jesus as Savior. One way to begin is by asking the person how the individual’s parents decided on their name. Some may have biblical names. Use anything you can to warm the conversation to being able to talk more that will lead to a deeper discussion. 

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 10:8-12 

8 Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod, who was the first heroic warrior on earth. 9 Since he was the greatest hunter in the world, his name became proverbial. People would say, “This man is like Nimrod, the greatest hunter in the world.” 10 He built his kingdom in the land of Babylonia, with the cities of Babylon, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh. 11 From there he expanded his territory to Assyria, building the cities of Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, 12 and Resen (the great city located between Nineveh and Calah). 

Nimrod was a significant person in the Old Testament. Many translations render verse 9 as “he was a mighty hunter before the Lord.” Whatever that should be, it is clear he was a rebel. He built a kingdom “in the land of Babylonia.” Genesis 11 will say more about what took place there. He also built the city of Nineveh, which was the capital of the Assyrian empire and was an enemy of the Jewish people.  

REFLECT 

Think about how one person can be responsible for so much evil. There are many modern examples. 

RESPOND  

The Lord turned the heart of Saul/Paul around when he was on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9). As you think of evil people or loved ones who need to repent and turn to the Lord, remember that God can turn their hearts around just as He did with this person who became a great apostle.  

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 10:13-14 

13 Mizraim was the ancestor of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 14 Pathrusites, Casluhites, and the Caphtorites, from whom the Philistines came. 

Descendants of “Mizraim” would eventually populate Egypt. The Philistines apparently migrated to the land that became known as “Palestine.” It will be seen later that God will promise a large territory to the descendants of Shem. That will be touched on in Genesis Part 2.  

REFLECT 

Be thankful that the Lord has a plan and that He holds everything in His control.  

RESPOND 

Talk with someone about how desperate one would be if not certain the Lord is in ultimate control. See Colossians 1:15-20 to see that Christ is supreme over all. Especially notice verse 17 that says He holds all creation together.  

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 10:15-20 

15 Canaan’s oldest son was Sidon, the ancestor of the Sidonians. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Hittites, 16 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 17 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 18 Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. The Canaanite clans eventually spread out, 19 and the territory of Canaan extended from Sidon in the north to Gerar and Gaza in the south, and east as far as Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, near Lasha. 20 These were the descendants of Ham, identified by clan, language, territory, and national identity. 

The “Jebusites” lived in the area and city of Jerusalem. David eventually captured the area and Zion and made it the city of David (see 2 Samuel 5:6-7). This passage in Genesis describes the spread of the Canaanites. It concluded listing the descendants of Ham “identified by clan, language, territory, and national identity.” Again the passage seems to look ahead to Genesis 11 that tells about the tower of Babel and the confusion of languages. Until that time apparently there had been only one language. 

REFLECT 

Think what it would have been like to have lived at a time when there was only one language. Those who now travel internationally would have loved such a time.  

RESPOND 

The Bible does not tell us about the language of people before Genesis 11 or which languages were spoken afterwards. Good Bible study needs to know what the Bible says and what it does not say. When confronted with an opposing view, it is always a good question to ask, “Where does the Bible say that?”