“These are the generations of the sons of Noe: Sem, Cham, and Japheth: and unto them sons were born after the flood.”
These generations are here recited, partly to declare the marvelous increase in so small a time, and also to set forth their great forgetfulness of God’s grace towards their fathers.
“The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Thubal, and Mosoch, and Thiras.”
Of Madai and Javan came the Medes, and Greeks.
“By these were divided the islands of the Gentiles in their lands, every one according to his tongue and their families in their nations.”
The Jews so call all countries which are separated from them by sea, as Greece, Italy, etc, which were given to the children of Japheth, of whom came the Gentiles.
“And the Sons of Cham: Chus, and Mesram, and Phuth, and Chanaan.”
Of Cush and Mizraim came the Ethiopians and Egyptians.
“Now Chus begot Nemrod: he began to be mighty on the earth.”
Meaning, a cruel oppressor and tyrant.
“And he was a stout hunter before the Lord. Hence came a proverb: Even as Nemrod the stout hunter before the Lord.”
His tyranny came into a proverb as hated both of God and man: for he passed not to commit cruelty even in God’s presence.
“And the beginning of his kingdom was Babylon, and Arach, and Achad, and Chalanne in the land of Sennaar.”
For there was another city in Egypt, called also Babel.
“Of Sem also the father of all the children of Heber, the elder brother of Japheth, sons were born.”
Of whom came the Hebrews or Jews. In his stock the Church was preserved: therefore Moses leaveth off speaking of Japheth and Ham, and entreateth of Shem more at large.
“The sons of Sem: Elam and Assur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.”
Cross references: : 1 Chron. 1:17
“And to Heber were born two sons: the name of the one was Phaleg, because in his days was the earth divided: and his brother’s name Jectan.”
This division came by the diversity of languages, as appeareth, Gen. 11:9 .
“These are the families of Noe, according to their people and nations. By these were the nations divided on the earth after the flood.”
Or, of these came divers nations.