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.
Historical and theological verse study from Book of Genesis, Chapter 10.
Apply the spiritual lesson of Genesis 10:5 through prayerful reflection and faithful obedience.
“Gracious Father, write the truth of Genesis 10:5 upon my heart by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.”
“By these were divided the islands of the Gentiles in their lands, every one according to his tongue and their families in their nations.”
“Ab his divisæ sunt insulæ gentium in regionibus suis, unusquisque secundum linguam suam et familias suas in nationibus suis.”
“By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.”
“From these, the maritime peoples separated into their territories, according to their languages, by clans within their nations.”
“Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.”
“Of these were the isles of the nations divided in their lands, every one after his tongue, after 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.
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.
The islands. So the Hebrews called all the remote countries, to which they went by ships from Judea, as Greece, Italy, Spain, &c., (Challoner) whether they were surrounded with water or not. (Jeremias xxv. 22.) (Menochius)
Moses begins with Japheth's family, either because he was the eldest, or because his family lay remotest from Israel and had least concern with them at the time when Moses wrote, and therefore he mentions that race very briefly, hastening to give an account of the posterity of Ham, who were Israel's enemies and of Shem, who were Israel's ancestors; for it is the church that the scripture is designed to be the history of, and of the nations of the world only as they were some way or other related to Israel and interested in the affairs of Israel. Observe, 1. Notice is taken that the sons of Noah had sons born to them after the flood, to repair and rebuild the world of mankind which the flood had ruined. He that had killed now makes alive. 2. The posterity of Japheth were allotted to the isles of the Gentiles (v. 5), which were solemnly, by lot, after a survey, divided among them, and probably this island of ours among the rest; all places beyond the sea from Judea are called isles (Jer 25 22), and this directs us to understand that promise (Isa 42 4), the isles shall wait for his law, of the conversion of the Gentiles to the faith of Christ.
Verses 1-7 This chapter shows concerning the three sons of Noah, that of them was the whole earth overspread. No nation but that of the Jews can be sure from which of these seventy it has come. 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; probably, the island of Britain among the rest. 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.
“These three are the sons of Noe: and from these was all mankind spread over the whole earth.”
“These are the children of Cham in their kindreds and tongues, and generations, and lands, and nations.”
“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.”
“These are the families of Noe, according to their people and nations. By these were the nations divided on the earth after the flood.”
“And the earth was of one tongue, and of the same speech.”
“And so the Lord scattered them from that place into all lands, and they ceased to build the city.”
“And therefore the name thereof was called Babel, because there the language of the whole earth was confounded: and from thence the Lord scattered them abroad upon the face of all countries.”