Genesis 10:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When these individuals are recounted, it appears there is a return to earlier times, leading to the mention of Hush, who fathered Nimrod, a prominent figure on the earth. Described as a mighty hunter before the Lord, Nimrod's strength is emphasized; thus, it is said, “A mighty hunter before the Lord.” His kingdom initially comprised Babylon, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar. From this territory, Asshur emerged and built Nineveh, along with Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and Resen, placed between Nineveh and Calah—these represented a significant city (Gen. 10:8-12). Hush, the progenitor of the giant Nimrod, is notably mentioned first among Ham's sons, with five sons and two grandsons counted. It is likely that Nimrod was born after the birth of his grandsons. However, it may be suggested that he is highlighted separately due to his distinguished reputation, for his kingdom began with the notable city of Babylon and extends to regions named after it. The mention of Asshur’s origins and his construction of Nineveh and other cities occurred later and is referenced due to the renown of the expansive Assyrian kingdom, founded by Nin, the son of Bel. The name Nineveh originates from 'Nin'. Notably, Asshur, the namesake of the Assyrians, came from Shem's lineage, the eldest son of Noah, not from Ham. This indicates that the descendants of Shem eventually occupied the territory associated with Nimrod and further established cities, including the illustrious Nineveh.

Subsequently, the writer shifts focus to Ham's other son, Mizraim, detailing the nations that descended from him—not individuals but seven nations. It appears that the Philistines emerged from the sixth of these. This results in a total of eight nations. The writer then revisits Canaan, the son of Ham who bore the curse. He enumerates the eleven descendants linked to Canaan, listing the known cities and outlining their extents. Thus, counting sons and grandsons, Ham’s lineage comprises thirty-one individuals. It remains to address the lineage of Shem, beginning with his youngest sons and gradually leading to him. However, in the section describing Shem’s descendants, there appears to be a certain ambiguity that requires clarification, particularly as it ties closely to our current investigation. The text states, “There were children also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth” (Gen. 10:21). Shem is thus presented as the patriarch of all his descendants the author intends to name, be they sons, grandsons, or more remote descendants. Notably, Eber himself was not a direct child of Shem; instead, he is listed as the fifth in the lineage. Among Shem's offspring, Arphaxad is named, followed by his descendants: Arphaxad fathered Cainan, who fathered Salah, who in turn fathered Eber. Eber’s precedence in the genealogy of Shem’s line is significant and placed even before his sons due to the tradition that names the Hebrews, or Heberians, after him. There exists another theory suggesting the name derives from Abraham; however, scripturally, the name is rooted in Eber, eventually evolving into the term 'Jews' through the addition of a letter. Over time, the Hebrew language preserved the singular identity of Israel, where God’s majesty was exhibited through the saints and mirrored within the community as a whole. Consequently, the six sons of Shem are listed first, followed by four grandsons. Another son of Shem had a grandson, who produced a great-grandson, Eber. Eber bore two sons, naming one Falek, which is interpreted as 'the divider.' The rationale behind this name is articulated in Scripture: “because in his days the earth was divided” (Gen. 10:25). The implications of this division will be explored further. The other son of Eber had twelve offspring. Therefore, from the three sons of Noah: fifteen descendants from Japheth, thirty-one from Ham, and twenty-seven from Shem result in a total of seventy-three. Scripture concludes with the assertion that these are the sons of Shem, categorized by their tribes, languages, lands, and nations. From these lineages, nations spread throughout the earth following the flood (Gen. 10:31-32). This provides a basis for positing that at that time, there were seventy-three—or more accurately, as we will demonstrate later, seventy-two distinct nations rather than individuals. It previously stated regarding Japheth's sons that “From these the islands of the nations were inhabited in their lands, each according to his language, according to his tribes, in his peoples” (Gen. 10:5). The absence of certain offspring in the listing suggests that while they might have had children, those children merged into other nations and did not establish their own. If this was not the case, one would wonder why, despite eight sons of Japheth, only those from two are recognized, and of Ham’s four sons, only three have named descendants. Similarly, of the six sons of Shem, only two have been accounted for. They did not remain childless. However, they did not generate nations worthy of mention, as they integrated with other peoples upon their births.

In the same text, as the genealogies of Noah’s sons are listed, it states, “These are the sons of Ham, according to their tribes, according to their tongues, in their lands, in their nations” (Gen. 10:20). Likewise, when discussing the sons of Shem, it is noted, “These are the sons of Shem, according to their tribes, according to their tongues, in their lands, in their nations” (Gen. 10:31). Additionally, it is remarked that “These are the tribes of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations” and that from them, nations spread across the earth post-flood. A significant point made is that in that time there was “one language and one dialect in all the earth” (Gen. 10:32-11:1). Consequently, the mention of a singular language prevailing among all signifies that during the population spread, a common language was utilized. This assertion is seemingly contradictory to the previously noted categorization by tribes and languages. For it cannot be stated that separate tribes became distinct nations, each possessing their own tongues, while simultaneously claiming that all spoke a universal language. Therefore, it is concluded that the narrative returns to explain how one language was dispersed into many, launching into the account of the construction of a tower. During this undertaking, the judgments of God led to the punishment for hubris, resulting in the scattering of humanity across the earth by their languages.

Phyras represents the Thracians, whose name has seen minimal alteration. It is noted that some scholars relate Gog and Magog to the Goths, who have recently invaded our lands, based on current scriptures and references in Ezekiel. The truth of this connection may be assessed through the outcomes of the mentioned battles in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. Interestingly, historically informed individuals referred to them as Geth instead of Gog and Magog. Therefore, we identify the seven nations that populated the northern regions, all of whom trace their lineage back to Japheth.

The islands include Britannia, Sicily, Euboea, Rhodes, Chios, Lesbos, Kythira, Zakynthos, Kefallinia, Ithaca, and Kerkyra, alongside part of Asia known as Ionia and the Tigris River which flows between Media and Babylon, extending northward to the Pontic Sea: the Danube, Dnieper, and the Caucasus Mountains, specifically the Hungarian Mountains, leading back to the Dnieper among other rivers like the Desna, Pripyat, Dvina, Volkhov, and Volga that flows eastward towards the Cim region. Within Japheth's territories reside the Russians, Chuds, and various peoples including Merja, Muroma, and others like Mordva, Zavolochskaya Chud, Perm, Pechera, Yam, Ugra, Litva, Zimigola, Kors, Letgola, and Livs. The Lyakhs and Prussians, along with the Chud, are situated near the Varangian Sea. The Varangians occupy the coastline of this sea, extending east toward the borders of Sim and west toward the lands of the English and Voloshskaya. Other descendants of Japheth include the Vikings, Swedes, Normans, Goths, Russ, Angles, Galicians, Volokhs, Romans, Germans, Corliasis, Venetians, Frjagi, and additional groups, who border the southern lands and are in proximity to the descendants of Ham.

Some assert that the Slavic peoples trace their roots to Gamer’s son Riphat, while others believe they derive from Forgama, Riphat's brother, and Moscow and White Russia received their names from different sources. However, we are content with the understanding that we originate from Japheth’s lineage; Mosoch was a son of Japheth, and Riphat and Forgama were his grandsons, being sons of Gamer, from whom the Cimmerians or Cymbrians emerged, speaking a language related to the Slavic tongue. The hagiographies of saints Methodius and Constantine in the month of May provide insight into the Cimmerians. For information on the Slavs and the Rus, as well as the Cimmerians, refer to Pechersk Synopsis. 7. Firas was the progenitor of the Thracians, a region that later became known for the founding of Byzantium, now called Constantinople or Tsargrad. In Russian translations of the Bible, an eighth son named Elias is mentioned among Japheth's children; however, it is believed he was not a direct son but rather a grandson, the child of Jovan.

Bochart connects Gog or Magog to the Caucasus mountain range, which the Colchians and Armenians referred to as Goghasan, or Gog’s fortress. Madai. In the books of Daniel (Dan. 5:28) and Esther (Esther 1:3), this name unequivocally signifies Midian. Flavius also associates them with Madai, and this consensus persists among scholars. Javan. This name can be shortened to Ion, which is the root of the term Ionians, commonly used to describe various Greek tribes, especially those from Asia Minor. Homer refers to the inhabitants of Delos as Iaon (Himn. Apol.). King Javan in Daniel (Dan. 8:21) is understood to refer to Alexander the Great. Tuval. According to the interpretation of the seventy, this term is rendered as Phovel. It is likely that the Tibarians descended from this group. Flavius identifies them as the Iberians, who were known as Phovels in earlier times. Meshech, or Mosoch. Flavius claims Mosoch refers to the Cappadocians. Fovel and Mosoch are frequently mentioned together in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 27:13, Ezekiel 38:2, Ezekiel 39:1). Strabo similarly locates the Iberians in the territory of the Mosochs (L. XI). Firas. It is universally recognized that he is considered the progenitor of Thrace.