THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
The sequence of births from Shem must be adhered to, as it serves to illustrate God's grace after the flood, similarly to how the lineage descending from Seth indicated divine favor before the flood. Consequently, the Holy Scriptures, having pointed out the turmoil of the earth in Babylon—representative of confusion—revisits Shem's lineage to outline the generations leading to Abraham. It notes his age at the birth of his son within this lineage and the duration of his life. At this juncture, it is pertinent to highlight a previously promised observation regarding one of Eber's sons, namely that one was called Phalek because during his era, the land was divided. The term 'division of the earth' suggests a separation arising from a multiplicity of languages.
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By bypassing Shem’s other sons, who are not central to this lineage, the author specifically traces the descendants that lead to Abraham, just as before the flood, the lineage through Seth was recorded towards Noah. The genealogy begins as follows: This is the account of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old when he fathered Afraxad two years after the flood. After Afraxad’s birth, Shem lived for an additional five hundred years, producing sons and daughters thereafter. The author proceeds in similar fashion with the other descendants, revealing the age at which each fathered a son within the lineage extending to Abraham, the number of years they lived post-birth, and affirming they too had sons and daughters. This is intended to help us grasp how various nations emerged, preventing confusion, as if we were children pondering how the descendants of Shem came to populate vast territories and realms. This is particularly relevant to the Assyrian empire, from which the renowned Nin reigned victoriously over the Eastern nations with remarkable success, establishing a significant and powerful dynasty that endured for many generations.