A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Genesis · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
NOw theſe are the generations of the ſonnes of Noah.]
We cannot with any probabilitie conceive that all the children, or grandchildren of Shem, Ham▪ and Japheth are here particularly named, but onelyonly ſuch as were in their generations men of renown, ſuch as by their ſeverall plantations gave name to ſeverall nations deſcending from their loyns.
Verſ. 5. By theſe were the Iſles, &c.]
For the full underſtanding of this, we muſt know that the poſteritie of Noah kept together for many years; till the greateſt part removed to that plantation in Shinar, whereof we reade, chap. 11. Now▪ ſayes Moſes, after the tongues were there divided, theſe ſonnes of Japheth, according to their ſeverall languages, did plant ſeverall Colonies in all the regions and countreys of Europe, and thoſe that border the Mediterranean ſea, now uſually called, the Iſles of the Gentiles: for this is all, which Moſes intends in theſe words, that all thoſe Sea-countries, ſeverally divided amongſt men of ſeverall families, of ſeverall languages, were all the poſterity of Japheth, ſo placed by thoſe of his iſſue formerly mentioned, after whoſe names they were many of them called.
Verſ. 8. And Cuſh begat Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth.]
That is, whereas hitherto the heads of families did in a mild and gentle way guide and order the reſt, rather by the voluntary ſubmiſſion of thoſe that were governed then by the compulſion of power, this Nimrod with viol…nce uſurped a more imperious government, and enlarging ſtill his dominions by forcing thoſe about him to undergo his yoke, he became a mighty one, that is, a man of great power and might, famous in his time for the dominions he had.
Verſ. 9. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord.]
In many places of Scripture perſecutours and oppreſſours, ſuch as invade any people, and by a ſtrong hand ſubdue them, and then waſte and oppreſſe them, are called hunters: as Jer. 16. 16. Behold, I will ſend for many fiſhers, and they ſhall fiſh them; and for many hu…ers, and they ſhall hunt them, &c. Lam. 4. 18. They hunt our ſteps that we cannot go in our ſtreets. Such a one Moſes under this Metaphoricall ſpeech deſcribes Nimrod to have been, a tyrannous invad…r and oppreſſour of thoſe that lived about him; and this he did before the Lord, to wit, openly without fear of God.
Wherefore it is ſaid, &c.]
Thence it grew to be a common proverb, that when any man took the courſe of oppreſſion and tyrannie, he was called, as I may ſay, another Nimrod.
Verſ. 11. Out of that land went forth Aſhur, &c.]
According to …he tranſlation of Junius (which is added in the margin) the meaning is this, That Nimrod having built thoſe foure cities before mentioned in the land of Shinar, enlarged his dominions further, even in Aſhur or Aſſyria, and there built Nineveh, Rehoboth, &c. But methinks this other tranſlation is not without cauſe retained in the text, namely that Aſhur (not the ſonne of Shem, but one of the ſame name of Hams progeny, as in Gen. 4. we have many of Cains progeny of the ſame name with thoſe of Seths) went forth out of Shinar, and built Nineveh, &c. in the kingdome of Aſſyria: and indeed whence may we think it took the name of Aſſyria, if Nimro…, not Aſhur were the founder of that Empire?
Verſ. 18. And afterward were the families of the Canaanites ſpread abroad.]
Having ſpoken of the ſonnes of Canaan, Sydon, Heth, Jebus, &c. he addes that in after-times there were ſeverall families ſpread abroad in the land of Canaan, which took their names as is before expreſſed from theſe ſonnes of Canaan.
Theſe are the ſonnes of Ham, after their families, &c.]
That is, theſe are the ſonnes of Ham, who according to their ſeverall families and languages were the founders of ſeverall nations in ſeverall countreys.
Verſ. 21 The father of all the children of Eber.]
That is, of the Hebrews.
Verſ. 25. The name of one was Peleg.]
Peleg ſignifies diviſion; and he was ſo called becauſe about the time of his birth languages were divided.