Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Verse 1. JAphet] He is renowned, in the ancient Greek Writers, called Iupetos.
V. 2. Madai] Of him the Medes.
Javan] Of him the countrey Ionia, the Grecians.
V. 5. Isles] Properly; or improperly such countreys, whereto the Jewes from their land could not passe but by shipping: the Province of Europe here meant.
every one after his tongue] As it fell out after that division of tongues, ch. 11. 9.
V. 6▪ Cush] Cushians, or the Ethiopians near the Arabian sea.
Mizraim] Egyptians. Mizraim in the Old Testament is alwayes called Egypt in the New Testament.
V. 7. Seba] Whence came the West-African-Ethiopians, and likely the Queen of Shebah, 1 King. 10. 1. called the Queen of the South, coming from the uttermost parts of the earth, Matth. 12. 42. And the E… nuch of Candac…, Acts 8. 27.
Havilah] In Arabiah.
V. 8. And Cush begat Nimrod] Reserved here to the last place, because Moses meant to speak most of him.
a mighty one] Usurped by violence a more imperious Power and Government, then formerly was used, and enlarged his dominions.
V. 9. A mighty Hunter] Hunter of men, Tyrants and Oppressors are called Hunters, Jer. 16. 16.
before the Lord] Openly, without feare of God.
V. 10. Babel] ch. 11. 9. Semiramis, then the wife of Ninus sonne to this Nimrod or Belus, as profane Authors have it, founded not this City, but repaired it. After Nimrods time it seems, the seat of that Monarchy (being the first,) was translared to Nineveb in Assyria, Micah 5. 6. And after many ages Babylon rebuilt by Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4. 30.
Shinar] Comprehending Mesopotamia, situate between the two rivers Tygris and Euphrates, and the countreys adjacent, ch. 11. 2.
V. 11. Out of the land went forth Ashur] He Shents sonne, v. 22. went out of Shinar by Nimrods invasion, and built Nineveh, and gave the name to the Assyrian Monarchy. Or else Nimrod inlarging his Conquests and Dominions, went from Shinar to Ashur, and built Nineveh.
V. 12. The same is a great city] Not Calah, but Nineveh, Jonah 1. 2. 3. 2. 3. 4. 11. specially in the Prophet Jonahs time, who lived in the dayes of Jeroboam the second, the son of Joash, 2 Kings 14. 25.
14. Out of whom came Philistiim] The Philistines, not of the off-spring of Canaan, but expelling some of them, made roome for themselves in part of the land of Canaan, Amos 9. 7. Jer. 47. 4.
V. 15. And Heth] Whence come the Hittites, ch. 23. 3, 5, 7, 10.
Girgasite] Mat. 8. 28, 34. Gadarenes, Luke 8. 26.
V. 16. Jebusite, 2 Sam. 5. 6. 1 Chron. 11. 4.
V. 19. The border of the Canaanites] Set down particularly, because it was promised to Abraham, and his seed the Israelites.
V. 20. These are the sounes of Ham] Many more of them are set down here, then either of Shem or of Japheth. But most likely it is, that all these children or Grand-children of Shem, Cham and Japheth, are not here set down, but only such as were famous, and by their several Plantations gave names to several Nations descending from their loines.
V. 21. Unto Shem also the father of all the children of Eber] Great Grand-father to Eber; yet Eber thus mentioned, because of him afterwards they were called Hebrewes; so Abraham, ch. 14. 13. so, ch. 40. 15. Phil. 3. 5. and so frequently.
of Japhet the elder] Because Shem was begotten in the five hundred and second yeare of Noah's life, he being one hundred yeare old, two yeares after the flood, ch. 11. 10. Therefore Japhet was two yeare older.
V. 22. Elam] Hence came the Elamites or Persians, Acts 2. 9.
Aram] From him came the Aramites, Syrians. There is Padan-Aram, ch. 25. 20. Aram-Naharaim ch. 24. 10. Aram-Dammesek, 2 Sam. 8. 5, 6. Ara…-Zobah, Psal. 60. tit. Aram Maachah, 1 Chron. 19. 6. Aram-Beth-Rehob, 2 Sam. 10▪ 6. all these being several Provinces of Syria.
V. 23. Uz] Job 1. 1. There dwelt the Edomites or the Idumeans, Lam. 4. 21.
V. 25. For in his dayes was the earth divided] About the time of his birth was the division of tongues, at the building of Babel, which occasioned their dispersion into several parts of the earth for habitation. And the language before used of all, continuing in Eber the father of Peleg, might occasion his posterity to be distinguished from all others by the name of Hebrewes.
V. 29. Ophir] From this mans land in India, it is likely Solomons ships fetched fine gold, 2 Chron. 9. 10. called also gold of Parvaim, 2 Chron. 3. 6. This is supposed to be in Havilah near Ophir. See the Tree in the beginning of Speeds Genealogies.