The Generations of Noah
M^’iTHOUT this genealogy Me should not have been able to ascertain the fulfilment of Noah’s prophecy: but after what has been said on that subject, I need not be particular here. The chapter contains the origin of the various nations of antiquity; and the more it is examined, and compared with universal history, the more credible it will appear. All the researches of the Asiatic Society, into the ancient Hindoo records, go to confirm it. But it does not comport with the object of these discourses to enter minutely into such subjects: I shall therefore pass over it with only a few remarks.
I. Concerning the posterity of Japheth, ver. 2 — 5. His famiW was the largest, and almost every one of his sons became the father of a nation. In them, amongst others, we trace the names of Madia, the father of the Medes; — of Javan, and his two sons, Kittim and Dodanim, the fathers of the lonians or Greeks, and of the Romans. It was from Japheth that all the nations of Europe appear to have been peopled; and who seem at this early period to have obtained the name of Gentiles; viz. peoples, or 7iations. (ver. 5.) This name was given in the apostles’ times to all who were not Jews; but in earlier ages it seems to have been chiefly, if not entirely, applied to the Europeans. Such at least is the meaning of “the isles of the gentiles,” in which, by a synecdoche, those places which were the nearest to the situation of the sacred writer are put for all the countries beyond them. And the scriptures foreseeing that Europe would from the first embrace the gospel, and for many ages be the principal seat of its operations, the Messiah himself is introduced by Isaiah as addressing himself to its inhabitants — “Listen, oh isles unto me; and hearken ye people from afar! Jehovah hath called me from the womb, and hath said unto me. It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob — I will also give thee for a light to the gentiles, that thou shouldst be my salvation to the end of the earth.”* Here we see, not only the first peopling of our native country, but the kind remembrance of us in a way of mercy, and this though far removed from the means of salvation. What a call is this to us who occupy what is denominated the end of the earth, to be thankful for the gospel, and to listen to the sweet accents of the Saviour’s voice!
2. Concerning the posterity of IIa?n, ver. 5 — 20. In them, amongst others, we trace the names of Cush, the father of the Ethiopians; of Misraim, the father of the Egyptians; and of Canaan, the father of the Canaanites.
Particular notice is taken of Nimiod, the son of Cush, ias the first who set up for empire. He might, for ought I know, be fond of hunt-
* Isai. xlix. 1 — 6, ing beasts; but the connexion of thrs character with a “kingdom,” induces nie to think that 7fien were the principal objects of his pursuit, and that it is in reference to this that he is called a mightij hunter, a very proper name for what modern historians would have called a Jiero. Thus we see from the beginning, that things which are highly esteemed amongst men are held in abomination with God. This perfectly accords with the language of the prophets, in which the great conquerors of the earth aie described as so many icikl beasts, pushing at one another, and whose object it is to seize and tear the prey. — Ximrod was a mighty hunter before the Lord. This may denote his daring spirit, doing what he did in the face of heaven, or in defiance of the divine authority. Thus the Sodomites are said to be “wicked, and sinners before the Lord, exceedingly.” Nimrod’s fame was so great that his name became proverbial. When any one in after times Mas a daring plunderer in defiance of heaven, he was likened to him, just as the wicked kings of Israel were likened to Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. In short, he became the type, pattern, or father of usurpers and martial plunderers. Till his time, government had been patriarchal; but his ambition led him to found a royal city, even that which was afterwards called Babel or Babylon: and to add to it (for the ambition of conquerors has no bounds) “Erech, and Accad, and Calneli, in the land ofShinar.” Nor was this all. Either he drove Ashur, the son of Shem, from the land of Shinar, who, taking up his residence in Assyria, built Nineveh, and other places; or else, as Ains worth, and the jnargin of our own bibles, render it, He (Nimrod) went forth out of tJiat land to Ashur, or Assyria, and buildcd Nineveh. This last is very probably the true meaning, as the sacred writer is not here describing what was done by the posterity of Shem, which he introduces afterwardsj but by those of Ham; and it perfectly accords with Nimrod’s character, to go hunting from land to land, for the purpose of increasing his dominion.
From Misraim, the father of the Egyptians, descended also the Philistines. Their situation was near to that of the Canaanites; but not being of them, their country was not given to Israel. This accounts for their not attempting to take it, though in after times there were frequent wars between them.
Finally: jIoses was very particular with regard to the Canaanites, describing not only
what nations they were, but what were their s
130 GENKRATIONS OF NOAH. [Dls. 6.
boundaries, that Israel might know and be content with what the Lord their God had given them. Under this head we see much of what pertains to this world, but that is all. We may learn from it, that men may be under the divine curse, and yet be very successful for a time in schemes of aggrandizement. But if this be their all, M^oe unto them! There are instances however of individuals, even from amongst Ham’s posterity, who obtained mercy. Of them were Rahab the harlot, Uriah the Hittite, Obed-edom, and Ittai, and his brethren the Gittites, and the Syrophenician woman who applied to Christ. The door of mercy is open to faith, without distinction of nations; nor was there ever a time in which the God of Israel refused even a Canaanite who repented and embraced his word.
3. Concerning the posterity of Shem, ver. 21 — 312. The account of this patriarch is introduced in rather a singular manner: it is mentioned as an appendage to his name, a kind of title of honour that was to go along with it, that he was “father of all the children of Eber, and brother of Japheth the elder.” Shem had other sons as well as these, and another brother as well as Japheth; but no such special mention is made of them. When Moses Mould describe the line of the curse, he calls liajn “the father of Canaan;” (ch. ix. 18.) and ^vhe the line of promise, he calls Shein “the father of all the children of Eber.” And as Japheth had been the brother of Shcni in an act of filial duty, his posterity shall be grafted in among them, and become fellow-heirs of the same promise; yet, as in divers other instances, the younger goes before the elder.
Among Shem’s other descendents we find the names of Elam and Ashur, fathers of the Persians and Assyrians, two great Asiatic nations. But these not being of the church of God, are but little noticed in the sacred history, except as they come in contact with it.
Eber is said to have had two sons, one of V’hom is called Peleg, division; because in his days the earth was divided. This event took place subsequent to the confusion of tongues, which is yet to be related. It seems to refer to an allotment of different countries to different families, as Canaan was divided amongst the Israelites by Joshua. This division of the earth is elsewhere ascribed to the Most High.* Probably it was by lot, which was of his disposing; or if by the fathers of the different families, all was subject to the direction of His providence
* Dcut. xxxii. 8.
s 2
132 GENERATIONS OF NOAH. [DlS. ] 6.
who fixes and bounds our habitation. It is intimated in the same passage, that at the time of this division, God marked out the holy land as Israel’s lot; so that the Canaanites were to possess it only during his minority, and that by sufferance. It was rather lent than given them from the first.