Genesis 10:18b-19 Later the Canaanite clans scattered and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha.
In my AP Lit class, we are reading the play “Our Town” by Thorton Wilder, an absolute favorite of mine. It talks about how we are at once both incredibly important (in our own minds/our own universe) and utterly insignificant (in the grand scheme of things). The Stage Manager in the play makes the comment, “Babylon once had two million people in it, and all we know about ’em is the names of the kings and some copies of wheat contracts.”
Genesis 10:20-21 These are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations. The Semites Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.
Just like those Babylonians, this laundry list of names in Genesis were once real people with real lives and real families, but all we know about them is what’s listed here (unless we care to dig deeper to try to find more). Not much in the grand scheme of things, but they had daily lives, daily loves, daily concerns, just like we do.
Genesis 10:22-24 The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek. Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber.
Precious Savior, It’s so easy to see the Bible, especially genealogies contained therein, as just a list of names. But once upon a time, they were people just like us, with lives and families. Help us to live this life You have given us to the best of our ability, every single day. Help us to do the best we can, to live as best we can, to shine Your light as best we can. Every. Single. Day. Amen.
Genesis 10:25-29 Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan. Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.
Have a blessed day.