The Table of Nations

Noah's three sons become the ancestors of every nation on earth, and Genesis maps out who came from whom.

creationOld Testament

What Happened

Genesis 10 is essentially an ancient family tree of the entire known world. Japheth's descendants spread across the coastlands, Ham's line produces powerful civilizations like Egypt and Canaan, and Shem's line leads eventually to Abraham. The chapter includes Nimrod, described as a mighty hunter and the founder of Babylon and Nineveh — two cities that will loom large in Israel's story.

Read It

Genesis

The Family Tree That Built the World

After the flood, Noah's three sons — Shem, Ham, and Japheth — become the ancestors of every nation on earth. What looks like a list of names is actually a map of the ancient world, complete with the Bible's first empire builder.

Key People

ShemHamJaphethNimrod

Key Places

Babylon Nineveh Canaan Egypt

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