Summary
The chapter opens by enumerating the sons of Japheth—Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras—and their descendants, who spread to the islands and lands by language and family. It then lists the offspring of Ham, including Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan, and notes the rise of Nimrod, a mighty hunter whose kingdom began in Shinar and who founded notable cities such as Babel and Nineveh. The section on Canaanite tribes details the spread of various peoples across the land of Canaan, with geographic boundaries described. Finally, the genealogy of Shem is given, from Elam through Arphaxad, Eber, and Joktan, ending with a broad statement that these descendants, by family and tongue, formed the nations of the earth after the Flood. The passage serves as a foundational “Table of Nations” linking biblical figures to later peoples and kingdoms.