2 Genesis, Chapter 10 - more begatitudes
Genesis, 10:1 - "Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood."
Genesis, 10:5 - "By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; everyone after his tongue, after their families, in their nations." (Emphasis, mine - for a reason!)
Does this imply that the divinely-inspired committee who wrote Genesis believed that all Gentiles lived on islands? Hopefully not, as an omniscient god should know better than to inspire his committees to espouse such inaccuracies. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a Gentile as "a person who is not Jewish," but if we all descended from that famous First Couple, we're all from the same stock, cut from the same bolt, peas in a pod - OK, I'm out of metaphors - how did any of us become Gentiles in the first place? The divine inspiration we've all come to know and cherish seems not to have inspired anyone to explain that little tidbit. You don't suppose we evolved in different directions, do you?
As can be seen from the scorecard above, Ham's son, Cush, begat - among others - Nimrod, who began to be a mighty one, as well as a mighty hunter. Nimrod is credited (Genesis, 10:10) with establishing four kingdoms in the land of Shinar: Babel, Erech (Uric), Accad, and Calneth. If you'll recall, from Gods 'r' Us (Part 6), which dealt primarily with Mesopotamian culture, "Babel" would have translated to Babylonia, while "Accad" would have referred to Akkadia.
Then (Genesis, 10:11) Nimrod left the land of Shinar for undisclosed reasons, and built the cities of Asshur, Nineveh, Rehoboth, Calah and Resen. Some biblical scholars believe the Hebrew "Nimrod" to be a fictional character, modeled after an actual Akkadian ruler, Sargon (a Semite, rather than a Sumerian) since both figures have been credited with construction of the cities of Babylon and Akkad - there's proof, however, that Sargon actually existed, whereas we have only the Bible's word for Nimrod's existence, and we're beginning to see what that's worth --
Sargon is a fascinating character who, along with his sons whose reigns followed his, conquered cities from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf in order to open and secure trade routes for the Mesopotamian City-States he had united. Part of the conquered territory included the Semitic country of Canaan - the reunification of these two Semitic peoples, Canaanite and Akkadian, will provide a clearer understanding of events to follow in future chapters.
For an interesting insight into the origins and development of Mesopotamia, its culture and its immeasurable influence on the world today, I recommend wading through A History of Babylonia and Assyria by Robert William Rogers, The Abingdon Press, 1915 - I say wading, not because it's dry material, it's not, but it is 500 pages long - about half the size of a Stephen King novel.
Canaan, we're told (Genesis, 10:15), begat Sidon and Heth, and 10:16-18 go on to say that Canaan begat the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgasite, the Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite, the Arvadite, the Zemarite and the Hamathite.
Now the residents of the "Land of Canaan," were known as "Canaanites," so named after their founder - not surprisingly - Canaan, grandson of that little old winemaker, Noah, through Noah's cursed son, Ham. It is unclear from either the King James Bible or the Catholic, New American Bible, whether the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgasites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Aemarites, and Hamathites listed above were descendants of Canaan's sons, Sidon and Heth, or if they, in fact, represented additional sons of Canaan.
Genesis, 10:19 tells us the area occupied by the Canaanites: "And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest unto Sodom and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha."
The name, "Canaan," in Hebrew, meant, "merchant," and despite Noah's curse, the Canaanites did alright for themselves, living up to their namesake through the Bronze Age. They became renowned traders throughout the known world, on both land and sea and established colonies as far from the Arabian Peninsula as Carthage, on the North African coast, and in Spain. As the world entered the Iron Age, the Greeks, with whom the Canaanites had a strong trading relationship, began referring to them as the Phoenicians, and the title stuck. Because they spread the alphabet and the art of writing wherever they traveled, we owe much of our modern civilization to those accursed descendants of a naked, hung-over Noah.
Since we've firmly established that no flood could have happened the way the Bible claims it did (Rogers, referenced above, independently affirms the 2900 BCE flood date, from Chapter 6, Part 4, that, when the Euphrates River overflowed its banks to a total depth of 15 cubits, flooded an area that included three local City-States), it's not too great a stretch to assume that the Canaanites/Phoenicians didn't originate with mythical Noah's "My Three Sons." As great merchants, due to their extensive coastline (see map, below), they had access to the Mediterranean Sea and the countries that border it, including extensive trade with Egypt and many nations across North Africa. Consequently, as they spread the written language throughout their travels, they also were exposed to various cultures which broadened their minds and outlooks to include many other points of view, unlike the Hebrews who confined themselves largely to a solitary, Nomadic, tightly-controlled, Patriarchal lifestyle, devoid of experiences outside of their own closely-knit group.
Once we wind our way to Abraham, we will take a journey, "In Search Of" the Bible's god, and his wife. I believe we will find his prototype firmly established in the land of Canaan, where the Hebrews likely found him, dusted him off, took away his woman (making him VERY grouchy), and trotted him out as their own.
Genesis, 10:20 brings it home: "These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations." (Again, emphasis, mine - for a reason!)
Map of Canaan
"The Great Sea" is, of course, the Mediterranean
Then (Genesis, 10:11) Nimrod left the land of Shinar for undisclosed reasons, and built the cities of Asshur, Nineveh, Rehoboth, Calah and Resen. Some biblical scholars believe the Hebrew "Nimrod" to be a fictional character, modeled after an actual Akkadian ruler, Sargon (a Semite, rather than a Sumerian) since both figures have been credited with construction of the cities of Babylon and Akkad - there's proof, however, that Sargon actually existed, whereas we have only the Bible's word for Nimrod's existence, and we're beginning to see what that's worth --
Sargon
Sargon is a fascinating character who, along with his sons whose reigns followed his, conquered cities from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf in order to open and secure trade routes for the Mesopotamian City-States he had united. Part of the conquered territory included the Semitic country of Canaan - the reunification of these two Semitic peoples, Canaanite and Akkadian, will provide a clearer understanding of events to follow in future chapters.
For an interesting insight into the origins and development of Mesopotamia, its culture and its immeasurable influence on the world today, I recommend wading through A History of Babylonia and Assyria by Robert William Rogers, The Abingdon Press, 1915 - I say wading, not because it's dry material, it's not, but it is 500 pages long - about half the size of a Stephen King novel.
Canaan, we're told (Genesis, 10:15), begat Sidon and Heth, and 10:16-18 go on to say that Canaan begat the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgasite, the Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite, the Arvadite, the Zemarite and the Hamathite.
Now the residents of the "Land of Canaan," were known as "Canaanites," so named after their founder - not surprisingly - Canaan, grandson of that little old winemaker, Noah, through Noah's cursed son, Ham. It is unclear from either the King James Bible or the Catholic, New American Bible, whether the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgasites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Aemarites, and Hamathites listed above were descendants of Canaan's sons, Sidon and Heth, or if they, in fact, represented additional sons of Canaan.
Genesis, 10:19 tells us the area occupied by the Canaanites: "And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest unto Sodom and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha."
The name, "Canaan," in Hebrew, meant, "merchant," and despite Noah's curse, the Canaanites did alright for themselves, living up to their namesake through the Bronze Age. They became renowned traders throughout the known world, on both land and sea and established colonies as far from the Arabian Peninsula as Carthage, on the North African coast, and in Spain. As the world entered the Iron Age, the Greeks, with whom the Canaanites had a strong trading relationship, began referring to them as the Phoenicians, and the title stuck. Because they spread the alphabet and the art of writing wherever they traveled, we owe much of our modern civilization to those accursed descendants of a naked, hung-over Noah.
Since we've firmly established that no flood could have happened the way the Bible claims it did (Rogers, referenced above, independently affirms the 2900 BCE flood date, from Chapter 6, Part 4, that, when the Euphrates River overflowed its banks to a total depth of 15 cubits, flooded an area that included three local City-States), it's not too great a stretch to assume that the Canaanites/Phoenicians didn't originate with mythical Noah's "My Three Sons." As great merchants, due to their extensive coastline (see map, below), they had access to the Mediterranean Sea and the countries that border it, including extensive trade with Egypt and many nations across North Africa. Consequently, as they spread the written language throughout their travels, they also were exposed to various cultures which broadened their minds and outlooks to include many other points of view, unlike the Hebrews who confined themselves largely to a solitary, Nomadic, tightly-controlled, Patriarchal lifestyle, devoid of experiences outside of their own closely-knit group.
Once we wind our way to Abraham, we will take a journey, "In Search Of" the Bible's god, and his wife. I believe we will find his prototype firmly established in the land of Canaan, where the Hebrews likely found him, dusted him off, took away his woman (making him VERY grouchy), and trotted him out as their own.
Genesis, 10:20 brings it home: "These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations." (Again, emphasis, mine - for a reason!)
Map of Canaan
"The Great Sea" is, of course, the Mediterranean
As can be seen from the modern map of the Middle East (above and below), the "Land of Canaan" occupied all of what is now Israel and part of what was Lebanon and Syria. Rather than "serving" his brothers and their descendants, it would appear that the descendants of at least one of the sons of Ham far exceeded the limitations of Noah's curse and established themselves in a territory that would be the envy of any nomadic Hebrew, an envy, that as we shall see, will grow.
Modern Middle-East Chapter 10 concludes with a list of Shem's descendants:
Genesis, 10:31 - "These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations." (Once again, emphasis, mine - for a reason!)
You'll note that Elam is one of the sons of Shem. Of note, is the fact that the Elamites, located in what is modern Iran, were a constant threat to the Akkadian and Sumerian city-states. They were conquered by Sargon and kept in check through his 55-year reign, but regained strength shortly after and remained a threat for the next thousand years, until Hammaruabi (aka, Hammaruapi) finally destroyed them, even to the extent of pulling down their city walls and salting their soil.
And finally, Genesis, 10:32 - "These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood."
pax vobiscum,
archaeopteryx
You'll note that Elam is one of the sons of Shem. Of note, is the fact that the Elamites, located in what is modern Iran, were a constant threat to the Akkadian and Sumerian city-states. They were conquered by Sargon and kept in check through his 55-year reign, but regained strength shortly after and remained a threat for the next thousand years, until Hammaruabi (aka, Hammaruapi) finally destroyed them, even to the extent of pulling down their city walls and salting their soil.
And finally, Genesis, 10:32 - "These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood."
pax vobiscum,
archaeopteryx
Posted by archaeopteryx at 10/19/2011 3:36 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: religion Judeo-Christian religion Noah Ham Shem Japheth Nimrod Babylonia Sargon Canaan Phoenicians Bible Christianity Judaism Islam atheism biblical inerrancy biblical mythology King James Bible New American Bible
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: religion Judeo-Christian religion Noah Ham Shem Japheth Nimrod Babylonia Sargon Canaan Phoenicians Bible Christianity Judaism Islam atheism biblical inerrancy biblical mythology King James Bible New American Bible
The author here has raised some really valid points here. He has used simple English. He has made brilliant use of diagrams to prove his points. In this context I would like to state that Bible does not answer all the questions. It is written by our forefathers with the sole intention of helping us lead a virtuous life. It is a comprehensive book which will guide us through the thick and thin of our lives. It brings home the idea that Jesus Christ lived for us, died for us and resurrected for us and that we all should follow his principles.
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The Bible is a puzzle, It tells us how to find knowledge and how to know doctrine Isa 28:9-10 For precept must be on precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little. In the Old Testament there was not truth or grace John 1:17. The Bible is the book of the knowledge of good and evil Gen 3:22. The word of God must be rightly divided 2 Tim 2:15. It is written that the Lord will create a new thing on the earth Jer 31:22 a woman shallcompass a man. This man is Satan Isa 14:16. It is written that a woman shall bruise Satan at the heel of time Gen 3:15. The bruising of Satan is now taking place at http://thegoodtale.wordpresscom God has now given us his truth. Read all the posts, the truth now sets us free.
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VAL:
I've been to your blog and read your commentary, in fact, I invited you to comment here and you are always welcome to do so.
I, too, believe the adage, "the truth shall set you free," but in your case, though still a truism, I fear it's way too late for that. With all due respect Val, I sense that someone snagged you at a very early age and regularly beat you over the head with a Bible, figuratively at least, to the extent that you have lost all objectivity and are no longer capable of seeing any other point of view, thus the truth is no longer available to you, and for what has been done to the child that you were, I am deeply saddened.
What I've seen, both at your blogsite and in your above comment, is that you are taking disconnected excerpts from Judeo-Christian scripture and attempting to use them to create a scenario that exists, however clearly, only in your own mind.
Even if I were to accept the words of the Bible as being factual, and it should be obvious by now that I do not, I could never draw the conclusions, follow the leaps in logic, to which you adhere. Just taking your above statement, you spring from Isaiah, to John, leap back to Genesis, then forward to Timothy, then to Jerimiah, back to Isaiah, ending back at Genesis, maintaining that somewhere, in that patchwork quilt, there is a prophesy that at some point in the future (which you maintain is now) a woman will arise to ovecome, or at least harm in some way, Satan, and you expound further on this on your blog.
Val, even if you accept Genesis 1 and 2 literally, there is no indication anywhere in those two chapters that the "serpent" is the mythical "Satan" - it is often interpreted that this is so, but the authors of the text, at no point, indicate that that is the case. In fact, "Satan" isn't mentioned in the Judeo-Christian Bible until much, much later, after the isolated, nomadic existence of the Jewish people ended for the most part, and they, by association with the diverse cultures they encountered at the end of that isolation, began to learn of the gods and demons of those other cultures, adopting many of those concepts into their own belief system..
Actually, it is maintained by many scholars that "Satan" was borrowed from the Egyptians, from their mythical deity, "Set."
As much as it truly pains me to say it, I believe it is too late for any amount of therapy - which I realize you would never seek - to free you from the mental quicksand into which a sweet, innocent little child was thrown so many years ago. I can only imagine what that torment, of trying and failing all of those years to live up to another's unrealistic expectations, has done to you.
pax vobiscum (if at all possible),
archaeopteryx
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Thanks for the Kudos Early - I can tell that you are sincere in your beliefs and I can't criticize your right to hold them. But be as informed as you possibly can, before settling on ANY belief system - please!
As for the forefather's intentions in compiling the Bible, I can't accept that they were solely, altruistically intended to help us lead a virtuous life. Many, many motives were involved in the writing of the Bible, and of those, many were anything but altruistic. For a brief discussion of those behind the compilation of that book, see my post: http://in-his-own-imagcom/2010/02/02/genesis-chapter-2.aspx - that should give you a number of things to think about, should you wish to study further.
Also, I might suggest you read Richard Elliot Friedman's Who Wrote the Bible.
pax vobiscum,
archaeopteryx
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Hey,
Yep, the story about the serpent and the garden is bizarre, actually. There is a constant interplay between "god" and "satan" throughout the old test. in which it is never really clear who is evil and who is good. It begins with the creation stories.
At one point it says that the devil caused a census to be taken, then later it was "god" who caused it.
I think the "satan-god" interplay, like the Horus-Set interplay, is a mockery of adherents created by the people that made this junk up.
And peace be to you as well ...
- kk
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Actually, Kir, you're closer than you think - as I will point out in a future chapter, the Egyptian god, Set, who like Osiris and Abraham, married his sister, was the origin of Satan. As you may have encountered already, En was the Akkadian (Semitic) word for Lord, so in Set-En, or Lord Set, we have the entomology of Satan.
pax vobiscum,
archaeopteryx
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