“And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah.”
Context:Genesis 10, also known as the Table of Nations, provides a genealogical account of the descendants of Noah after the great flood. It traces the origins of various nations and peoples, highlighting their different languages, lands, and clans. Verse 26 is a part of this genealogical record.
Joktan:Joktan was one of the sons of Eber, who was a descendant of Shem, Noah’s son. The descendants of Joktan formed numerous Arabian tribes. Joktan’s genealogy is given in Genesis 10:25-29, listing several of his sons.
Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, and Jerah:These are the four sons of Joktan mentioned in verse 26. They represent various Arabian tribes or clans that descended from Joktan. The meanings of their names are not explicitly provided in the Bible, and there is limited information about these specific tribes in subsequent biblical accounts.
Significance:While the significance of these individual names and tribes may not be explicitly clear from this verse alone, the inclusion of their names in the genealogical record serves to establish the lineage and descendants of Joktan, connecting them to the broader narrative of human history.
Historical and Cultural Background:To gain a deeper understanding of the significance of these names and tribes, it can be helpful to study the broader historical and cultural context of the ancient Near East. However, since the biblical text does not provide extensive information about these particular tribes, their specific historical and cultural backgrounds remain somewhat elusive.
Themes and Lessons:While this verse primarily serves as a record of genealogy and ancestry, it highlights the diversity of human descendants and the various tribes and nations that emerged after the flood. It emphasizes the fulfilment of God’s promise to multiply humanity through Noah’s descendants, as mentioned in Genesis 9:1.
Overall, Genesis 10:26 is a small part of the genealogical record in the Table of Nations, tracing the descendants of Joktan, who formed various Arabian tribes. While it may not offer substantial theological or moral teachings on its own, it contributes to the larger narrative of human history as recorded in the Bible.
