And Salah liued, after hee begate Eber, foure hundred and three yeeres, and begate sonnes and daughters. Genesis 11:15 (KJV)
Genesis 11:15 is part of the genealogy mentioned in the account of the descendants of Shem, one of Noah’s sons. This genealogy lists the generations from Shem to Abram (later known as Abraham). Salah is the son of Arphaxad, who is the son of Shem. The verse provides information about Salah’s life and descendants.
The verse states that Salah lived for four hundred and three years after he became the father of Eber. This emphasizes the long lifespans of the early patriarchs mentioned in the genealogies in Genesis and provides a chronological marker for understanding the timeline of events in early biblical history.
Eber is mentioned as one of the sons of Salah. The name “Eber” means “the other side” or “across.” Eber is significant because his name is associated with the Hebrew people; it is from the name Eber that the term “Hebrew” is derived, and he is considered an ancestor of the Hebrews, including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel).
The verse also mentions that Salah had other sons and daughters. Though the specific names and details of his other children are not provided here, this indicates that Salah had a significant family, and his descendants likely contributed to the growth of the human population at that time.
Salah’s lifespan is noted in the verse. Family and descendants are noted to emphasize the breadth of Salah’s lineage. The significance of Eber is underscored by the etymology of his name. Thus Genesis 11:15 contributes both genealogical data and cultural insight into the origins of the Hebrew people.
