Genesis 10:19
and the borders of Canaan extended from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
and the borders of Canaan extended from Sidon
Sidon, one of the oldest Phoenician cities, is located in present-day Lebanon. It was a significant port city and a center of trade and commerce. The mention of Sidon as a boundary marker indicates the northern extent of the land of Canaan. This area was known for its influence and wealth, often associated with the Canaanites' maritime prowess. Sidon is frequently mentioned in the Bible, including in the context of Israel's interactions with surrounding nations (e.g., Judges 10:6, 1 Kings 16:31).

toward Gerar as far as Gaza
Gerar was a Philistine city located in the Negev region, often associated with the patriarchs Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 20:1, 26:1). Gaza, another significant Philistine city, marked the southwestern boundary of Canaan. These cities were part of the Philistine pentapolis and played crucial roles in the narratives of the Judges and the early monarchy of Israel (e.g., Judges 16:1-3, 1 Samuel 6:17). The mention of these cities highlights the extent of Canaan's influence and the challenges Israel would face from these regions.

and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim
These cities are infamous for their destruction due to their wickedness, as recounted in Genesis 19. They were located in the plain of the Jordan, near the Dead Sea. The mention of these cities serves as a geographical marker but also as a moral and theological reference point, illustrating the consequences of sin and God's judgment. The destruction of these cities is often cited in later biblical texts as a warning against immorality (e.g., Deuteronomy 29:23, Luke 17:28-30).

as far as Lasha
Lasha is less well-known, with its exact location remaining uncertain. It is mentioned here as the eastern boundary of Canaan. The inclusion of Lasha in the list of boundary markers underscores the comprehensive nature of the description, encompassing the full extent of the land associated with the Canaanites. This comprehensive boundary description sets the stage for the later narratives of Israel's conquest and settlement in the land, as promised to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 15:18-21).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Canaan
The grandson of Noah and the progenitor of the Canaanites, whose land is described in this passage. Canaan's descendants settled in the region that would later become known as the Promised Land.

2. Sidon
An ancient city, one of the principal cities of the Phoenicians, located in modern-day Lebanon. It is often associated with trade and maritime prowess.

3. Gerar
A city in the Negev region, often associated with the Philistines. It is mentioned in the context of Abraham and Isaac's interactions with Abimelech.

4. Gaza
A significant city in the southwestern part of Canaan, known for its strategic location and later as a Philistine city.

5. Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, Lasha
Cities located in the region of the Dead Sea, known for their destruction due to wickedness, as recounted in Genesis 19.
Teaching Points
Understanding God's Sovereignty
The delineation of Canaan's borders in Genesis 10:19 reminds us of God's sovereignty over nations and lands. He sets boundaries and determines the rise and fall of peoples.

The Consequences of Sin
The mention of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of living righteously.

The Fulfillment of God's Promises
The land of Canaan, as described, becomes the Promised Land for the Israelites, demonstrating God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Abraham and his descendants.

The Importance of Obedience
The Israelites' later conquest of these lands underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands in order to receive His blessings.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the description of Canaan's borders in Genesis 10:19 help us understand the historical and geographical context of the Promised Land?

2. In what ways does the account of Sodom and Gomorrah, mentioned in this passage, serve as a warning for us today?

3. How can we see God's faithfulness in the fulfillment of His promises through the history of the land of Canaan?

4. What lessons can we learn from the Israelites' conquest of Canaan about obedience and trust in God's plan?

5. How does understanding the historical significance of places like Sidon and Gaza enhance our reading of other biblical accounts?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 13:12-13
This passage describes Lot's choice to settle near Sodom, highlighting the wickedness of the city, which is part of the region described in Genesis 10:19.

Deuteronomy 7:1-2
God commands the Israelites to conquer the land of Canaan, which includes the territories mentioned in Genesis 10:19, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.

Joshua 11:22
This verse mentions the Philistines and their cities, including Gaza, showing the continued significance of these locations in Israel's history.
A Chapter of GenealogiesT. H. Leale.Genesis 10:1-32
Circumstances Attendant on ManT. Carlyle.Genesis 10:1-32
Gospel ArcheryDr. Talmage.Genesis 10:1-32
Ham's PosterityG. Hughes, B. D.Genesis 10:1-32
LessonsG. Hughes, B. D.Genesis 10:1-32
LessonsG. Hughes, B. D.Genesis 10:1-32
NimrodG. Gilfillan.Genesis 10:1-32
Oneness of HumanityJ. Parker, D. D.Genesis 10:1-32
The Characteristics of a NationProf. J. G. Murphy.Genesis 10:1-32
The Planting of Nations Great ResponsibilityBishop Samuel Wilberforce.Genesis 10:1-32
The CanaanitesW. Roberts Genesis 10:15-19
People
Abimael, Almodad, Amorites, Anamim, Anamites, Aram, Arkite, Arkites, Arphaxad, Arvadite, Ashkenaz, Ashur, Canaanites, Caphtorim, Caphtorites, Casluhim, Casluhites, Dedan, Diklah, Dodanim, Eber, Elam, Elishah, Gether, Girgashite, Girgashites, Girgasite, Gomer, Hadoram, Ham, Hamathite, Hamathites, Havilah, Hazarmaveth, Heth, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Hul, Japheth, Javan, Jerah, Jobab, Joktan, Kittim, Lehabim, Lehabites, Lud, Ludim, Ludites, Madai, Magog, Mash, Mesha, Meshech, Mizraim, Naphtuhim, Naphtuhites, Nimrod, Noah, Obal, Ophir, Pathrusim, Peleg, Phut, Riphath, Sabtah, Sabtecha, Sabtechah, Salah, Seba, Shelah, Sheleph, Shem, Sinite, Sinites, Tarshish, Tiras, Togarmah, Tubal, Uzal, Zemarite, Zemarites, Zidon
Places
Accad, Admah, Assyria, Babel, Calah, Calneh, Canaan, Erech, Gaza, Gerar, Gomorrah, Lasha, Mesha, Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Resen, Sephar, Shinar, Sidon, Sodom, Tigris-Euphrates Region, Zeboiim
Topics
Admah, Border, Canaan, Canaanite, Canaanites, Comest, Direction, Extended, Gaza, Gazah, Gerar, Goes, Goest, Gomorrah, Gomor'rah, Lasha, Lashah, Lesha, Reached, Sidon, Sodom, Stretching, Territory, Towards, Zeboiim, Zeboi'im, Zeboim, Zidon
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 10:19

     4275   Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 10:1-32

     7230   genealogies

Genesis 10:15-20

     5671   clan

Genesis 10:18-19

     5235   boundary

Library
Ancient Chaldaea
The Creation, the Deluge, the history of the gods--The country, its cities its inhabitants, its early dynasties. [Illustration: 002a.jpg] "In the time when nothing which was called heaven existed above, and when nothing below had as yet received the name of earth,* Apsu, the Ocean, who first was their father, and Chaos-Tiamat, who gave birth to them all, mingled their waters in one, reeds which were not united, rushes which bore no fruit."** Life germinated slowly in this inert mass, in which the
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 3

Moses and his Writings
[Illustration: (drop cap W) Clay letter tablet of Moses' time.] We now begin to understand a little of the very beginning of God's Book--of the times in which it was written, the materials used by its first author, and the different kinds of writing from which he had to choose; but we must go a step farther. How much did Moses know about the history of his forefathers, Abraham and Jacob, and of all the old nations and kings mentioned in Genesis, before God called him to the great work of writing
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

Healing a Phoenician Woman's Daughter.
(Region of Tyre and Sidon.) ^A Matt. XV. 22-28; ^B Mark VII. 24-30. ^b And he entered into a house, and would have no man know it [Jesus sought concealment for the purposes noted in the last section. He also, no doubt, desired an opportunity to impact private instruction to the twelve]; and he could not be hid. [The fame of Jesus had spread far and wide, and he and his disciples were too well known to escape the notice of any who had seen them or heard them described.] 25 But { ^a 22 And} behold,
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Sea of Sodom
The bounds of Judea, on both sides, are the sea; the western bound is the Mediterranean,--the eastern, the Dead sea, or the sea of Sodom. This the Jewish writers every where call, which you may not so properly interpret here, "the salt sea," as "the bituminous sea." In which sense word for word, "Sodom's salt," but properly "Sodom's bitumen," doth very frequently occur among them. The use of it was in the holy incense. They mingled 'bitumen,' 'the amber of Jordan,' and [an herb known to few], with
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
SYRIA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EGYPTIAN CONQUEST NINEVEH AND THE FIRST COSSAEAN KINGS-THE PEOPLES OF SYRIA, THEIR TOWNS, THEIR CIVILIZATION, THEIR RELIGION-PHOENICIA. The dynasty of Uruazagga-The Cossseans: their country, their gods, their conquest of Chaldaea-The first sovereigns of Assyria, and the first Cossaean Icings: Agumhakrime. The Egyptian names for Syria: Khara, Zahi, Lotanu, Kefatiu-The military highway from the Nile to the Euphrates: first section from Zalu to Gaza-The Canaanites:
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
Assur-nazir-pal (885-860) and Shalmaneser III. (860-825)--The kingdom of Urartu and its conquering princes: Menuas and Argistis. Assyria was the first to reappear on the scene of action. Less hampered by an ancient past than Egypt and Chaldaea, she was the sooner able to recover her strength after any disastrous crisis, and to assume again the offensive along the whole of her frontier line. Image Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a bas-relief at Koyunjik of the time of Sennacherib. The initial cut,
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
Syria: the part played by it in the ancient world--Babylon and the first Chaldaean empire--The dominion of the Hyksos: Ahmosis. Some countries seem destined from their origin to become the battle-fields of the contending nations which environ them. Into such regions, and to their cost, neighbouring peoples come from century to century to settle their quarrels and bring to an issue the questions of supremacy which disturb their little corner of the world. The nations around are eager for the possession
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4

The Pioneer's Influence Upon a Nation's Ideals.
ABRAHAM, THE TRADITIONAL FATHER OF HIS RACE.--Gen. 12:1-8; 13:1-13; 16; 18, 19; 21:7; 22:1-19. Parallel Readings. Hist. Bible I, 73-94. Prin of Pol., 160-175. Jehovah said to Abraham, Go forth from thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, to the land that I will show thee, that I may make of thee a great nation; and I will surely bless thee, and make thy name great, so that thou shalt be a blessing, I will also bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation

The Interpretation of the Early Narratives of the Old Testament
[Sidenote: Importance of regarding each story as a unit] Of all the different groups of writings in the Old Testament, undoubtedly the early narratives found in the first seven books present the most perplexing problems. This is primarily due to the fact that they have been subject to a long process of editorial revision by which stories, some very old and others very late and written from a very different point of view, have been closely joined together. While there is a distinct aim and unity
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 B. C. )
SARGON AS A WARRIOR AND AS A BUILDER. The origin of Sargon II.: the revolt of Babylon, Merodach-baladan and Elam--The kingdom of Elam from the time of the first Babylonian empire; the conquest's of Shutruh-nalkunta I.; the princes of Malamir--The first encounter of Assyria and Elam, the battle of Durilu (721 B.C.)--Revolt of Syria, Iaubidi of Hamath and Hannon of Gaza--Bocchoris and the XXIVth Egyptian dynasty; the first encounter of Assyria with Egypt, the battle of Raphia (720 B.C.). Urartu
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

Genealogy According to Luke.
^C Luke III. 23-38. ^c 23 And Jesus himself [Luke has been speaking about John the Baptist, he now turns to speak of Jesus himself], when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age [the age when a Levite entered upon God's service--Num. iv. 46, 47], being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son [this may mean that Jesus was grandson of Heli, or that Joseph was counted as a son of Heli because he was his son-in-law] of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Blessings of Noah Upon Shem and Japheth. (Gen. Ix. 18-27. )
Ver. 20. "And Noah began and became an husbandman, and planted vineyards."--This does not imply that Noah was the first who began to till the ground, and, more especially, to cultivate the vine; for Cain, too, was a tiller of the ground, Gen. iv. 2. The sense rather is, that Noah, after the flood, again took up this calling. Moreover, the remark has not an independent import; it serves only to prepare the way for the communication of the subsequent account of Noah's drunkenness. By this remark,
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
[Sidenote: Influences in the exile that produced written ceremonial laws] The Babylonian exile gave a great opportunity and incentive to the further development of written law. While the temple stood, the ceremonial rites and customs received constant illustration, and were transmitted directly from father to son in the priestly families. Hence, there was little need of writing them down. But when most of the priests were carried captive to Babylonia, as in 597 B.C., and ten years later the temple
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

The Book of the First Generations of Man, and the Glory of the Cainites.
I. THE BOOK OF THE FIRST GENERATIONS OF MAN, AND THE GLORY OF THE CAINITES. A. THE BOOK OF THE FIRST GENERATIONS OF MAN. 1. The reasons why Moses records the generations of Adam 1. 2. Why he so particularly gives the years, and in the case of each patriarch adds "and he died" 1-2. 3. Why Enoch is placed in the records of the dead 3-4. * Was Enoch a sinner, and do sinners have hope of eternal life 4. * Of death. a. How we are to comfort ourselves against death 5. b. How reason views death, and how
Martin Luther—Commentary on Genesis, Vol. II

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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