Obal, Abimael, Sheba, ObalThe name "Obal" is derived from the Hebrew root "עֵיבָל" (Ebal), which is often associated with a mountainous region or a place of prominence. In the context of Genesis 10, Obal is listed as one of the descendants of Joktan, a son of Eber, who is a significant figure in the genealogies leading to the nations. The mention of Obal signifies the spread of humanity and the establishment of various tribes and regions after the flood. Historically, this name may be linked to regions in the Arabian Peninsula, suggesting the early spread of Semitic peoples. The inclusion of Obal in this genealogy underscores the fulfillment of God's command to "be fruitful and multiply" ( Genesis 9:1), highlighting the expansion and diversity of human civilization. Abimael
The name "Abimael" is composed of two Hebrew elements: "אָבִי" (Abi), meaning "my father," and "מָאֵל" (Mael), which can be interpreted as "God" or "mighty." Thus, Abimael can be understood as "my father is God" or "my father is mighty." This name reflects the theocentric worldview of the ancient peoples, where names often bore witness to their faith and relationship with the divine. Abimael, as a descendant of Joktan, represents one of the many tribes that emerged in the post-diluvian world. Theologically, this name serves as a reminder of the patriarchal and familial structures that were central to the identity and survival of these early communities, emphasizing the importance of lineage and divine blessing in their cultural narratives. Sheba
The name "Sheba" is derived from the Hebrew "שְׁבָא" (Sheva), which can mean "oath" or "seven," often symbolizing completeness or perfection. Sheba is a name that appears multiple times in the Bible, associated with different individuals and regions. In Genesis 10, Sheba is another descendant of Joktan, indicating the spread of his lineage. Historically, Sheba is linked to the Sabaeans, an ancient people known for their wealth and trade, particularly in the Arabian Peninsula. The mention of Sheba in this genealogy not only highlights the geographical expansion of Joktan's descendants but also foreshadows the later biblical narratives involving the Queen of Sheba, who visited King Solomon. This connection underscores the theme of wisdom, wealth, and the fulfillment of God's promises to bless the nations through the descendants of Noah. Persons / Places / Events 1. ObalObal is listed as one of the descendants of Joktan, a son of Eber. The name Obal is associated with a tribe or region, possibly in the Arabian Peninsula. The genealogies in Genesis 10 are often referred to as the "Table of Nations," which outlines the descendants of Noah's sons and their spread across the earth. 2. AbimaelAnother descendant of Joktan, Abimael is less well-known, but like Obal, he represents a tribe or group that settled in the Arabian region. The name Abimael may mean "my father is God," indicating a possible cultural or religious significance. 3. ShebaSheba is a more prominent name in biblical history, often associated with wealth and trade. The Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon is a well-known account, highlighting the region's prosperity and influence. Sheba is also linked to the Sabeans, a people known for their trading prowess. Teaching Points Understanding GenealogiesThe genealogies in Genesis 10 are not just lists of names; they provide a framework for understanding the spread of humanity and the fulfillment of God's command to "fill the earth" ( Genesis 9:1). They remind us of God's sovereignty over history and His plan for all nations. Cultural and Historical ContextRecognizing the historical and cultural significance of names like Sheba helps us appreciate the interconnectedness of biblical events and the broader ancient world. This understanding can deepen our appreciation for the Bible's historical reliability. God's Plan for NationsThe inclusion of various tribes and nations in the biblical account points to God's overarching plan for all peoples. It encourages us to see the value and purpose in every culture and nation, as part of God's redemptive account. Legacy and InfluenceThe descendants of Joktan, including Obal, Abimael, and Sheba, remind us of the lasting impact of our lives and choices. We are encouraged to consider the legacy we leave and how it aligns with God's purposes. Bible Study Questions 1. How do the genealogies in Genesis 10 help us understand God's plan for humanity and the spread of nations? 2. In what ways does the historical context of names like Sheba enhance our understanding of biblical events and their significance? 3. How can we apply the lesson of God's sovereignty over nations and history to our current global context? 4. What can we learn from the legacy of biblical figures and their descendants about the impact of our own lives and choices? 5. How do the connections between Genesis 10 and other scriptures, such as 1 Kings 10 and Job 1, enrich our understanding of the Bible's unified account? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 25This chapter provides further genealogical details, including the descendants of Abraham through Keturah, which includes Sheba. This connection highlights the interwoven nature of biblical genealogies and the spread of peoples. 1 Kings 10The visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon is a significant event that underscores the wealth and wisdom associated with Sheba. This connection illustrates the historical and cultural impact of the descendants listed in Genesis 10. Job 1The Sabeans, possibly linked to Sheba, are mentioned as raiders who attack Job's servants. This connection provides insight into the historical context and interactions between different groups in the ancient Near East. 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, ZidonPlaces Accad, Admah, Assyria, Babel, Calah, Calneh, Canaan, Erech, Gaza, Gerar, Gomorrah, Lasha, Mesha, Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Resen, Sephar, Shinar, Sidon, Sodom, Tigris-Euphrates Region, ZeboiimTopics Abimael, Abim'a-el, Obal, ShebaDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 10:1-32 7230 genealogies 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 3Moses 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 Links Genesis 10:28 NIVGenesis 10:28 NLTGenesis 10:28 ESVGenesis 10:28 NASBGenesis 10:28 KJV
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