Explaining the Table of Nations
So you're thinking, "Ok, what was the point of those genealogical lists?"
It helps. Trust me. To be table to see the family tree that forms the foundation, the background context for the rest of the Old Testament - this is very necessary.
A few things to note: Shem, Ham, and Japheth were the sons of Noah. Ham's line produced some of the nastiest nations known to Israel - this cast of characters reappears literally throughout the entire rest of the Old Testament.
Think about it. Who are the sons (and grandsons, etc.) of Ham? Nimrod, who built both Babylon and Ninevah, which is the capital of Assyria - Babylon and Assyria, the two nations that wiped out the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
Who else? Egypt; Casluhim, from whence came the Philistines; Canaan, and all the "ites" tribes (Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, etc.) that he produced.
All of these are the antagonists of Israel from Exodus to the last book of the Kings.
What about the righteous line of Shem? The text is quick to note, he was "father of all the children of Eber." Who's Eber? Shem's great-grandson. So why does Moses write this genealogy in such a way that he associates Shem with Eber, who is several generations removed?
Eber - you know, the father of the "'Eberews." Why wouldn't he be associated with Shem, the father of the Shemites - that is, the Semites?
From Eber's line comes Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - but did you notice that Midian was also a son of Abraham? You know ... the Midianites, who fought against Gideon in Judges? The Midianites, of whom Jethro was the high priest, whose daughter married Moses? It's all in the family.
Notice also that Esau was also known as "Edom." The Edomites ... King Herod was an Edomite. Kinda makes sense out of the political situation during Our Lord's time, doesn't it?
I mean, Herod is of Esau's line ... Esau, the feuding brother of Jacob - Jacob, who owns the land of Israel, over which Herod the Esau-ite now rules as King in the year 1 AD.
So why is Herod so agitated when he hears of the birth of a young boy in Bethlehem, a young boy whose birth is associated with a star? Read Matthew 2 - Herod seeks advice from the scribes and religious leaders. They knew the prophecies.
Where does the Old Testament talk about the Messiah and a star? Numbers 24, verse 17: "I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel."
So what? What's so disturbing about that prophecy? Answer: the rest of the prophecy, which Herod no doubt knew - or if he didn't, he had the scribes find it out for him: "Edom will become a possession; Seir will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant. One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city's survivors." (Num. 24:18-19)
You see, Herod's disturbance over Our Lord's birth is no quirk; he knows the prophecy. He knows that the one whose birth is heralded by a star is the One who will overthrow "Edom" (Esau) and make it a "possession." So of course he tried to kill off this Jewish King before the threat became real.
These genealogies also explain why God has to identify Himself to Moses as "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." In doing so, He narrows down the family line, and associates Himself with a particular seed.
The God of Abraham? Well, ok, that could encompass the Arabs (sons of Ishmael), the Israelites (sons of Isaac), or the Midianites (sons of Midian).
The God of Isaac? Ok, we've excluded the Arabs and Midianites now, but this could still be the Israelites or the Edomites.
The God of Jacob? That's too specific. Now we're down to Israel and Israel alone. So if God says to Moses that He is the God of these three specific fathers, Moses is stuck: he must go and serve as Israel's leader. He can't remain (as he was) serving as a helper to Jethro, the High Priest of the Midians (even though the Midians are 'sons of Abraham').
See how important genealogies are???
It helps. Trust me. To be table to see the family tree that forms the foundation, the background context for the rest of the Old Testament - this is very necessary.
A few things to note: Shem, Ham, and Japheth were the sons of Noah. Ham's line produced some of the nastiest nations known to Israel - this cast of characters reappears literally throughout the entire rest of the Old Testament.
Think about it. Who are the sons (and grandsons, etc.) of Ham? Nimrod, who built both Babylon and Ninevah, which is the capital of Assyria - Babylon and Assyria, the two nations that wiped out the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
Who else? Egypt; Casluhim, from whence came the Philistines; Canaan, and all the "ites" tribes (Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, etc.) that he produced.
All of these are the antagonists of Israel from Exodus to the last book of the Kings.
What about the righteous line of Shem? The text is quick to note, he was "father of all the children of Eber." Who's Eber? Shem's great-grandson. So why does Moses write this genealogy in such a way that he associates Shem with Eber, who is several generations removed?
Eber - you know, the father of the "'Eberews." Why wouldn't he be associated with Shem, the father of the Shemites - that is, the Semites?
From Eber's line comes Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - but did you notice that Midian was also a son of Abraham? You know ... the Midianites, who fought against Gideon in Judges? The Midianites, of whom Jethro was the high priest, whose daughter married Moses? It's all in the family.
Notice also that Esau was also known as "Edom." The Edomites ... King Herod was an Edomite. Kinda makes sense out of the political situation during Our Lord's time, doesn't it?
I mean, Herod is of Esau's line ... Esau, the feuding brother of Jacob - Jacob, who owns the land of Israel, over which Herod the Esau-ite now rules as King in the year 1 AD.
So why is Herod so agitated when he hears of the birth of a young boy in Bethlehem, a young boy whose birth is associated with a star? Read Matthew 2 - Herod seeks advice from the scribes and religious leaders. They knew the prophecies.
Where does the Old Testament talk about the Messiah and a star? Numbers 24, verse 17: "I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel."
So what? What's so disturbing about that prophecy? Answer: the rest of the prophecy, which Herod no doubt knew - or if he didn't, he had the scribes find it out for him: "Edom will become a possession; Seir will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant. One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city's survivors." (Num. 24:18-19)
You see, Herod's disturbance over Our Lord's birth is no quirk; he knows the prophecy. He knows that the one whose birth is heralded by a star is the One who will overthrow "Edom" (Esau) and make it a "possession." So of course he tried to kill off this Jewish King before the threat became real.
These genealogies also explain why God has to identify Himself to Moses as "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." In doing so, He narrows down the family line, and associates Himself with a particular seed.
The God of Abraham? Well, ok, that could encompass the Arabs (sons of Ishmael), the Israelites (sons of Isaac), or the Midianites (sons of Midian).
The God of Isaac? Ok, we've excluded the Arabs and Midianites now, but this could still be the Israelites or the Edomites.
The God of Jacob? That's too specific. Now we're down to Israel and Israel alone. So if God says to Moses that He is the God of these three specific fathers, Moses is stuck: he must go and serve as Israel's leader. He can't remain (as he was) serving as a helper to Jethro, the High Priest of the Midians (even though the Midians are 'sons of Abraham').
See how important genealogies are???
<< Home