Read Genesis 10 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph divisions:
10:1-14 {s} The sons of Japheth and Ham
10:15-20 {s} The sons of Canaan
10:21-32 {p} The sons of Shem
These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations; and of these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood. Gen 10:32
God had told Noah, when he emerged from the ark, to “be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth,” (Gen 9:1). Josephus records in the Antiquities of the Jews, that after five generations had been born, God repeated this command to Noah, for by the fifth generation, the eight persons who had emerged from the ark had increased to a sufficient number to send out colonies.
And to Eber were born two sons; the name of the one was Peleg [Division]; for in his days was the earth divided … Gen 10:25
Peleg was in the fifth generation; so Noah divided the earth into regions assigned to his seventy grandchildren and great-grandchildren recorded in chapter 10 (Deu 32:8). Thus,
Genesis 10:1-32 {s+s+p} Strong Theme: The seventy descendants of Noah who became the fathers of the nations.
Generally speaking, the sons of Japheth settled Europe, the sons of Ham Africa, and the sons of Shem Asia. For a more detailed breakdown:
Gen 10:1-14, The sons of Japheth and Ham
Gen 10:15-20, The sons of Canaan
Gen 10:21-32, The sons of Shem
Why This Matters: True history here makes sense of prophecies coming up. God’s plan for the nations sets the stage, even of Messiah’s ultimate reign over all.
If there are questions, these are good resources:
The Sixteen Grandsons of Noah – Harold Hunt
The Table of Nations – Bill Cooper (pdf download)
After the Flood: The Early post-Flood History of Europe Traced Back to Noah – Bill Cooper / in print
Understanding the Ice Age in the Context of Biblical History – Answers in Genesis
If you can only read one, make it After the Flood; truly impeccable scholarship!
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