Part F. The rise of nations (10:1-32)
F1. The Japhethites (10:1-5)
F2. The Hamites (10:6-20)
F3. The Shemites (10:21-32)
† Gen 10 is a chapter completely dedicated to a record of genealogies. There are a total of 70 clans and nations (Shem 26, Ham 30, Japheth 14). The total number is the product of two symbolically perfect numbers, 7 and 10.
†
As this chapter mentions the
different languages (v.5,20,31) which did not exist until
A NOTE
on ancient documents referred:
[1] Talmud is the collection of ancient Rabbinic writings consisting of two components: [a] the Mishnah (around AD 200), the first written compendium of Judaism’s Oral Law containing rabbinical elucidations, elaborations, and commentaries; and [b] the Gemara (around AD 500), a discussion of the Mishnah and related writings.
[2] Targum is the Aramaic translations or paraphrase of the Hebrew Bible, with explanations, in the 1st century.
[3] Josephus Flavius (AD 37-100) was a Jewish historian famous for his history books, especially Antiquities of the Jews (about AD 93).
[4] Herodotus (484-425 BC) was a Greek historian. He is often
called “The Father of History” because of his famous book Histories about ancient
10:1 generations: a new “toledot” section (the 4th of 10 in Genesis).
10:2 The Japhethites recorded here
include 7 sons (marked “(1)” in following table) and 7 grandsons (marked 2), a
total of 14 clans and nations. These 14 groups were described to be residents
of
These are the Europeans and the ancestors of
the white races. These nations belong to the Indo-European language group.
After migration, they resided in Europe, North and South America, and
|
Gen |
Japhethites |
Possible Race |
Possible Location |
|
10:2 |
Gomer (1) |
Celts, Franks, Gauls, Phrygians |
|
|
|
Magog (1) |
Goths, Scythians, Persians |
E Turkey, |
|
|
Madai (1) |
Medians |
|
|
|
Javan (1) |
Ionians |
|
|
|
Tubal (1) |
Bithynians, Spaniards |
S Russia, |
|
|
Meshech (1) |
Mycenaens, Slavs |
NW |
|
|
Tiras (1) |
Thracians, Albanians |
European Turkey, islands |
|
10:3 |
Ashkenaz (2) |
Reginians, Germans |
W Turkey, |
|
|
Riphath (2) |
Paphlagonians, Etruscans |
|
|
|
Togarmah (2) |
Armenians, Turks |
|
|
10:4 |
Elishah (2) |
Aeolians, Greeks |
Greek islands |
|
|
Tarshish (2) |
Spaniards, Lombardians |
|
|
|
Kittim (2) |
Cypriots, Italians, Romans |
|
|
|
Dodanim (2) |
Dodonians, Bohemians |
|
Gomer: Cimmerians as recorded in Assyrian documents; located near
Cappadocia in northern
o
Jewish commentary: [a] Most probably the Celts (cf.
Herodotus 2:33), the Franks, or the Gauls, all of whom were closely related. [b] Early sources translate this as
Afrikey. This Afrikey, however, is not Africa, but Frikia or
Magog: located in northern
o
Jewish commentary: [a] Most probably a Teutonic people,
living to the north of the
Madai: Medians, a great nation, defeated the Babylonians with the Persians in 6th century BC; located in northern Iran; mentioned in 2Ki 17:6; Ezr 6:2; Es 1:3; Isa 21:2; Jer 25:25; Dan 8:20.
o Jewish commentary: [a] Ancestor of Medes (Josephus; Talmud). [b] An ancient source states that Madai is to the west of Gomer and Magog, on the shores and the islands.
Javan: Ionians, a Greek tribe; located in western
o
Jewish commentary: [a] Yawan in ancient Hebrew, also spelt
Yavan; denoting
Tubal: also spelt Tuval; located north of
o
Jewish commentary: [a] A northern country (Eze 27:13;
38:2). This is usually identified with
Meshech: also spelt Meshekh; located southwest of
o
Jewish commentary: [a] A northern kingdom (Eze 27:13;
38:2; Ps 120:5). Most Talmudic sources identify Meshekh with
Tiras: only appears in this chapter in OT; sea people.
o
Jewish commentary: [a] The Targum identifies this as
Tarkey, which is identified as
10:3 Ashkenaz:
Scythians in the Assyrian documents; located among the Medianites in the 7th
century BC; mentioned in Jer 51:27 (In modern times, Ashkenazi is the group
name for Jews living in
o
Jewish commentary: [a] This is a nation associated with
the Ararat area (Jer 51:27). In Talmudic sources, it is rendered as
Riphath: located near the
o
Jewish commentary: [a] Josephus identifies these people
with the Paphlagonians, an ancient people who lived on the
Togarmah: located in the upper Euphrates, in eastern
o
Jewish commentary: [a] A northern people (Eze 27:14;
38:6). Josephus identifies these people with the Phrygians. [b] Other sources have Barberia, which
some identify as
10:4 Elishah:
Alasiyans, located on the
o
Jewish commentary: [a] This is seen as an island (Eze
27:7). Josephus identifies it with the Aeolians (Antiquities 1:6:1), who were
known to have inhabited the
Tarshish: Carthagians in northern Africa; mentioned in 1Ki 10:22; Isa 2:16;
some believe it refers to
o
Jewish commentary: [a] Tarshishah (1Ch 1:7). It was famed
for its ships (1Ki 10:22; 22:49; Isa 23;10; 66:19; Eze 38:13; Jonah 1:3). [b] Josephus ant Talmud identifies it
with Cilicia, whose capital was
Kittim: (plural form representing people group) located in southern coast
of
o
Jewish commentary: [a] An island people (Jer 2:10; Eze
27:6; Nu 24:24; Isa 23:1,12; Dan 11:30). Josephus identifies it with
Dodanim: (plural form representing people group) possibly located in
o
Jewish commentary: [a] Rodanim (1Ch 1:7). The Dodonians
were known to be an ancient people (cf. Iliad 2:748; Herodotus 2:52-57). [b] The Targum renders it as Dardania,
a city on the
10:5 the coastland peoples: a suitable description of the long coastlines of Mediterranean lands, absent from the descriptions for the descendants of Ham and Shem.
o Jewish translation: isolated nations, islands.
spread: a main theme in this chapter, the result of God’s action in Gen 11:9.
lands…languages…clans…nations: These are the 4 dividing factors: divisions according to physical location (literal: territories), communication, culture, and government.
o The Israelites were organized into tribes, clans, families, individuals (Jos 7:14).
The record for the Japhethites is the shortest among the three, possibly because they lived further from the Israelites and had little contact with them.
10:6 The Hamites recorded here include 4
sons (marked “(1)” in following table), 8 grandsons (2), 2 great-grandsons (3),
7 races (8), and 9 nations (9), a total of 30 clans and nations. These 30
groups were described to be residents of northern Africa and the Middle East,
including
These are the Africans and the ancestors of
the black races. These nations belong to the African language group. After
migration, they occupy most of the continent of
|
Gen |
Hamites |
Possible Race |
Possible Location |
|
10:6 |
|
Cassites, Ethiopians |
S Egypt, |
|
|
|
Egyptians |
|
|
|
Put (1) |
Libyans |
|
|
|
|
Canaanites |
|
|
10:7 |
Seba (2) |
Sabeans |
|
|
|
Havilah (2) |
Arabians, Indians |
|
|
|
Sabtah (2) |
Astaborns |
Arabia, |
|
|
Raamah (2) |
Libyans, Mauretanians |
Arabia, NW |
|
|
Sabteca (2) |
Yemenites, Zeugis |
SE Arabia, |
|
|
|
Sabeans |
|
|
|
Dedan (3) |
Judeadeans, Mazices |
|
|
10:8 |
Nimrod (2) |
Babylonians |
|
|
10:13 |
Ludim (8) |
Egyptians |
|
|
|
Anamim (8) |
Mareotis |
|
|
|
Lehabim (8) |
|
|
|
|
Naphtuhim (8) |
|
C |
|
10:14 |
Pathrusim (8) |
|
|
|
|
Casluhim (8) |
Philistines |
|
|
|
Caphtorim (8) |
Philistines |
|
|
10:15 |
|
Phoenicians |
|
|
|
Heth (2) |
Hittites |
|
|
10:16 |
Jebusites (9) |
Jebusites (1Sa; 2Ki) |
|
|
|
Amorites (9) |
Amorites (Gen 48:22; Jdg) |
|
|
|
Girgashites (9) |
Girgashites (Dt; Jos) |
|
|
10:17 |
Hivites (9) |
Hivites (Jos; Jdg) |
|
|
|
Arkites (9) |
|
|
|
|
Sinites (9) |
Kafruseans |
|
|
10:18 |
Arvadites (9) |
|
|
|
|
Zemarites (9) |
|
|
|
|
Hamathites (9) |
Hamathites (Nu; Jos) |
N Palestine, |
o
Jewish commentary: [a] Usually translated as
o
Jewish translation: Mitzraim is the Hebrew name for
Put: same as
o
Jewish commentary: [a] Josephus identifies it with Lybyos
or Lybia in
Canaan: located in
o
Jewish commentary: Aborigine
tribe of the
10:7 Seba: located
in the
o
Jewish commentary: [a] Josephus identifies this with the
Sabeans, a people living in southern
Havilah: located in the
o
Jewish commentary: [a] The Targum has
Sabtah: located in the Arabian Peninsula; another possibility is
o Jewish commentary: [a] Josephus identifies this nation with the Astaborans. [b] The Talmud identifies it with outer Takistan. [c] The Targum identified a Cushite tribe, possibly the Sabrata of North Africa.
Raamah: located in southwest Saudi Arablia; major ancient commercial centre; mentioned in Eze 27:22.
o
Jewish commentary: [a] They were traders in spices,
precious stones and gold (Eze 27:22). The Targum has Lubai, the Lybians. [b] It can also be Mauretania, a
district in northwest
Sabteca: located north of
o Jewish commentary: The Targum renders it Zingain, possibly the African Zeugis.
o Jewish commentary: [a] Josephus identifies these with the Sabeans (1 Ki 10:1; Gen 10:28; 25:3). [b] The Targum renders it Zamdugad or Dmargad.
Dedan: located in oases of the Arabian Peninsula; major ancient
commercial centre (Eze 27:20; 38:13); mentioned in Isa 21:13; Jer 49:8; 25:23;
note that
o
Jewish commentary: [a] Josephus identifies this nation
with the Judadeans of western
10:8
o Jewish commentary: See Micah 5:5. Nimrod is credited as being the first Babylonian king and the builder of the Tower (Gen 11:1-9).
In this chapter, there are 2 different terms to record the names of the sons: “sons of…” or “fathered…”, the former used when the emphasis is on the father, the latter used when the emphasis is on the son (such as the case of Nimrod in v.8).
mighty man: a warrior excelling at battles.
10:9 before the Lord: an idiom meaning excelling in his work of hunting. However, some interpret this positively to mean God’s favour while others interpret this negatively to mean sinful rebellion as in the thought of Ps 66:7 where God watches the nations to stop the rebellious rise up against Him.
10:10 beginning of his kingdom: Nimrod’s conquest began from central
Babel: ancient Babylon; near the narrowest part between Tigris and Euphrates rivers; 80 km south of Baghdad; the name Babylon may be traced to the Akkadian babilu, meaning “gate of God”.
o
Jewish commentary: Hebrew for
Babylonia or
Erech: later called Uruk, today called Warka; southwest of Baghdad, 40 km from Ur, the ancient hometown of Abraham; mentioned in Ezr 4:9-10; may be the origin for the name Iraq.
o
Jewish commentary: This was a
city near
Accad: locate in northern
o
Jewish commentary: This was the
capital of northern
Calneh: possibly in southern
o
Jewish commentary: The Talmud
identifies this the modern Niffer, midway between Erekh and
o
Jewish commentary: Usually
identified with
10:11 built: Nimrod’s
origin from
Assyria: different from the
o
Jewish commentary: (Hebrew Asshur) See Genesis 10:22. It also
denotes a city on the
Nineveh: capital of the Assyrian Kingdom in 8th century BC; mentioned as a large city with great wickedness (Jonah 1:2; 3:3; 4:11); located in northern Iraq, east of upper Tigris River, opposite the town of Mosul.
o
Jewish commentary: The ancient
capital of Assyria, on the
Rehoboth-Ir: the 2 words mean “open land” and “city”, possibly referring to the
land adjacent to
o
Jewish commentary: Literally
‘broad places of the city,’ or ‘avenues of the city.’ The Talmud says that it
is Euphrates of Mishan. Meshan or Mesene is the island formed by Euphrates, the
Tigris and the
o
Jewish commentary: This is a
city a few miles south of
10:12 Resen: city 13 km
northwest of
o Jewish commentary: The Talmud identifies Resen with Aktispon or Ctesphon. The Targum renders it Talsar or Talasar (Isa 37:12; 2Ki 19:12).
The people in Nimrod’s empire, Assyrians and Babylonians, eventually became main enemies of the Israelites and conquered the two Israeli kingdoms.
While some people believe that Nimrod was a
cruel dictator, there is no indication in the Bible on his character. However,
his origin from
Historians variously linked Nimrod’s identity
with the names of Tukulti-Ninurta (Assyrian king in 1246-1206 BC), Sargon (king
of
the
great city:
10:13 The next 7 names refer to the races, not individuals (suffix “–im” means sons of, implying the tribe or nation; similar to endings of “–ite”).
Ludim: located in the western part of the
o
Jewish commentary: [a] The Targum renders this Givatai,
related to the name Gipt or
Anamim: may mean the Libyan desert, or west of
o
Jewish commentary: The Targum
renders this Martiorti or Mariotai. These are the people of Mareotis, a
district in lower Egypt containing the town of
Lehabim: Libyans, west of
o Jewish commentary: Literally ‘fire people,’ since their faces are like fire. The Targum translates this name as Livvakai or Livkai, possibly a Lybian tribe. Josephus states that they are Lybians.
Naphtuhim: located in central
o
Jewish commentary: The Targum
translates this as Pontsikhnai, a district in
10:14 Pathrusim:
located in southern
o
Jewish commentary: See Isa
11:11; Jer 44:1,15; Eze 29:14; 30:14. The Targum translates it as Nasyotai or
Gasyotai, the district surrounding east of Pelusium in
Casluhim: originally located in northern
o
Jewish commentary: The Targum
renders this as Pentpoletai, an Egyptian district. In the Midrash it is
identified with Sa’id on the upper
Philistines: (Heb. Pelishtim) These
people lived on the Mediterranean shore between
Caphtorim: originally located in the
o
Jewish commentary: in Hebrew,
referring to Philistines. [a] See Dt
2:23; Am 9:7. It is identified as an island (Jer 47:4). From the context, it
appears to be an island on the Nile Delta. [b]
However, the Septuagint, and the Targum translate it as Cappadocia, an area
south of the
10:15 Canaan had at
least 2 sons:
o
Jewish commentary: [a] located to the north of the
Heth: ancestor of the great Hittite Empire between 16th and 8th century
BC; located in the hilly region of
o
Jewish commentary: father of
the Hittites, one of the tribes living in the
10:16 Jebusites:
located near
o
Jewish commentary: Jebus is
identified with
Amorites: located in
o
Jewish commentary: A people who
originally lived on the west of the
Girgashites: located in
o
Jewish commentary: Inhabitants
of the
10:17 Hivites: located
in the northern hilly region of
o
Jewish commentary: They lived
in the central part of the
Arkites: located north of
o
Jewish commentary: They are
identified as the residents of Arce, a city at the northwest foot of
Sinites: possibly north of
o
Jewish commentary: This is most
probably associated with the city of
10:18 Arvadites:
located in northern
o
Jewish commentary: [a] These are identified as the
inhabitants of the
Zemarites: located on the Mediterranean coast of
o
Jewish commentary: Literally
‘wool people,’ possibly because they sold or worked with wool. Talmud renders
their area as Chametz, a city of
Hamathites: located in northernmost
o
Jewish commentary: This is to
the north near
10:19 in the direction of Gerar: Canaanites extended from
o
Jewish commentary: Capital of
the Philistine nation, toward the south of the
o
Jewish commentary: These first
four cities were in what is now the southern end of the
10:20 The record for the Hamites is the longest in this chapter, mainly because they were the main adversaries to the Israelites.
10:21 The Shemites recorded here include 5
sons (marked “(1)” in following table), 5 grandsons (2), 16 later descendants
(3,4,5), a total of 26 clans and nations. These 26 groups were described to be
residents of the Middle East and lived in the same regions as the some of the
Hamites, including
These are the Asians and the ancestors of the
yellow races. Many of these nations belong to the Semitic language group. After
migration, they resided in the continent of Asia and northern
|
Gen |
Shemites |
Possible Race |
Possible Location |
|
10:22 |
|
Persians |
|
|
|
Asshur (1) |
Assyrians |
E of |
|
|
Arpachshad (1) |
Chaldeans |
lower |
|
|
Lud (1) |
Lydians |
upper |
|
|
|
Aramaeans, Syrians |
|
|
10:23 |
Uz (2) |
|
|
|
|
Hul (2) |
Armenians |
|
|
|
Gether (2) |
Bactrians |
|
|
|
Mash (2) |
|
|
|
10:24 |
Shelah (2) |
|
|
|
|
Eber (3) |
|
|
|
10:25 |
Peleg (4) |
Jews |
|
|
|
Joktan (4) |
Arabians |
|
|
10:26 |
Almodad (5) |
|
|
|
|
Sheleph (5) |
|
|
|
|
Hazarmaveth (5) |
|
|
|
|
Jerah (5) |
|
|
|
10:27 |
Hadoram (5) |
|
|
|
|
Uzal (5) |
|
|
|
|
Diklah (5) |
|
|
|
10:28 |
Obal (5) |
|
|
|
|
Abimael (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10:29 |
Ophir (5) |
|
SW Arabia |
|
|
Havilah (5) |
|
|
|
|
Jobab (5) |
|
|
children of Eber: Jewish translation: Hebrews (see Gen 10:24; 11:14).
o Jewish commentary: In the Hebrew language, ‘Hebrews’ are Ivri’im, literally, ‘Eberites,’ or ‘Sons of Eber.’ Others, however, translate this verse, ‘sons of all who live on the other side of the river.’
o
Eber gave his name to the later
Israelites (Gen 14:13; 39:14; 41:12; Ex 2:11). However, the etymology of
“Hebrew” remains disputed. The term “Israelites” is used much more often and
the term “Hebrew” occurs usually to distinguish the Hebrew people from foreigners
(Gen 43:32; Ex 2:6; 1Sa 4:6-9). Josephus described
elder brother of Japheth: Shem is clearly identified as Noah’s eldest son. This is found in most English versions of the Bible and is supported by most Biblical scholars. However, Jewish tradition and some versions (NIV, KJV) identify Japheth as the eldest son of Noah (NIV: “Shem, whose older brother was Japheth”).
10:22
o
Jewish commentary: [a] See Gen 14:19. It is associated
with Media (Isa 21:2; Jer 25:25). Josephus writes that
Asshur: located east of Tigris (Gen 25:3; 2Sa 2:9); another possibility is
the race in
o
Jewish commentary: Identified
with
Arpachshad: (2nd generation after Shem, ancestor of Abraham) located in
o
Jewish commentary: He was the
ancestor of Abraham (Gen 11:10). Josephus states that he was the ancestor of
the Chaldeans, who lived on the lower
Lud: located in upper
o
Jewish commentary: Josephus
identifies this with
o
Jewish commentary: Ancestor of
Aramaea (from where the language Aramaic comes), to the northeast of the Holy
Land, approximately where
10:23 Uz: may not be
the Uz in Job 1:1; possibly located near
o
Jewish commentary: Josephus
writes that Utz founded the cities of Trachnitis and
Hul:
o
Jewish commentary: Josephus
states that Hul founded
Gether:
o Jewish commentary: According to Josephus, the founder of the Bactrian nation.
Mash: possibly in the mountains of
o
Jewish commentary: Meshekh in
1Ch 1:17. Josephus identifies it with Charax Spanisi. Other sources state that
it is the land in the area of
10:24 Shelah: (3rd
after Shem, ancestor of Abraham); descendants ruled
Eber: (4th after Shem, ancestor of Abraham); great-grandson of Shem, but was mentioned first amongst Shem’s descendants in v.21; the name Eber has been associated with the word Hebrew (possibly because he was a religious and pious person in the time of general apostasy; although Hebrew is later used only for Abraham’s descendant, Gen 14:13); the meaning of the name is “region across”, related to the crossing of the Euphrates by Abraham on his way to Canaan (Gen 15:18; Num 24:24).
o Jewish commentary: Ancestor of the Hebrews.
10:25 Peleg: (5th after Shem, ancestor of Abraham); the name means “division”.
in his
days the earth was divided: probably pointing to
the
o
Jewish commentary: This refers
to the split occurring after the destruction of the
Joktan: the name means “small” or “young”. Nomads in
o
Jewish commentary: Josephus
states that he and his children lived near the
10:26 Almodad: in
southern
o
Jewish commentary: Some
identify him with the founder of Morad in
Sheleph: in
o Jewish commentary: Possibly Shalepynoi mentioned by Ptolemy’s Geography.
Hazarmaveth: in southern
o
Jewish commentary: Literally,
‘courtyard of death.’ Some identify this with Hadarmaveth in southern
Jerah: possibly in southern
o
Jewish commentary: To the west
of Hadarmaveth, there is a
10:27 Hadoram: possibly
modern Dauramn in
o
Jewish commentary: Some
interpret this as denoting ‘the south.’ This was a fortress to the south of
Uzal: in
o
Jewish commentary: This was the
ancient Arabic name for
Diklah: likely an oasis in southern
o Jewish commentary: Literally a palm tree. Some say that it is an area in Mina, abundant in palm trees.
10:28 Obal: in
o
Jewish commentary: Some
identify this with Avalitae on the
Abimael: possibly in
o
Jewish commentary: Literally
‘Father of Mael.’ Some identify this with the
10:29 Ophir: in
southwestern Arabia; producing gold (1Ki 9:26-28; 1Ch 29:4); much of the gold
overlay of the
o
Jewish commentary: The place
from which King Solomon brought gold (1Ki 9:28; 10:11; Ps 45:9; Isa 13:12). [a] From the context, it is a place on
the
Havilah: in western
o
Jewish commentary: Some
identify this with Chavlotai, an area on the
Jobab:
o
Jewish commentary: This is
identified as Yovevitai or Yoveritai mentioned by Ptolemy, along the
10:30 Mesha: at the
westernmost boundary of Joktan’s descendants, possibly in northern
o
Jewish commentary: This is
identified with
Sephar: possibly in southern
o
Jewish commentary: Some sources
identify this with
hill
country of the east: Some identify this with
Alakdar in eastern Arabia, on the
10:31 The record for the Shemites should by necessity be the longest because they included God’s chosen people. While it is not as long as the Hamites in this chapter, the Shemite genealogy continues in Gen 11:10-26.
10:32 sons of Noah: recapitulation, corresponding to v.1.
genealogies…nations: Notice that there is no mention about “languages”. This last verse refers to the clans of the sons of Noah when there was not yet any differentiation by language.
o Jewish commentary: There are 70 nations mentioned in this chapter. These are the 70 nations or 70 languages often mentioned in Talmudic literature. The number “70” is a multiple of “7” and “10”, both numbers symbolizing completeness. The 70 nations therefore are representative of the totality of all peoples.
Question: Can we classify human beings into different races?
Answer:
[1] Race as a Question of Political Correctness:
In the last 20 years, talking about race becomes a taboo in the present social atmosphere of political correctness. Many people object even the simple division of people into races, let alone talking about comparative differences between races.
Yet, objectively, race is a fact. For the majority of people we meet, the race can be easily determined by visible physical appearance. Trying to avoid the subject of race in the name of political correctness is unnecessary. Objective truth must be recognized.
o What is political correctness? The origin of political correctness is to avoid insulting or embarassing people. It is a noble objective that all human interaction should adopt. However, modern political correctness has become a radical tyranny by suppressing truth in the name of political correctness. For example, in the name of tolerance, sin is no longer called sin. In the name of pluralism or diversity, all religions are treated as equal. Christians must avoid this irrational tendencies and insist that truth is a higher priority than political correctness. We are not required to be politically correct in the presentation of truth.
[2] Objective Criteria for Races:
Human groups do vary strikingly in a few highly visible characteristics, such as skin color, eye shape, hair type, body and facial form—in short, the traits that often allow us to determine a person’s origin at a single glance.
But there are more differences between races
than appearance alone. Races are recognized by a combination of geographic,
ecological, and morphological factors and gene frequencies of biochemical
components.
o In biology, race is a sub-species. It is defined as: [a] a local geographic group distinguished by genetically transmitted physical characteristics, or [b] a group of people classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution.
o Ethnicity is a related but different concept. It usually refers to the membership in a group defined by a shared geographical origin or cultural history, including common language, religion, art, and other cultural factors.
[3] Physical Characteristics of the 3 main races:
Traditionally, anthropologists classify people in the world into 3 broad races: Mongoloids (yellow people), Negroids (black people), and Caucasoids (white people).
o
Some split Mongoloids into
Mongoloids and Australoids; some split Negroids into Congoids (equatorial
Africa) and Capoids (southern
o Some classify into 5 races: Yellows (East Asians), Reds (Native Americans), Whites (Europeans), Browns (Australoids, Southeast Asians), and Blacks (Africans).
|
|
Mongoloids / Orientals (Yellow) |
Negroids / Africans
(Black) |
Caucasoids (White) |
|
skin colour |
yellowish to brown |
brown to black |
very light to brown |
|
eye colour and shape |
dark brown pupils, almond-shaped eyes (epicanthal folds) |
dark brown pupils |
light blue to dark brown pupils |
|
hair type and colour |
straight black to brown hair |
tightly curled, woolly, kinky black hair |
varied, straight to wavy/ curly black to blonde hair |
|
body |
body hair scarce, fewest sweat glands, dry crumbly ear wax |
most sweat glands, moist adhesive ear wax |
moderate sweat glands, moist adhesive ear wax |
|
facial form |
relatively broad and flat, small noses, medium to low nose bridges, narrow
nasal opening; rounded orbital opening |
prominent nasal spine, steepled nose bridge, broad nostrils, wide
nasal opening, low nose; rectangular orbital opening, thick everted lips |
narrow nasal opening, high nose bridge, angular to rounded orbital opening |
|
skull |
brachycephalic head shape (round-headed), projecting prominent
cheekbones |
mesocephalic head shape (medium breadth), with receded cheekbones |
dolichocephalic head shape (long-headed), with receded cheekbones |
[4] Genetic Differences between Races:
A wellknown anthropologist Luca Cavalli-Sforza documented the genetic distances among 15 sample populations, 3 per continent, calculated from 5 blood group systems: Africans, Oceanians (aborigines in Pacific islands and Australia), East Asians (Orientals), Europeans, Americans (Indians in North and South America).
Africans are most different from all others. Oceanians are furthest from Africans and are also different from the other three. The other 3 groups (East Asians, Europeans, Americans) are closest to each other, with Americans being in the middle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
20.6 |
10.0
|
|
|
|
|
16.6 |
13.5 |
9.7
|
|
|
|
22.6 |
14.6 |
8.9 |
9.5 |
While the differences are statistically significant, Cavalli-Sforza argued that different racial groups were originally from the same origin and the differences occurred only after groups of people migrated. Counter argument: Different races may come originally from one group but the present differences are sufficient to justify the description of races. For example, the English language is originated from German and French, but we cannot use this reason to conclude that English, German, and French are all ONE language.
[5] Recent Arguments:
Since the 1970s, some anthropologists have proposed that races, as distinct biologically or genetically homogeneous groups of humans, are an artificial concept not justified by reality. Biologists have attempted to show that only a small proportion (6% or less) of human genetic variability occurs between races. [It should be noted that human DNA is only 13% different from the chimpanzee and only 25% different from the nematode worm.] This is part of the campaign for political correctness which truth-believing Christians should not support.
The case against using the concept of race is based on: [a] There is much genetic variation within each race, but less variation between races. Counter argument: This is a statistical trick, comparing the differences between individuals within the group to the average values of different groups. [b] There are no “pure” races because of increasing intermarriages among races. [c] Different races are still potentially interfertile (intermmariages can produce children).
o Illustration of the statistical trick: Body weights of adults range from 40 kg to 100 kg, and with an average of 80 kg. Body weights of teenagers range from 30 kg to 90 kg, and with an average of 60 kg. For both groups, the difference between individuals within each group is 60 kg. The difference of average body weight between the two groups is smaller, only 20 kg (44 pounds). It is of course accurate to conclude that adults are heavier than teenagers. [Numbers are for illustration only.]
On the other hand, a wellknown psychologist Philippe Rushton (1994) used empirical research to show significant differences among races. He classified human populations along traditional lines—people of east Asian ancestry (Mongoloids, Orientals), people of African ancestry (Negroids, blacks) and people of European ancestry (Caucasoids, whites). He found that these classifications have much predictive and explanatory power. On more than 60 variables—such as brain size, intelligence, reproductive behaviour, aggressiveness, life span, etc.—Mongoloids and Negroids define opposite ends of a spectrum, with Caucasoids falling intermediately. He also admitted that there is much variability within each group.
Rushton, a professor at the
Population censuses in the
† There were many great heroes in history, perhaps wellknown in the whole world at their times. Their great deeds have all been buried in history. Few of them are even mentioned today. Yet, service for God will be recorded in God’s records and will be forever remembered.
† A nice poem Ozymandias (1818) by P.B. Shelley reminds us the transient nature of man. Nimrod (v.8) may be the greatest man in his time. Now, none of his works remains.
I met
a traveller from an antique land
Who
said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand
in the desert...Near them, on the sand,
Half
sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And
wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell
that its sculptor well those passions read
Which
yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The
hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed.
And
on the pedestal these words appear:
‘My
name is Ozymandias, king of kings;
Look
on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!’
Nothing
beside remains. Round the decay
Of
that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The
lone and level sands stretch far away.
[see Picture: Listening to the Sphinx (1863) by Vedder]
[read Chinese translation中文翻譯]
