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
10:1 generations: a
new “toledot” section (the 4th of 10 in Genesis).
10:2 The Japhethites included 14 clans
and nations. These 14 groups were described to be residents of Asia Minor, the
Mediterranean region and
10:6 The Hamites included 30 clans and
nations. These 30 groups were described to be residents of northern Africa and
the
10:8
10:21 The Shemites included 26 clans and
nations. These 26 groups were described to be residents of the
10:24 Eber: ancestor of Abraham (4th after Shem); great-grandson of Shem, but was mentioned first amongst Shem’s descendants in v.21; his name has been associated with the word Hebrew.
10:25 Peleg: ancestor of Abraham (5th after Shem); the name means “division”.
in his
days the earth was divided: probably pointing to
the
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 using the concept of race. 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.
[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.
[3] Physical Characteristics of the 3 main races: Traditionally, anthropologists classify mankind into 3 races: Mongoloids (yellow people), Negroids (black people), and Caucasoids (white people).
|
|
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 |
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 |
round-headed, prominent cheekbones |
head shape of medium breadth, receded cheekbones |
long-headed, with receded cheekbones |
[4] Genetic Differences between Races:
Anthropologist Cavalli-Sforza documented the genetic
distances among 5 blood group systems. The result: Africans are most
different from all others. Oceanians are furthest from Africans and are also different
from the other three. The other 3 groups are closest to each other, with
Americans (Indians in North and
[5] Recent Arguments:
Since the 1970s, some anthropologists have proposed that races 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).
Psychologist Rushton used empirical research to show significant differences among 3 racial groups: Mongoloids, Negroids, Caucasoids. On more than 60 variables—such as brain size, intelligence, reproductive behaviour, aggressiveness, etc.—Mongoloids and Negroids define opposite ends of a spectrum, with Caucasoids falling intermediately. While Rushton’s research is internationally recognized for its high quality, he was strongly criticized by some people for crossing the line of political correctness by probing into racial differences.
† 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.