Genesis 9:26 – 10:9

²⁶ He also said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem; and Canaan will be his servant.

²⁷ May God expand Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, Canaan will be his servant.”

²⁸ Noah lived 350 years past the flood.

²⁹ All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died.

^10:1 These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

² The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

³ The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

⁴ The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

⁵ From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations.

⁶ The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.

⁷ The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.

⁸ Cush fathered Nimrod, who was the first on the land to be a mighty man.

⁹ He was a mighty hunter before the LORD. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.”

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A Blessing for Shem & Japheth

Noah’s words set the stage for generations to come. The sons of Shem and Japheth expected much of themselves, because they had to live up to the blessing Noah pronounced upon them. At the heart of the blessing was the assumption that these sons will be leaders.

LORD, may we prepare the generations who come after us by showing them how to lead your people.