If you think it’s hard to read through the genealogies in Genesis, you ought to try writing an interesting blog article about them. That’s what I’m attempting today.
In the genealogy of Ham, we find an interesting character, Nimrod.
Cush became the father of Nimrod; he was the first on earth to become a mighty warrior. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.”
The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar.
From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city (Genesis 10.8-11).
There are two questions about Nimrod: Who is he and what is the root meaning of his name? Here are some suggestions from the scholars.
(1) Nimrod could be equated with the Babylonian war god or the god of the hunt. He’s also called the arrow or the mighty hero.
(2) Other scholars connect Nimrod with the Assyrian king, Ninurta. This Babylonian king engaged in massive building programs which, together with his military operations, forced him to tax his people highly.
(3) Others see Nimrod as an Egyptian pharaoh. Pharaoh is the name for the Egyptian ruler.
(4) Most writers have connected Nimrod with the verb “to rebel.” Nimrod is pictured as the prototype of rebellion, the builder of the Tower of Babel, and the one who led people in rebellion against God.
I agree with Victor Hamilton’s interpretation of Nimrod in his Genesis commentary. The fourth option, that Nimrod was a rebel who led people in rebellion against God, is the best explanation.
The Table of the Nations
The table of nations concludes in verse 32, summarizing the entire list of entries. Geographically, the list spans from the far east to the far north, and from the far west to the east.
These are the families of Noah’s sons, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood (Genesis 10:32).
It is noteworthy that such a table of nations is unique to Old Testament literature.
Below we find Dr. Hamilton’s analysis of the value of the table of the nations in chapter 10:
“The table fills out and fulfills the divine promise and imperative in 9:1 to be fruitful and abundant. Throughout, the dispersal of humanity in the world reflects both God’s blessing (chapter 10) and His displeasure (chapter 11).
“By placing the Tower of Babel incident just prior to the patriarchal stories, the biblical writer is suggesting that post-flood humanity is as sinful as pre-flood humanity.
“The theological value of the table lies in its affirmation of Israel as part of one world governed by one God. In this world, He has chosen Israel to be His own and to carry the knowledge of Him throughout that world.
“Chapter 10 reveals that humanity’s dispersal takes place due to people being scattered over the face of the earth. This occurs because of their pride, disobedience, and God’s judgment.”
Reflections
There are many names in the genealogy that I cannot pronounce, and quite frankly, I’m not interested in who they are. It is strange that the one name I chose to write about, Nimrod, is a rebel.
Paul served a church in Corinth composed largely of ordinary, unknown people.
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards,[e] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to abolish things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
We should take note of them and find joy in their example. Even if we are considered nobodies in the world’s eyes, we are somebodies to God, and we live to proclaim His glory.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 