This was their first descent into the plain, where they would have centralized themselves, and were dispersed. They would have humanity one-a kind of republic; God made nations and tongues of them. Then Nimrod began an empire, and afterward there was some kind of partition among them of the known earth in Peleg's time.
2. Mikkedem, eastward; the word seems to me thus formed-it is used as in the mouth of a person speaking in relation to himself-a person to the east of me is, of course, coming, speaking, or looking from the east, thence mikkedem, eastward.
2 Chron. 4:1010And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south. (2 Chronicles 4:10), " the right side of the east end," i.e., the right side in relation to one looking towards it, for it faced the south, and was not to the east of the person, therefore not mikkedem, but ked'mah (eastward); so mikketheph, on the right side; so I take mimmul (on) to be opposite the south; so 2 Chron. 5:1212Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) (2 Chronicles 5:12).
Chapter to is practically a parenthesis; this chapter continues from chapter 9, or begins afresh as the next noticed fact, and settles providentially the state of the world after Noah; here, the " Lord " is dealing-" God " began the world afresh with Noah in chapter 9.
The history of the old world after the flood is ended, and the new form of men's relationship-the world, not Noah's family, but nations, tongues, etc.-is established.
To the end of this chapter we have the genealogy of Abram, but not the Lord's dealings, though in fact the call had come, but the action is Terah's.
1-9, comes before chapter Io, and goes by itself, showing how, by the judgment of God, historically the dispersion of mankind, came about. This closes the tol'doth (generation)
Noah; and now the origin of the whole state of the earth.
10-32. These verses go with what follows—Shem's family, they are the distinctive tol'doth (generation) Shem.
2. Bik'ah (a plain), a low river plain.
5. B'ney Ha-Adam (sons of man) again.
10 begins the generations of the family God owned—the history of Abraham's race—the people of Jehovah—He was the Lord God of Shem.
19. Diminution of half the duration of life, connected with the regular settling of the earth; not the spreading of the various stocks and branching off of families.
24 a seq. According to Jewish chronology, i.e., as given in the text, the last born of Terah's three sons was born only four years after Noah's death.
Chapters 12, 13. These two chapters give the whole position consequent on the calling, and its realization in the heavenly place of faith, with the contrasts of weakness and worldliness.
We have the general promise on which the faith was built, and Abraham distinguished and separated.