What Is The Importance of the

Table of Nations (Gen. 10)?

The account of the Tower of Babel is prefaced in chapter 10 with the Table of Nations.  Ross states that this is “one of the least satisfactorily studied passages in the book.”  This is a record of the descendants of the three sons of Noah—Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  These three branches become the three basic divisions from which the rest of humanity springs.  Seventy nations “of the families of the sons of Noah” are listed here and it was “by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood” (10:32).

The Table of Nations attests to the fulfillment of God’s command to replenish the earth (9:1).  It also gives the account of the end of the dispensation of conscience (8:15-9:7) resulting in the judgment of the confusion of languages (11:5-9) because the people filled the earth, but did not scatter (11:1-4). This account provides an important answer as to why the nations scattered and filled the earth.  The dispersion at the Tower of Babel, whereby the people scattered into many different areas with differing languages, was the result of God’s judgment.1

The Tower of Babel is an attempt to found a religion apart from God.  It demonstrates man’s basic insecurity in needing to establish such a tower for protection (11:4).  It also reveals an attitude of rebellion and a desire for independence.  God moves in judgment and confuses their language.  This forces the human race to scatter abroad, something they were unwilling to do themselves.  This toldot ends with the people of the earth separated from one another and separated from God.

1 Allen P. Ross, Creation and Blessing (Grand Rapids:  Baker Books, 1996), p. 221.