The Table of Nations: Ham’s Descendants

Genesis 10:6–20 (NASB95) 

6The sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan. 7The sons of Cush were Seba and Havilah and Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. 8Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. 9He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, 12and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. 13Mizraim became the father of Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim 14and Pathrusim and Casluhim (from which came the Philistines) and Caphtorim. 15Canaan became the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth 16and the Jebusite and the Amorite and the Girgashite 17and the Hivite and the Arkite and the Sinite 18and the Arvadite and the Zemarite and the Hamathite; and afterward the families of the Canaanite were spread abroad. 19The territory of the Canaanite extended from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; as you go toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, by their nations. 

Genesis 10:6-20 traces the descendants of Ham, one of Noah’s sons, highlighting nations that play critical roles in Israel’s history. Ham’s sons—Cush, Mizraim (Egypt), Put, and Canaan—are the ancestors of peoples who become Israel’s primary adversaries. The genealogy of Ham receives more attention than Japheth’s because it outlines the origins of these nations, including Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and the Canaanite tribes. These groups frequently oppose Israel as they enter and settle the Promised Land. 

Nimrod, a descendant of Cush, stands out as a “mighty warrior” and founder of early Mesopotamian cities such as Babylon, Uruk, Akkad, and Nineveh. His rise symbolizes a return to pre-flood despotism and the emergence of powerful empires that challenge God’s purposes. Nimrod’s legacy foreshadows the imperial powers that will dominate and threaten Israel throughout its history. 

The Canaanites, descendants of Ham through Canaan, occupy the land promised to Israel. Their territory extends from Sidon to Gaza and Sodom, marking the first biblical portrait of the Promised Land. The Canaanite tribes, including the Jebusites, Amorites, and Hittites, are depicted as the “seed of the serpent,” representing those who oppose God and His people. This theological motif highlights the ongoing spiritual and national conflict between Israel and its neighbors. 

The detailed account of Ham’s lineage serves a dual purpose. It provides historical context for Israel’s future struggles and frames these conflicts as part of a larger divine narrative. The nations descended from Ham embody opposition to God’s covenant, setting the stage for the unfolding story of judgment, mercy, and redemption. 

The church today must recognize the ongoing spiritual battle reflected in the history of Israel’s adversaries. Like Israel, believers face opposition from forces that resist God’s kingdom. Understanding the origins of these conflicts helps the church stand firm in faith and mission. The church is called to be a witness of God’s redemptive power amid opposition, trusting in His sovereignty over history. Let us remember that God’s people are called to live faithfully, proclaiming His truth and embodying His grace in a world often hostile to the gospel.