John Calvin on Genesis 10:21-32

21. Unto Shem also , the father of all the children of Eber . Moses, being about to speak of the sons of Shem, makes a brief introduction, which he had not done in reference to the others. Nor was it without reason; for since this was the race chosen by God, he wished to sever it from other nations by some special mark. This also is the reason why he expressly styles him the ‘father of the sons of Eber,’ and the elder brother of Japheth. In the English translation it is, ‘The brother of Japheth the elder.’ The balance of proof seems to lie in favor of the English translation, and gives the seniority to Japheth. Shem is supposed to be placed first, not on account of his age, but because his was the chosen seed. — Ed. For the benediction of Shem does not descend to all his grandchildren indiscriminately, but remains in one family. And although the grandchildren themselves of Eber declined from the true worship of God, so that the Lord might justly have disinherited them; yet the benediction was not extinguished, but only buried for a season, until Abraham was called, in honor of whom this singular dignity is ascribed to the race and name of Eber. For the same cause, mention is made of Japheth, in order that the promise may be confirmed, ‘God shall speak gently unto Japheth, that he may dwell in the tents of Shem.’ Shem is not here called the brother of Ham, inasmuch as the latter was cut off from the fraternal order, and was debarred his own right. Fraternity remained only between them and Japheth; because, although they were separated, God had engaged that he would cause them to return from this dissension into union. As it respects the name Eber , they who deny it to be a proper name, but deduce it from the word which signifies to pass over , are more than sufficiently refuted by this passage alone.

CHAPTER 11.

Genesis 11:1-32

1. And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

1. Erat autem universa terra labii unius, et verborum eorundem.

2. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

2. Et fuit, quum proficiscerentur ipsi ab Oriente, invenerunt planitiem in terra Sinhar, et habitaverunt ibi.

3. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

3. Et dixerunt quisqui ad proximum suum, Agite, laterificemus lateres, et coquamus ad coctionem: et fuit eis later pro lapide, et bitumen fuit eis pro caemento.

4. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

4. Et dixerunt, Agite, aedificemus nobis urbem et turrim, cujus caput pertingat usque ad coelum, et faciamus nobis nomen, ne forte dispergamur in superficiem universae terrae.

5. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

5. Et descendit Jehova ut videret urbem et turrim, quam aedificabant filii hominum.

6. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

6. Et dixit Jehova, En, populus unus, et labium unum est omnibus ipsis: et hoc est incipere eorum ut faciant, et nunc non prohibebitur ab eis quod cogitaverunt ut facerent.

7. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

7. Agite, descendamus, et confundamus ibi labium eorum, ut non audiant unusquisque labium proximi sui.

8. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

8. Et dispersit Jehova eos inde per superficiem omnis terrae, et cessaverunt aedificare civitatem.

9. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

9. Propterea vocavit nomen ejus Babel: quia ibi confudit Jehova labium universae terrae, et inde dispersit eos Jehova in superficiem universae terrae.

10. These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

10. Hae sunt generationes Sem. Sem filius centum annorum genuit Arphachsad duobus annis post diluvium.

11. And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

11. Et vixit Sem, post quam genuit Arphachsad, quingentos annos: et genuit filios et filias.

12. And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:

12. Et Arphachsad vixit quinque et triginta annos, et genuit Selah.

13. And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

13. Et vixit Arphachsad, postquam genuit Selah, tres annos et quadringentos annos: et genuit filios et filias.

14. And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:

14. Et Selah vixit triginta annos, et genuit Eber.

15. And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

15. Et vixit Selah, postquam genuit Eber, tres annos et quadringentos annos: et genuit filios et filias.

16. And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:

16. Et vixit Eber quatuor et triginta annos, et genuit Peleg.

17. And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.

17. Et vixit Eber, postquam genuit Peleg, triginta annos et quadringentos annos: et genuit filios et filias.

18. And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

18. Et vixit Peleg triginta annos, et genuit Rehu.

19. And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.

19. Et vixit Peleg, postquam genuit Rehu, novem annos et ducentos annos: et genuit filios et filias.

20. And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

20. Et vixit Rehu duos et triginta annos, et genuit Serug.

21. And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.

21. Et vixit Rehu, postquam genuit Serug, septem annos et ducentos annos: et genuit filios et filias.

22. And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

22. Et vixit Serug triginta annos, et genuit Nachor.

23. And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

23. Et vixit Serug, postquam genuit Nachor, ducentos annos: et genuit filios et filias.

24. And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:

24. Et vixit Nachor novem et viginti annos, et genuit Thare.

25. And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

25. Et vixit Nachor, postquam genuit Thare, novemdecim annos et centum annos: et genuit filios et filias.

26. And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

26. Et vixit Thare septuaginta annos, et genuit Abram, Nachor, et Haran.

27. Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.

27. Et istae sunt generationes Thare. Thare genuit Abram, Nachor, et Haran: et Haran genuit Lot.

28. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.

28. Et mortuus est Haran coram Thare patre suo in terra nativitatis suae, in Ur Chaldeae.

29. And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

29. Et acceperunt Abram et Nachor uxores: nomen uxoris Abram, Sarai: et nomen uxoris Nachor, Milchah, filia Haran patris Milchah, et patris Ischah.

30. But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

30. At fuit autem Sarai sterilis: nec erat ei filius.

31. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

31. Tulit autem Thare Abram filium suum, et Lot filium Haran, filium filii sui, et Sarai nurum suam, uxorem Abram filii sui: et egressi sunt sum eis de Ur Chaldeae, ut pergerent in terram Chenaan: et venerunt usque ad Charan, et habitaverunt ibi.

32. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

32. Et fuerunt dies Thare quinque et ducenti anni: et mortuus est Thare in Charan.