And of the poor negroes, how many every year are sold and bought, like beasts in the market, and
conveyed from one quarter of the world to do the work of beasts in another! But this in no way
excuses the covetousness and barbarity of those who enrich themselves with the product of their
sweat and blood. God has not commanded us to enslave negroes; and, without doubt, he will severely
punish all such cruel wrongs. The fulfilment of this prophecy, which contains almost a history of
the world, frees Noah from the suspicion of having uttered it from personal anger. It fully proves
that the Holy Spirit took occasion from Ham's offence to reveal his secret purposes. “Blessed be
the Lord God of Shem.” The church should be built up and continued in the posterity of Shem; of
him came the Jews, who were, for a great while, the only professing people God had in the world.
Christ, who was the Lord God, in his human nature should descend from Shem; for of him, as
concerning the flesh, Christ came. Noah also blesses Japheth, and, in him, the isles of the gentiles
that were peopled by his seed. It speaks of the conversion of the gentiles, and the bringing of them
into the church. We may read it, “God shall persuade Japheth, and being persuaded, he shall dwell
in the tents of Shem.” Jews and gentiles shall be united together in the gospel fold; both shall be
one in Christ. Noah lived to see two worlds; but being an heir of the righteousness which is by
faith, he now rests in hope, waiting to see a better than either.
Chapter 10
Chapter Outline
The sons of Noah, of Japheth, of Ham. (1–7)
Nimrod the first monarch. (8–14)
The descendants of Canaan, The sons of (15–32)
Shem.Verses 1–7
This chapter shows concerning the three sons of Noah, that of them was the whole earth
overspread. No nation but that of the Jews can be sure from which of these seventy it has come.
The lists of names of fathers and sons were preserved of the Jews alone, for the sake of the Messiah.
Many learned men, however, have, with some probability, shown which of the nations of the earth
descended from each of the sons of Noah To the posterity of Japheth were allotted the isles of the
gentiles; probably, the island of Britain among the rest. All places beyond the sea from Judea are
called isles, Jer 25:22. That promise, Isa 42:4, The isles shall wait for his law, speaks of the
conversion of the gentiles to the faith of Christ.
Verses 8–14
Nimrod was a great man in his day; he began to be mighty in the earth, Those before him were
content to be upon the same level with their neighbours, and though every man bare rule in his own
house, yet no man pretended any further. Nimrod was resolved to lord it over his neighbours. The