Reading Plan · Day 4
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
Genesis 10-12
Day 4
Previously · Day 3 · Genesis 7-9
The previous day's reading covered the end of the 2nd Dispensation. Chapter 10 began the 3rd Dispensation: Post-Flood. God shortened people's lives in order to give them a sense of urgency. This dispensation was also characterized by everyone speaking the same language and being of one mind. The method God used was verbal: through speaking and writing between people.
Day 4 Read
Where You Stopped
Genesis 10
1Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, namely, of Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
1Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
Commentary · verse 1
2The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
3And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
4And the sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
5Of these were the isles of the nations divided in their lands, every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
2The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
3And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
4And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
5By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
Commentary · verses 2-5
From Japheth came the European nations.
6And the sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, and Put, and Canaan.
6And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.
Commentary · verse 6
The Canaanites would be a great enemy to Israel throughout their history. However, the land of Canaan would be where God sent Abram and would become the Promised Land.
7And the sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah: Sheba, and Dedan.
8And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
9He was a mighty hunter before Jehovah: wherefore it is said, Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before Jehovah.
10And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
7And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
8And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
9He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
10And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
Commentary · verses 7-10
Nimrod, a mighty hunter, also founded Babel.
11Out of that land he went forth into Assyria, and builded Nineveh, and Rehoboth-Ir, and Calah, 12and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (the same is the great city).
11Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,
12And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.
Commentary · verses 11-12
Nineveh would become famous for repenting after the Prophet Jonah confronted them.
13And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, 14and Pathrusim, and Casluhim (whence went forth the Philistines), and Caphtorim.
13And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
14And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.
Commentary · verses 13-14
The Philistines, another great enemy to the Israelites, also came from the descendants of Ham.
15And Canaan begat Sidon his first-born, 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 were the families of the Canaanite spread abroad.
19And the border of the Canaanite was from Sidon, as thou goest toward Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, unto Lasha.
15And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,
16And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,
17And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
18And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
19And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.
Commentary · verses 15-19
Sodom and Gomorrah were mentioned.
20These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.
20These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.
Commentary · verse 20
From Ham came middle eastern and the African nations.
21And unto Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.
22The sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arpachshad, and Lud, and Aram.
23And the sons of Aram: Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.
21Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.
22The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
23And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.
Commentary · verses 21-23
Job was from the "land of Uz."
24And Arpachshad begat Shelah; and Shelah begat Eber.
25And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
24And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.
25And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
Commentary · verses 24-25
During the days of Peleg, the "Continental Drift" happened. That was when the earth divided into continents.
26And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, 27and Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, 28and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, 29and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.
30And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.
31These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
26And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
27And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,
28And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
29And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.
30And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.
31These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
Commentary · verses 26-31
From Shem came middle eastern and the Asian nations.
32These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and of these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.
32These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.
Where You Stopped
Genesis 11
1And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech.
1And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
Commentary · verse 1
The whole earth was of one language.
2And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
Commentary · verse 2
The people journeyed east to the land of Shinar. "Shinar" was an ancient name for what would become Babel and eventually Babylon.
3And they said one to another, Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.
4And they said, Come, 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.
3And 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.
4And 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.
Commentary · verses 3-4
The people wanted to build a city so that they would not be scattered throughout the whole earth. They wanted to build a city that they could live in together. Remember, God gave man a command through Noah in Genesis 9:7 to multiply in the earth: to scatter. So, these people were doing the opposite of God's command.
Commentary · verse 4
This city would be high enough to reach God. This sounded like an attempt to build the new Jerusalem: The Bride (from Revelation 21) where all believers will live forever. The new Jerusalem will be 1500 miles high. Notice, they used bricks, which represented a falsification of truth. The Israelites used bricks to build while they were in Egypt (Exodus 5:7). This was an attempt to accomplish God's plan for eternity their way. This was an attempt to attain eternal life.
5And Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6And Jehovah said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they begin to do: and now nothing will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do.
5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6And 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.
Commentary · verses 5-6
Notice, people working together with one language are able to do anything. At the end of the Bible (Revelation 19-22), people will inhabit the new Jerusalem together, speak one language, and act together as the Bride in Marriage to Jesus. At Babel, the people used this ability to attempt to reach God in their flesh, in a physical manner, and to prevent emigration.
Doctrines on this passage
7Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
8So Jehovah scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off building the city.
7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
8So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
Commentary · verses 7-8
Nothing was withholding the people from what they had purposed (imagined) to do. Since they remained focused on the physical instead of the spiritual, God scattered the people and made multiple languages. God did exactly what they were trying to prevent and scattered the people. This was Just because of their focus on the physical.
Commentary · verse 8
This ended the day's reading-Flood Dispensation, the 3rd Dispensation. So far, all three dispensations have ended unsuccessfully and with a dispersion of people. This dispensation also ended with a "Salvation" judgment and a "Reward" judgment. The people attempted to attain Salvation by not being dispersed, so the (loss of) Salvation judgment was to scatter the people, everyone got the same effect. The Reward judgment was their languages were confounded, groups of people got different languages. Notice, this confusing of the "tongues" led to the beginning of the 4th Dispensation. In Acts 2, the "unconfusing of the tongues" began the 6th Dispensation. Pentecost began the Dispensation of Grace.
9Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because Jehovah did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did Jehovah scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
9Therefore 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.
Commentary · verse 9
"Babel" (and Babylon) meant "confusion (by mixing)."
The following was the line of descent from Shem to Abram. Notice how the length of time people lived steadily declined...
Doctrines on this passage
10These are the generations of Shem. Shem was a hundred years old, and begat Arpachshad two years after the flood: 11and Shem lived after he begat Arpachshad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
10These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:
11And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
Commentary · verses 10-11
Shem lived to be 600 years old.
12And Arpachshad lived five and thirty years, and begat Shelah: 13and Arpachshad lived after he begat Shelah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
12And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:
13And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
Commentary · verses 12-13
Arpachshad lived to be 438 years old.
14And Shelah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: 15and Shelah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
14And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:
15And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
Commentary · verses 14-15
Shelah lived to be 433 years old.
16And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: 17and Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.
16And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:
17And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.
Commentary · verses 16-17
Eber lived to be 464 years old.
18And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: 19and Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.
18And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:
19And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.
Commentary · verses 18-19
Peleg lived to be 239 years old.
20And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: 21and Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.
20And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:
21And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.
Commentary · verses 20-21
Reu lived to be 239 years old.
22And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: 23and Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
22And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:
23And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
Commentary · verses 22-23
Serug lived to be 230 years old.
24And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: 25and Nahor lived after he begat Terah a hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.
24And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:
25And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.
Commentary · verses 24-25
Nahor lived to be 148 years old.
26And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
26And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Commentary · verse 26
Terah was Abram's (Abraham) father. The following was an account of Terah's family...
27Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.
28And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
27Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.
28And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
Commentary · verses 27-28
Abram came from Shem (the father of middle eastern and the Asian nations) and lived in Ur of the Chaldees.
29And 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.
30And Sarai was barren; she had no child.
29And 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.
30But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
Commentary · verses 29-30
Sarai was barren. God does not cause conception (Jesus was the only exception) but God can close and open a woman's womb.
31And 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.
32And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.
31And 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.
32And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.
Commentary · verses 31-32
The following story was referenced in Hebrews 11:8 as proof that Abraham was an example of faith to us.
Where You Stopped
Genesis 12
1Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee: 2and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing: 3and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Commentary · verses 1-3
This was the background to the 4th Dispensation: God working through a sovereign nation, through a patriarch, to reach the other nations.
4So Abram went, as Jehovah had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
4So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
Commentary · verse 4
This was an example of grace (the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life). Abram allowed God's influence on his heart to come out in his actions. Abram was obedient. Abram was not from the land of Canaan.
5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
6And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
7And Jehovah appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto Jehovah, who appeared unto him.
8And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto Jehovah, and called upon the name of Jehovah.
5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
6And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
7And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
8And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth–el, and pitched his tent, having Beth–el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
Commentary · verses 5-8
Abram built God an altar and called upon His name!
9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.
10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land.
9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
Commentary · verses 9-10
Abram went near Egypt because of a famine.
11And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12and it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
11And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
12Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
Commentary · verses 11-12
Abram thought he would be killed because he was married to Sarai, because of how fair a woman she was. Abram was seventy-five years old. How old was Sarai at this time?
13Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.
13Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
Commentary · verse 13
Abram asked Sarai to save his life.
14And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
15And the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
16And he dealt well with Abram for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels.
14And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
15The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
16And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
Commentary · verses 14-16
The opposite happened to Abram. Sarai was so beautiful that Pharaoh actually gave to Abram.
17And Jehovah plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
17And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
Commentary · verse 17
God reaches people in two ways: understanding or experience. God spoke to Pharaoh about Abram by plaguing his house (experience).
18And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
18And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
Commentary · verse 18
Pharaoh knew the plagues were because of Abram.
19why saidst thou, She is my sister, so that I took her to be my wife? now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.
20And Pharaoh gave men charge concerning him: and they brought him on the way, and his wife, and all that he had.
19Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.
20And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
Commentary · verses 19-20
Abram's plan backfired. Pharaoh sent them away because of Abram's deception.
Commentary · verse 20
This day's reading covered the beginning and end of the 3rd Dispensation. It took eleven chapters to cover the first three dispensations. Chapter 12 introduced the background for the 4th Dispensation. The 4th Dispensation continued for the rest of the Book of Genesis.
Verse 1 began the genealogy of Noah. Everyone who has ever lived after the Flood came through Noah.