Genesis 10:25-26

10:25 Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg because in his days the earth was divided, 1  and his brother’s name was Joktan. 10:26 Joktan was the father of 2  Almodad, 3  Sheleph, 4  Hazarmaveth, 5  Jerah, 6 

Genesis 10:29

10:29 Ophir, 7  Havilah, 8  and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.

1 tn The expression “the earth was divided” may refer to dividing the land with canals, but more likely it anticipates the division of languages at Babel (Gen 11). The verb פָּלָג (palag, “separate, divide”) is used in Ps 55:9 for a division of languages.

2 tn Heb “fathered.”

3 sn The name Almodad combines the Arabic article al with modad (“friend”). Almodad was the ancestor of a South Arabian people.

4 sn The name Sheleph may be related to Shilph, a district of Yemen; Shalph is a Yemenite tribe.

5 sn The name Hazarmaveth should be equated with Hadramawt, located in Southern Arabia.

6 sn The name Jerah means “moon.”

7 sn Ophir became the name of a territory in South Arabia. Many of the references to Ophir are connected with gold (e.g., 1 Kgs 9:28, 10:11, 22:48; 1 Chr 29:4; 2 Chr 8:18, 9:10; Job 22:24, 28:16; Ps 45:9; Isa 13:12).

8 sn Havilah is listed with Ham in v. 7.