Our Scripture Of The Week Is:

Proverbs 4:23 KJVS
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

To "keep" something, in this sense, means more than simply "to maintain ownership."
It refers to maintenance, care, and support. Some translations use the word "guard," A wise person realizes that temptation is real (1 Corinthians 10:13) and takes appropriate precaution.

This parallels statements made earlier, where Solomon advises his son to actively avoid evil, and those who practice it (Proverbs 4:14–15). Scripture places a strong emphasis on the heart as the source of good or evil.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick."

Jesus announced: "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45).

David, Solomon's father, certainly understood how influential the heart is in how we live out our morals and values. Out of the evil of his heart he stole Uriah's wife Bathsheba, committed adultery with her, and then arranged for Uriah's death when he could not hide his crime (2 Samuel 11:2–5, 14–15).

However, when he was under heavy conviction about his evil deed, David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).

What is hidden in the heart is open to God's eyes.

First Samuel 16:7 reminds us that "the LORD sees not as a man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

It is absolutely essential, therefore, to guard the heart.

Our topic today is:

Sons Of Shem – Syrians, Lydians, Armenians, Arabians Discussion

This section on the line of Shem comes last, though this verse makes clear that Shem was the oldest of Noah's sons. Earlier, Ham was described using a Hebrew term meaning either "youngest," or "least" (Genesis 9:24). Here, translations are split on whether Shem or Japheth is the older brother.

Of course, their exact birth order is not explicitly given anywhere in the Bible. Most likely, but not assuredly, Shem was the oldest of the three sons Noah brought with him on the ark (Genesis 7:1).

Shem's line is the one that will lead to Abraham and the Israelites. Verse 21 begins by referring to Shem as the father of the Eberites. This is typical of genealogies, especially in the ancient world.

The term "father" is often used to refer to any male ancestor (Genesis 15:15; Genesis 31:3). This makes Shem the "father" of the Eberites, in the sense that, as Eber's great grandfather, Shem is the ancestor of that people.

Through the Eberites, eventually, Shem's line will lead to Abraham (Abram). Shem's descendants Elam and Asshur will found significant people groups, well known historically and deeply involved in the history of Israel.

Less is known about the peoples that came from Lud and Aram. Much of this same genealogical material is presented in the book of 1 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 1:17–25).

Shem's line through his son Arpachshad is the one that leads to Abraham (Abram) and Israel. This makes Shem the ancestor of figures such as King David and Jesus Christ. This verse lists the sons of Shem's son Aram. Little is known from the Bible or external records about the groups that came from these men.

The only noteworthy name given here is that of Uz, which is the same as the native land of Job (Job 1:1), mentioned in a few places in Scripture (Jeremiah 25:20; Lamentations 4:21).

Ham's son, Mizraim, is also known as Egypt. Ham's son Canaan will father several cultures which become bitter enemies of Israel. This chapter shows the origins of city-states and nations which become well-known throughout the rest of the Old Testament, such as Magog, Tarshish, Kittim, Cush, Babel, Nineveh, Sidon, and so forth.

Shem's line leads through Arpachshad to Shelah to Eber and eventually to Abraham and the Israelites. This makes Shem the ancestor of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It also fulfills the curse given by Noah (Genesis 9:20–25) that Canaan's descendants would be subservient to those of Shem.

Shem's great grandson Eber fathered two sons. Shem's line will continue through Peleg to Abraham and the Israelites. This passage also makes an interesting comment about one of Shem's descendants, Peleg. Peleg's name apparently comes from an ancient word meaning "to divide."

The division of the earth in Peleg's mentioned here likely refers to the division and dispersal of humanity that will happen after the events surrounding the tower of Babel. At that point, mankind will be dispersed over the earth, and their languages confused. Those events are described in chapter 11.

This side-long reference to Peleg is also useful for understanding ancient writing. This part of Genesis describes the descendants of Noah's sons, including their eventual geography. But chapter 11 will describe a moment when mankind is dispersed over the earth. This is due to the fact that Genesis, like many ancient records, is more concerned with themes than with chronology.

In other words, the story of the Tower of Babel is not the point of this particular text, so it will be mentioned later. Scholars suggest that Eber's other son Joktan will become the father of Arab peoples. In total, 13 sons are listed. The names of several of these sons became associated with well-known areas in the larger region of the Middle East.

This is part of chapter 10's "table of nations," explaining the origin of the ancient world's various people groups. The actual dispersal of these people to their eventual geographic regions, does not seem to occur until chapter 11 at the incident of the Tower of Babel.

Jerah is a Hebrew word meaning "new moon." Later on in history, the moon would become one of the foremost gods worshiped in the region, which seems to be the ancestral homeland of Arabic peoples. Here, we continue the genealogy of Shem, through his great-great-grandson Joktan.
In total, 13 sons are listed. The names of several of these sons became well known areas in the larger region of the Middle East.

The name Uzal may be Azal, an old name for Sann'a, the modern-day capital of Yemen, indicating that this branch of Joktan's line settled in that area. As such, Joktan would be considered the father of the Arabic people. This particular part of Genesis is only concerned with explaining the family relationships involved.

Exactly how and when these descendants arrived in their territories is not explained here. Later, chapter 11 will explain the incident of the Tower of Babel, where these various people and tribes are dispersed across the earth. Joktan is credited here with 13 sons; several of these names will become well-known within the regions surrounding Israel. In fact, Joktan seems to be the father of the Arabic people, as his sons are the primary inhabitants of those lands.

The regions of Ophir and Havilah were famous in the ancient world for their gold (Genesis 2:11). This verse describes the geographical territory occupied by the various groups of people descended from Joktan. Scholars are uncertain of exactly what modern day areas these names represent.

However, the information given in the broader passage indicates that Joktan was the father of the Arabic people. This portion of Scripture is devoted to explaining how Shem, Ham, and Japheth, Noah's sons, became the ancestors of all of the world's nations.

Some of the names listed here will become associated with famous—or infamous—cities or regions of the Bible. An explanation for how they found themselves living in different locations and speaking different languages, will come in chapter 11. Those details are part of the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9).

However, the line from Shem to Abraham will be described more specifically in chapter 11. This entire chapter has been devoted to explaining the origins of the Middle East's various nations. All people, including every possible tribe or race, are descended from Noah and his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Notably, the details in this part of the Bible are only concerned with family relationships. Other than a quick comment about Peleg (Genesis 10:25), the story of how the different tribes wound up with separated languages and territories is left entirely to the next part of Scripture.

That explanation will come through the story of the Tower of Babel. Rather than focusing on a single, deep line of fathers and sons, this list has emphasized the broad connection between all people.

Instead of delving into the details of how they came to be separate people, with separate nations and languages, this passage simply explains how these men were related to each other. The story of the Tower of Babel and the dispersal of humanity will be told in chapter 11.