Smoodock's Blog

In Genesis 11 we are presented with a second genealogy of Shem (Genesis 11:10-26) in contrast to his first (Genesis 10:22-31). The big difference in the two is that Shem’s second genealogy follows only the Messianic line, which is through Arphaxad, who appears to be his firstborn, even though he is mentioned third in Shem’s first genealogy, because he was born so soon after the Flood (2 years). It is hardly enough time to be Shem’s third son, since none were born prior to the Flood. A second difference is none of Peleg’s descendants are mentioned in the first genealogy, but it is said he begat sons and daughters in the second. In fact, Shem’s first genealogy ends with Eber’s second son and his 13 sons, while Shem’s second genealogy brings us through Eber’s son, Peleg, to the birth of Abram

In the antediluvian era the text offered us ten patriarchs from Adam to Noah. After the Flood, the text begins with another ten patriarchs, from Shem (Noah’s son) to Abram, and at this point the text presents us with its the seventh of twelve family records, all of which were used by Moses to compile the Book of Genesis (cp. Genesis 1:1; 2:4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27). In Genesis 11:27 we are told that Terah begat three sons: Abram, Nahor and Haran (who begat Lot). However, just as was the case with Noah’s sons (Genesis 5:32), we are given all three sons together, saying the first one was born, when Terah was 70 years old (Genesis 11:26). I believe Abram was the youngest of Terah’s sons, just as was the case with Shem.[1] How can I say this? Terah began having children at age 70, and he died at the age of 205, when Abram was about 75 years old (Genesis 11:27; 12:4). Therefore, Terah was 130 years of age when Abram was born.

At this time in the record, Abram was living in Ur of the Chaldees. Both Abram and his elder brother, Nahor married wives. Abram married Sarai, but she was barren, and they had no children. Nahor married Milcah, his brother Haran’s, daughter. Haran had died before Terah, leaving his children Lot, Milcah and Iscah (Genesis 11:28-30)

We are told in the text that Terah took Abram, Sarai and Lot and left Ur to go to the land of Canaan but stopped at the city of Haran and dwelt there, until Terah died at the age of 205 years (Genesis 11:31-32). If this is all that was ever said about this journey, one might believe it was Tarah’s idea to leave for the land of Canaan, but it wasn’t. Moreover, we also might believe that the call of God came to Abram, while he was dwelling in Haran (Genesis 12:4), but this would be only partially true. It isn’t until we come to the New Covenant text that we discover that, originally, the Lord called Abram, while he was yet in Ur of the Chaldees (Acts 7:2-4). Thus, it is from here in the text that we finally discover how Moses connects the Creator with the God of Israel. The God who called Abram out of the land of Ur of the Chaldees, is the same God who created the heavens and the earth and all that is contained therein!

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[1] See my earlier study: The Descendants of Shem.