(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these [were] the sons of Joktan.
Ofir, Havilah and Yovav — all these were the sons of Yoktan.
Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.
and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.
And Ophir{H211}, and Havilah{H2341}, and Jobab{H3103}: all these were the sons{H1121} of Joktan{H3355}.
1. **Themes**:
- **Genealogy**: Genesis 10:29 is part of the "Table of Nations" in the Bible, which traces the descendants of Noah's sons after the flood. The verse specifically lists the sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem, one of Noah's sons.
- **Ancient Geography**: The names mentioned are associated with regions and tribes in the ancient Near East. Ophir and Havilah are also mentioned in connection with locations rich in gold and precious resources.
- **Human Expansion**: The passage reflects the early biblical perspective on the spread of humanity across different regions of the world following the flood.
2. **Historical Context**:
- **Postdiluvian Era**: The verse is set in the period after the Great Flood, when humanity was repopulating the earth.
- **Early Ancestry**: The genealogies in Genesis 10 serve to connect the ancient world's known nations and tribes to the biblical narrative, providing a context for understanding the relationships between various peoples mentioned throughout the Bible.
- **Location of Ophir and Havilah**: The exact locations of Ophir and Havilah are subjects of debate among scholars, with theories placing them in various parts of the Middle East and even beyond. These places are often associated with wealth and are mentioned in later biblical texts in relation to trade and resources.
- **Jobab**: While not much is said about Jobab in this verse, the name appears elsewhere in Genesis as a king of Madon, and it is also the name of a figure in the Book of Job.
In summary, Genesis 10:29 contributes to the biblical ethnography, linking the ancestry of various peoples to Noah's family and outlining the early post-flood human settlements, with a particular focus on the lineage of Joktan and his sons, who are associated with regions known for their wealth.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)