(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:
Peleg lived thirty years and fathered Re‘u.
When Peleg was 30 years old, he became the father of Reu.
And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:
And Peleg{H6389} lived{H2421} thirty{H7970} years{H8141}, and begat{H3205} Reu{H7466}:
1. **Themes:**
- **Genealogy:** The verse is part of the "begat" passages in Genesis that trace the lineage from Noah through Shem to Abraham, which is significant in establishing the patriarchal line leading to the nation of Israel.
- **Divine Plan:** The mention of Peleg and his son Reu is part of the broader theme of God's plan for humanity, specifically the line through which the Messiah would come, as promised in Genesis 3:15 and later fulfilled through Jesus Christ.
- **Human Longevity:** The verse also reflects the theme of human longevity in the early generations, with Peleg living to be 239 years old according to the preceding verse, which decreases significantly as the biblical narrative progresses.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Post-Flood Era:** Genesis 11:18 is set in the post-Flood period, after God had destroyed all life on earth except for Noah and his family. This event is meant to have reset humanity, with Noah's descendants repopulating the earth.
- **Tower of Babel:** The chapter begins with the story of the Tower of Babel, where humanity, still unified by one language, attempts to build a tower to reach the heavens, leading to God's confusion of their languages and the dispersion of people across the earth. Peleg's name is interpreted as meaning "division," possibly reflecting this event.
- **Transition to Patriarchal Narratives:** This verse is part of the transition from the primeval history to the stories of the patriarchs, setting the stage for the call of Abram (later Abraham) in Genesis 12, which marks the beginning of the formation of the Israelite people.
- **Chronology:** The genealogy provided in these passages helps to establish a biblical timeline, connecting the Flood narrative to the patriarchal narratives. Peleg's life and the birth of Reu are used to mark time within this framework.
In summary, Genesis 11:18 is a verse that contributes to the biblical narrative by tracing the ancestry of Abraham, emphasizing the divine plan for humanity through the lineage of Shem, and providing a historical marker within the biblical chronology shortly after the dispersion of nations at Babel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)