The Descendants of Shem

10 These are the generations of Shem. Shem was a hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood. 11 And Shem lived after he had begotten Arphaxad five hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. 12 And Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Shelah. 13 And Arphaxad lived after he had begotten Shelah four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. 14 And Shelah lived thirty years, and begot Eber. 15 And Shelah lived after he had begotten Eber four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. 16 And Eber lived thirty-four years, and begot Peleg. 17 And Eber lived after he had begotten Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters. 18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begot Reu. 19 And Peleg lived after he had begotten Reu two hundred and nine years, and begot sons and daughters. 20 And Reu lived thirty-two years, and begot Serug. 21 And Reu lived after he had begotten Serug two hundred and seven years, and begot sons and daughters. 22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begot Nahor. 23 And Serug lived after he had begotten Nahor two hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. 24 And Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begot Terah. 25 And Nahor lived after he had begotten Terah a hundred and nineteen years, and begot sons and daughters. 26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 11:10-26

Commentary on Genesis 11:10-26

(Read Genesis 11:10-26)

Here is a genealogy, or list of names, ending in Abram, the friend of God, and thus leading towards Christ, the promised Seed, who was the son of Abram. Nothing is left upon record but their names and ages; the Holy Ghost seeming to hasten through them to the history of Abram. How little do we know of those that are gone before us in this world, even of those that lived in the same places where we live, as we likewise know little of those who now live in distant places! We have enough to do to mind our own work. When the earth began to be peopled, men's lives began to shorten; this was the wise disposal of Providence.