Genesis 10:18

the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Later the Canaanite clans were scattered,

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — This verse concludes a genealogical list of Canaanite clans descending from Canaan within the Table of Nations narrative. It serves as a structural transition before the geographic boundaries of the land are detailed.

The words — The Hebrew verb נָפֹצוּ (na.Fo.tzu) literally means "they were scattered," describing the dispersion of the previously listed clans. The preceding terms identify the Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites as distinct tribal groups in this enumeration.

The thread — These names recur in Numbers 34:8 (Lebo-hamath), Joshua 18:22 (Zemaraim), and 2 Samuel 8:9 (Hamath), marking their ongoing presence in Israel's territorial and political history.

Why it lands — The text plainly records the geographic dispersion of named clans without theological commentary, requiring the reader to trace how these specific groups function within the biblical outline of nations and land inheritance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הָֽאַרְוָדִ֥יha./'ar.va.Dithe/ Arvadite[s]וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הַצְּמָרִ֖יha./tze.ma.Rithe/ Zemarite[s]וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הַֽחֲמָתִ֑יha./cha.ma.Tithe/ Hamathite[s]וְאַחַ֣רve./'a.Charand/ after נָפֹ֔צוּna.Fo.tzuthey were scattered מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹתmish.pe.Chot[the] clans of הַֽכְּנַעֲנִֽי׃Ha./ke.na.'a.Nithe/ Canaanite[s]

King James Version

And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.

Cross-references

Numbers 34:8 and from Mount Hor to Lebo-hamath, then extend to Zedad,
Joshua 18:22 Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
2 Samuel 8:9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,
2 Kings 17:24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.
2 Kings 17:30 The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,
2 Chronicles 13:4 Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim and said, “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel!
Isaiah 10:9 “Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?
Ezekiel 27:8 The men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen. Your men of skill, O Tyre, were there as your captains.
Ezekiel 47:16 Berothah, and Sibraim (which is on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.
Zechariah 9:2 and also against Hamath, which borders it, as well as Tyre and Sidon, though they are very shrewd.