‘These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations, and of these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.'
This remarkable chapter has demonstrated the growth of the nations from the families of Noah and his sons, simplifying a most complicated situation. Its concern is to demonstrate that all known nations are descended from Noah. At this stage there are no ‘chosen people'. All nations are the same before God. But the connecting narrative will demonstrate why they are now no longer satisfactory in God's eyes leading on to his calling of one man, Abraham, to finally bring about a remedy for the needs and sins of the nations.