Genesis 10:31 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

After their families, &c.— In Genesis 10:5 also it is said, that they were divided, after their tongues, families, and nations; whence it seems to follow, that they were first ranged according to their nations, and then every nation was ranged after its families; so that every nation dwelt, and had its lot, by itself; and in every nation the families also dwelt, and had their lots, by themselves: for the true import of this, and the like texts, seems to be, that the land or peculiar lot of each family lay within the general lot of each nation. "Whence may be inferred," as the learned J. Mede observes, "that this great division of the earth was performed orderly, and was not a confused or irregular dispersion, wherein every one went where he listed, and settled himself where he liked best." After this chapter, let us remark, that such genealogies are of singular advantage to confirm the truth of the Mosaic history, by giving an account of the succession of mankind from the creation to the flood, and from the flood to his own time, shewing from whom all nations were derived, and how they came to be dispersed. Besides, as Mr. Shuckford observes, it is by tracing these genealogies, that we come to know how exactly the predictions in the former chapter, relating to the sons of Noah, were fulfilled. The change of names and countries, with other revolutions, must indeed occasion some uncertainty in disquisitions of so great antiquity: yet the reader, who enters accurately into them, will find them supported by arguments much more favourable, than one who never considered the subject would expect to meet with, for a fact that happened so long ago, and which is but imperfectly described by the earliest writers. We may add, that antiquity gives in its evidence very strongly to the original of the nations here mentioned, while the Mosaic account should be particularly valued, as affording us the only clue in this intricate subject.