And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Ver. 32. And Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.] Twenty years had he heard from God, that the world should be destroyed, before he had any child. Here was “the faith and patience of this saint.” Rev 13:10 At length he hath Japheth first; though Shem be first named, because he was in dignity preferred before his brother, to be grandfather to the Messiah. Now any relation to Christ ennobleth either place or person. If it were an honour to Mark to have been Barnabas's sister's son, what is it then to be related to the Son of God? Bethlehem, where he was born, though it were least, says Micah; yet it was not the least, says Matthew, among all the cities of Judah, because out of it should come Christ the Governor. Mic 5:2 Mat 2:6