Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 9

18The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan.   יחוַיִּֽהְי֣וּ בְנֵי־נֹ֗חַ הַיֹּֽצְאִים֙ מִן־הַתֵּבָ֔ה שֵׁ֖ם וְחָ֣ם וָיָ֑פֶת וְחָ֕ם ה֖וּא אֲבִ֥י כְנָֽעַן:
וְחָם הוּא אֲבִי כְנָֽעַן - Ham was the father of Canaan. Why was it necessary to mention this here? Because this section goes on to deal with Noah’s drunkenness, through which Ham sinned and thus Canaan was cursed. Since the Torah had not yet written the descendants of Ham and we do not know that Canaan was his son, it was therefore necessary to mention here: “and Ham was the father of Canaan.”   וְחָם הוּא אֲבִי כְנָֽעַן.  לָמָּה הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר כָּאן? לְפִי שֶׁהַפָּרָשָׁה עֲסוּקָה וּבָאָה בְּשִׁכְרוּתוֹ שֶׁל נֹחַ שֶׁקִּלְקֵל בָּה חָם וְעַל יָדוֹ נִתְקַלֵּל כְּנַעַן, וַעֲדַיִן לֹא כָתַב תּוֹלְדוֹת חָם, וְלֹא יָדַעְנוּ שֶׁכְּנַעַן בְּנוֹ – לְפִיכָךְ הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר כָּאן וְחָם הוּא אֲבִי כְנָעַן:
19These three were the sons of Noah, and from them the whole world branched out.   יטשְׁלשָׁ֥ה אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵי־נֹ֑חַ וּמֵאֵ֖לֶּה נָֽפְצָ֥ה כָל־הָאָֽרֶץ:
20Noah was the master of the soil. He degraded himself by planting a vineyard.   כוַיָּ֥חֶל נֹ֖חַ אִ֣ישׁ הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה וַיִּטַּ֖ע כָּֽרֶם:
וַיָּחֶל - means “He degraded himself,” for he should have first occupied himself with planting something else.   וַיָּחֶל.  עָשָׂה עַצְמוֹ חֻלִּין, שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לַעֲסֹק תְּחִלָּה בִּנְטִיעָה אַחֶרֶת (ב"ר):
אִישׁ הָֽאֲדָמָה - means “the master of the soil,” similar to: אִישׁ נָעֳמִי “Naomi’s husband.” 1   אִישׁ הָֽאֲדָמָה.  אֲדוֹנֵי הָאֲדָמָה כְּמוֹ אִישׁ נָעֳמִי (רות א'):
וַיִּטַּע כָּֽרֶם - And planted a vineyard. When he entered the ark he brought in with him vine branches and shoots of fig trees.   וַיִּטַּע כָּֽרֶם.  כְּשֶׁנִּכְנַס לַתֵּבָה הִכְנִיס עִמּוֹ זְמוֹרוֹת וְיִחוּרֵי תְאֵנִים (ב"ר):
21He drank some of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent.   כאוַיֵּ֥שְׁתְּ מִן־הַיַּ֖יִן וַיִּשְׁכָּ֑ר וַיִּתְגַּ֖ל בְּת֥וֹךְ אָֽהֳלֹֽה:
וַיִּתְגַּל - He uncovered himself. This is the hitpa’el (reflexive) form.   וַיִּתְגַּל.  לְשׁוֹן וַיִּתְפַּעֵל:
אָֽהֳלֹֽה - His tent. This word is written אָהֳלֹה, with a ה at the end instead of a ו, alluding to the ten tribes who were known collectively as Samaria, which is also called אָהֳלָה – Oholah, 2 and who were exiled for their indulgence in wine, as it says: “who drink wine in large vessels.” 3   אָֽהֳלֹֽה.  אהלה כְּתִיב, רֶמֶז לְי' שְׁבָטִים שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ עַל שֵׁם שׁוֹמְרוֹן, שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת אָהֳלָה שֶׁגָּלוּ עַל עִסְקֵי הַיַּיִן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר הַשֹּׁתִים בְּמִזְרְקֵי יַיִן (עמוס ו'):
22Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness. He told his two brothers outside that his father was naked.   כבוַיַּ֗רְא חָ֚ם אֲבִ֣י כְנַ֔עַן אֵ֖ת עֶרְוַ֣ת אָבִ֑יו וַיַּגֵּ֥ד לִשְׁנֵֽי־אֶחָ֖יו בַּחֽוּץ:
וַיַּרְא חָם אֲבִי כְנַעַן - Ham, the father of Canaan, saw. Some of our rabbis say: It was Canaan who “saw” Noah’s nakedness and he told his father. Therefore he was mentioned in connection with this matter and cursed.   וַיַּרְא חָם אֲבִי כְנַעַן.  יֵשׁ מֵרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אוֹמְרִים כְּנַעַן רָאָה וְהִגִּיד לְאָבִיו, לְכָךְ הֻזְכַּר עַל הַדָּבָר וְנִתְקַלֵּל (ב"ר):
וַיַּרְא אֵת עֶרְוַת אָבִיו - He saw his father’s nakedness. Some sages say that he castrated him, and others say that he committed sodomy with him.   וַיַּרְא אֵת עֶרְוַת אָבִיו.  יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים סֵרְסוֹ וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים רְבָעוֹ (סנה' ע'):
23Shem, enlisting Japheth’s help, took a garment and placed it on the shoulders of them both. They then walked backwards and covered their father’s nakedness. When they approached him and had to turn their bodies around, they did so while facing away from him, so that they did not ever see their father’s nakedness.   כגוַיִּקַּח֩ שֵׁ֨ם וָיֶ֜פֶת אֶת־הַשִּׂמְלָ֗ה וַיָּשִׂ֨ימוּ֙ עַל־שְׁכֶ֣ם שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ אֲחֹ֣רַנִּ֔ית וַיְכַסּ֕וּ אֵ֖ת עֶרְוַ֣ת אֲבִיהֶ֑ם וּפְנֵיהֶם֙ אֲחֹ֣רַנִּ֔ית וְעֶרְוַ֥ת אֲבִיהֶ֖ם לֹ֥א רָאֽוּ:
וַיִּקַּח שֵׁם וָיֶפֶת - Shem, with Japheth, took. It is not written וַיִּקְחוּ “they took,” but וַיִּקַּח “he took,” which teaches us that Shem exerted himself for this good deed more than Japheth. His descendants therefore merited receiving the commandment of wearing a garment with tzitzit, whereas Japheth merited only that his descendants receive a proper burial, as it says: “I will give Gog a place there for a graveyard.” 4 But of Ham, who humiliated his father, it says about his descendants: “So will the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Kush, young and old, naked and barefoot, with fundaments exposed….” 5   וַיִּקַּח שֵׁם וָיֶפֶת.  אֵין כְּתִיב וַיִּקְחוּ, אֶלָּא וַיִּקַּח – לִמֵּד עַל שֵׁם שֶׁנִּתְאַמֵּץ בַּמִּצְוָה יוֹתֵר מִיֶּפֶת, לְכָךְ זָכוּ בָנָיו לְטַלִּית שֶׁל צִיצִית, וְיֶפֶת זָכָה לִקְבוּרָה לְבָנָיו, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר אֶתֵּן לְגוֹג מְקוֹם שָׁם קֶבֶר (יחזקאל ל"ט), וְחָם שֶׁבִּזָּה אֶת אָבִיו נֶאֱמַר בְּזַרְעוֹ כֵּן יִנְהַג מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר אֶת שְׁבִי מִצְרַיִם וְאֶת גָּלוּת כּוּשׁ נְעָרִים וּזְקֵנִים עָרוֹם וְיָחֵף וַחֲשׂוּפַי שֵׁת וְגוֹ' (ישעיהו כ'):
וּפְנֵיהֶם אחורנית - While facing away. Why does it say a second time אֲחֹרַנִּית – that they turned themselves backward? It teaches us that when they came near to him and had to turn around to cover him, they kept their faces turned away.   וּפְנֵיהֶם אחורנית.  לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכְּשֶׁקָּרְבוּ אֶצְלוֹ וְהֻצְרְכוּ לַהֲפֹךְ עַצְמָם לְכַסּוֹתוֹ הָפְכוּ פְנֵיהֶם אֲחוֹרַנִּית:
24Noah awoke from his wine and realized what his youngest son had done to him.   כדוַיִּ֥יקֶץ נֹ֖חַ מִיֵּינ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֕דַע אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עָ֥שָׂה ל֖וֹ בְּנ֥וֹ הַקָּטָֽן:
בְּנוֹ הַקָּטָֽן - His youngest son - means the unworthy and despicable one, as in: “I have made you insignificant (קָטֹן) among the nations and despised among men.” 6   בְּנוֹ הַקָּטָֽן.  הַפָּסוּל וְהַבָּזוּי, כְּמוֹ הִנֵּה קָטֹן נְתַתִּיךָ בַּגּוֹיִם בָּזוּי בָּאָדָם (ירמיה מ"ט):
25He said, “Cursed be Canaan! He will be a servant to servants—a servant to his father’s brothers, Shem and Japheth!”   כהוַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָר֣וּר כְּנָ֑עַן עֶ֥בֶד עֲבָדִ֖ים יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְאֶחָֽיו:
- 25.אָרוּר כְּנָעַןCursed be Canaan. Noah said to Ham: “You caused me not to have another, fourth son to serve me. May your fourth son, Canaan, be cursed to serve the descendants of these older ones, who are from now on solely encumbered with the trouble of serving me.” And what brought Ham to castrate him? He said to his brothers: “Adam, the first man, had two sons, and one killed the other in order to inherit the whole world. Our father already has three sons and yet he still wishes to have a fourth!”   אָרוּר כְּנָעַן.  אַתָּה גָרַמְתָּ לִי שֶׁלֹּא אוֹלִיד בֵּן רְבִיעִי אַחֵר לְשַׁמְּשֵׁנִי, אָרוּר בִּנְךָ רְבִיעִי לִהְיוֹת מְשַׁמֵּשׁ אֶת זַרְעָם שֶׁל אֵלּוּ הַגְּדוֹלִים, שֶׁהוּטַל עֲלֵיהֶם טֹרַח עֲבוֹדָתִי מֵעַתָּה. וּמָה רָאָה חָם שֶׁסֵּרְסוֹ? אָמַר לָהֶם לְאֶחָיו אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן שְׁנֵי בָנִים הָיוּ לוֹ, וְהָרַג זֶה אֶת זֶה בִּשְׁבִיל יְרֻשַּׁת הָעוֹלָם, וְאָבִינוּ יֵשׁ לוֹ ג' בָּנִים וְעוֹדֶנּוּ מְבַקֵּשׁ בֵּן רְבִיעִי:
26He then said, “Blessed be God, the God who will favor Shem! Canaan’s descendants will be their slaves!   כווַיֹּ֕אמֶר בָּר֥וּךְ יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹ֣הֵי שֵׁ֑ם וִיהִ֥י כְנַ֖עַן עֶ֥בֶד לָֽמוֹ:
בָּרוּךְ ה' אֱלֹהֵי שֵׁם - Blessed be God, the God of Shem - for in the future He will fulfill His promise to Shem’s descendants and give them the land of Canaan.   בָּרוּךְ ה' אֱלֹהֵי שֵׁם.  שֶׁעָתִיד לִשְׁמֹר הַבְטָחָתוֹ לְזַרְעוֹ, לָתֵת לָהֶם אֶת אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן:
וִיהִי - Canaan will be [their slave] - they will pay to them a tax of physical servitude.   וִיהִי.  לָהֶם כְּנַעַן לְמַס עוֹבֵד:
27May God expand Japheth, but may He dwell in the tents of the descendants of Shem. Canaan’s descendants will be slaves to the descendants of Shem!”   כזיַ֤פְתְּ אֱלֹהִים֙ לְיֶ֔פֶת וְיִשְׁכֹּ֖ן בְּאָֽהֳלֵי־שֵׁ֑ם וִיהִ֥י כְנַ֖עַן עֶ֥בֶד לָֽמוֹ:
יַפְתְּ אֱלֹהִים לְיֶפֶת - The word יַפְתְּ is translated by Onkelos as יַפְתֵּי, which means “may He expand.”   יַפְתְּ אֱלֹהִים לְיֶפֶת.  מְתֻרְגָּם יַפְתֵּי, יַרְחִיב:
וְיִשְׁכֹּן בְּאָֽהֳלֵי־שֵׁם - May He dwell in the tents of Shem - i.e., “may He set His Divine Presence among the people of Israel.” But according to the explanation of the sages this verse means: Although God “expanded” Japheth in that Cyrus, a descendant of Japheth, built the second Temple, which was bigger and higher than the first Temple, the Divine Presence did not dwell there. Where, then, did it dwell? In the first Temple, which was built by Solomon, who was a descendant of Shem.   וְיִשְׁכֹּן בְּאָֽהֳלֵי־שֵׁם.  יַשְׁרֶה שְׁכִינָתוֹ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. וּמִדְרַשׁ חֲכָמִים אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיַּפְתְּ אֱלֹהִים לְיֶפֶת – שֶׁבָּנָה כֹּרֶשׁ, שֶׁהָיָה מִבְּנֵי יֶפֶת, בַּיִת שֵׁנִי – לֹא שָׁרְתָה בּוֹ שְׁכִינָה; וְהֵיכָן שָׁרְתָה? בְּמִקְדָשׁ רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁבָּנָה שְׁלֹמֹה שֶׁהָיָה מִבְּנֵי שֵׁם:
וִיהִי כְנַעַן עֶבֶד לָֽמוֹ - (lit.) Canaan will be [their] slave. Even after the descendants of Shem will be exiled, slaves from the descendants of Canaan will be sold to them.   וִיהִי כְנַעַן עֶבֶד לָֽמוֹ.  אַף מִשֶּׁיִּגְלוּ בְנֵי שֵׁם יִמָּכְרוּ לָהֶם עֲבָדִים מִבְּנֵי כְּנַעַן:
28Noah lived 350 years after the Flood.   כחוַֽיְחִי־נֹ֖חַ אַחַ֣ר הַמַּבּ֑וּל שְׁל֤שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים שָׁנָֽה:
29All the days of Noah came to 950 years, and he died.   כטוַֽיְהִי֙ כָּל־יְמֵי־נֹ֔חַ תְּשַׁ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת:

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 10

1The following are the descendants of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who fathered children after the Flood.   אוְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ תּֽוֹלְדֹ֣ת בְּנֵי־נֹ֔חַ שֵׁ֖ם חָ֣ם וָיָ֑פֶת וַיִּוָּֽלְד֥וּ לָהֶ֛ם בָּנִ֖ים אַחַ֥ר הַמַּבּֽוּל:
2The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Yavan, Tuval, Meshech, and Tiras.   בבְּנֵ֣י יֶ֔פֶת גֹּ֣מֶר וּמָג֔וֹג וּמָדַ֖י וְיָוָ֣ן וְתֻבָ֑ל וּמֶ֖שֶׁךְ וְתִירָֽס:
וְתִירָֽס - And Tiras. This is Persia.   וְתִירָֽס.  זוֹ פָּרַס (ב"ר):
3The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Rifat, and Togarmah.   גוּבְנֵ֖י גֹּ֑מֶר אַשְׁכְּנַ֥ז וְרִיפַ֖ת וְתֹֽגַרְמָֽה:
4The sons of Yavan were Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Dodanites.   דוּבְנֵ֥י יָוָ֖ן אֱלִישָׁ֣ה וְתַרְשִׁ֑ישׁ כִּתִּ֖ים וְדֹֽדָנִֽים:
5From these, the island-nations, their clans, and their nations branched out—each with its own language—into their lands.   המֵאֵ֠לֶּה נִפְרְד֞וּ אִיֵּ֤י הַגּוֹיִם֙ בְּאַרְצֹתָ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ לִלְשֹׁנ֑וֹ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם בְּגֽוֹיֵהֶֽם:
6The sons of Ham were Kush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.   ווּבְנֵ֖י חָ֑ם כּ֥וּשׁ וּמִצְרַ֖יִם וּפ֥וּט וּכְנָֽעַן:
7The sons of Kush were Seva, Chavilah, Savtah, Ra’mah, and Savtecha. The sons of Ra’mah were Sheva and Dedan.   זוּבְנֵ֣י כ֔וּשׁ סְבָא֙ וַֽחֲוִילָ֔ה וְסַבְתָּ֥ה וְרַעְמָ֖ה וְסַבְתְּכָ֑א וּבְנֵ֥י רַעְמָ֖ה שְׁבָ֥א וּדְדָֽן:
8Kush was the father of Nimrod, the first man in the world powerful enough to rally the masses to rebel against God.   חוְכ֖וּשׁ יָלַ֣ד אֶת־נִמְרֹ֑ד ה֣וּא הֵחֵ֔ל לִֽהְי֥וֹת גִּבֹּ֖ר בָּאָֽרֶץ:
לִֽהְיוֹת גבור - Powerful - i.e., by causing the whole world to rebel against the Holy One, blessed be He, through the scheme he devised for the generation of dispersion.   לִֽהְיוֹת גבור.  לְהַמְרִיד כָּל הָעוֹלָם עַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּעֲצַת דוֹר הַפַּלָּגָה:
9He was a mighty hunter, “trapping” people into joining his rebellion against God, and he flaunted his rebellious intentions before God Himself. Hence, the saying, “He is like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before God” is applied to anyone who intentionally seeks to provoke God’s anger.   טהֽוּא־הָיָ֥ה גִּבֹּֽר־צַ֖יִד לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה עַל־כֵּן֙ יֵֽאָמַ֔ר כְּנִמְרֹ֛ד גִּבּ֥וֹר צַ֖יִד לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
גִּבֹּֽר־צַיִד - A mighty hunter. He ensnared (צָד) the minds of people with his words, misleading them to rebel against the Omnipresent.   גִּבֹּֽר־צַיִד.  צָד דַּעְתָּן שֶׁל בְּרִיוֹת בְּפִיו, וּמַטְעָן לִמְרֹד בַּמָּקוֹם:
לִפְנֵי ה' - Before God. He intended to provoke Him to His Face.   לִפְנֵי ה'.  מִתְכַּוֵן לְהַקְנִיטוֹ עַל פָּנָיו:
עַל־כֵּן יֵֽאָמַר - (lit.) Hence, it is said - i.e., about any person who brazenly acts wickedly – who knows his Creator, yet intentionally rebels against Him – it is said: “This one is like Nimrod, a mighty hunter.”   עַל־כֵּן יֵֽאָמַר.  עַל כָּל אָדָם מַרְשִׁיעַ בְּעַזּוּת פָּנִים, יוֹדֵע רִבּוֹנוֹ וּמִתְכַּוֵּן לִמְרֹד בּוֹ, יֵאָמֵר זֶה כְּנִמְרֹד גִּבּוֹר צַיִד:
10His kingdom began with Babylon, and with Erech, Akad, and Kalneh, in the land of Shin’ar.   יוַתְּהִ֨י רֵאשִׁ֤ית מַמְלַכְתּוֹ֙ בָּבֶ֔ל וְאֶ֖רֶךְ וְאַכַּ֣ד וְכַלְנֵ֑ה בְּאֶ֖רֶץ שִׁנְעָֽר:
11Assyria and his family left that land and built Nineveh, Rechovot-Ir, and Kalach,   יאמִן־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַהִ֖וא יָצָ֣א אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיִּ֨בֶן֙ אֶת־נִ֣ינְוֵ֔ה וְאֶת־רְחֹבֹ֥ת עִ֖יר וְאֶת־כָּֽלַח:
מִן־הָאָרֶץ וגו' - From that land. Since Assyria saw that his children were listening to Nimrod and rebelling against the Omnipresent by building the tower of Babel, he left their midst.   מִן־הָאָרֶץ וגו'.  כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה אַשּׁוּר אֶת בָּנָיו שׁוֹמְעִין לְנִמְרוֹד וּמוֹרְדִין בַּמָקוֹם לִבְנוֹת הַמִּגְדָּל יָצָא מִתּוֹכָם:
12as well as Resen, between Nineveh and Kalach; Nineveh is the great city, the capital of Assyria.   יבוְאֶת־רֶ֕סֶן בֵּ֥ין נִֽינְוֵ֖ה וּבֵ֣ין כָּ֑לַח הִ֖וא הָעִ֥יר הַגְּדֹלָֽה:
הָעִיר הַגְּדֹלָֽה - The great city. This refers to Nineveh, as it says: “Nineveh was an exceedingly large (גְּדוֹלָה) city.” 7   הָעִיר הַגְּדֹלָֽה.  הִיא נִינְוֵה שֶׁנֶּ' וְנִינְוֵה הָיְתָה עִיר גְּדוֹלָה לֵאלֹהִים (יונה ג'):
13Egypt fathered the Ludites, the Anamites, the Lehavites, the Naftuchites,   יגוּמִצְרַ֡יִם יָלַ֞ד אֶת־לוּדִ֧ים וְאֶת־עֲנָמִ֛ים וְאֶת־לְהָבִ֖ים וְאֶת־נַפְתֻּחִֽים:
לְהָבִים - Lehavites. They were so called because their faces were fiery like a flame (לַהַב).   לְהָבִים.  שֶׁפְּנֵיהֶם דּוֹמִים לְלַהַב:
14the Patrusites and the Kasluchites—who engaged in wife-swapping, producing the Philistines, who thus descended from them both—and the Kaftorites.   ידוְאֶת־פַּתְרֻסִ֞ים וְאֶת־כַּסְלֻחִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָֽצְא֥וּ מִשָּׁ֛ם פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים וְאֶת־כַּפְתֹּרִֽים:
פַּתְרֻסִים וְאֶת־כַּסְלֻחִים אֲשֶׁר יָֽצְאוּ מִשָּׁם פְּלִשְׁתִּים - Patrusites and Kasluchites, from whom descended the Philistines. They came from both of them, because the Patrusites and Kasluchites would swap wives and the Philistines came from such forbidden relationships.   פַּתְרֻסִים וְאֶת־כַּסְלֻחִים אֲשֶׁר יָֽצְאוּ מִשָּׁם פְּלִשְׁתִּים.  מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם יָצְאוּ, שֶׁהָיוּ פַּתְרוּסִים וְכַסְלוּחִים מַחֲלִיפִין מִשְׁכַּב נְשׁוֹתֵיהֶם אֵלּוּ לָאֵלּוּ וְיָצְאוּ מֵהֶם פְּלִשְׁתִּים:
15Canaan was the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and Het,   טווּכְנַ֗עַן יָלַ֛ד אֶת־צִידֹ֥ן בְּכֹר֖וֹ וְאֶת־חֵֽת:
16as well as the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,   טזוְאֶת־הַיְבוּסִי֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י וְאֵ֖ת הַגִּרְגָּשִֽׁי:
17the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,   יזוְאֶת־הַֽחִוִּ֥י וְאֶת־הָֽעַרְקִ֖י וְאֶת־הַסִּינִֽי:
18the Arvadites, the Tzemarites, and the Chamatites. From these, the additional families of the Canaanites later spread out further.   יחוְאֶת־הָֽאַרְוָדִ֥י וְאֶת־הַצְּמָרִ֖י וְאֶת־הַֽחֲמָתִ֑י וְאַחַ֣ר נָפֹ֔צוּ מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת הַכְּנַֽעֲנִֽי:
וְאַחַר נפוצו - Later they spread out - i.e., from these families spread many families.   וְאַחַר נפוצו.  מֵאֵלֶּה נָפוֹצוּ מִשְׁפָּחוֹת הַרְבֵּה:
19The Canaanites extended the border of their territory into the Land of Israel, from Sidon toward Gerar until Gaza, and toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Tzevoyim, until Lasha.   יטוַיְהִ֞י גְּב֤וּל הַכְּנַֽעֲנִי֙ מִצִּידֹ֔ן בֹּֽאֲכָ֥ה גְרָ֖רָה עַד־עַזָּ֑ה בֹּֽאֲכָ֞ה סְדֹ֧מָה וַֽעֲמֹרָ֛ה וְאַדְמָ֥ה וּצְבוֹיִ֖ם (כתיב וּצְבֹיִ֖ם) עַד־לָֽשַׁע:
גְּבוּל הַכְּנַֽעֲנִי - The border of the Canaanites - means the end of his land. Wherever the word גְּבוּל occurs in Scripture, it signifies “end” or “extremity.”   גְּבוּל הַכְּנַֽעֲנִי.  סוֹף אַרְצוֹ. כָּל גְּבוּל לְשׁוֹן סוֹף וְקָצֶה:
בֹּֽאֲכָה - (lit.) In the direction of. Onkelos takes this word as an adjective. I am of the opinion, though, that it is a verb, used as a colloquial expression, as when someone says to another: “This border extends until you come (תָּבֹא) to such and such a place.”   בֹּֽאֲכָה.  שֵׁם דָּבָר. וְלִי נִרְאֶה כְּאָדָם הָאוֹמֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ, גְּבוּל זֶה מַגִּיעַ עַד אֲשֶׁר תָּבֹא לִגְבוּל פְּלוֹנִי:
20These are the descendants of Ham, according to their clans and languages, by their lands and nations.   כאֵ֣לֶּה בְנֵי־חָ֔ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לִלְשֹֽׁנֹתָ֑ם בְּאַרְצֹתָ֖ם בְּגֽוֹיֵהֶֽם:
לִלְשֹֽׁנֹתָם בְּאַרְצֹתָם - According to their languages, by their lands. Although they were separated into different languages and lands, they are all descendants of Ham.   לִלְשֹֽׁנֹתָם בְּאַרְצֹתָם.  אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנֶּחְלְקוּ לִלְשׁוֹנוֹת וַאֲרָצוֹת, כֻּלָּם בְּנֵי חָם הֵם:
21Children were also born to Shem. He was the ancestor of all those who lived on the other, eastern side of the Euphrates, and the brother of Japheth, the eldest son of Noah.   כאוּלְשֵׁ֥ם יֻלַּ֖ד גַּם־ה֑וּא אֲבִי֙ כָּל־בְּנֵי־עֵ֔בֶר אֲחִ֖י יֶ֥פֶת הַגָּדֽוֹל:
אֲבִי כָּל־בְּנֵי־עֵבֶר - means: The ancestor of all those who lived on the other side of the Euphrates River – was Shem.   אֲבִי כָּל־בְּנֵי־עֵבֶר.  הַנָּהָר הָיָה שֵׁם:
אֲחִי יֶפֶת הַגָּדֽוֹל - The brother of Japheth, the eldest. I cannot determine from the language of the verse here whether Japheth was the eldest or Shem. However, since it says: “Shem was 100 years old…two years after the Flood,” 8 it can be deduced that Japheth was the oldest; for Noah was 500 years old when he first had children and the Flood took place in the 600th year of his life, which means that his eldest son was then in his 100th year, and Shem only reached the age of 100 two years after the Flood.   אֲחִי יֶפֶת הַגָּדֽוֹל.  אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם יֶפֶת הַגָּדוֹל אִם שֵׁם, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר שֵׁם בֶּן מְאַת שָׁנָה וְגוֹ' שְׁנָתַיִם אַחַר הַמַּבּוּל, הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר יֶפֶת הַגָּדוֹל, שֶׁהֲרֵי בֶּן ת"ק שָׁנָה הָיָה נֹחַ כְּשֶׁהִתְחִיל לְהוֹלִיד, וְהַמַּבּוּל הָיָה בִּשְׁנַת שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה, נִמְצָא שֶׁהַגָּדוֹל בְּבָנָיו הָיָה בֶן מֵאָה שָׁנָה, וְשֵׁם לֹא הִגִּיע לְמֵאָה עַד שְׁנָתַיִם אַחַר הַמַּבּוּל:
אֲחִי יֶפֶת - The brother of Japheth - and not “the brother of Ham,” because these two honored their father, whereas Ham disgraced him.   אֲחִי יֶפֶת.  וְלֹא אֲחִי חָם? שֶׁאֵלּוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם כִּבְּדוּ אֶת אֲבִיהֶם, וְזֶה בִּזָּהוּ:
22The sons of Shem were Eilam, Assyria, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.   כבבְּנֵ֥י שֵׁ֖ם עֵילָ֣ם וְאַשּׁ֑וּר וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד וְל֥וּד וַֽאֲרָֽם:
23The sons of Aram were Utz, Chul, Geter, and Mash.   כגוּבְנֵ֖י אֲרָ֑ם ע֥וּץ וְח֖וּל וְגֶ֥תֶר וָמַֽשׁ:
24Arpachshad was the father of Shelach, and Shelach was the father of Ever.   כדוְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד יָלַ֣ד אֶת־שָׁ֑לַח וְשֶׁ֖לַח יָלַ֥ד אֶת־עֵֽבֶר:
25Two sons were born to Ever. The name of the first was Peleg, because his father prophesied that in the final days of his life, the world would be divided [niflegah]. The name of his brother was Yoktan.   כהוּלְעֵ֥בֶר יֻלַּ֖ד שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֑ים שֵׁ֣ם הָֽאֶחָ֞ד פֶּ֗לֶג כִּ֤י בְיָמָיו֙ נִפְלְגָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יָקְטָֽן:
נִפְלְגָה - Divided. The languages were mixed up, and thus the people were scattered from the plain and dispersed throughout the world. From here we learn that Ever was a prophet, since he named his son for what was to happen in the future, for we have learned in Seder Olam 9 that the Dispersion took place at the end of Peleg’s life. Should you claim that in fact it took place at the beginning of his life and he was named for the prevailing situation and not by prophecy, I reply that Yoktan was his younger brother and he had fathered several families beforehand, as it says: “Yoktan was the father of…,” 10 and only afterward: “The whole world was…” 11 – the account of the Dispersion. And if you claim that the Dispersion occurred in the middle of his life, my reply is that Scripture does not come to leave matters ambiguous but to be specific, and therefore you can deduce that they were dispersed in the year of Peleg’s death.   נִפְלְגָה.  נִתְבַּלְבְּלוּ הַלְּשׁוֹנוֹת וְנָפוֹצוּ מִן הַבִּקְעָה וְנִתְפַּלְּגוּ בְכָל הָעוֹלָם. לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהָיָה עֵבֶר נָבִיא, שֶׁקָּרָא שֵׁם בְּנוֹ עַל שֵׁם הֶעָתִיד; וְשָׁנִינוּ בְסֵדֶר עוֹלָם שֶׁבְּסוֹף יָמָיו נִתְפַּלְּגוּ, שֶׁאִם תֹּאמַר בִּתְחִלַּת יָמָיו, הֲרֵי יָקְטָן אָחִיו צָעִיר מִמֶּנּוּ וְהוֹלִיד כַּמָּה מִשְׁפָּחוֹת קֹדֶם לָכֵן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְיָקְטָן יָלַד וְגוֹ' וְאַחַר כָּךְ וַיְהִי כָל הָאָרֶץ וְגוֹ'; וְאִם תֹּאמַר בְּאֶמְצַע יָמָיו, לֹא בָא הַכָּתוּב לִסְתֹּם אֶלָּא לְפָרֵשׁ, הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁבִּשְׁנַת מוֹת פֶּלֶג נִתְפַּלְּגוּ:
יָקְטָֽן - Yoktan. (lit. “the small one”). He was so called for he was humble and self-effacing. He was therefore privileged to establish all these families.   יָקְטָֽן.  שֶׁהָיָה עָנָו וּמַקְטִין עַצְמוֹ, לְכָךְ זָכָה לְהַעֲמִיד כָּל הַמִּשְׁפָּחוֹת הַלָּלוּ:
26Yoktan was the father of Almodad, Shelef, Chatzarmavet, Yerach,   כווְיָקְטָ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־אַלְמוֹדָ֖ד וְאֶת־שָׁ֑לֶף וְאֶת־חֲצַרְמָ֖וֶת וְאֶת־יָֽרַח:
חֲצַרְמָוֶת - Chatzarmavet. He was named after his city. These are words of aggadah.   חֲצַרְמָוֶת.  עַל שֵׁם מְקוֹמוֹ, דִּבְרֵי אַגָּדָה (ב"ר):
27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,   כזוְאֶת־הֲדוֹרָ֥ם וְאֶת־אוּזָ֖ל וְאֶת־דִּקְלָֽה:
28Oval, Avima’el, Sheva,   כחוְאֶת־עוֹבָ֥ל וְאֶת־אֲבִֽימָאֵ֖ל וְאֶת־שְׁבָֽא:
29Ophir, Chavilah, and Yovav; all these were the sons of Yoktan.   כטוְאֶת־אוֹפִ֥ר וְאֶת־חֲוִילָ֖ה וְאֶת־יוֹבָ֑ב כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י יָקְטָֽן:
30Their dwelling place extended from Mesha towards Sephar, the eastern mountain.   לוַיְהִ֥י מֽוֹשָׁבָ֖ם מִמֵּשָׁ֑א בֹּֽאֲכָ֥ה סְפָ֖רָה הַ֥ר הַקֶּֽדֶם:
31These are the descendants of Shem, according to their clans and languages, by their lands and their nations.   לאאֵ֣לֶּה בְנֵי־שֵׁ֔ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לִלְשֹֽׁנֹתָ֑ם בְּאַרְצֹתָ֖ם לְגֽוֹיֵהֶֽם:
32These were the families of Noah’s sons, in their order of birth, by their nations, and from them the nations dispersed over the earth after the Flood.   לבאֵ֣לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֧ת בְּנֵי־נֹ֛חַ לְתֽוֹלְדֹתָ֖ם בְּגֽוֹיֵהֶ֑ם וּמֵאֵ֜לֶּה נִפְרְד֧וּ הַגּוֹיִ֛ם בָּאָ֖רֶץ אַחַ֥ר הַמַּבּֽוּל: