The Division of the Earth
Genesis 10:25 To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
Peleg was 5 generations after Noah: Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg. He was born 99 years after Noah’s flood, and lived for 239 years. He was born around the time of the tower of Babel.
I was talking with someone today about the division of the single continent Pangea into the continents we know today. Creation scientists model this happening during Noah’s flood, whereas this verse describes the division of the Earth into nations. Others interpret this verse as the geological division of the Earth. Both are a valid interpretation of this verse by itself.
Creation scientists argue that such severe tectonic activity (i.e. such a great earthquake) would not be survivable. I’d rebut, that God doesn’t have to obey the laws of physics when performing a miracle. i.e. that’s the whole point of the supernatural.
Interpreting this verse as the division of the continents provides an explanation of how distant continents such as the Americas were populated. However, I’m quite content with the grandchildren of professional boat-builders being able to traverse oceans. I believe the Olmecs who populated South America had trade routes with Egypt, until technology was lost through wars. This is supported by the genetic compatibility of leopards and jaguars, and similarities in ancient architecture (pyramids).
I align with creation scientists on this, because I’ve read in the Book of Jubilees, chapters 8-9, how the Earth was divided among Noah’s grandchildren. Japheth populated the north i.e. the white peoples; Ham populated the south i.e. the black peoples; and Shem populated the middle i.e. the brown people (crudely speaking). Further detail describes the geographical boundaries of each nation’s allotment.
Although this is extra-biblical, it sheds light on scripture itself. Genesis 10 describes in the same way, how the earth was divided among nations. Granddad Japheth had a son, Javen (the Hebrew word for Greece), whose sons populated the coastlands, particularly Tarshish, which is most likely England, although some claim Spain.
Genesis 10:32 These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood.
This provides contextual support for the national division of the Earth, rather than geological.
The following chapter records the tower of Babel. This further describes how the division of the world by nations came about. We disobeyed God’s mandate to spread out over the earth as per our agreed allocation. Instead we remained together as one people and built a tower to reach the Heavens. We rebelled against God and set out to become like God. Because of this, God imposed division among us, so that we could steward the whole earth as he’d originally mandated us.
Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 9:1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
It is for this reason that I’m against globalism and I think Brexit is good, even if it causes temporary distress. I’ve heard excellent arguments for globalism, particularly for a united Europe. I cannot refute these more than “I’ve got a bad feeling about this”. I believe it is important that each nation govern itself, that we don’t give up our national sovereignty and identities as we did at Babel; and became subjected to the tyrant Emperor Nimrod.
I pray you would be inspired to pursue the truth of God’s word and his plan for your life.
Shalom
– Brent