(א) וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת בְּנֵי־נֹ֔חַ שֵׁ֖ם חָ֣ם וָיָ֑פֶת וַיִּוָּלְד֥וּ לָהֶ֛ם בָּנִ֖ים אַחַ֥ר הַמַּבּֽוּל׃ (ב) בְּנֵ֣י יֶ֔פֶת גֹּ֣מֶר וּמָג֔וֹג וּמָדַ֖י וְיָוָ֣ן וְתֻבָ֑ל וּמֶ֖שֶׁךְ וְתִירָֽס׃ (ג) וּבְנֵ֖י גֹּ֑מֶר אַשְׁכְּנַ֥ז וְרִיפַ֖ת וְתֹגַרְמָֽה׃ (ד) וּבְנֵ֥י יָוָ֖ן אֱלִישָׁ֣ה וְתַרְשִׁ֑ישׁ כִּתִּ֖ים וְדֹדָנִֽים׃ (ה) מֵ֠אֵ֠לֶּה נִפְרְד֞וּ אִיֵּ֤י הַגּוֹיִם֙ בְּאַרְצֹתָ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ לִלְשֹׁנ֑וֹ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם בְּגוֹיֵהֶֽם׃ (ו) וּבְנֵ֖י חָ֑ם כּ֥וּשׁ וּמִצְרַ֖יִם וּפ֥וּט וּכְנָֽעַן׃ (ז) וּבְנֵ֣י כ֔וּשׁ סְבָא֙ וַֽחֲוִילָ֔ה וְסַבְתָּ֥ה וְרַעְמָ֖ה וְסַבְתְּכָ֑א וּבְנֵ֥י רַעְמָ֖ה שְׁבָ֥א וּדְדָֽן׃ (ח) וְכ֖וּשׁ יָלַ֣ד אֶת־נִמְרֹ֑ד ה֣וּא הֵחֵ֔ל לִֽהְי֥וֹת גִּבֹּ֖ר בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (ט) הֽוּא־הָיָ֥ה גִבֹּֽר־צַ֖יִד לִפְנֵ֣י ה' עַל־כֵּן֙ יֵֽאָמַ֔ר כְּנִמְרֹ֛ד גִּבּ֥וֹר צַ֖יִד לִפְנֵ֥י ה'׃ (י) וַתְּהִ֨י רֵאשִׁ֤ית מַמְלַכְתּוֹ֙ בָּבֶ֔ל וְאֶ֖רֶךְ וְאַכַּ֣ד וְכַלְנֵ֑ה בְּאֶ֖רֶץ שִׁנְעָֽר׃ (יא) מִן־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַהִ֖וא יָצָ֣א אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ אֶת־נִ֣ינְוֵ֔ה וְאֶת־רְחֹבֹ֥ת עִ֖יר וְאֶת־כָּֽלַח׃ (יב) וְֽאֶת־רֶ֔סֶן בֵּ֥ין נִֽינְוֵ֖ה וּבֵ֣ין כָּ֑לַח הִ֖וא הָעִ֥יר הַגְּדֹלָֽה׃ (יג) וּמִצְרַ֡יִם יָלַ֞ד אֶת־לוּדִ֧ים וְאֶת־עֲנָמִ֛ים וְאֶת־לְהָבִ֖ים וְאֶת־נַפְתֻּחִֽים׃ (יד) וְֽאֶת־פַּתְרֻסִ֞ים וְאֶת־כַּסְלֻחִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָצְא֥וּ מִשָּׁ֛ם פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים וְאֶת־כַּפְתֹּרִֽים׃ {ס} (טו) וּכְנַ֗עַן יָלַ֛ד אֶת־צִידֹ֥ן בְּכֹר֖וֹ וְאֶת־חֵֽת׃ (טז) וְאֶת־הַיְבוּסִי֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י וְאֵ֖ת הַגִּרְגָּשִֽׁי׃ (יז) וְאֶת־הַֽחִוִּ֥י וְאֶת־הַֽעַרְקִ֖י וְאֶת־הַסִּינִֽי׃ (יח) וְאֶת־הָֽאַרְוָדִ֥י וְאֶת־הַצְּמָרִ֖י וְאֶת־הַֽחֲמָתִ֑י וְאַחַ֣ר נָפֹ֔צוּ מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת הַֽכְּנַעֲנִֽי׃ (יט) וַֽיְהִ֞י גְּב֤וּל הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ מִצִּידֹ֔ן בֹּאֲכָ֥ה גְרָ֖רָה עַד־עַזָּ֑ה בֹּאֲכָ֞ה סְדֹ֧מָה וַעֲמֹרָ֛ה וְאַדְמָ֥ה וּצְבֹיִ֖ם עַד־לָֽשַׁע׃ (כ) אֵ֣לֶּה בְנֵי־חָ֔ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לִלְשֹֽׁנֹתָ֑ם בְּאַרְצֹתָ֖ם בְּגוֹיֵהֶֽם׃ {ס} (כא) וּלְשֵׁ֥ם יֻלַּ֖ד גַּם־ה֑וּא אֲבִי֙ כׇּל־בְּנֵי־עֵ֔בֶר אֲחִ֖י יֶ֥פֶת הַגָּדֽוֹל׃
(1) These are the lines of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah: sons were born to them after the Flood. (2) The descendants of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. (3) The descendants of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. (4) The descendants of Javan: Elishah and Tarshish, the Kittim and the Dodanim. (5) From these the maritime nations branched out. [These are the descendants of Japheth] by their lands—each with its language—their clans and their nations. (6) The descendants of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. (7) The descendants of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The descendants of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. (8) Cush also begot Nimrod, who was the first man of might on earth. (9) He was a mighty hunter by the grace of the LORD; hence the saying, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter by the grace of the LORD.” (10) The mainstays of his kingdom were Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar. (11) From that land Asshur went forth and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, (12) and Resen between Nineveh and Calah, that is the great city. (13) And Mizraim begot the Ludim, the Anamim, the Lehabim, the Naphtuhim, (14) the Pathrusim, the Casluhim, and the Caphtorim, whence the Philistines came forth. (15) Canaan begot Sidon, his first-born, and Heth; (16) and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, (17) the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, (18) the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the clans of the Canaanites spread out. (19) (The [original] Canaanite territory extended from Sidon as far as Gerar, near Gaza, and as far as Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, near Lasha.) (20) These are the descendants of Ham, according to their clans and languages, by their lands and nations. (21) Sons were also born to Shem, ancestor of all the descendants of Eber and older brother of Japheth.
Genesis chapter 10 is known as the Table of Nations, where the Bible tells us how the three sons of Noah repopulated the earth after the Flood. Few passages of scripture are more controversial than Genesis 10 as it has caused endless debates regarding ethnicity and race. However, to understand the African connection to Israel, we must start at the beginning. This is not an attempt to solve any deep anthropological mysteries, but rather point to the line connecting Israel and the continent of Africa, to clarify words as well as their meaning.
Washington, Dumisani. Zionism and the Black Church, 2nd Edition: Why Standing with Israel Will Be a Defining Issue for Christians of Color in the 21st Century
And curse him that curses you;
And all the families of the earth
Shall bless themselves by you.”
(כג) וַיָּבֹ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מִצְרָ֑יִם וְ֝יַעֲקֹ֗ב גָּ֣ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ־חָֽם׃
(23) Then Israel came to Egypt;
Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
(כג) וַיָּבֹ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מִצְרָ֑יִם וְ֝יַעֲקֹ֗ב גָּ֣ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ־חָֽם׃
Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
(ה) וְחַתּ֖וּ וָבֹ֑שׁוּ מִכּוּשׁ֙ מַבָּטָ֔ם וּמִן־מִצְרַ֖יִם תִּפְאַרְתָּֽם׃
“Cursed be Canaan;
The lowest of slaves
Shall he be to his brothers.” (26) And he said,
“Blessed be the LORD,
The God of Shem;
Let Canaan be a slave to them.
This story is often referred to as the Curse of Ham. For generations, this text was used to justify, even celebrate the enslavement and subjugation of African people. The curse was defined as black skin and was a sign of perpetual servitude. Of the many things incorrect about this teaching, two are most glaring: 1. Nowhere in Genesis nine is hue or skin color mentioned. 2. Ham was not cursed. His son, Canaan, was. Most people believe Ham was cursed and, therefore, so were all black people of African/Hamitic descent. However, careful study of the Scriptures reveals that the curse was placed upon Canaan (Gen 9.25), a son of Ham. However, Ham’s other sons, Mizraim, Phut, and Cush . . . were not cursed. This particular curse justified Abraham’s inheritance of the land of Canaan as his blessing because Shem and his descendants (Gen 9.26) received the blessing of his father Noah
Washington, Dumisani. ibid.
על אודות האשה הכושית. מגיד הכתוב שכל מי שהוא רואה אותה – היה מודה בנויה. וכן הוא אומר (בראשית יא) אבי מלכה ואבי יסכה, אלא שהכל סוכים ביופיה, שנאמר (בראשית י״ב:ט״ו) ויראו אותה שרי פרעה ויהללו אותה אל פרעה. ר' אליעזר בנו של רבי יוסי הגלילי אומר: צפורה צפו וראו מה נאה האשה: הכושית. וכי היתה? אלא מדיינית היתה, שנאמר שמות ב ולכהן מדין שבע בנות, ומה ת"ל כושית? – מה כושי משונה בעורו, כך צפורה משונה בנויה יותר מכל הנשים. כיוצא בו אתה אומר (תהלים ז) שגיון לדוד אשר שר לה' על דברי כוש בן ימיני. וכי כושי היה? אלא מה כושי משונה בעורו, אף שאול משונה במראיו, שנאמר שמואל א ט משכמו ומעלה גבוה מכל העם. כיוצא בו אתה אומר (עמוס ט) הלא כבני כושים אתם לי בני ישראל. וכי כושים היו? אלא כושי משונה בעורו – אף ישראל משונים במצוות יותר מכל אומות העולם. כיוצא בו אתה אומר (ירמיהו ל״ח:ז׳) וישמע עבד מלך הכושי איש סריס. וכי כושי היה? אלא מה כושי משונה בעורו, כך היה ברוך בן נריה משונה במעשיו יותר מכל בני פלטרין של מלך: כי אשה כושית לקח. למה נאמר? לפי שהוא אומר על אודות הכושית, אלא מה ת"ל כושית לקח? יש לך נוחה ביופיה ולא במעשיה, במעשיה ולא ביופיה, כמו שנאמר (משלי יא) נזם זהב באף חזיר אשה יפה וסרת טעם. זאת – נאה, נוחה בנויה – ונוחה במעשיה. לכך נאמר אשה כושית לקח:
"… Because of the Cushite woman": Scripture hereby apprises us that whoever beheld her attested to her beauty. And thus is it written (Bereshit 11:29) "… the father of Milkah and the father of Yiskah": Yiskah is Sarah: Why was she called "Yiskah"? For all gazed upon ("sochim") her beauty, as it is written (Ibid. 12:15) "And Pharaoh's officers saw her and praised her to Pharaoh." R. Eliezer the son of R. Yossi Haglili said: "Tzipporah" (Moses' wife) — Why was she called "Tzipporah"? "Tzfu ur'uh" ("Look and see") how beautiful this woman is! "the Cushite (Ethiopian) woman": Now was she an Ethiopian? Wasn't she a Midianite, viz. (Shemot 2:16) "And the priest of Midian had seven daughters, etc." What is the intent of "Cushite"? Just as a Cushite is exceptional in his skin, so Tzipporah was exceptional in her beauty — more so than all the women. Similarly, (Psalms 7:1) "A Shiggayon of David, which he sang to the L-rd concerning Cush (Saul), a Benjaminite." Now was he a Cushite? (The intent is:) Just as a Cushite is exceptional in his skin, so Saul was exceptional in his appearance, as it is written of him (I Samuel 9:2) "… from his shoulder and upwards, taller than all of the people." Similarly, (Amos 9:7) "Are you not like Cushites to Me, O children of Israel?" Now were they Cushites? (The intent is:) Just as a Chushite is exceptional in his skin, so, is an Israelite exceptional in mitzvoth. Similarly, (Jeremiah 32:7) "And Eved-melech the Cushite heard": Now was he a Cushite? Was he not Baruch? But, just as a Cushite is exceptional in his skin, so, was Baruch ben Neriah exceptional in his deeds, more so than any of the others in the king's palace. (Bamidbar, Ibid.) "for he had taken a Cushite woman": Why is this written? Is it not written (immediately before) "about the Cushite woman that he had taken"? — There are those who are beautiful in appearance, but not in deed; in deed, but not in appearance, viz. (Proverbs 11:22) "Like a golden ring in the snout of a pig is a beautiful woman lacking in sense. Tzipporah was beautiful in both — wherefore it is written "about the Cushite woman that he had taken, for he had taken a Cushite woman."
(ט) כִּֽי־אָ֛ז אֶהְפֹּ֥ךְ אֶל־עַמִּ֖ים שָׂפָ֣ה בְרוּרָ֑ה לִקְרֹ֤א כֻלָּם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם ה' לְעׇבְד֖וֹ שְׁכֶ֥ם אֶחָֽד׃ (י) מֵעֵ֖בֶר לְנַהֲרֵי־כ֑וּשׁ עֲתָרַי֙ בַּת־פּוּצַ֔י יוֹבִל֖וּן מִנְחָתִֽי׃
(9) For then I will make the peoples pure of speech,
So that they all invoke the LORD by name
And serve Him with one accord. (10) From beyond the rivers of Cush, My suppliants
Shall bring offerings to Me in Fair Puzai.
(יד) וַֽיְהִי֙ מִשְׁקַ֣ל הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֥א לִשְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בְּשָׁנָ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֛וֹת שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וָשֵׁ֖שׁ כִּכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב׃
Tribute shall be brought to the LORD of Hosts
[From] a people far and remote,
From a people thrust forth and away—
A nation of gibber and chatter,
Whose land is cut off by streams—
At the place where the name of the LORD of Hosts abides,
At Mount Zion.
So that they all invoke the LORD by name
And serve Him with one accord. (10) From beyond the rivers of Cush, My suppliants
Shall bring offerings to Me in Fair Puzai.