†. Gen 9:27a . . May God enlarge Japheth,
That seems more a prayer than a prediction. Japheth is generally regarded
as the father of several Gentile nations, most particularly the Romans and
the Greeks, who became mighty world powers. Japheth seemed like an okay
kind of guy who at least had a sense of propriety. People like him; even
though maybe not particularly God-fearing, will listen to reason, and can
often be persuaded to do the right thing. He proved at least that much when
he assisted brother Shem to cover their dad's exposure in a discreet way. It
is so cool to see someone wishing good for non-Jews so early in human
history.
†. Gen 9:27b . . and let him dwell in the tents of Shem;
That doesn't necessarily mean Shem's people and Japheth's people would
mingle and assimilate. The expression "dwell in the tents of" is a
colloquialism sometimes used to denote compliance or conformity. Here's an
example of just the opposite of what we might call dwelling in the tents of
Shem.
†. Ps 84:11 . . Better one day in Your courts than a thousand [anywhere
else]; I would rather stand at the threshold of God's house than dwell in the
tents of the wicked.
The "tents of the wicked" indicates a life style that has no place in it for the
Bible's God and doesn't allow His spirit an influence in one's personal life.
The remainder of that Psalm is dedicated to the kind of people of whom we
could say: dwell in the tents of Shem.
†. Ps 84:12-13 . . For The Lord God is sun and shield; The Lord bestows
grace and glory; He does not withhold His bounty from those who live
without blame. O Lord of hosts, happy is the man who trusts in You.
People who live in the tents of the wicked, and walk where the wicked walk;
sure don't walk where Shem walks. Not all of Japheth's people would dwell
in the tents of Shem of course. But the idea is that Japheth's people weren't
totally a bad apple like Canaan's. Many of them would become God-fearing,
moral, scrupulous, and upright-- though not all of course; but at least
Japheth's progeny wouldn't prove 100% incorrigible.
†. Gen 9:27c . . and let Canaan be a slave to them.
Not all of Ham's descendants would become subservient to the people of
Shem and Japheth. Only those in Canaan's line.
†. Gen 9:28-29 . . Noah lived after the Flood 350 years. And all the
days of Noah came to 950 years; then he died.
Another righteous man bites the dust. Noah lived twenty more years than
Adam, but nineteen less than Methuselah-- no doubt a great role model and
a tremendous influence upon the minds of all his grandchildren. He surely
must have had a huge brood of them in the new world by the time his 350
post-Flood years ended.
Cont.
/
That seems more a prayer than a prediction. Japheth is generally regarded
as the father of several Gentile nations, most particularly the Romans and
the Greeks, who became mighty world powers. Japheth seemed like an okay
kind of guy who at least had a sense of propriety. People like him; even
though maybe not particularly God-fearing, will listen to reason, and can
often be persuaded to do the right thing. He proved at least that much when
he assisted brother Shem to cover their dad's exposure in a discreet way. It
is so cool to see someone wishing good for non-Jews so early in human
history.
†. Gen 9:27b . . and let him dwell in the tents of Shem;
That doesn't necessarily mean Shem's people and Japheth's people would
mingle and assimilate. The expression "dwell in the tents of" is a
colloquialism sometimes used to denote compliance or conformity. Here's an
example of just the opposite of what we might call dwelling in the tents of
Shem.
†. Ps 84:11 . . Better one day in Your courts than a thousand [anywhere
else]; I would rather stand at the threshold of God's house than dwell in the
tents of the wicked.
The "tents of the wicked" indicates a life style that has no place in it for the
Bible's God and doesn't allow His spirit an influence in one's personal life.
The remainder of that Psalm is dedicated to the kind of people of whom we
could say: dwell in the tents of Shem.
†. Ps 84:12-13 . . For The Lord God is sun and shield; The Lord bestows
grace and glory; He does not withhold His bounty from those who live
without blame. O Lord of hosts, happy is the man who trusts in You.
People who live in the tents of the wicked, and walk where the wicked walk;
sure don't walk where Shem walks. Not all of Japheth's people would dwell
in the tents of Shem of course. But the idea is that Japheth's people weren't
totally a bad apple like Canaan's. Many of them would become God-fearing,
moral, scrupulous, and upright-- though not all of course; but at least
Japheth's progeny wouldn't prove 100% incorrigible.
†. Gen 9:27c . . and let Canaan be a slave to them.
Not all of Ham's descendants would become subservient to the people of
Shem and Japheth. Only those in Canaan's line.
†. Gen 9:28-29 . . Noah lived after the Flood 350 years. And all the
days of Noah came to 950 years; then he died.
Another righteous man bites the dust. Noah lived twenty more years than
Adam, but nineteen less than Methuselah-- no doubt a great role model and
a tremendous influence upon the minds of all his grandchildren. He surely
must have had a huge brood of them in the new world by the time his 350
post-Flood years ended.
Cont.
/
