 | Noach |  |
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| | 10:17 |
the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,
Ve'et-haChivi ve'et-ha'Arki ve'et-haSini. |
| 10:18 |
the Arvadites, the Tzemarites, and the Chamathites. Later the families of the Canaanites became scattered.
Ve'et-ha'Arvadi ve'et-haTsmari ve'et-haChamati ve'achar nafotsu mishpechot haKna'ani. |
| 10:19 |
The Canaanite borders extended from Sidon toward Gerar until Gaza, and toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Tzevoyim, until Lasha.
Vayehi gvul haKna'ani miTsidon boachah Gerarah ad-Azah boachah Sedomah va'Amorah ve'Admah uTsvo'im ad-Lasha. |
| 10:20 |
These are the descendants of Ham, according to their families and languages, by their lands and nations.
Eleh veney-Cham lemishpechotam lileshonotam be'artsotam begoyehem. |
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Commentary:
Arkites
They are identified as the residents of Arce, a city at the northwest foot of Mount Lebanon (Josephus; Bereshith Rabbah 37. Cf. Bekhoroth 57b).
| Arvadites
These are identified as the inhabitants of the island of Aradus on the Phoenician coast (Josephus; Yerushalmi, Megillah 1:9, Bereshith Rabbah 37). Others identify them with the town of Antridanai, that is, Antarados, a town opposite the island of Arados (Targum Yerushalmi). Another source identifies them with the Lutsai, probably the inhabitants of Arethusia, between Epiphania and Emasa.
| Tzemarites
Literally 'wool people,' possibly because they sold or worked with wool (Bereshith Rabbah 37). Talmudic sources render their area as Chametz, Chomtzia, Chamitai and Chumtzai (Targum Yonathan; Yerushalmi, Megillah 1:9, Bereshith Rabbah 37). This is identified with Emasa (the modern Hums) a city of Syria on the eastern bank of the Orontes River. See note on Genesis 36:36.
| Chamathites
This is to the north near Mount Hermon; Judges 3:3. Also see Numbers 13:21, 34:8, Amos 6:14, Ezekiel 47:17. It is on the Orontes River. Josephus states that it is the place called Amathe, although the Macedonians call it Ephania (cf. Bereshith Rabbah 37). It is also identified with Antioch (Targum Yonathan).
| Gerar
Capital of the Philistine nation, toward the south of the Holy Land, near the coast (Genesis 20:1, 26:1).
| Gaza
Aza in Hebrew. City on the south of Holy Land along the Mediterranean shore.
| Gomorrah
Amorah in Hebrew.
| Hivites
Chivi in Hebrew. They lived in the central part of the Holy Land near Shechem (Genesis 34:2). They also lived in Gibeon, and survived the conquest of the Holy Land (Joshua 9:3,7, 11:19). They lived in the north, near Mount Lebanon, from Hermon to Chamath (Judges 3:3). Some identify them with the people of Tripoli (Targum Yerushalmi). The Midrash apparently notes that they were cave dwellers (Chaldun; Bereshith Rabbah 37). They were also adept at testing soil by taste (Shabbath 85a, but see Tosefoth ad loc. s.v. Chivi). See note on Genesis 36:3.
| Sinites
(cf. Isaiah 49:12, Radak ad loc.). Josephus states that their identity is unknown. Others, however identify them with the Antusai (Targum Onkelos; Targum Yonathan; Bereshith Rabbah 37). This is most probably associated with the city of Orhosia, a Phoenician seaport, south of the Eleutheros River. Other sources identify the Sinites with the Kafruseans (Targum Yerushalmi).
| Tzevoyim
These four cities were in what is now the southern end of the Dead Sea (Genesis 14:2,3). They were destroyed by God for their wickedness (Genesis 19:24,25). These cities formed the southeast border of the Canaanite territory.
| Lasha
Or Lesha. This is identified with Caldahi (Targum Yonathan; Bereshith Rabbah 37). This is most probably Callirohoe, a resort city on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea.
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