What is the meaning of Genesis 10:28? Obal - “Obal, Abimael, and Sheba.” (Genesis 10:28) places Obal among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a great-grandson of Shem (Genesis 10:22–30; 1 Chronicles 1:22). - God’s record of Obal underlines the literal spread of Shem’s line after the Flood, fulfilling “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1). - Verse 30 identifies their territory “from Mesha to Sephar, in the eastern hill country”, matching the southwestern Arabian region later known for trade. - This accuracy affirms that each name mattered to God and that the nations formed exactly as He intended (Acts 17:26). - Obal’s presence in the text reminds us that the Lord traces every family leading to the promised Seed (Luke 3:34–36). Abimael - Abimael’s repeat appearance in 1 Chronicles 1:22 reinforces the reliability of Genesis 10. - Sitting within Eber’s clan (Genesis 10:21), Abimael belongs to the broader family eventually called “Hebrews” (Genesis 14:13). - His descendants likely settled along interior Arabian caravan routes, later frequented by Ishmaelite traders carrying spices toward Canaan (Genesis 37:25). - The name itself speaks to a family aware of the true God, illustrating how spiritual light spread through Shem’s lineage (Genesis 9:26). - Abimael’s mention shows that God sovereignly fixed “the boundaries of their lands” (Acts 17:26), orchestrating future intersections with Israel’s story. Sheba - This Sheba, a son of Joktan, shares the name with Sheba son of Raamah (Genesis 10:7), showing that more than one tribe carried the title while occupying different regions. - Centuries later, Sheba’s prominence surfaces when “the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon” and journeyed to Jerusalem (1 Kings 10:1). - Royal gifts from Sheba fulfill Psalm 72:10—“May the kings of Sheba and Seba present gifts”—and preview Isaiah 60:6, where camels bring “gold and frankincense.” - These prophecies echo the trading culture implied in Genesis 10, illustrating how Joktan’s descendants blessed Israel and, ultimately, the nations. - Revelation 7:9 pictures people “from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue” before the throne, assuring us that Sheba’s lineage, along with all others, is invited into Christ’s kingdom. summary Genesis 10:28 records Obal, Abimael, and Sheba as historical sons of Joktan, anchoring them in Shem’s blessed line. Their individual listings confirm Scripture’s precision, trace the literal spread of peoples into the Arabian peninsula, and foreshadow future interactions with God’s covenant family. Each name demonstrates the Lord’s careful governance of history, preparing the way for the gospel to reach every tribe and tongue. |
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