31
These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
31
These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
470. That the “book of the births” is an enumeration of those who were of the Most Ancient Church, is very evident from what follows, for from this to the eleventh chapter, that is, to the time of Eber, names never signify persons, but actual things. In the most ancient time mankind were distinguished into houses, families, and nations; a house consisting of the husband and wife with their children, together with some of their family who served; a family, of a greater or lesser number of houses, that lived not far apart and yet not together; and a nation, of a larger or smaller number of families.