Kinship Of The Biblical Nations ISRAELITES These were descendants from Noah's son, Shem, through Abraham (Genesis 11:10-27). Abraham had a son named Isaac, who had a son named Jacob, who God renamed "Israel". Jacob/Israel had twelve sons, and these were the forefathers to the nation of Israel. The Israelites nation was divided into twelve tribes according to these twelve forefathers: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Joseph and Asher. However, when God separated the tribes, he set aside the Levites (from Levi) as a priestly group, and replaced it with the tribe springing from Joseph's firstborn son, Manasseh. Jews consider themselves as descended from the Israelites. This is why Israel is a Jewish nation today. ISHMAELITES The Ishmaelites were an "uncle nation" to the Israelites because Ishmael was the half brother of Isaac. God promised Ishmael would become a nation with twelve chieftains: Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. Muslims believe that they are descended from the Ishmaelites. EDOMITES Edom, a.k.a. Esau, was the twin brother of Jacob/Israel, therefore they were a direct brother tribe to the Israelites (Genesis 25:24-30). God decreed that the Israelites were not to hate the Edomites due to their brotherly ties (Deuteronomy 23:7). MOABITES Moab was one of the sons of Lot: After Lot and his daughters escaped the destruction of Sodom, they settled in the land of Zoar. There were no men around for the girls to marry and the girls were concerned about carrying on the family inheritance, so they caused Lot to become drunk, made themselves pregnant through him, and bore sons. This occurred before God gave the laws against incest (Leviticus 18). The firstborn daughter gave birth to Moab, who became the father of the nation of the Moabites. Since Lot was Abraham's nephew (Genesis 11:27), this means Lot was a cousin of Isaac, Jacob's father. Therefore, the Moabites were a cousin nation to the Israelites. AMMONITES Same story as for the Moabites, except that this was Ben-Ammi, the son of the second daughter of Lot. Therefore, the Ammonites were also a cousin nation to the Israelites. CANAANITES Canaan was the son of Ham, making him the grandson of Noah (Genesis 9:18). Canaan had two sons, named Sidon and Heth. It is interesting to note that Esau took wives from the daughters of Heth (Genesis 26:34-35, 27: 46). Canaan also fathered the following nations: Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, and the Hamathites. So, all these Canaanite families were descended from Noah's son, Ham. Since Ham was the brother of Shem, and Shem was the ancestor of the Israelites, this makes the Canaanites and the Israelites cousin nations. |