Genesis 10:30

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 10:30 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.
Genesis 10:30 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
30And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Zephar, a mount of the east.] Mesha, which is thought to be the Muza of Ptolemy and Pliny, was a famous port in the Red sea, frequented by the merchants of Egypt and Ethiopia, from which the Sappharites lay directly eastward; to whose country they used to go for myrrh and frankincense, and the like, of which Saphar was the metropolis, and which was at the foot of Climax, a range of mountains, which perhaps might be formerly called Saphar, from the city at the bottom of it, the same with Zephar here: by inspecting Ptolemy’s tables f777, the way from one to the other is easily discerned, where you first meet with Muza, a port in the Red…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- XXXIII. Shem 21. אבר 'eber, “‘Eber, yonder side; verb: pass, cross.” 22. עילם 'eylām, “‘Elam.” עוּל ‛ûl, “suckle.” עלם ‛ālam, “hide; be mature.” ארפכשׁד 'arpakshad, “Arpakshad.” כשׂד ארף 'arp keśed, “boundary of Kesed, or (von-Bohlen) Arjapakshata, beside Aria.” ארם 'ǎrām, “Aram, high; verb: be high.” 23. עוּץ ‛ûts, “‘Uts; verb: counsel; be firm, solid.” חוּל chûl, “Chul; verb: rub, twist, writhe, be strong, await.” גתר geter, “Gether, bridge?” משׁ meshek, “Mash; related: feel, touch.” 24. שׁלח shelach, “Shelach, missile, shoot.” 25. פלג peleg, “Peleg; noun: brook, canal; verb: divide.” יקטן yāqṭān, “Joctan, small.” 26. אלמודד 'almôdād, “Almodad.” למד lāmad, “learn.” מדד…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“10:30 Mesha was a region in northern Arabia, south of Hadramaut. • Sephar is identified with Isfar, south of Hadramaut in Yemen.”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification