Genesis 10 – Evil Nimrod
Our world is an exciting place. Initially, we were one people with one language which each of us understood. Our facial features skin tones were the same. There were no red, brown, black, or people. Each of us was beautiful, spiritual, and visually neutral. The Torah outlines seventy nations, which descend from Noah’s three sons, Japheth the elder, Shem, also known as Melichazdeck, The Preist of The Highest, and Ham.
There are 32 Scriptures in Genesis ten. Thirty-two points directly towards one’s heart, mind, understanding, and thoughts לֵב Lav. ל30 ב2 = 32. Genesis 10 is the genealogy for all humankind, i.e., every color and every race. A careful study of Japheth, Shem, and Ham reveal each of the 70 nations’ roots. Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Stone Edition The Chumash (Mesorah Publications, Ltd., Brooklyn, N.Y. 1993), p. 47. Genesis Chapter Ten is the prelude to the nations of the world and the Tower of Babel, where The Lord God confused our Words and language in Genesis Chapter 11. The original language was Hebrew.
We are informed:
Genesis 10.8 – 10
‘Kush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on Earth to be a mighty one. He was a mighty hunter before The Lord; therefore, it is said, As Nimrod, the mighty hunter before The Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
Our Sages teach that Nimród ensnared individuals with his words and incited them to rebel against The Lord God. Tradition states that king Nimrod directed the construction of the Tower of Babel to storm Heaven. According to The Talmud. Pesachim 94b Nimrod was the wicked man who stirred the whole world to rebellion against The Lord. Chagiga13a Before Nimród, there were no wars or reigning monarchs. The Stone Edition The Chumash (Mesorah Publications, Ltd., Brooklyn, N.Y. 1993), p. 47
God willing, we will be reviewing Nimrod a little during the next few weeks.
Nimrod was the nemesis of Avram, of B’nei Yisroel! The date and time tie in what The Midrash Says about Nimrod and Avraham. Nimrod and Avram lived during the same years. Nimrod was a king who threw Avram into the fiery furnace of Mih Ohr Kas Dim, noted in Bereisheit 15.7.
And Kush fathered everything from Aleph to Tav of Nimrod. He was to be the mighty profaner on Earth. [The Word הֵחֵל could mean to begin or profane.
Genesis 10.9
He was a [relentless] stalker [in the] face of HaShem, Yes, upon [him] it was said, ‘Like Nimrod a relentless pursuer [in the] face of HaShem.’
Bereisheit 10.10
And it was the beginning of his kingdom, Babylon and Erech and Accad and Calneh in the land of Shinar.
Dear family and friends, Genesis Ten Inform us about the generation of Noah’s descendent’s, where they migrated to, and how the Earth was divided among them according to their languages. Chapter 11 discusses how Earth’s unity was divided by language. God Willing, we will discuss that next week.
May we try our best not to be like Nimrod. May we stand up for morality, ethics, lovingkindness, goodness, and righteousness living in our world.
Blessings and peace,
Dr. Akiva Gamliel
