ETNOGRAFICA, TAVOLA. - Name given to Gen. 10, because in the form of a grandiose genealogical tree, whose progenitors are the three sons of Noah, the principal peoples or nations known to the Hebrews are indicated there.
To Japheth are attributed 7 descendants, for whom the most probable identifications are: Gomer = Cimmerians, Magog = Medes, Javan = Ionians, Tubal = Tibareni, Meshech = Moschi or Moschoi, Tarshish = Tartessos (Spain), Kittim = Cypriots, Dodanim (corrected to Rodanim) = Rhodians, Elisha, an island or a promontory of the continent (Peloponnese = Southern Italy) in the Mediterranean. The other names represent peoples or tribes of Asia Minor around the Black Sea.
To the Hamitic group or descendants of Ham are ascribed: Cush (= Ethiopians), Mizraim (= Egyptians), Put (= Punt, the long African coast of the Red Sea) and Canaan (= Canaanites, ancient inhabitants of Palestine). To Cush are also traced Arab tribes between the Persian Gulf and the African coast. From the same Cush, through Nimrod (= the Sumerian Ninurta or the Akkadian Gilgamesh?), the kingdoms and cities of ancient Babylonia and Assyria would derive. Egyptian offshoots are considered the Ludim, the Labim (= Libyans) and other more or less neighboring groups, among which also the Cretans (Caphtorim) and the Philistines. Canaan, finally, is regarded as the progenitor of the various clans inhabiting the region between Sidon, Gaza and the Dead Sea.
To Shem are attributed first the Hebrews; then the Elamites, the Assyrians, the Arameans, and not a few Arab tribes.
The term "t. e." should not lead one to suppose in the text a modern scientific concept. The classification does not follow somatic or color-based motives nor linguistic or cultural comparisons. The geographical element seems to have been the most decisive for certain groupings; while that of commercial relations (Egypt-Crete) or a satirical note (the Canaanites, certainly despised, are included among the Hamites!) explains other groupings. It is to be noted the dominant idea of the unity of the human race, considered all descended from Noah, the only one saved from the flood.
For many exegetes the text, very ancient, would be the compilation of the Yahwist and Priestly documents. Others, instead, explain its strange peculiarities (some Arab tribes are said to be at the same time descendants of Japheth and of Shem) with possible later reworkings.