Interesting Facts

• The Gentiles are characterized by their inclination to worship “strange gods” which cannot deliver them from tribulation.
• It is prophesied that the Israelites will forsake the Lord’s commandments and walk after the Gentiles, their uncleanness, and their shame, serving their gods.
• Some Gentiles are depicted as sacrificing their children to demons and engaging in the error of their hearts.
• The land of the Gentiles is where the Israelites will be scattered as a consequence of forsaking the Lord’s law.
• The descendants of Ham, including Canaan, settled in lands allotted to them, but Canaan’s choice to dwell in Lebanon was against the counsel of his father and brothers, leading to a curse.
• The city of Sodom, a Gentile city, is portrayed as wicked, with inhabitants unwilling to offer hospitality to travelers.

Genealogy

• The Gentiles originate from the dispersal of nations after the division of the earth among the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
• The descendants of Japheth inherited the northern parts of the earth.
• The descendants of Ham inherited the southern parts, including the land of Canaan and Egypt. The sons of Ham include Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. Mizraim’s descendants include the Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuchim, Pathrusim, Casluchim, and Caphturim, from whom came the Pelishtim. Canaan’s sons included Zidon, Heth, Amori, and others.
• The descendants of Shem inherited the middle portion of the earth. His sons included Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.
• Ishmael, Abraham’s son through Hagar, married an Egyptian woman and had twelve sons. Their descendants are considered among the Gentiles.
• Esau married women of Canaan, and his descendants included dukes in the land of Edom, such as Teman, Omar, and Amalek, the latter born to Eliphaz by Timna.

Historical Context

The interactions between the progenitors of the Israelites and the Gentiles are marked by both separation and conflict. Abraham was instructed not to take a wife for Isaac from the daughters of the Canaanites, emphasizing a separation based on religious and cultural differences. The incident in Shechem reveals a clash between Jacob’s sons and the Hivites over the defilement of Dinah, highlighting issues of honor, justice, and differing customs, particularly regarding circumcision. The subsequent attack on Shechem by Simeon and Levi led to fear among the surrounding Canaanite and Amorite kings, who contemplated military action against Jacob’s family. However, the perceived power of the God of the Hebrews instilled fear in these Gentile rulers, preventing a full-scale assault. The narrative also portrays instances of wickedness within Gentile cities like Sodom, contrasting with the expected standards of righteousness. The division of the land after the flood established geographical boundaries for the descendants of Noah, setting the stage for the eventual dwelling of the Israelites in a land previously inhabited by various Gentile nations, including the Canaanites.

Narrative

The Gentiles appear in the narratives primarily through their interactions with the patriarchs and the early Israelites. The story of Shechem and Dinah showcases a transgression by a Gentile against the family of Jacob, leading to a violent response from Simeon and Levi, which, while securing justice in their eyes, also caused fear and condemnation from Jacob. The Amorite and Canaanite kings, upon hearing of the destruction of Shechem, considered going to war with Jacob’s sons, illustrating the tensions and potential for conflict arising from the actions of the Israelites within Gentile territories. However, the narrative emphasizes the fear these Gentile kings held for the God of the Hebrews, recalling instances where divine intervention protected Abraham and Jacob from their adversaries. This fear ultimately dissuaded them from attacking. Furthermore, the instructions given to Abraham and Isaac concerning marriage and association with the Canaanites and other nations underscore a divine mandate for the separation of the chosen lineage from the practices and beliefs of the surrounding Gentile populations, particularly their idolatry and perceived uncleanness. The prophecy regarding the future transgressions of the Israelites, where they would adopt Gentile ways, serves as a cautionary tale within the broader narrative, highlighting the potential for deviation from divine law and the consequences thereof. The interactions, therefore, paint a picture of the Gentiles as distinct peoples with differing customs and often conflicting interests with the nascent Israelite nation, existing within a world where the power and intervention of the Hebrew God played a significant role in shaping their relationships.