Interesting Facts

• Chamothi is listed as one of the sons of Canaan in the book of Jasher.
• The Hamathite is identified as one of the descendants of Canaan in the book of Genesis.
• According to the book of Jasher, the children of Canaan, including the lineage of Chamothi/the Hamathites, constructed cities and named them after themselves.

Genealogy

• Chamothi is established as a son of Canaan.
• Canaan is identified within the sources as one of the four sons of Ham.
• Ham is consistently presented as one of the three sons of Noah born after the flood.
• Thus, the Hamathites are understood to be the progeny of Chamothi, placing them within the genealogical line of Canaan, Ham, and ultimately Noah.

Historical Context

The narrative of Chamothi and the Hamathites unfolds in the post-diluvian world, a period marked by the repopulation of the earth by Noah’s descendants. Noah exhorted his sons and grandsons to uphold righteousness, recalling the destructive consequences of prior iniquity. Following the dispersal from the plain of Shinar after the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel, families migrated and established new territories, often grouped by their shared tongue. The sons of Ham, including Canaan, also engaged in the building of cities and naming them after their progenitors. A significant aspect of this historical context is Canaan’s decision to settle in the land of Lebanon, towards Egypt, a choice that drew the disapproval of his father and brothers due to pre-established land divisions and an oath against encroachment. This act by Canaan likely shaped the environment and potential interactions for his descendants, including the Hamathites, possibly involving territorial claims and disputes within the broader land of Canaan.

Narrative

The personal story of Chamothi as an individual is not explicitly detailed within the provided texts. However, as a son of Canaan, his narrative is intertwined with the broader account of the Canaanite peoples. Following the scattering of humanity from Shinar, the descendants of Canaan, the lineage to which Chamothi belongs, are depicted as establishing themselves in the land of Canaan, signifying the claiming and organization of their territories through the building of cities named after themselves. The foundational narrative for the Hamathites, as descendants of Canaan, is therefore one of post-Babel settlement and the assertion of identity through lineage and the naming of their urban centers. The initial choice of their ancestor Canaan to settle in Lebanon, despite familial objections concerning allotted lands, sets a potential stage for future interactions and claims within the region, influencing the historical trajectory of his descendants, including the Hamathites. Thus, the narrative concerning Chamothi and the Hamathites is primarily one of early settlement within the land of Canaan, the establishment of their communities, and the implicit ramifications of their ancestral lineage and territorial choices in the post-diluvian world.