Interesting Facts

• The children of Gomer, including Rephath, were among the families of Japheth whose numbers were about four hundred and sixty men in those days.
• The children of Rephath are identified as the Bartonim, who dwell in the land of Bartonia by the river Ledah, which empties its waters in the great sea Gihon, that is, oceanus.
• The children of Gomer, including Rephath, spread and rested in the north and built themselves cities.

Genealogy

• Rephath (referred to as Rephath in one instance and Riphath in another) was a son of Gomer.
• Gomer was a son of Japheth, who was one of the three sons of Noah.

Historical Context

Rephath lived in the generations after the flood, specifically within the second generation born after this cataclysmic event, estimated between 1688-1722 A.M.. Following the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel and the subsequent scattering of mankind, the descendants of Noah dispersed to various regions. Japheth and his sons, including Gomer and his children like Rephath, went towards the sea and dwelt in their allotted portion in the north. The sons of Japheth built cities and named them after themselves and particular occurrences. The children of Rephath settled in the land of Bartonia, near the river Ledah. This period was characterized by the establishment of new settlements and the division of the earth among the descendants of Noah.

Narrative

The narrative concerning Rephath, as presented in the sources, primarily centers on the dispersal and settlement of the descendants of Japheth after the confounding of languages at the Tower of Babel. Rephath, being a son of Gomer, was part of the group that journeyed to the north. His descendants are identified as the Bartonim, who settled in the land of Bartonia by the river Ledah, which flows into the great sea Gihon. The texts indicate that the families of Japheth built cities and named them after themselves. Thus, Rephath’s narrative is one of migration, settlement in the northern regions, and the establishment of the Bartonim as a distinct familial group in a specific geographical location following the major event of the dispersal of nations.