Lineage & Table of Nations
Genesis traces a single family line from creation to the twelve tribes of Israel — while simultaneously mapping every known people group of the ancient world onto a single family tree. The Table of Nations in Genesis 10 is the oldest ethnographic document in existence, and some of its identifications have been confirmed by archaeology with remarkable precision.
Click any person to read their entry. The red-bordered nodes mark major covenant pivot points.
Genesis 10 lists 70 peoples descended from Noah's three sons — the earliest attempt at a comprehensive world ethnography. The list is organized geographically: Japheth's descendants occupy the northern coastlands and the Indo-European world; Ham's descendants dominate Africa and Canaan; Shem's descendants hold the Semitic heartland of the ancient Near East. Evidence tiers: ATT = confirmed by archaeology/history; PAR = plausible parallel; DEB = debated.
Jacob's twelve sons became the twelve tribes of Israel. The traditional count varies: Joseph's two sons (Ephraim and Manasseh) each became a tribe, giving thirteen — but Levi had no territorial allotment (the priesthood was their inheritance), keeping the territorial number at twelve. Ordered by birth mother, then by birth order.