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God created the first person, our forefather, Adam. His lineage descended nine generations until the flood: Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah. Our ancestor Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. From these, three distinct nations arose.

The history of Israel begins with the creation of the world.

The sons of Japheth fathered the nations north of Israel. They were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah. The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.

Three sons of Ham fathered the nations south of Israel. They were Cush (the Ethiopians), Mizraim (the Egyptians), and Put (the northern Africans). Noah condemned Ham’s fourth son, Canaan, whose descendants we conquered. The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca; the sons of Raama were Sheba and Dedan. 10 Cush fathered Nimrod (the first hero on earth). 11 Mizraim fathered the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh, 12 Pathrus, Casluh (from whom the Philistines descended), and Caphtor. 13 Canaan was the forefather of our eastern neighbors: Sidon (his first son), Heth, 14 the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 15 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 16 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.

17 Shem fathered the Semitic nations. His sons were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. Aram fathered Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. 18 Arpachshad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber. 19 Eber had two sons, Peleg (whose name means “divided” because the earth was divided during his life) and his brother, Joktan. 20 Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22 Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab.

24 Our ancestry descended nine generations directly from Shem: Arpachshad, Shelah, 25 Eber, Peleg, Reu, 26 Serug, Nahor, Terah, and finally 27 Abram (whom God renamed Abraham). 28 Our ancestor Abraham, who formed our people’s initial covenant with God, fathered two sons: Isaac and Ishmael.

29 Ishmael fathered Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

32 Abraham also fathered sons by a concubine, Keturah: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan’s sons were Sheba and Dedan. 33 Midian’s sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah.

34 Abraham’s second son, Isaac, fathered two sons: Esau (the ancestor of Edom) and Israel (our ancestor).

35 The sons of Esau were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. 36 Eliphaz fathered Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, and by Timna, Amalek. 37 Reuel fathered Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

38 Seir fathered Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. 39 Lotan (whose sister was Timna) fathered Hori and Homam. 40 Shobal fathered Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. Zibeon fathered Aiah and Anah. 41 Anah’s son was Dishon, who fathered Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 42 Ezer fathered Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan. Dishan (son of Seir) fathered Uz and Aran.

43 These men were kings in Edom long before our ancestors reigned in Israel. Bela (the son of Beor) ruled the city of Dinhabah. 44 When Bela died, Jobab (the son of Zerah of Bozrah) succeeded him. 45 When Jobab died, Husham (a Temanite) became king. 46 When Husham died, Hadad (the son of Bedad who crushed Midian in the field of Moab) succeeded Husham and renamed the city Avith. 47 When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah succeeded him. 48 When Samlah died, Shaul of Rehoboth by the Euphrates River succeeded him. 49 When Shaul died, Baal-hanan (the son of Achbor) became king. 50 When Baal-hanan died, Hadad ascended to the throne. Hadad named his city Pai. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred and granddaughter of Mezahab. 51 When Hadad died, the monarchy crumbled and Edom was ruled by chiefs: Timna, Aliah, Jetheth, 52 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 53 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 54 Magdiel, and Iram.

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