The term “Semite” refers to people who are descended from Shem, one of the sons of Noah in the Old Testament. According to the Table of Nations in Genesis 10, the Semitic people groups descended from Shem include:
– The Elamites
– The Assyrians
– The Lydians
– The Arameans
– The Hebrews
– The Arabs
– The Canaanites
So in biblical times, the Semitic peoples were found primarily in the Middle East and included both Jews and Arabs. The term “anti-Semitic” today refers specifically to prejudice against Jewish people, but biblically the term Semite had a broader meaning.
Shem in the Bible
Shem was one of the three sons of Noah, along with Ham and Japheth (Genesis 5:32). After the Flood, the whole earth was repopulated through the descendants of these three sons of Noah. Here is what the Bible tells us about Shem:
– Shem was 100 years old when his son Arphaxad was born, two years after the Flood (Genesis 11:10).
– Shem lived for 600 years after the Flood and died at the age of 600 (Genesis 11:11).
– Shem was blessed by God to be the ancestor of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 9:26).
– Shem is described as the father of all the children of Eber (Genesis 10:21), referring to the Hebrew peoples who descended from Eber.
– Shem is also described as the elder brother of Japheth (Genesis 10:21).
So Shem was the son of Noah who would carry on the blessed line leading to the Messiah. The Semitic peoples descended from him through his various sons and grandsons.
The Descendants of Shem
Here are the descendants of Shem listed in Genesis 10:
Elam
The eldest son of Shem (Genesis 10:22). The Elamites settled in the region east of the Tigris River in what is now modern Iran. They were warlike people who intermittently fought with the Assyrians.
Asshur
He founded the Assyrian people who established the powerful Assyrian Empire centered in northern Mesopotamia (Genesis 10:22).
Arphaxad
The son of Shem whose grandson Eber is the ancestor of the Hebrews (Genesis 10:24, 11:14-26).
Lud
His descendants became the Lydian people who settled in Asia Minor (Genesis 10:22).
Aram
He is the forefather of the Arameans who settled what is modern Syria (Genesis 10:22).
So the Elamites, Assyrians, Lydians, Arameans and Hebrews all descended from Shem and made up the cluster of peoples known as Semites in biblical times.
Abraham the Hebrew
The most prominent descendant of Shem in Scripture is Abraham. He is highlighted as a descendant of Shem through his ancestor Eber (Genesis 11:14-26). Abraham embodied many of the key virtues of the Semitic peoples:
– Abraham showed remarkable faith in the one true God (Genesis 15:6).
– God chose Abraham to birth his chosen nation of Israel (Genesis 12:2).
– Abraham was a nomad and tent-dweller as many Semitic peoples were (Genesis 12:8).
– Abraham lived in the Promised Land of Canaan (Genesis 12:5).
– Abraham had an encounter with the mysterious Melchizedek, king of Salem (Genesis 14).
– God established his covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15, 17).
So Abraham as a Hebrew embodied the faith, nomadic life and emphasis on covenants that characterized the Semitic peoples. His descendants the Israelites became God’s chosen people.
Characteristics of the Semitic Peoples
In addition to the descendants listed in Genesis 10, we can identify other traits that generally characterized the Semitic peoples:
– Most Semitic peoples were nomadic herders. They were tent-dwellers who moved from place to place with their flocks.
– Semitic languages share similar features. Hebrew, Arabic and Aramaic are all Semitic languages known for their three-letter word roots.
– Covenants and agreements were integral to Semitic culture. We see this in biblical covenants but also in other ancient Near East treaties.
– Family ties and ancestry were very important to establish identity. Genealogies like those in Genesis 10 established kinship groups.
– The witness of the one true God was passed down through the Semitic peoples. God’s revelations to Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and prophets kept this witness alive.
So while the term may have broadened today, in biblical times it referred specifically to the descendants of Shem and their cultural traits. These peoples played a key role in God’s plan through history.
Other References to Shem in Scripture
Besides the Table of Nations genealogy, there are a few other biblical mentions of Shem that provide more insight about him:
– Genesis 5:32 notes that Shem was one of three sons born to Noah when he was 500 years old.
– Genesis 9:18 records that Shem, along with Ham and Japheth, went on the Ark with Noah and were saved through the Flood.
– Genesis 9:23 describes how Shem acted honorably by covering his father Noah’s nakedness after Ham had shamed him.
– Genesis 11:10 records Shem’s age and ancestral line down to Abraham.
– 1 Chronicles 1:4 lists Shem in a genealogy of patriarchs down to Jacob.
– Luke 3:36 traces Jesus’ ancestry back to Shem as part of His genealogy.
So the biblical mentions provide us a consistent picture of Shem as the blessed son of Noah whose line led to the Messiah.
Contrasts with Other Sons of Noah
The sons of Noah – Shem, Ham and Japheth – had differing legacies in Scripture:
– Ham was the son cursed for his offense against Noah (Genesis 9:20-27). His descendants like the Canaanites were often Israel’s enemies.
– Japheth was foretold to be enlarged and dwell in Shem’s tents (Genesis 9:27). His descendants settled areas like India and Europe.
– Shem was blessed to be the ancestor of God’s chosen people (Genesis 9:26). His line led to key figures like Abraham, David and Jesus.
So while Ham was cursed and Japheth enlarged in different ways, Shem was chosen to carry the blessed line leading to Christ. His Semitic peoples were instrumental in God’s redemptive plan.
Jews as Semitic People
The descendants of Shem through Abraham are the Jewish people. According to Scripture, the Jews are a Semitic people:
– They are descendants of Eber, a descendant of Shem (Genesis 10:21).
– Abraham is highlighted as a descendant of Eber the Hebrew (Genesis 14:13).
– Jewish lineage traces back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12, 21, 25).
– They fulfilled their purpose as God’s chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6-9).
– The Messiah Jesus Christ came through Jewish lineage (Matthew 1).
So although the term has broadened today, Jews clearly fit the biblical definition of Semitic peoples descending from Shem. Anti-Semitism directed specifically against Jews derives from this biblical ancestry.
Arabs as Semitic People
In addition to Jews, the Arabs are another people group descending from Shem. Here is the biblical basis for Arabs being Semites:
– They are said to descend from Joktan, a descendant of Eber and Shem (Genesis 10:25-30).
– The various ancestral names listed like Sheba and Havilah correspond to various Arabian regions.
– The name Joktan means “small” which fits Arabian ancestry from a “small” son of Eber.
– Their language (Arabic) is Semitic, sharing similarities with other languages like Hebrew.
So although the modern political climate differs, Arabs have a valid claim to Semitic ancestry going back to Shem’s grandson Joktan according to Scripture.
Canaanites as Semitic People
The Canaanites were descended from Ham through his son Canaan (Genesis 9:18), but linguistically they spoke a Semitic language. This points to some overlap between the groups:
– Canaanites like the Hittites descended from Ham (Genesis 10:6, 15-18).
– But they inhabited areas like Lebanon settled by Semitic peoples (Numbers 13:29).
– Their language was similar to Hebrew, using the same alphabet.
– Intermarriage happened between Canaanites and Israelites.
So genealogically Canaanites descended from Ham, but culturally and linguistically they interacted heavily with Semitic peoples. This may account for linguistic and geographic overlaps.
How the Term “Semite” Has Changed
In current usage, the term Semite has narrowed to refer specifically to Jewish people:
– In the 19th century it was used for all peoples descending from Shem.
– But over time its usage narrowed to just refer to Jews.
– This occurred partially through the rise of “anti-Semitism” directed against Jews.
– The outdated term is today considered offensive and inaccurate.
– Broader use of the term risks lumping very diverse modern groups together.
So while the biblical meaning encompassed all of Shem’s descendants, over time the term’s meaning has narrowed. Most avoid using it broadly today due to confusion with its modern usage.
Shem in Ancient Near East History
Although the Bible provides the most information about Shem, some extra-biblical ancient sources make reference to him as well:
– The Sumerian King List mentions Shem as a king who reigned after the Flood.
– Later Jewish traditions embellished Shem’s life, saying he was Melchizedek or lived until Jacob’s time.
– Early Christian writers like Josephus wrote about Shem as ancestor of the Semites.
However, Scripture provides the clearest picture of Shem. Confirmation from other ancient sources is limited. The biblical focus is on his role as a progenitor of God’s chosen people.
Key Takeaways on the Identity of Semites
Some key points that summarize what the Bible teaches about the identity of the Semites:
– They descend from Shem and the peoples listed in Genesis 10.
– Semites includes groups like Jews, Arabs, Arameans, Phoenicians, and Assyrians.
– They originated mainly in the Middle East and spread from there.
– Characteristics involve nomadic herding, Semitic languages, and covenant focus.
– Jewish people specifically descend from Shem through Abraham.
– Although the term’s usage has narrowed, biblically it had a wide meaning.
So in the Table of Nations, “Semites” encompassed all of Shem’s descendants whose lineages trace back to this son of Noah after the Flood. The heritage of Jews and Arabs derives from this common ancestry in Shem.