This chapter is a recitation of the genealogy of Shem, Ham and
Japeth. One of Japeth's sons is Magog, which I know we'll be hearing
about later when we get to the apocalyptic prophecies. Japeth's sons
reside in what is now Asia Minor/Turkey. Hame's sons inhabit Canaan and
Cush, or the Egyptian empire as it stood at the time of the writing of
this chapter. Cush is the father of Nimrod, a hunter and the first of
the "mighty men". Shem is the father of the Semetic people, including
all "Hebrews" who would become Israel.
Asimov discusses
Ararat and extensive flooding that would seem to cover the entire world
to the ancient people along the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates. He thinks
the reference to the "fountains of the deep" might indicate a tidal
wave, which combined with heavy rains and flooding, would be
catastrophic to ancients living in the flood plain .
Sumerian
legend tells of the great hero Gilgamesh who also saved his family and
samples of animals on a boat from a bad flood in Sumerian legend.
Noah's story shares other plot points with the Gilgamesh legend,
indicating it is a much older tale.
The ark settled in the "mountains of Ararat", not a specific mountain.
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