All the Children of Eber

A Devotional Series from Genesis

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7/30 Reading Portions: Judges 13; Acts 17; Jeremiah 26; Mark 12

Genesis 10:21, KJV

Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born,

HEBREW

It is interesting that Shem is the father of all the children of Eber. Eber is the great-grandson of Shem, being the son of Shelah, who was the son of Arpachshad (Gen 10:24). Eber, whose name in Hebrew, עֵבֶר (Ā-ver), comes from a Hebrew root that means “cross over.” His name is the origin for the Hebrew people, עִבְרִי (iv-REEY); as Abram was called a “Hebrew” (Gen 14:13). The modern Hebrew language also comes from Eber’s name: עִברִית (iv-REEYT).

Why would “all the children of Eber” be mentioned as being fathered by Shem? I believe that through Moses, the Holy Spirit reveals to us at least three things.

First, when we follow Shem’s genealogy through Eber (Gen 11:10-26), Shem lived long enough to see the birth of Esau’s children; Esau and Jacob would have been 50 years old when Shem died. He may not have actually seen them, since Abram was told to leave his family to go into Canaan (Gen 12:1), but Shem’s testimony may have been passed down through the descendants of Eber.

Second, all of Shem’s children until Eber spoke the Hebrew language. Languages were confused by God during the idolatry and self-exaltation during the building of the Tower of Babel. This more than likely occurred during Eber’s generation; and Eber named his son, Peleg, afterward, “for in his days the earth was divided” (Gen 10:25); which we’ll look at later.

Third, it was through Eber’s lineage and through the Hebrew language that the promised Messiah would come.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!