Peleg

The flood no doubt altered the whole geographical face of the Earth.

And there is one interesting little scripture that we know very little about But there's just sort of a side comment concerning the time of Peleg, that it was in his time that the earth was divided.

Now there are...

Some of the latest theories are concerning the continental drifts, that at once everything was connected together, but the continents have drifted and are still drifting.

If that theory is correct, it would be very interesting, this little side, like when did that happen? How long ago? Well, it happened at the time of Peleg, and, uh, and it just, it really is just sort of thrown in there just as a little grabber, and, uh, something to, uh, create a, [laughs] a area for people to speculate about.

God doesn't say any more about the earth being divided except that one little remark, and we'll get to it in a, uh, while here in Genesis, as it gives the genealogies.

As it gives his genealogy, it just gives that little ad- ad- addition to it, and it was in his days that the earth was divided.

Shelah lived 403 years after he fathered Eber and fathered sons and daughters.

Eber lived 34 years and he fathered Peleg.

Eber lived 430 years after he fathered Peleg and he fathered sons and daughters.

Peleg lived 30 years and he fathered Reu.

Peleg lived 209 years after he fathered Reu and he fathered sons and daughters.

Re'u lived 32 years and he fathered Serug.

Re'u lived 207 years after he fathered Serug and he fathered sons and daughters.

The fact that Aver is very significant is clear from the next verse.

The Aver had born to him two sons, The name of one of them was Peleg, because it was his days that the land became divided, which probably refers to the Tower of Babel event, which we'll get to in the next Aliyah.

And his brother's name, that is Peleg's brother's name, was Yoqtan.

Note again, though, by Aver, the irregular use of the word Yulad had borne to him in the past for Aver.

And now let's take a look at where that verb is used and only used.

Two sons were born to Eber.

The name of the first was Peleg, and the name of the, of the other was Joktan.

But why is Shem the father of Eber? Okay? Shem is the great-grandfather of Eber, so why make special n- n- note or connection between Shem and Eber? Okay.

And he, it is from this connection that we, um, begin to develop the legend of Shem and Eber and their schools, their study halls.

Two sons were born to Ever.

The name of the first was Peleg, and the name of the other was Yoctan.

But why is Shem the father of Ever? Shem is the great-grandfather of Ever, so why make special note or connection between Shem and Ever? And it is from this connection that we begin to develop the legend of Shem and Ever and their schools, their study halls.

Shem and Ever and their study halls.

According to the text, Eber has two sons.

He names one of them Yoktan, and the other he names Peleg.

Right, which translates to division.

Exactly.

Makes sense on the surface.

It does, but Rashi points out a really fascinating chronological wrinkle here.

According to the ancient chronological calculations we have, the dispersal at Babel didn't actually happen when Peleg was born.

Wait, really?

And unto Eber were born two sons.

The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days was the earth divided, and his brother's name was Yochtan.

And Yochtan begot Almudad, and Shalef, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, and Hadaram, and Uzal, and Tikla, and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba.

and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab.

And Shelah lived thirty years, and begot Yabeer.

And Shelah lived after he begot Yabeer four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters.

And Yabeer lived four and thirty years, and begot Peleg.

And Yabeer lived after he begot Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters.

Two sons were born to Eber.

The name of the first was Peleg, because in his days the land was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan.

Joktan fathered Elmadad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jira, Hadoram, Uzal, Dikla, Obal, Abimal, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab.

All of these are Joktan's sons.