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The Black Presence in the Bible and the Table of Nations: Volume 2, Genesis 10:1-32
Examines the Bible's unique historiographic literary document and chapter, Genesis 10:1-32. As a veritable "family treee of ancient nations," its background and literary structure are investigated for insights into identifying Black and African peoples, and appreciating their identity and inter-relationships. Numerous and enlightenting facts are revealed about the Hamites, Cushites, Egyptians, Cretans, Putites, Canaanites, Arabians, Mesopotamians, Sumerians, Assyrians, Elamites, and their descendants in Biblical history.
Paperback
Published January 1, 1995
About the author
Walter Arthur McCray
26 books2 followersRev. Dr. Walter Arthur McCray is a Christian minister, writer, speaker, and entrepreneur. He has been the president of the National Black Evangelical Association since 1999.
McCray became a minister in 1969, and he has pastored several churches.
McCray became a minister in 1969, and he has pastored several churches.
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July 4, 2024
THE EXCELLENT FOLLOW-UP TO THE PREVIOUS VOLUME
Rev. Walter Arthur McCray is a lecturer and author. He wrote in the Preface of this 1990 book, “Little did we realize---in the midst of completing the manuscript for our first-intended volume of ‘The Black Presence in the Bible’---that the Lord would impress upon our heart the need to write a second volume of this nature. In the light of hindsight, the integral place of an in-depth analysis and exposition of the ‘Table of Nations’ (Genesis 10:1-32) to this overall subject is obvious.”
He states in the Foreword, “there are three dimensions of the Bible’s Black presence. Some peoples are EXPLICITLY Black, as is the case with Moses’ Cushite wife (Num 12:1). Others are IMPLICITLY classified as Black, like the ‘mixed-multitude’ which left slavery in Egypt under the leadership of Moses (Ex 12:37-38). In addition, there is a Black presence in the Bible which one may venture to PRESUME. We affirm the truth the certain Biblical persons are black in the absence of proof to the contrary. The grounds on which such presumption may take place is founded upon the pervasive presence of so many explicitly Black peoples who inhabited the word of the Bible. Particularly in reference to the Old Testament, Black peoples are the rule rather than the exception.” (Pg. 3-4)
He explains, “It is the three sons of Noah whose descendants are delineated in the Table of Nations. In Biblical usage, the descendants of Shem are called ‘Shemite’ (or Shemitic; Semite or Semitic), of Ham are called ‘Hamites’ (or Hamitic), and of Japeth are called ‘Japethites’ (or Japhetic). These Noahic descendants are mentioned in the order of Japeth’s, Ham’s and then Shem’s. Shem, though he was Noah’s oldest son, is treated last in the list of descendants. This switching of order is characteristic of Genesis which reserves for last the culminating discussion about the lineage through which the Messiah was to come. Most of our discussion in this study of the Black presence in the Bible is about Ham and his descendants, since he and his people are the central figures under investigation.” (Pg. 17)
He notes, “The peoples listed in Genesis 10 are viewed from the perspective of the ancient Hebrew-Israelites. This would account for the absence of the names ‘Hebrews’ and ‘Israel’ from the list. Several other indications of the Hebrew-Israelite perspective of the Table are noticeable. Geographically, the descendants of Shem, Ham and Japeth are located around the land of Canaan, which land Israel came to inhabit. The Table provides the first geographical description of Canaan found in the Scriptures (10:19). When the Table speaks of Canaan’s descendants it describes most of them by those familiar ‘ite’-ending terms (10:16).” (Pg. 63)
He summarizes, “It has been through our detailed examination of the Hamitic genealogical line that the Black presence in the Bible has been shown to be much more than one-dimensional. Without question the Hamitic genealogical line has been shown to be biologically hereditary. Yet, besides showing the kindred relationships between Hamitic persons and their peoples, the line has also revealed the geopolitical hegemony which ancient Black peoples exercised in their world. The Biblical Black presence is multidimensional… it encompasses ‘families,’ ‘languages,’ ‘lands’ and ‘nations.’ The divisional classification of the Table was capable of and surely reflects both the greatness and expansiveness of the Hamitic peoples it introduces and expounds.” (Pg. 135)
He concludes, “It has been our purpose to do no less or no more than the Scripture has done when it reads, ‘The sons of Ham… These are the sons of Ham.’ (Gen 10:6, 20) On the state of Black Biblical exegesis and exposition we have given a presentation of ‘the sons of Ham.’ We have sought to translate Biblical Hamitic genealogical information into the language and understanding of Black scholars in our day. Hereby, we would encourage Black Biblical expositors to do the same. We charge them to present to our hearers and readers ‘the sons/descendants of Ham,’ and to do so with all Scriptural fidelity, ethnic pride, passion for the truth, good conscience, repulsion of falsehood, and redemptive motivation through Christ Jesus.” (Pg. 137)
This book, as well as its companion volume, should be considered “must reading” for anyone seriously studying this subject.
Rev. Walter Arthur McCray is a lecturer and author. He wrote in the Preface of this 1990 book, “Little did we realize---in the midst of completing the manuscript for our first-intended volume of ‘The Black Presence in the Bible’---that the Lord would impress upon our heart the need to write a second volume of this nature. In the light of hindsight, the integral place of an in-depth analysis and exposition of the ‘Table of Nations’ (Genesis 10:1-32) to this overall subject is obvious.”
He states in the Foreword, “there are three dimensions of the Bible’s Black presence. Some peoples are EXPLICITLY Black, as is the case with Moses’ Cushite wife (Num 12:1). Others are IMPLICITLY classified as Black, like the ‘mixed-multitude’ which left slavery in Egypt under the leadership of Moses (Ex 12:37-38). In addition, there is a Black presence in the Bible which one may venture to PRESUME. We affirm the truth the certain Biblical persons are black in the absence of proof to the contrary. The grounds on which such presumption may take place is founded upon the pervasive presence of so many explicitly Black peoples who inhabited the word of the Bible. Particularly in reference to the Old Testament, Black peoples are the rule rather than the exception.” (Pg. 3-4)
He explains, “It is the three sons of Noah whose descendants are delineated in the Table of Nations. In Biblical usage, the descendants of Shem are called ‘Shemite’ (or Shemitic; Semite or Semitic), of Ham are called ‘Hamites’ (or Hamitic), and of Japeth are called ‘Japethites’ (or Japhetic). These Noahic descendants are mentioned in the order of Japeth’s, Ham’s and then Shem’s. Shem, though he was Noah’s oldest son, is treated last in the list of descendants. This switching of order is characteristic of Genesis which reserves for last the culminating discussion about the lineage through which the Messiah was to come. Most of our discussion in this study of the Black presence in the Bible is about Ham and his descendants, since he and his people are the central figures under investigation.” (Pg. 17)
He notes, “The peoples listed in Genesis 10 are viewed from the perspective of the ancient Hebrew-Israelites. This would account for the absence of the names ‘Hebrews’ and ‘Israel’ from the list. Several other indications of the Hebrew-Israelite perspective of the Table are noticeable. Geographically, the descendants of Shem, Ham and Japeth are located around the land of Canaan, which land Israel came to inhabit. The Table provides the first geographical description of Canaan found in the Scriptures (10:19). When the Table speaks of Canaan’s descendants it describes most of them by those familiar ‘ite’-ending terms (10:16).” (Pg. 63)
He summarizes, “It has been through our detailed examination of the Hamitic genealogical line that the Black presence in the Bible has been shown to be much more than one-dimensional. Without question the Hamitic genealogical line has been shown to be biologically hereditary. Yet, besides showing the kindred relationships between Hamitic persons and their peoples, the line has also revealed the geopolitical hegemony which ancient Black peoples exercised in their world. The Biblical Black presence is multidimensional… it encompasses ‘families,’ ‘languages,’ ‘lands’ and ‘nations.’ The divisional classification of the Table was capable of and surely reflects both the greatness and expansiveness of the Hamitic peoples it introduces and expounds.” (Pg. 135)
He concludes, “It has been our purpose to do no less or no more than the Scripture has done when it reads, ‘The sons of Ham… These are the sons of Ham.’ (Gen 10:6, 20) On the state of Black Biblical exegesis and exposition we have given a presentation of ‘the sons of Ham.’ We have sought to translate Biblical Hamitic genealogical information into the language and understanding of Black scholars in our day. Hereby, we would encourage Black Biblical expositors to do the same. We charge them to present to our hearers and readers ‘the sons/descendants of Ham,’ and to do so with all Scriptural fidelity, ethnic pride, passion for the truth, good conscience, repulsion of falsehood, and redemptive motivation through Christ Jesus.” (Pg. 137)
This book, as well as its companion volume, should be considered “must reading” for anyone seriously studying this subject.
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