And Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstbornCanaan, the son of Ham and grandson of Noah, is a significant figure as the progenitor of the Canaanites, a group often in conflict with the Israelites. Sidon, his firstborn, is historically and geographically important as the founder of the city of Sidon, one of the principal cities of Phoenicia. Sidon is frequently mentioned in the Bible, often in the context of trade and idolatry (e.g.,
Isaiah 23:2-4). The city of Sidon was known for its wealth and influence in the ancient world, and its people were skilled in navigation and trade, contributing to the spread of the Phoenician alphabet. The mention of Sidon as the firstborn highlights the prominence of this city in the ancient Near East.
and of the Hittites
The Hittites were an ancient people who established a significant empire in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) and had interactions with various biblical figures, including Abraham and David. They are mentioned in several biblical passages, such asGenesis 23, where Abraham purchases a burial site from Ephron the Hittite. The Hittites are also noted for their advanced legal and governmental systems, as well as their military prowess. Archaeological discoveries, such as the Hittite capital at Hattusa, have provided insight into their culture and influence. The inclusion of the Hittites in this genealogy underscores the diverse and complex relationships between the descendants of Canaan and the Israelites throughout biblical history.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
CanaanThe son of Ham and grandson of Noah, Canaan is the progenitor of the Canaanites, a group of ancient people who lived in the land that would later become Israel. The Canaanites are often depicted in the Bible as adversaries of the Israelites.
2.
SidonSidon is identified as the firstborn son of Canaan. The city of Sidon, located in modern-day Lebanon, was a significant Phoenician city known for its trade and maritime prowess.
3.
HittitesA group of people descended from Canaan, the Hittites were an ancient Anatolian people who established an empire in what is now Turkey. They are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as inhabitants of the land promised to the Israelites.
Teaching Points
Understanding Lineage and LegacyThe genealogies in Genesis remind us of the importance of lineage and the impact of our ancestors on our present circumstances. Reflect on how your spiritual heritage influences your faith journey.
God's Sovereignty Over NationsThe mention of various nations descending from Canaan illustrates God's sovereignty over the rise and fall of nations. Trust in God's ultimate plan and purpose for the world, even when it seems chaotic.
The Consequences of SinCanaan's descendants often opposed Israel, reflecting the consequences of sin and disobedience that began with Ham's actions. Consider how personal choices can have long-lasting effects on future generations.
Cultural Interactions and InfluenceThe interactions between Israel and the Canaanite tribes, including the Hittites and Sidonians, show the complexities of cultural influence. Be mindful of how the culture around you influences your values and beliefs.
God's Faithfulness to His PromisesDespite the opposition from Canaan's descendants, God remained faithful to His promise to give the land to Israel. Trust in God's faithfulness to fulfill His promises in your life.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Genesis 10:15?
2.How does Genesis 10:15 show the lineage of Canaan's descendants?
3.What significance do Canaan's descendants have in biblical history and prophecy?
4.How can understanding Canaan's lineage help us interpret other biblical narratives?
5.How does Genesis 10:15 connect with God's promises to Abraham in Genesis 12?
6.What lessons can we learn from Canaan's descendants for our spiritual journey today?
7.Who were the descendants of Canaan mentioned in Genesis 10:15, and what is their historical significance?
8.How does Genesis 10:15 relate to the broader narrative of the Table of Nations?
9.What archaeological evidence supports the existence of the Canaanites mentioned in Genesis 10:15?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 10?
11.What is Sidon's biblical significance?
12.Who were the Zidonians in the Bible?
13.What is the history of the Hittites?
14.What is Sidon's biblical significance?What Does Genesis 10:15 Mean
And Canaan was the father“Canaan was the father…” (Genesis 10:15) grounds us in the real, historical line of Noah’s grandson. Scripture consistently presents genealogies as factual records—seeGenesis 10:6 and1 Chronicles 1:13.
• This statement ties back to the earlier prophetic word inGenesis 9:25–27, where Noah foretold Canaan’s future.
• It also prepares readers for later passages where the Canaanite peoples become key players, such asDeuteronomy 7:1, reminding us that God’s promises and judgments unfold in actual time and space.
Here, we marvel at God’s faithfulness to preserve history with clarity, demonstrating that every name matters in His redemptive plan.
of Sidon his firstbornSidon, the firstborn son, later lent his name to a significant coastal city: “Sidon” features inJoshua 19:28 as part of Israel’s territorial boundaries.
• Firstborn status implied prominence; thus, Sidon’s line naturally became influential among the Canaanite clans.
•Judges 18:7 depicts Sidon as prosperous yet spiritually detached, illustrating how earthly success can exist alongside spiritual need.
• In the New Testament,Mark 7:26 mentions a Syrophoenician woman from that region, showing that even in Sidon God was reaching Gentile hearts.
Tracing Sidon reminds us that God oversees nations and individuals alike, inviting every lineage to find blessing through His covenant purposes.
and of the HittitesThe Hittites, another branch of Canaan’s family, appear frequently in Scripture.
• Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah from them (Genesis 23:3-20), anchoring Israel’s future burial ground in a Hittite-owned field.
• Centuries later they stood among the seven nations Israel was commanded to dispossess (Deuteronomy 7:1), underscoring God’s righteous judgment when sin persists.
• Yet God’s mercy also shines: Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11) exemplifies integrity, andEzekiel 16:3 uses Hittite imagery to stress Jerusalem’s need for grace.
These snapshots reveal God’s sovereignty in raising and removing nations while still valuing individual faithfulness.
summaryGenesis 10:15 is far more than a list of names. By recording that “Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites,” God shows:
• He works through real families in real history.
• Firstborn lines like Sidon’s can influence entire regions—illustrating stewardship and accountability.
• Even peoples destined for judgment, such as the Hittites, include individuals who can walk with integrity.
The verse encourages us to trust Scripture’s precise record and to see every lineage as a stage where God’s redemptive story unfolds.
(15-18)
Canaan.--The meaning of this name is uncertain, as, most probably, it is a Hamitic word: if derived from a Semitic root, it may mean the
lowland.Though the Canaanites spoke a Semitic tongue at the time when we find them in Palestine, yet the assertion of the Bible that they were Hamites is confirmed by the testimony of profane writers, who say that their original home was on the Indian Ocean. They had probably been driven thence by the pressure of Semitic races, with whose language they had thus already become familiar; and when, farther, they found a Semitic people thinly spread over Palestine, they may, while absorbing them, have been confirmed in the use of their tongue. So, subsequently, Abraham gave up Syriac for Hebrew; and though these are kindred dialects, yet they are often remote enough from one another (see
Genesis 31:47). On the other hand, the whole character of the Canaanite religion and thought was Hamitic, and while they Were active in commercial pursuits, and in culture far in advance of the Greeks, to whom they gave their alphabet, they were intensely sensuous in their worship and voluptuous in their manners. They are divided into eleven tribes, namely:--
1. Sidon.--This is remarkable as being the only town mentioned in the account either of Mizraim or of Canaan. All the rest are apparently the names of tribes still wandering about; and thus we gain a clearer idea both of the antiquity of this early record, and also of the great advance made by Nimrod in founding so many cities. Sidon, situated on the sea-shore, about thirty miles north of Tyre, became thus early a settled community and the seat of social life, because of its advantages for fishing (whence its name is derived), and also for commerce.
2. Heth.--The Kheta, or Hittites, a powerful race, whose language and monuments have recently become the object of careful study. They seem subsequently to have possessed not only Syria, but a large portion of Asia Minor. (See Note onGenesis 23:3;Genesis 23:5.)
3. The Jebusite.--This race held the territory afterwards occupied by Benjamin, and retained Jerusalem until the time of David (2Samuel 5:6-9. See Note onGenesis 14:18.) . . .
Verse 15. -
And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn. A famous commercial and maritime town on the coast of Syria (
1 Kings 5:6;
1 Chronicles 22:4;
Isaiah 23:2, 4, 12;
Ezekiel 27:8); here including Tyre. From the mention of the circumstance that Sidon was Canaan's firstborn, we may infer that in the rest of the table the order of seniority is not followed.
And Heth. The father of the Hittites (
Genesis 23:3, 5), identified by Egyptologers with the Kheta, a powerful Syrian tribe.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Canaanוּכְנַ֗עַן(ū·ḵə·na·‘an)Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3667:Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordanwas the father ofיָלַ֛ד(yā·laḏ)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3205:To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineageSidonצִידֹ֥ן(ṣî·ḏōn)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6721:Sidon -- a Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast, also a son of Canaanhis firstborn,בְּכֹר֖וֹ(bə·ḵō·rōw)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1060:Firstborn, chiefand ofוְאֶת־(wə·’eṯ-)Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853:Untranslatable mark of the accusative casethe Hittites,חֵֽת׃(ḥêṯ)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2845:Heth -- a son of Canaan and probably ancestor of the Hittites
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OT Law: Genesis 10:15 Canaan became the father of Sidon his (Gen. Ge Gn) 
