Shem, Ham, and Yafet

Hello,

In the Book of Genesis (chapter 10), the descendants of Shem, Ham, and Yafet, who established new nations, are enumerated. Upon closer examination, you will find exactly seventy nations, and these are the ones listed there:

Descendants of Yafet:

1. Gomer

2. Magog

3. Madai

4. Yavan

5. Tubal

6. Meshech

7. Tiras

8. Ashkenaz

9. Riphath

10. Togarmah

11. Elisha

12. Tarshish

13. Kittim

14. Dodanim

Descendants of Ham:

1. Cush

2. Mitsrayim

3. Put

4. Canaan

5. Saba

6. Havila

7. Sabtah

8. Raamah

9. Sabtechnah

10. Sheba

11. Dedan

12. Ludim

13. Anamim

14. Lehabim

15. Naphtuhim

16. Patrusim

17. Casluchim

18. Pelishtim

19. Kaphtorim

20. Tzidon

21. Chet

22. Yevusi

23. HaEmori

24. HaGirgashi

25. HaChivi

26. HaArki

27. HaSini

28. HaArvadi

29. HaTzmerii

30. HaChamati

Descendants of Shem:

1. Elam

2. Ashur

3. Arpachshad

4. Lud

5. Aram

6. Uz

7. Hul

8. Geter

9. Mash

10. Shalach

11. Ever

12. Peleg

13. Yoqtan

14. Almodad

15. Shaleph

16. Chatzarmavet

17. Yerah

18. Hadoram

19. Uzal

20. Diklah

21. Oval

22. Avimael

23. Sheva

24. Ophir

25. Chavilah

26. Yovav

(Verse 32) These are the families of the sons of Noah according to their generations in their nations; from these, the nations were divided on earth after the flood:

And see in the explanation of Rashi's grandson there (verse 15) and in the explanation of the Riqanti (verse 5).

As for who the seventy nations are today, I saw in the explanation of the Gra on the rectifications of the Zohar that the seventy nations are divided into two parts: the 35 nations in the portion of Edom – Esau – are Christians, and the 35 nations in the portion of Ishmael. However, the Malbim in the Book of Daniel explains that according to the verses, at the end of days, only ten great kingdoms will remain in the world, some of which will be from Edom and some from Ishmael. There is no contradiction between the two, for example: the nations of Europe that have recently united are considered part of the seventy as individuals, but regarding the groups, it will be regarded as one group among the ten aggregates that will exist in the end.

It is known in Kabbalah that the ox and the donkey symbolize these two powers, where the ox symbolizes Edom as written (in Isaiah 34) in his prophecy about the War of Gog and Magog, and bulls descend with knights, and the intention there is Edom, while Ishmael is alluded to with the donkey, as it says "You shall remain here with the donkey" (in BK 49a), and his mother is from the land of Egypt, whose flesh is like that of donkeys (Ezekiel 23). When they unite, they pose a great threat to Israel. Therefore, in order to weaken their power and create division between them, the Torah commanded us to perform actions by which they will not be able to join together, and that is why the Jewish people were commanded not to plow with an ox and a donkey together. By being careful with this prohibition, we create a separation between Christians and Ishmaelites, as written by the Gra and the Kabbalists. Edom wanted to unite with Ishmael and destroy the world of holiness; hence it is written that Esau hated Jacob, and immediately he went to Ishmael and took Machalat the daughter of Ishmael, [and Hashem, in His mercy, killed him before he could unite with these two wicked ones, and he needed to marry his sister as explained by Rashi there], and Esau thought he could overpower us. But what did Jacob our father send? Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the field of Edom, and he was both an ox and a donkey, the ox is Messiah son of Joseph, regarding whom it is written "His firstborn ox is majestic for him" and he will triumph in the War of Gog and Magog against the nations belonging to the children of Edom who are Esau, and he is Edom. [And the slaughterer came and slaughtered the ox, this is Messiah son of Joseph who will slaughter the ox, the force of Esau], and afterward, he will die by the hand of Armilus, the wicked one, the messenger of the Angel of Death, as explained in the Gemara of Sukkah, and then Hashem will reveal himself to fight with the other nations along with all His saints, and this holy donkey will manifest as Messiah son of David, humble and riding on a donkey, who will subdue the nations, the children of Ishmael alluded to by the phrase "You shall remain here with the donkey," who remain in the world after the Christians, the children of Esau. And through these two messiahs, Jacob wishes to convey that he is not afraid of him and of his association with his father-in-law Ishmael, for ultimately, Hashem's name will be magnified and sanctified and evil will cease from there, and they will ascend to Zion as redeemers, and all wickedness will be as smoke, consumed by smoke.

Identifying these nations across the globe is a complex and very difficult matter; in the Talmud (tractate Yoma), identification is only provided for some of the nations, specifically:

1. Gomer - Germany

2. Magog - Scythia

3. Madai - Media

4. Yavan - as it is

5. Tubal - the Byzantines

6. Meshech - Mosya, and some say Moscow

7. Tiras - Persia, Iran

8. Ashkenaz - Germany

In the explanation of Daath Mikra by Yehuda Kollel on Chronicles 1, chapter 1, from verse 5 to verse 23, you will find all identifying methods for the aforementioned seventy nations, as well as information on where each one is located.

Perhaps also in the explanation of Daath Mikra on the Book of Genesis, this identification is found, but I do not have the commentary on the Book of Genesis to tell you.

Best of luck – Menashe Yisrael