What are the…
dispersions

Greek: diaspora

Meaning: “scattered” (James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1) of the Jews.

  1. Dispersion of Noah’s descendants , from the plain of Shinar

    This dispersion was caused primarily by God through the confusion of tongues at Babel.

    …the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth. —Genesis 11:9 NASB excerpt

    The people were scattered abroad “every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations” (Genesis 10:5, 20, 31).

    The tenth chapter of Genesis gives us an account of the principal nations of the Earth in their migrations from the plain of Shinar, which was their common residence after the Flood. In general, it may be said that the descendants of Japheth were scattered over the north, those of Shem over the central regions, and those of Ham over the extreme south. The following table shows how the different families were dispersed:

    JAPHETH
  • Gomer
     Gomerites: 
       Galatians (Anatolian Galatia)
       Cappadocians
       Cimmerians/Gimmerai (southern Russia)
       Armenians
       Celts
       Gauls

  • Magog
     Caucasians
     Scythians

 • Madai
     Medes
     Persian tribes

  • Javan
     Javanites:
       • Elishah
           Greeks

       • Tarshish
           Etruscans
           Romans

       • Chittim
           Cyprians
           Macedonians

       • Dodanim
           Rhodians

  • Tubal
     Tibareni
     Tartars

  • Meshech
     Moschi
     Muscovites

  • Tiras
     Thracians

SHEM
  • Elam
     Elamites
     Persian tribes

  • Asshur (Assur, Ashur, Aššur, Ašur, Asur)
     Assyrians

  • Arpakshad (Arpachshad, Arphaxad)
    → Shelah → EBER (founder of the Hebrews) → Peleg → Reu → Serug → Nahor → Terah → 
            • Abraham (Abram)

          • Isaac
             • Jacob (aka Israel)
                Israelites

             • Esau (aka Edom)
                Edomites

          • Ishmael
              Ishmaelites
              Mingled with Arab tribes

  • Lud
     Lydians

  • Aram (A-ram)
     Syrians

HAM
  • Cush
     Cushites
     Ethiopans
     Sons:
       • Seba
       • Havilah
       • Sabtah
       • Raamah
       • Sabtechah (Sabtecha)
       • Nimrod

  • Mizraim (Mizrain)
     Egyptians
     Phut Lybians
     Mauritanians
  • Canaan
     Canaanites
     Phoenicians

    MORE INFORMATION about the dispersion of Noah’s descendants

    Explanation of the origin of races, beginning at Babel

  2. Israelite and Jewish dispersion

    At various times, and for various reasons, the Jews were separated and scattered into foreign countries “to the outmost parts of heaven” (Deuteronomy 30:4).

    1. Many were dispersed over Assyria, Media, Babylonia, and Persia, descendants of those who had been transported thither by the Exile.

      The ten tribes, after existing as a separate kingdom for 255 years, were carried captive (B.C. 721) by Shalmaneser (or Sargon), king of Assyria. They never returned to their own land as a distinct people, although many individuals from among these tribes, there can be no doubt, joined with the bands that returned from Babylon on the proclamation of Cyrus.

    2. Many Jews migrated to Egypt and took up their abode there. This migration began in the days of Solomon (2 Kings 18:21, 24; Isaiah 30:7).

      Alexander the Great placed a large number of Jews in Alexandria, which he had founded, and conferred on them equal rights with the Egyptians.

      Ptolemy Philadelphus, it is said, caused the Jewish Scriptures to be translated into Greek (the work began B.C. 284), for the use of the Alexandrian Jews.

      The Jews in Egypt continued for many ages to exercise a powerful influence on the public interests of that country.

      From Egypt they spread along the coast of Africa to Cyrene (Acts 2:10) and to Ethiopia (8:27).

    3. After the time of Seleucus Nicator (B.C. 280), one of the captains of Alexander the Great, large numbers of Jews migrated into Syria, where they enjoyed equal rights with the Macedonians. From Syria they found their way into Asia Minor.

      Antiochus the Great, king of Syria and Asia, removed 3,000 families of Jews from Mesopotamia and Babylonia, and planted them in Phrygia and Lydia.

    4. From Asia Minor many Jews moved into Greece and Macedonia, chiefly for purposes of commerce. In the apostles’ time they were found in considerable numbers in all the principal cities.

    Rome

    From the time of Pompey the Great (B.C. 63), numbers of Jews from Judea and Greece went to Rome, where they had a separate quarter of the city assigned to them. Here they enjoyed considerable freedom.

    Conclusion

    Thus, the Jews were scattered everywhere abroad. This, in the overruling providence of God, ultimately contributed in a great degree toward opening the way for the spread of the Gospel into all lands.

    MORE INFORMATION about dispersion of the Israelites and Jews

Article Version: July 16, 2021