וּלְעֵ֥בֶר יֻלַּ֖ד שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֑ים שֵׁ֣ם הָֽאֶחָ֞ד פֶּ֗לֶג כִּ֤י בְיָמָיו֙ נִפְלְגָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יָקְטָֽן׃
에벨은 두 아들을 낳고 하나의 이름을 벨렉이라 하였으니 그 때에 세상이 나뉘었음이요 벨렉의 아우의 이름은 욕단이며
Seder Olam Rabbah
From Adam to the Flood was 1656 years, and this is their enumeration: Adam 130, Seth 105, Enosh 90, Kenan 70, Mahalalel 65, Jared 162, Enoch 65, Methuselah 187, Lamech 182, and Noah was six hundred years old, etc." (Genesis 7, 6). Enoch buried Adam, and lived after him 57 years. Methuselah exhausted his days just before the Flood. From the Flood to the division [of languages] was 340 years. Noah lived ten years after the division [of languages]. Our father Abraham was at the division [of languages] 48 years old. Rabbi Yosei said: Eber was so great a prophet that he [preemptively] named his son Peleg ["division"], [aided] by the Holy Spirit. [Eber having foreseen what was to come] as it says "in his days the earth was divided" (Genesis 10, 25).
Bereshit Rabbah
“And the stars” (Genesis 1:16) – Rav Aḥa said: This is analogous to a king who had two stewards, one ruled [only] over the city and one ruled over the [rest of the] province. The king said: ‘Since this one diminished himself [and consented] to be ruler over the city, I decree concerning him that whenever he goes out, a large crowd should go out with him, and when he enters, the city council and the multitudes should enter with him.’ So, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since the moon diminished itself to rule at night, I decree concerning it that when it goes out, the stars should go out with it, and when it goes in,11When it sets. the stars should go in with it.’
Similarly, “the name of his brother was Yoktan” (Genesis 10:25) – Rabbi Aḥa said: Why was he named Yoktan? It is because he would minimize [maktin] his affairs.12He was humble. What did he merit? He merited producing thirteen great families.13See Genesis 10:26–29. Now, if Yoktan14Who was the younger brother (Genesis 10:25). received this because he minimized his affairs, if an important man minimizes his affairs, all the more so.
Similarly, “Israel extended his right hand, and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger” (Genesis 48:14) – Rabbi Ḥonya said: Do we not know from the accounts of the births that he was the younger? What, then, is “who was the younger [tza’ir]”? It is because he would minimize [matzir] his affairs. What did he merit? He merited the birthright. Now, if the young one merited the birthright because he minimized his affairs, an older person who minimizes his affairs, all the more so. This is astounding.15It is astounding how great the power of humility is.
Similarly, “the name of his brother was Yoktan” (Genesis 10:25) – Rabbi Aḥa said: Why was he named Yoktan? It is because he would minimize [maktin] his affairs.12He was humble. What did he merit? He merited producing thirteen great families.13See Genesis 10:26–29. Now, if Yoktan14Who was the younger brother (Genesis 10:25). received this because he minimized his affairs, if an important man minimizes his affairs, all the more so.
Similarly, “Israel extended his right hand, and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger” (Genesis 48:14) – Rabbi Ḥonya said: Do we not know from the accounts of the births that he was the younger? What, then, is “who was the younger [tza’ir]”? It is because he would minimize [matzir] his affairs. What did he merit? He merited the birthright. Now, if the young one merited the birthright because he minimized his affairs, an older person who minimizes his affairs, all the more so. This is astounding.15It is astounding how great the power of humility is.
Bereshit Rabbah
“And to Shem, father of all the children of Ever, brother of Yefet the eldest, children were also born” (Genesis 10:21).
“And to Shem, father of all the children of Ever…[brother of Yefet the eldest]23This phrase could also be translated: the elder brother of Yefet.” – we do not know whether Shem is the eldest or Yefet is the eldest. From what is written: “These are the descendants of Shem. Shem was one hundred years old, and he begot Arpakhshad two years after the Flood” (Genesis 11:10),24Noah’s eldest son was born when he was five hundred year old (Genesis 5:32), and the Flood began when he was six hundred years old (Genesis 7:6), so Noah’s eldest son was one hundred years old when the Flood began. Shem, however, turned one hundred two years after the Flood. we see that Yefet was the eldest.
“Two sons were born to Ever; the name of the one was Peleg, as in his days the world was divided, and the name of his brother was Yoktan” (Genesis 10:25).
“Two sons were born to Ever; the name of the one was Peleg, as in his days the world was divided” – Rabbi Yosei says: The ancients, because they knew their ancestors [personally],25Since they lived very long lives, spanning many generations. would give names [to their children] on the basis of events [of their lives], but we, who do not know our ancestors,26Because they are already dead when our children are born. give names [to our children] after our ancestors. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: The ancients, because they utilized the divine spirit [of prophecy], would give names on the basis of events, but we, who do not utilize the divine spirit, give names after our ancestors. Rabbi Yosei ben Ḥalafta said: Ever was a great prophet, as he named [his son] on the basis of [future] events. That is what is written: “Two sons were born to Ever… [the name of the one was Peleg, as in his days the world was divided [niflega]].”27Ever named his son after the dispersion of the Tower of Babel, an event that would happen later in his life.
Why was he named Yoktan? It is because he minimized [maktin] himself28He acted humbly. and his affairs. What did he merit? He merited to produce thirteen families. If for the younger son who minimized his affairs it is so, for an older one who minimizes his affairs, all the more so.29If even the younger son is rewarded for acting humbly, all the more so if an older son does so. Similarly, “Israel extended his right hand, and laid it upon the head of Ephraim, who was the younger [hatza’ir]” (Genesis 48:14) – Rabbi Huna said: From the report of their births,30In Genesis 41:51–52. do we not know that he [Ephraim] was the younger? The explanation [for repeating the information here] is that he used to downplay [matz’ir] his affairs. What did he merit? He merited the birthright. If the younger one who downplayed his affairs merited the birthright, an older one who downplays his affairs, all the more so.
“And to Shem, father of all the children of Ever…[brother of Yefet the eldest]23This phrase could also be translated: the elder brother of Yefet.” – we do not know whether Shem is the eldest or Yefet is the eldest. From what is written: “These are the descendants of Shem. Shem was one hundred years old, and he begot Arpakhshad two years after the Flood” (Genesis 11:10),24Noah’s eldest son was born when he was five hundred year old (Genesis 5:32), and the Flood began when he was six hundred years old (Genesis 7:6), so Noah’s eldest son was one hundred years old when the Flood began. Shem, however, turned one hundred two years after the Flood. we see that Yefet was the eldest.
“Two sons were born to Ever; the name of the one was Peleg, as in his days the world was divided, and the name of his brother was Yoktan” (Genesis 10:25).
“Two sons were born to Ever; the name of the one was Peleg, as in his days the world was divided” – Rabbi Yosei says: The ancients, because they knew their ancestors [personally],25Since they lived very long lives, spanning many generations. would give names [to their children] on the basis of events [of their lives], but we, who do not know our ancestors,26Because they are already dead when our children are born. give names [to our children] after our ancestors. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: The ancients, because they utilized the divine spirit [of prophecy], would give names on the basis of events, but we, who do not utilize the divine spirit, give names after our ancestors. Rabbi Yosei ben Ḥalafta said: Ever was a great prophet, as he named [his son] on the basis of [future] events. That is what is written: “Two sons were born to Ever… [the name of the one was Peleg, as in his days the world was divided [niflega]].”27Ever named his son after the dispersion of the Tower of Babel, an event that would happen later in his life.
Why was he named Yoktan? It is because he minimized [maktin] himself28He acted humbly. and his affairs. What did he merit? He merited to produce thirteen families. If for the younger son who minimized his affairs it is so, for an older one who minimizes his affairs, all the more so.29If even the younger son is rewarded for acting humbly, all the more so if an older son does so. Similarly, “Israel extended his right hand, and laid it upon the head of Ephraim, who was the younger [hatza’ir]” (Genesis 48:14) – Rabbi Huna said: From the report of their births,30In Genesis 41:51–52. do we not know that he [Ephraim] was the younger? The explanation [for repeating the information here] is that he used to downplay [matz’ir] his affairs. What did he merit? He merited the birthright. If the younger one who downplayed his affairs merited the birthright, an older one who downplays his affairs, all the more so.