LXX Gen 10:21–32: Shem’s line and Kainan

Says 10:21 ends ἀδελφῷ Ἰάφεθ τοῦ μείζονος. The genitive τοῦ μείζονος (Abbott-Smith s.v. μέγας, “great”) agrees with Ἰάφεθ, not with the dative ἀδελφῷ, so the Greek calls Japheth the greater, where אֲחִי יֶפֶת הַגָּדוֹל can be read either way.

Uncertain No lean is taken on whether Shem or Japheth was the elder.

Says Swete’s 10:22 has the MT’s five sons. At 10:24 it adds a generation: Ἀρφαξὰδ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Καινάμ, καὶ Καινὰμ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Σάλα, where וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁד יָלַד אֶת־שָׁלַח has none. Abbott-Smith lists Καινάμ as “Son of Arphaxad”, citing this verse. The Bodleian Genesis spells Καιναν and also adds καὶ Καιναν at 10:22. In Alexandrinus a corrector wrote over erasures in both verses: the end of Αραμων at 10:22, over about ten letters, and τὸν Κ. καί at 10:24. Swete does not say what was erased.

Uncertain Luke 3:36 also names Cainan; no lean is taken on whether he stood in the original text of Genesis.

Says At 10:25 Φάλεκ renders פֶּלֶג, and διεμερίσθη ἡ γῆ (διαμερίζω, “to divide, separate”) renders נִפְלְגָה הָאָרֶץ; the Greek loses the sound-play. Joktan’s sons at 10:26–29 are twelve, not thirteen: Swete has no name for עוֹבָל at 10:28.

Uncertain No lean is taken on the number of names in either text.

Says 10:30 has ἡ κατοίκησις αὐτῶν (Abbott-Smith: “dwelling”, citing this verse) for מוֹשָׁבָם and ὄρος ἀνατολῶν (ἀνατολή, “the east”) for הַר הַקֶּדֶם. At 10:32 διεσπάρησαν νῆσοι τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς stands for נִפְרְדוּ הַגּוֹיִם בָּאָרֶץ, with νῆσοι as at 10:5.