NATIONS, DISPERSION OF. The list of the descendants of Noah (Gen. x.) is the most import ant document extant of primitive geography and ethnology. The list itself indicates the geographi cal distribution of the Noachians, and enables us to trace the origin of most of the nations of the primaeval civilised world. The narrative that fol lows the list relates the circumstances which led to the dispersion of the Noachians, and the gene alogy of the line of Shem gives chronological data for fixing the time of this event (Gen. xi.) These subjects may be noticed in an inverted order, and the Confusion of Tongues with the philological aspect of the Dispersion will be only touched upon, its full discussion being reserved for a later article [TONGUES, CON FUSION OF].
1. is not stated at what time after the Flood the Dispersion occurred. In the list of Noah's descendants, it is said of one of Eber's two sons, the name of one [was] Peleg divi sion ') ; for in his days was the earth (or ' land') divided' (r6D), Gen. x. 25). It has been generally • supposed that Peleg was named from the division of the world among the dispersed children of Noah. In favour of this view it may be urged— r. That this is the most natural explanation of the passage ; 2. That in the list Peleg is in the lowest generation but one, and the lower generation is only noticed in the case of the children or descend ants of one head, Peleg's brother Joktan ; and 3. That mention is made in the Song of Moses of a division of the Gentiles, and a separation of the children of Adam, according to the number of the children of Israel' (Dent. xxxii. 8) ; where, though the root of Peleg is not used, there is notice of a division, and in addition the relation to the number of the children of Israel may point to the seventy two (12x 6) names that occur in the list, if we ex clude Noah and his three sons. On the other hand, it has been observed that Peleg might have been named from the opening of a chasm in the earth. We think, however, the usual opinion the
more probable.
Before inquiring when Peleg was named, it must be observed that there is good reason for holding the name to represent a person, not as many other names in the list may, a tribe or perhaps country. In the whole list of Shem's descendants, and espe cially in the line of Peleg, there is no positive reason for supposing other than persons to be intended. The name Peleg is suitable to a man. Joktan is mentioned after him as if a younger brother, and his name means little,' or younger' (comp. )bp).
Names have always been given very early in life ; but among some nations they have been often supplanted by others given at a later age. With the Hebrews and Arabs, however, the usual custom seems to have been to maintain the birth-name. That name, though often implying a pious feeling of the parents, or descriptive of some quality, was sometimes, and especially among the Arabs of the desert, suggested by some event occurring at the time of birth. Thus a child was called Kelb, Dog,' because a dog barked when he was born. The Bible shows us instances of the same principle in such names as Ichabod and Benoni. It is therefore very probable that the name Peleg would have been given to a child born when the division of the earth took place.
Supposing, therefore, that Peleg was named from a division connected with the Dispersion, it is necessary to state the data for computing two intervals. It cannot of course be decided whether the division was prior or subsequent to the Dis persion. The building of the Tower may have been in rebellion against the separation necessary before the appropriation of territories. The first interval, extending from the Flood to the birth of Peleg, would give about the period during which the descendants of Noah increased ; the second, from the latter event to the departure of Abraham from Haran, would enable us to compute about the rime of the Dispersion before the Christian era.