10 These are the generations of Shem. Shem was a hundred years old when he became the father of Arpachshad, two years after the great flow of waters; 11 And after the birth of Arpachshad, Shem went on living for five hundred years, and had sons and daughters: 12 And Arpachshad was thirty-five years old when he became the father of Shelah: 13 And after the birth of Shelah, Arpachshad went on living for four hundred and three years, and had sons and daughters:
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 11:10-13
Commentary on Genesis 11:10-26
(Read Genesis 11:10-26)
Here is a genealogy, or list of names, ending in Abram, the friend of God, and thus leading towards Christ, the promised Seed, who was the son of Abram. Nothing is left upon record but their names and ages; the Holy Ghost seeming to hasten through them to the history of Abram. How little do we know of those that are gone before us in this world, even of those that lived in the same places where we live, as we likewise know little of those who now live in distant places! We have enough to do to mind our own work. When the earth began to be peopled, men's lives began to shorten; this was the wise disposal of Providence.