Beit HaEmet Brit Chadashah

70 Nations: The Ancient World Before Division

The Story of the Nations

From the creation of Adam to the scattering at Babel, the Scripture traces humanity's journey from one family to seventy distinct nations. This foundational narrative establishes the context for Israel's election and the eventual restoration of all peoples under the rule of the Most High.

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70 Nations

From Genesis 10

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1 Chosen

Israel set apart

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1 King

Yeshua the Messiah

Adam to Babel (Genesis 1-11)

Humanity spreads across the earth, but descends into violence and corruption. The Flood resets history through Noach (Noah), the righteous one who found favor in Yahuah's eyes.

Shem (שֵׁם)

Meaning: "Name" or "Renown"

Father of the Semitic peoples, including the Hebrews. Through his line came Abraham, and ultimately Israel and the Messiah.

Ham (חָם)

Meaning: "Hot" or "Warm"

Father of the African and Canaanite peoples. His descendants include Cush (Ethiopia), Mizraim (Egypt), and Canaan.

Japheth (יֶפֶת)

Meaning: "Enlarged"

Father of the European and Asian peoples. His descendants spread across the northern regions and coastlands.

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The Tower of Babel

At Babel, humanity united in prideful rebellion: "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves" (Genesis 11:4). Yahuah responded by confusing their languages and scattering them across the earth—dividing the one family into seventy nations.

The Seventy Nations (Genesis 10)

Genesis 10 (the "Table of Nations") tallies seventy peoples, lands, and tongues emerging from Noah's three sons. This becomes the backdrop for Israel's later vocation among the nations.

The Significance of Seventy

70 Nations from Noah
Genesis 10; Jubilees 44:34
70 Souls to Egypt
Genesis 46:27; Exodus 1:5
70 Elders of Israel
Exodus 24:1; Numbers 11:16
70 Bulls at Sukkot
Numbers 29:12-34 (for the nations)

Modern Context

Today there are commonly counted 195 sovereign states (193 UN members + 2 observers), though counts vary with recognition. The original seventy represent the foundational division of humanity after Babel—the nations to whom Israel would be called to be a light.

Israel's Unique Election

Yahuah's Portion Among the Nations

"For Yahuah's portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance."

— Deuteronomy 32:9

When the Most High divided the nations and set their boundaries according to the number of the angels of Elohim (Deuteronomy 32:8, LXX), He reserved Israel for Himself. Over the nations He placed divine beings in authority, but over Israel He alone rules directly—preserving and blessing them as His treasured possession forever.

The Nations Under Angels

The Septuagint reading of Deuteronomy 32:8 indicates that Yahuah assigned divine beings ("angels of Elohim") over the nations. But Israel was different—reserved for the Most High's direct rulership.

Israel Under Yahuah

"For Yahuah's portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance" (Deuteronomy 32:9). Israel alone received direct covenant relationship with the Most High.

The Unjust Rule & Yeshua's Victory

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Psalm 82 — The Divine Council's Unjust Rule

"Elohim stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the elohim. How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?... I said, 'You are elohim, and all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.'"

— Psalm 82:1-2, 6-7

Before Yeshua's death and resurrection, the divine beings placed over the nations (Deuteronomy 32:8, LXX) had become corrupt and unjust rulers. Psalm 82 reveals the Most High's judgment against these "elohim" who failed to defend the poor and needy, instead showing partiality to the wicked. Though called "sons of the Most High," they would "die like men" — their dominion would end.

Matthew 28:18-20 — All Authority Given to Yeshua

"And Yeshua came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'"

— Matthew 28:18-20

Through His death and resurrection, Yeshua has overcome these fallen angelic spirits who ruled over the nations. He declares that ALL authority — in heaven AND on earth — now belongs to Him. The unjust rulers of Psalm 82 have been displaced; Yeshua is now King over all nations.

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Freedom from Fallen Dominion

These fallen angels are no longer permitted to dominate those who believe in Yeshua's death and resurrection. Through His blood, believers are transferred from the dominion of darkness into the Kingdom of the Son:

"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."
— Colossians 1:13-14

Before the Cross

• Nations under angelic rulers (Deut 32:8)
• Unjust rule and corruption (Psalm 82)
• Humanity in bondage to spiritual powers
• Only Israel under Yahuah's direct rule

After the Resurrection

• ALL authority given to Yeshua (Matt 28:18)
• Fallen rulers displaced and judged
• Believers delivered from darkness (Col 1:13)
• Nations invited into Yeshua's Kingdom

The New Israel — Walking in the Appointed Times

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Genesis 1:14 — The Lights for Appointed Times

"Then Elohim said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons (moadim), and for days and years.'"

— Genesis 1:14

From the very beginning of creation, Yahuah established the heavenly lights to mark His appointed times (moadim, מוֹעֲדִים). These are not merely "Jewish holidays" but the Most High's eternal cycles embedded in creation itself — given to all of Adam's descendants.

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Leviticus 23 — The Feasts of Yahuah

"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of Yahuah, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.'"

— Leviticus 23:2

Notice carefully: these are called "the feasts of Yahuah" — not merely the feasts of Israel. The appointed times belong to the Most High and are given to His people to keep perpetually throughout their generations.

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The New Israel — Righteous Children of Adam

Those who believe in Yeshua's death and resurrection, who are redeemed through His blood, and who walk in obedience to the Most High's appointed cycles as revealed in Leviticus 23 — these are the New Israel, the righteous children of Adam from among all the nations.

They are no longer under the dominion of fallen angelic rulers, but under the direct authority of Yeshua the Messiah, who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. They keep the same appointed times that Yahuah established at creation — the Sabbath, the New Moons, the Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Shavuot, Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.

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Redeemed by Blood

Faith in Yeshua's sacrifice

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Walking in Moadim

Keeping the appointed times

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Under Yeshua's Rule

Free from fallen dominion

"For you are all sons of Elohim through faith in Messiah Yeshua... There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua. And if you are Messiah's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

— Galatians 3:26, 28-29

Torah and Light to the World

Israel alone received Torah as covenant charter, to be a light to the nations. Yet the covenant always made room for outsiders to join:

Exodus 12:48-49

One Torah for native and sojourner; circumcised sojourners may keep Passover and belong to the people. "The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you."

Ezekiel 47:21-23

Resident aliens are allotted inheritance among the tribes—full inclusion in the land. "You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel."

Isaiah 56:6-7

"And foreigners who bind themselves to Yahuah to minister to Him, to love the name of Yahuah, and to be His servants... these I will bring to My holy mountain and give them joy in My house of prayer... for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."

Fullness of Time in Messiah

Ephesians 2:10-21

Yeshua comes to redeem the children of Adam from the nations, creating "one new man"—no longer strangers but "fellow citizens" and "of the household of Elohim."

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with Elohim's people and also members of His household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Messiah Yeshua himself as the chief cornerstone."

— Ephesians 2:19-20

The Grafting In

Those from the nations are grafted into Israel's commonwealth (Romans 11:17-24), built together into a holy dwelling, fulfilling the purpose envisioned from Adam through Babel: a restored family under the rule of the Most High.

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Wild Olive Branches

Gentiles grafted into the cultivated olive tree of Israel

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One Household

No longer strangers, but family in Messiah

The Grand Narrative

From one man Adam came all humanity. Through the Flood, one family of Noah was preserved. At Babel, seventy nations emerged. From among them, one nation Israel was chosen to bear the Torah and be a light.

In the fullness of time, one Messiah Yeshua came to redeem both Israel and the nations, creating one new humanity under one King—fulfilling the original purpose of creation.

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