בראשית, פרק י׳, פסוק ז׳

As the early human family expands, the genealogies branch outward to map the origins of ancient civilizations. The descendants of Cush stand out in this historical record because they developed into independent nations and tribes. While other historical figures fathered families that remained a single, unified group, the individuals listed in this lineage represent the founding fathers of entire nations that eventually scattered across the ancient world [רמב״ן, הטור הארוך, ספורנו]. Because of this focus on national founders, Nimrod is not grouped together with his brothers. He did not establish a distinct nation in his own right, leading to his separate mention immediately afterward [רמב״ן, הטור הארוך].

The exact geographic locations of these ancient nations are a matter of historical discussion. The primary approach among commentators divides their settlements between East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. One perspective places all these emerging nations within East Africa [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In this view, Seba is linked to the region of Abyssinia, while Havilah is positioned just south of the Red Sea [שד״ל].

A contrasting approach identifies these names primarily with tribes and territories in the northern Arabian Peninsula [קאסוטו]. Raamah and Sheba, for instance, are associated with fertile Arabian regions. The nation of Sheba is understood to have later migrated southward, where it established a significant kingdom [שד״ל, קאסוטו]. Dedan is recognized as an essential commercial city in northern Arabia or near the Persian Gulf [קאסוטו, שד״ל], with some specifically identifying it as a location known as Altindi [רד״ק].

A unique tradition regarding the nations of Sabtah and Sabteca suggests that they were essentially a single political entity sharing the same name. However, they functioned as two distinct states, one internal and one external, separated by a vast geographic distance [תורה תמימה].