Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 10:13-14

"And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, and Pathrusim, and Casluhim (whence went forth the Philistines), and Caphtorim." — Genesis 10:13-14 (ASV)

“With Mizraim are connected seven subordinate African groups, the names of which are given in the plural, namely:

1. Ludim.—There were two groups of this name: one Semitic, descended from Lud, the son of Shem (Genesis 10:22), and mentioned in Isaiah 66:19; the other Hamite, and subject to the Pharaohs (Jeremiah 46:9; Ezekiel 30:5). They seem to have inhabited the Nile valley, but their exact position is unknown.

2. Anamim.—Knobel gives some reasons for supposing this group inhabited the Delta.

3. Lehabim.—Probably the same as the Lubim of 2 Chronicles 12:3; 2 Chronicles 16:8; Daniel 11:43; and Nahum 3:9. Their home was on the western side of the Delta.

4. Naphtuhim.—Knobel explains these as “the people of Phthah, the deity worshipped at Memphis.” If so, they were the true Egyptians, as Egypt is Kah-Phthah, “the land of Phthah,” or more correctly, according to Canon Cook, Ai-Capth. (See Note on Capthorim.)

5. Pathrusim.—People of Pathros, or Upper Egypt. According to Canon Cook, Pa-t-res means “the land of the south.”

6. Casluhim.—Probably the people of Cassiotis, a mountainous district to the east of Pelusium.

7. Philistim.—The word Philistine means emigrant and is translated alien or foreigner by the Septuagint. We are told here that they came into Palestine as colonists from the Casluhim; but in Jeremiah 47:4 and Amos 9:7, they are described as a colony from Caphtor. Probably the first Philistine settlers in Gerar (Genesis 26:1) and in the towns conquered by Judah (Judges 1:18) were Casluchians. However, afterwards, during the time they struggled with Israel for empire in the days of Samson, Eli, and Saul, there had been a second and larger immigration from Crete.

   Since they seem to have spoken a Semitic tongue, they had apparently adopted the language of the Canaanites among whom they had settled, especially that of the Avim (Deuteronomy 2:23). The objection to their being of Egyptian origin, based on their neglect of the rite of circumcision, has little weight. The Israelites almost discontinued it (Joshua 5:5), and colonists who escaped from the dominion of the priests might have gladly dispensed with such a custom. There is also significant reason to believe that the institution of circumcision in Egypt dates to a period after this emigration.

8. Caphtorim.—These are generally connected with Crete, but Egyptologists derive the name from Kah-Phthah, “the land of Phthah.” According to this, the Caphtorim, like the Naphtuhim, would have been true Egyptians, and the Delta—with Memphis as their capital—would have been their original home. The need for expansion, combined with seafaring habits learned on the shores of the Delta, may easily have led them to colonize Crete, while others of this group went as settlers into Palestine. It is worth noting that while Cyprus and Rhodes are attributed to the sons of Javan (Genesis 10:4), Crete is not mentioned there.

It is clear from this survey that Mizraim at this time was not very extensive, as these seven groups were confined to the lands closely bordering the Delta and the upper part of the Nile valley. There is nothing to indicate that the great city of Thebes had yet come into existence.