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אחי יפת הגדול [SHEM …] THE BROTHER OF JAPHETH, THE ELDER — (The Hebrew is ambiguous: “the elder” may refer either to Shem or to Japheth). One cannot from here determine whether Japheth was the elder or Shem. Since, however, it states (10:10) “Shem was a hundred years old … two years after the flood” you must admit that Japheth was the elder. Because Noah was 500 years old when he first had children (5:32), and the Flood happened in the six hundredth year of his life (7:11), consequently the eldest of his sons was then one hundred years old, whereas Shem reached his hundredth year only two years after the Flood (and therefore Japheth was the elder of the two) (Genesis Rabbah 37:7).
Scripture notes that Shem was the brother of Japheth the elder to teach us that Japheth, too, was a worthy person. The Bible lists Shem, who was the youngest, before Japheth, who was the elder, out of respect to Shem. Proof that Japheth was the elder lies in Scripture’s stating that Noah was five hundred years old when he begat his first son. There is no room for argument, for it is clear that Noah had no children prior to reaching the age of five hundred. The flood came when Noah was six hundred years old. Therefore if Shem was the eldest he would be one hundred and one years old when Noah and his sons came out of the ark. However, Scripture tells us Shem was a hundred years old, and begot Arpachshad two years after the flood (Gen. 11:10). Others say that Shem was the elder brother of Japheth, and it is for this reason that Shem is mentioned first. They explain that Shem was born a few days after Noah entered his five hundredth year, for even a day in a year is considered a year. They say that Noah was born in Iyyar and Shem in Sivan. When the flood came Noah was five hundred and ninety-nine plus a number of days old. Hence Shem was not a full ninety-nine years old when the flood started and was a hundred and one years plus a number of months old when his son Arpachshad was born. The meaning of two years after the flood (Gen. 11:10) therefore is to be interpreted as meaning that Arpachshad was born in the second year following the beginning of the flood. There are also those who maintain that the wife of Shem conceived five months after the start of the flood when the waters started decreasing. Shem was thus one hundred years old when Arpachshad was born. There are ten similar instances in the Book of Kings.
Scripture notes that Shem was the brother of Japheth the elder to teach us that Japheth, too, was a worthy person. The Bible lists Shem, who was the youngest, before Japheth, who was the elder, out of respect to Shem. Proof that Japheth was the elder lies in Scripture’s stating that Noah was five hundred years old when he begat his first son. There is no room for argument, for it is clear that Noah had no children prior to reaching the age of five hundred. The flood came when Noah was six hundred years old. Therefore if Shem was the eldest he would be one hundred and one years old when Noah and his sons came out of the ark. However, Scripture tells us Shem was a hundred years old, and begot Arpachshad two years after the flood (Gen. 11:10). Others say that Shem was the elder brother of Japheth, and it is for this reason that Shem is mentioned first. They explain that Shem was born a few days after Noah entered his five hundredth year, for even a day in a year is considered a year. They say that Noah was born in Iyyar and Shem in Sivan. When the flood came Noah was five hundred and ninety-nine plus a number of days old. Hence Shem was not a full ninety-nine years old when the flood started and was a hundred and one years plus a number of months old when his son Arpachshad was born. The meaning of two years after the flood (Gen. 11:10) therefore is to be interpreted as meaning that Arpachshad was born in the second year following the beginning of the flood. There are also those who maintain that the wife of Shem conceived five months after the start of the flood when the waters started decreasing. Shem was thus one hundred years old when Arpachshad was born. There are ten similar instances in the Book of Kings.
