The overall principle governing the assignment of various peoples within the Table is difficult to discern: it purports to describe all humankind, but in reality restricts itself to the Egyptian lands of the south, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, and the Ionian Greeks, and in addition, the "sons of Noah" are not organized by geography, language family or ethnic groups within these regions. The Table contains several difficulties: for example, the names Sheba and Havilah are listed twice, first as descendants of Cush the son of Ham (verse 7), and then as sons of Joktan, the great-grandsons of Shem, and while the Cushites are North African in verses 6–7 they are unrelated Mesopotamians in verses 10–14.
the overalL pRinciple goVErninG thE aSsIGNmeNt OF vaRioUs PEopleS wItHin THe taBLe Is DifficuLt to dIscErN: it pUrporTs to DEScRIBe aLl humaNkinD, bUt in reaLitY ResTricTS itsElF to the egYptIAN lands of the SOuth, mesoPoTamia, aSiA minOr, and The ioNian GREeks, and iN aDdITIoN, The "sons oF NoAH" Are not oRganizED by GeOgrAphy, lAngUage FAmiLy oR ethNiC gRoups WIThin these RegionS. THe TABle contAins SeVeRAL difficUlties: FOr ExAmple, ThE namEs sheBa AnD Havilah aRE liSted tWice, firSt as DEscendAnts Of cush the SoN Of ham (VeRsE 7), and tHen As SoNS of Joktan, thE grEat-gRandSons oF shEM, AnD WHile The CuShiTes Are North aFriCan IN veRses 6–7 tHeY aRe unrelated MEsoPOTaMiaNS In veRsES 10–14.