He was the father of all the children of Eber. Paul looked upon it as his privilege that he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews, Phil. Now, when the inspired penman would give Shem an honourable title, he calls him the father of the Hebrews. Though when Moses wrote this, they were a poor despised people, bond-slaves in Egypt, yet, being God's people, it was an honour to a man to be akin to them. Note, a family of saints is more truly honourable than a family of nobles, Shem's holy seed than Ham's royal seed, Jacob's twelve patriarchs than Ishmael's twelve princes, ch.
Goodness is true greatness.
He was the brother of Japheth the elder, by which it appears that, though Shem is commonly put first, he was not Noah's first-born, but Japheth was older. Probably this was intended to signify the union of the Gentiles with the Jews in the church. Those are brethren in the best manner that are so by grace, and that meet in the covenant of God and in the communion of saints.