One fascinating, if somewhat enigmatic, text that attempts to answer this very question is the Book of Jubilees.

Jubilees, a Jewish work of the Second Temple period, offers a unique retelling of the biblical narrative, often with added details and perspectives. It presents itself as a revelation given to Moses by angels on Mount Sinai. And within its pages, we find a detailed, almost cartographic, description of how the earth was divvied up among Noah's sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Today, let's take a peek at the portion allotted to Ham.

The text paints a picture, albeit a somewhat geographically challenging one for us modern readers. It says: "And it goeth forth towards the north to the limits of Gâdîr, and it goeth forth to the coast of the waters of the sea to the waters of the great sea till it draweth near to the river Gihon, and goeth along the river Gihon till it reacheth the right of the Garden of Eden."

And then, the text reiterates: "And it goeth forth towards the north to the limits of Gâdîr, and it goeth forth to the coast of the waters of the sea to the waters of the great sea till it draweth near to the river Gihon, and goeth along the river Gihon till it reacheth the right of the Garden of Eden. And this is the land which came forth for Ham as the portion which he was to occupy for ever for himself and his sons unto their generations for ever."

Okay, so what does this all mean?

Well, the Gihon is one of the rivers mentioned in Genesis as flowing out of Eden. Locating Eden, let alone the precise course of the Gihon, has been a source of endless debate and speculation. The text seems to be describing a vast territory, reaching towards a northern limit at Gâdîr, stretching to the coast of the "great sea" (likely the Mediterranean), and extending towards the elusive Garden of Eden.

What's important to remember is that these geographical descriptions in Jubilees, like many ancient texts, are often as much theological statements as they are literal maps. The division of the land among Noah’s sons wasn't just about territory; it was about destiny, about the unfolding of history according to a divine plan.

The Book of Jubilees tells us this allocation was meant to be "for ever," raising interesting questions about the nature of these divisions and their lasting impact, at least according to this ancient worldview.

So, while we might not be able to pinpoint Gâdîr on a modern map, or trace the ancient course of the Gihon with certainty, the passage offers a fascinating glimpse into how our ancestors conceived of the world, their place within it, and the divine forces that shaped their destinies. It reminds us that even in the most ancient of texts, there are layers of meaning waiting to be uncovered, stories waiting to be retold, and questions that continue to resonate across the ages. What does it mean, to have a portion "for ever"? And how do we understand these ancient boundaries in our own, ever-changing world?