Shem is traditionally identified as the ancestor of the Israelites among Noah’s sons.
Genesis names Noah’s three sons as Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Its genealogies trace Abraham’s line through Shem: Shem is followed by descendants including Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, and Terah, who is the father of Abraham. The Israelites are then connected to Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, whose name becomes Israel.
This genealogical association is also reflected in the term “Semitic,” derived from Shem’s name. In modern linguistics, however, “Semitic” describes a language family and related cultural history; it is not a simple biological label proving descent from one individual.
Ham’s descendants are associated in Genesis with regions and peoples including Egypt and Canaan, while Japheth’s genealogy is linked by tradition with peoples farther north and west. These biblical genealogies are not identical to modern population histories, so the answer concerns the narrative’s traditional lineage rather than a modern genetic conclusion.