This study addresses several very difficult problems in interpreting this passage: What was the sin of Ham? Why was Canaan judged for Ham's sin? What is meant by the curse on Canaan, that he will be "a servant of servants to his brethren"? What are the blessings of the other two brothers? What does the text mean that "Japheth will dwell in the tents of Shem"?

1. An expositional study taught by
Harry Morgan

2. For those of you online post your comments or questions
in the “comment section” on your screen. As time
affords they may be read to the class.

3. 19. Explain, as best as you can, the elements of
the rainbow: when it occurs and why, it’s
colors, the degrees of the arc, and its
significance.
‫ֶת‬‫שׁ‬ֶ‫ק‬ (qě·šěṯ) – “My rainbow”
• “bow” = weapon used to deliver arrows, with
the associative meaning of potency or power
• of the 74 verses in which the word qě·šěṯ
appears, it always refers to the weapon

4. The Ramban (Rabbi Moses ben Nachman
or Nahmanides, 1194-1270) suggested
that the rainbow in the sky is an inverted
bow

6. What is a “covenant”? How is a covenant
different from a social or business contract?
“A contract is based on mutual obligation,
if person A defaults, person B is no longer
obligated. Under a covenant, if person A
defaults, person B is still obligated.”
Ed Hathaway, Esq.

7. 20. What is the duration of the covenant? That
is, how long did God say His covenant would
last? (16)
16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I
will look on it to remember the everlasting
( covenant between God and
every living creature of all flesh that is on
the earth.”
‫ם‬ ָ‫עוֹל‬,˓ôlām)

8. 21. Who were the three sons of Noah?
18 Now the sons of Noah who went out of the
ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham
was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were
the sons of Noah, and from these the whole
earth was populated.
“was populated” from the root in Gen 10–11; cf.
10:18; 11:4, 8, 9, meaning to “scatter.”
‫פוץ‬

9. 21. What is the meaning of each of their names?
Noah
Japheth Shem Ham
Canaan
Oldest
10:21
Youngest
9:22,24
= name‫ֵם‬‫שׁ‬= enlarge‫ָם‬‫ח‬ = hot‫ָם‬‫ח‬
= humiliated, merchant‫ַן‬‫ע‬ַ‫נ‬ְ‫כּ‬

10. Ø Shem is mentioned first because from
him Abraham arose, the father of the
nation of Israel. He, as the second son, is
chosen over the first son to be the
primary recipient of God’s promise.
Ø Ham is listed next as the ensuing story
focuses on him.
21. Why are Noah’s sons not mentioned in the
their birth order?

11. 22. What was Noah’s occupation? Why is this
significant?
Ø “Master of the earth” reflects the fulfillment of
Lamech’s prophecy that Noah would bring
comfort from the curse upon the earth.
5:29 And he (Lamech) called his name Noah,
saying, “This one will comfort us concerning our
work and the toil of our hands, because of the
ground which the LORD has cursed.”

12. 22. What was Noah’s occupation? Why is this
significant?
Ø “Noah began to be a farmer”
Ø “he planted a vineyard” – The myths of the ancient
world attributed wine to the gods:
• Egypt’s Osiris
• Greek’s Dionysus & Bacchus
• Roman’s Saturn

13. 22. What was Noah’s occupation? Why is this
significant?
Excavations done by the
University of Pennsylvania
(1958-1968) revealed the
oldest evidences of
viticulture from Hajji Firaz
Tepe in Armenia or
northwestern Iran.

14. A 6000 year old wine press (in front of sign) and fermentation vat (right)
discovered during a dig in Armenia.

15. 22. What was Noah’s occupation? Why is this
significant?

16. 22. Why is this significant?
“There were stores within of wheat and barley and
vegetables, and wine made from barley in great big
bowls; the grains of barley malt lay floating in the
beverage up to the lip of the vessel, and reeds lay in
them, some longer, some shorter, without joints; when
you were thirsty you must take one of these into your
mouth, and suck. The beverage without admixture of
water was very strong, and of a delicious flavor to
certain palates, but the taste must be acquired.”
– Xenophon, Anabasis 4.5

19. 23. Describe the ways Noah and Adam are similar.
• fruit of the vine
• “fall” of Noah
• “uncovered within his tent”
• “a man of the ground”
• account of 3 sons
• “offering”
• Sin & curse of his son
• fruit of tree of knowledge
• “fall” of Adam
• “knew they were naked”
• “servant of the ground”
• account of 3 sons
• “offerings”
• Sin & curse of his son
Adam Noah

20. 21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk,
and became uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham,
the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his
father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 But
Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on
both their shoulders, and went backward and
covered the nakedness of their father. Their
faces were turned away, and they did not see
their father’s nakedness.

21. 24. Did Noah sin by being drunk? (21)
Ø Moses described Noah as a “righteous,
blameless among his contemporaries” (6:9).
Ø Peter identified Noah as “a preacher of
righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5).

22. Virtues of Wine
Ø Wine is one of God’s gifts to man (Psa. 104:15 “Wine
makes glad the heart of man.”
Ø Grapes are one of the 7 staple foods mentioned in Deut.
8.8 “A land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees
and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey.”
Ø Grapes were one of the 7 fruits that Moses’ messengers
discovered in the land of Israel. (Num. 13: 20-23).
Ø Burnt or peace offerings required a libation of wine
(Num. 15:5–10), and Deut. 14:26
Ø The vine was one of Israel’s national symbols (Isa. 5:1–7;
Mark 12:1–11).

23. Coins from the 2nd Jewish revolt against the Romans.
Eleazar the Priest, silver denarius 132/133 BC
Virtues of Wine

24. Virtues of Wine

25. Virtues of Wine
The most characteristic Jewish toast is L’chaim, ‘To Life’

26. Dangers of Wine
Ø Nazirite vow required abstinence from any alcohol
or product of the vine (Num. 6:3–4).
Ø Priests were forbidden drink before officiating in the
sanctuary “lest you die” (Lev. 10:9).
Ø Kings were warned against drinking wine (Prov. 31).
Ø Inebriation was incompatible with holiness. The
ordinary laity are warned about the dangers of
drinking too much wine (Isa. 5:22; Prov. 21:17;
23:20–21, 29–35). Men “are confused with wine…
they err in vision” (Isa. 28:7).

27. 25. What is the meaning of the phrase “he was
uncovered within his tent?” (21)
Uncovered is the reflexive form of the verb
(yitgal) meaning to expose oneself. In its
causative form it is used in Ex. 20:26, in which
God prohibits the construction of steps on the
altar, “that your nakedness be not exposed on it.”
21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and
became uncovered in his tent.

28. 26. What did Ham do that angered Noah and
caused him to curse his (Ham’s) son?
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness
of his father, and told his two brothers outside.

29. 26. What did Ham do that angered Noah and
caused him to curse his (Ham’s) son? (22-25)
Ø Voyeurism
Ø Disrespected his father.
Ø Incest with his mother.
Ø Homosexual relationship with his father.
Ø Castrated his father.

30. Robert Candlish: “He [Ham] not merely
dishonored him as a parent—he disliked him as
a preacher of righteousness. Hence his
satisfaction, his irrepressible joy, when he
caught the patriarch in such a state of
degradation. Ah! he has found that the godly
man is no better than his neighbors; he has got
behind the scenes; he has made a notable
discovery; and now he cannot contain himself.

31. Forth he rushes, all hot and impatient, to publish
the news, so welcome to himself! And if he can
meet with any of his brethren who have more
sympathy with this excessive sanctity than he
has, what a relief—what a satisfaction—to cast
this choice specimen in their teeth; and so make
good his right to triumph over them and their
faith ever after.”
Candlish, Studies in Genesis, 158–59.

32. 27. What did Shem and Japheth do when they
heard of Noah’s nakedness?
23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on
both their shoulders, and went backward and covered
the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned
away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.
“the robe” (hassimlah)

33. 27. What did Shem and Japheth do when they
heard of Noah’s nakedness?

34. 28. Why did Noah curse Canaan and not Ham?
24 So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his
younger son had done to him. 25 Then he said:
“Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants he shall be
to his brethren.”
Ø A Hebraism for the superlative degree; cf. “King of
kings,” “holy of holies,” “the song of songs”
(Gesenius, 119)
Ø “the last even among servants” (Calvin)

35. 29. What was the curse of Canaan? (25-26)
Genesis 9:26 And he said: “Blessed be the LORD, The
God of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.
Ø First mention in the Bible of someone blessing
God.
Ø This chapter begins with God blessing Noah.
It ends with Noah blessing God.

36. Ø 9:26 Shem & descendants have an intimate
relationship with God (‫יהוה‬ yhwh)
Ø 9:27 Japheth & descendants recognize God
(‫ִים‬‫ה‬‫ֱֹל‬‫א‬ ʾělō·hîm) as sovereign Judge
26 And he said: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of
Shem, and may Canaan be his servant. 27 May God
enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of
Shem; and may Canaan be his servant.”
30. What did God promise would characterize
the relationship of Noah’s three sons?

37. 30. What did God promise would characterize
the relationship of Noah’s three sons?
26 And he said: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of
Shem, and may Canaan be his servant. 27 May
God enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the
tents of Shem; and may Canaan be his servant.”

38. 31. How long did Noah live? (28-29)
28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred
and fifty years. 29 So all the days of Noah were
nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.
600 years old at time of flood
350 years after the flood
Ø Moses born 350th year of captivity; fled Egypt
390th, delivered Israel after 430.

39. 32. Why is Noah’s age significant?
20 > Adam
19 < Methuselah
“Though he lived long, yet he died, having probably first
seen many that descended from him dead before him.
Noah lived to see two worlds, but, being an heir of the
righteousness which is by faith, when he died he went
to see a better than either.”
Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible:
complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 31). Peabody:
Hendrickson.

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