Christian Family Services Ministry

3-21-2024 – A Word to the Wise – Difficult passages

Let’s discuss for a moment a passage in Genesis 9.20ff 20 Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.[c] 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

The problem with the passage is Canaan is the one cursed for the sin of his father. Why. More importantly what was the sin? One of the more important interpretations is that Ham had sex with father.

However, understanding Hebrew idioms helps us see this is not the case. This little phrase ‘saw the nakedness of his father’, must be accurately interpreted. It means for a relative to have sexual intercourse with the wife of the husband notice Lev 18. 8. It gives a vivid description to whom this applies.

So why can it not be interpreted as Ham having sex with his father? That would be a homosexual event and the Hebrew language never refers to homosexual relations as intercourse. To ‘see the nakedness’ refers to sexual intercourse between a man and a woman.

Moreover, while the versions refer to this as Noah tent it uses the feminine term not the masculine This is the mother’s tent or both their tent.

So why did Ham brag to his brothers? Because the act was to be performed to show he was in charge of the family. Though second or third born he was usurping the role of the first born. Therefore, he informed them what he had done and they understood the purpose.

Several parallel scriptures help us. Genesis 49:3-4 tells us that Reuben had intercourse with one of Jacob’s wives. The purpose is to take over leadership of the family from Jacob.

In 2 Samuel 16:20 ff Ahithophel advises Absalom to have sex with David’s wives publicly. Why, to say ‘I am in charge of my father house’,

Again 2 Samuel 12:8 David takes Saul’s wives and concubines to show the kingdom is now his.

Again, Adonijah ask for David’s concubine the purpose is to take the kingdom from Solomon. Solomon understood this and had him put to death.

So, Ham brags to his brothers why, to let them know he is the one who will control the family.

Why did the brothers cover the nakedness of Noah wife? So, it would not even be suggested that they approved.

Now the big question why did Noah curse Caanan? I think you must see that there is a time lapse here. When Cannan was born Noah immediately understood this was Ham’s son and he rejected Ham or any of his descendants and declared Ham’s children would be slaves to his brothers the very opposite of Ham’s intentions.

See John Sietze Bergsma and Scott Walker Hahn, “Noah’s Nakedness and the Curse on Canaan,” Journal of Biblical Literature 124:1 (2005): 25-40 for a more detailed explanation along with other suggested interpretations.