GENESIS 9
18 The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed. 20 Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.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.” 26 He also said,
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. 27 May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.”
28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years. 29 All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died. – Genesis 9:18-29
GENESIS 9 THE CURSE OF NOAH OVER CANAAN
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
After the flood, Noah and his sons followed through God’s mandate
Noah began to be busy with toiling the soil and planted a vineyard
One day, he became drunk with the wine that he harvested
And Ham, one of his sons saw him naked but did nothing.
Shem and Japheth, seeing their father without clothing
The two brothers got a garment to cover their father’s nakedness
They were very careful not to look at their father’s exposed body
Noah upon learning what happened gave a curse to Canaan, Ham’s son.
In our modern day, we would be confused by Noah’s reaction to Canaan seeing his grandfather’s naked body. In some commentaries, it was explained that Canaan neglecting to cover him up was a mockery of his authority. So, it wasn’t just mockery but a form of disrespect and insubordination to his grandfather’s elderly role over him. There was also a mention in the comments that when we get drunk, we are susceptible to abuse.
REFLECTION
- What is our biggest lesson in these following verses?
