We know that every person and every story in the Bible has been placed there for a purpose. A very old and short story in the Bible is about Ham, Noah’s youngest son. And it’s a strange one.
It’s difficult to understand why Ham does what he does, as there is no explanation. Yet we know that it had repercussions for Noah’s lineage for generations.
The story of Noah and the flood is a famous one, but the details of what happened to Noah’s three sons – Shem Ham, and Japheth – after the flood are less well known. In particular many wonder what happened to Ham, since he was cursed by his father Noah for his disrespectful behavior.
According to the Bible, Ham was one of the eight people on the ark during the flood, along with his wife, his three sons Canaan, Cush, Mizraim and Phut, his father Noah, his mother, and his two brothers Shem and Japheth and their wives.
After the flood ended and the family left the ark, Noah planted a vineyard, made wine, and got drunk. While Noah was passed out naked in his tent, Ham saw his father’s nakedness but did nothing to cover him. When Noah awoke and realized what Ham had done, he cursed not Ham himself but Canaan, Ham’s youngest son.
Why Did Noah Curse Canaan and Not Ham?
Noah said
“Cursed be Canaan!The lowest of slaveswill he be to his brothers”
Scholars debate why Noah cursed Canaan rather than Ham. Some believe that it was because the sins of the father would be visited on the son. Others argue that Canaan may have been the one who actually saw Noah naked or drew attention to it, so Noah cursed him directly.
Another theory is that Ham did more than just see Noah’s nakedness – he castrated or sexually assaulted his own father. This would explain the severity of the curse. Calling out Ham’s fourth son Canaan specifically for the curse may have been a way to indicate which of Ham’s lines would be affected.
What Was the Curse on Canaan?
Noah goes on to say:
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem!
May Canaan be the slave of Shem.
May God extend Japheth’s territory;
may Japheth live in the tents of Shem,
and may Canaan be the slave of Japheth.”
This indicates that Canaan’s descendants would be cursed to be slaves to the descendants of his uncles Shem and Japheth.
Shem was seen as the ancestor of the Semitic peoples, including the Hebrews and Arabs. Japheth was considered the father of Europeans and some Asians.
The Canaanites settled in the lands which later became Israel. When the Israelites conquered Canaan, they destroyed the Canaanites and took their lands, fulfilling Noah’s prophecy.
What Happened to Ham After the Curse?
Although Ham himself was not directly cursed, life after the flood was not easy for him. In addition to having his son cursed, Ham’s relationships with his brothers Shem and Japheth were likely strained.
Ham and his family moved to Africa, which was considered the least desirable land, while Shem and Japheth occupied the Middle East and Europe.
As Noah predicted, the descendants of Ham often ended up serving the descendants of Shem and Japheth. Great civilizations like Egypt, Babylon, and the Philistines descended from Ham and frequently caused trouble for the Hebrews and other Shemites.
Nimrod, the mighty hunter and king of Babel mentioned in Genesis, was Ham’s grandson. But in general, Ham seems to have been marginalized after the curse.
Could Ham Have Removed the Curse?
The Bible gives no indication that Ham had an opportunity to redeem himself or his son Canaan after Noah’s curse.
Noah’s pronouncement of the curse immediately after the nakedness incident suggests that Ham’s disrespect was unforgivable. However, Shem and Japheth’s respectful actions were rewarded, indicating the importance placed on honoring one’s parents.
Later Bible stories emphasize forgiveness and redemption, so some wonder if Ham could have somehow made amends. But within the earliest biblical narratives like Noah’s, punishments for wrongdoing tend to be harsh and permanent. The curse on Canaan remains one of the Bible’s most severe that could not be removed.
Legacy of Noah’s Three Sons
Yet God’s covenant with Noah was that never again would a flood destroy all life on earth. Despite their ancestor’s failings, all three of Noah’s sons played a part in repopulating the earth after the flood according to God’s will.
The story of Noah’s sons illustrates humanity’s capacity for both good and evil. But it remains a story of hope, as God gave humanity a fresh start to rebuild the world.
What Is the Story of Noah, His Family and the Ark?
It was a situation that grieved God greatly. Before He made people, He made the world perfect and without sin, but those people messed it up. Though this place was full of bad people, God knew there was one good person there: Noah, son of Lamech. Noah “walked with God,” and it was through Noah’s faith and obedience that God would start all over. He would kill everyone, but he would spare Noah, his wife, his three sons (Shem, Ham, and Japheth), their wives, and many animals.
God chose to send a flood to wipe out all of humanity, and He could have done just that, perhaps safeguarding Noah and his family and animals on a high mountain. But just like many other examples in the Bible, God chose to work through a faithful person who would reflect God’s power and glory through their weakness. God told Noah that He wanted an ark to be built by Noah, a huge vessel that would protect Noah’s family and animals of His own choosing. They would be kept safe from the huge flood He sent to cleanse the earth from evil. The Bible doesn’t explicitly tell us how long it took to build the ark. Still, many have tried to guess from the fact that it was built between the time Noah was 500 and 600 years old– which is when they entered the ark (Genesis 7:6). That doesn’t mean it took 100 years or close to it, but what God wanted us to know was that His instructions were specific and Noah willingly, in faith, did exactly as he was instructed.
When the floodwaters came, Noah entered the ark with his wife, his three sons and their wives, and the animals God told Noah to take with them. Gospel Coalition contributor Joe Carter estimates Noah and his family were on the ark for 370 days: 40 days of rain, 150 days of riding the waters, 150 days of water abating and of Noah sending out birds to find dry ground.
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- Mary Oelerich-Meyer Contributing Writer
- Updated Apr 05, 2024
We know that every person and every story in the Bible has been placed there for a purpose. A very old and short story in the Bible is about Ham, Noah’s youngest son. And it’s a strange one.
It’s difficult to understand why Ham does what he does, as there is no explanation. Yet we know that it had repercussions for Noah’s lineage for generations.
THE ORIGIN OF HUMANITY SHEM, HAM, AND JAPHETH
FAQ
Who was Ham’s wife?
What happened to Noah and his family after the flood?
What happened to Noah’s sons after the flood?
The Sons of Noah Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives accompanied Noah and his wife on the ark to escape the flood. After the flood, Noah’s sons and their wives and offspring repopulated the earth.
What happened to Ham in Genesis 9?
An incident involving Ham is related in Genesis 9:20–27: And Noah began to be an husbandman, and planted a vineyard: and he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
Why did Ham castrate Noah?
According to Abba Arika, Ham castrated Noah on the basis that, since Noah cursed Ham by his fourth son Canaan, Ham must have injured Noah with respect to a fourth son. Emasculating him thus deprived Noah of the possibility of a fourth son.
What if Ham was left as Noah’s father?
The editorial conversion of the identity of the father to Noah goes hand in hand with the supplementation of the meritorious act of Noah’s sons, Shem and Japhet, and the addition of their blessings. If Ham were left as the compromised father there would be no way to present Shem in particular as designated for divine blessing (see further below).