When Ham violates Noah in Genesis 9, why does Noah curse Ham’s son?
If you were Noah, wouldn’t you curse Ham directly?
The story goes like this: After the flood, Noah plants a vineyard and drinks its wine; he gets drunk and lays uncovered inside his tent. His youngest son, Ham, sees his father naked. Ham tells his two brothers outside, and the two brothers respectfully go in and cover their father’s nakedness. When Noah wakes up from his stupor, he discovers what Ham has done to him (9:24). Noah then curses Ham’s son, Canaan.
What did Ham do to his father?
Well, we have to get in Ham’s head. What was Ham thinking?
Let’s appreciate the age difference between Ham and his father. We know that Ham is at least 500 years younger than Noah (reference Genesis 5:32, 7:6, 11:10).
Next, let’s understand how much time has passed since the flood. When this event happens, enough time has passed that a vineyard planted by Noah has reached a state of maturity. Furthermore, Ham has by now had his fourth son, a child named Canaan (10:6). These establish that we are years away from the flood.
Now, Ham naturally expects to live as long as his father has. So then, Ham believes another 500 years are ahead of him. That is a long time to accrue power, notoriety, wealth and respect. And already he sees himself as a powerful figurehead, a forefather above all subsequent generations. His two brothers, Shem and Japheth, are his equals so to speak, all three being Noah’s direct descendants. At this level, Ham is one of three, and by golly a third of the earth sounds good to him.
But wait. Coming off the ark, God told Noah to be fruitful and multiply! And Ham knows his father will be faithful to God––just look at his track record. There is no doubt that Noah will multiply. Having received such a clear directive, Noah will have more sons! But then, what will that leave Ham?
With less and less share!
Eventually Ham may not be one of three. He may become one of 10 sons, 15 sons, 20 sons! That sounds like war to a man who values power. Just the thought of it makes him upset. After all, Ham endured the flood with his father; he helped his father build the ark and feed the animals; he gave up everything and trusted his father when no one else did. If Noah now adds new sons to the family, these newborn sons will never understand what he and his brothers had to go through. And yet, the new sons will become equal to Ham and his two existing brothers.
Ham cannot have it. So while alone with his father inside a tent, he makes a decision. He will act swiftly. He will prevent his dad from having any more children.
The passage in Genesis is interesting, isn’t it? It says Ham saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside . . . When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him...
What did Ham do to Noah?!
While I can’t prove it, this is what I think happened: Ham damaged Noah’s male organ, an act so severe that it prevented Noah from having any more sons.
This interpretation resolves a few questions. For one, why does Noah stop at three sons when God clearly commanded him after the flood to be fruitful and multiply?
Secondly, Ham tells his brothers outside. He is not so ashamed to keep his deed a secret. Why? Because his brothers are also benefactors! His deed has cemented their place at the top of all subsequent generations. He doesn’t run away from his crime like Cain did; Ham openly tells his brothers what happened.
But neither brother reacts as Ham had expected. They cover their father, their faces turned backward so as not to look upon Noah and his body.
When Noah awakens, he curses not Ham but Ham’s son, Canaan. Follow me here:
Canaan is Ham’s fourth son (10:6). Since Ham prevents Noah from having a fourth son, Noah prevents Ham’s fourth son from flourishing. The curse is one of humiliation. Every time Ham thinks of his fourth son, he remembers the fourth son he denied Noah from having. Because Ham stunts the lineage of Noah at the fourth son, so Noah curses and subjugates the linage of Ham at the fourth son.
Why doesn’t Genesis provide these details in plain sight, leaving nothing to question?
Perhaps it’s because God is handling the matter with sensitivity. God is avoiding details on purpose in a manner that’s respectful to Noah. God Himself is covering the wound that Noah bears; He does so right alongside Shem and Japheth. And because the ugly details have been covered with such discretion, what exactly happened to Noah in his tent that day will remain a mystery.
