Genesis 9:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Holy Scripture, after concluding the narrative of the heavenly sign, aims to provide further insight regarding the righteous individual and his offspring, stating: "The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from them the whole earth was inhabited." One might wonder why the sacred text, having identified Noah’s three sons, specifies, “Ham was the father of Canaan.” Please do not assume this detail is included without significance; every passage in the divine writings serves a purpose and imparts considerable wisdom.

Another mystery related to the Jews was revealed through speculation. Three nations were represented: the first, akin to Shem, in the early period; the second, associated with the middle period, representing the cursed Ham; and finally, the third, alluded to in the latter context, Japheth, whose name is understood to signify expansion.

Frequently, the Seventy Translators, unable to precisely convey in Greek the Hebrew letter het, which denotes a double aspiration, have substituted the Greek letter chi to indicate that we should express an aspiration with such terminology. Furthermore, they opted to translate Cham as opposed to Ham, which is why Egypt is still referred to as Ham in the Egyptian tongue.

Alas for those who seek after indulgence from dawn until dusk, becoming heated in spirit through wine (Isaiah 5:11). In a state of intoxication, Noah consumed wine and fell into a deep slumber, resulting in the exposure of his nakedness. Understand, then, that wine can so overwhelm the soul of a person and cloud his judgment that he becomes oblivious to his own state, much less to God. While Noah's intoxication and vulnerability can symbolize the profound mystery of Christ's suffering and death, they also serve as an indication of misguided conduct. Lot, inebriated by wine, engaged in incest with his daughters, unaware of the gravity of his actions; from this immoral union sprung the Moabites and Ammonites.

In the second year following the flood, Shem, at the age of one hundred, fathered Arphaxad, along with other sons and daughters. Similarly, Japheth and Ham began to have children of their own. As these children matured, they married and also had offspring, leading to the growth of the human race year by year, and the earth, which had been devastated by the flood, experienced a restoration.

Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Moses has listed Noah's sons before, but this instance serves a purpose. He addresses the queries about whether humanity had increased during their time in the ark and whether Noah had additional sons post-flood. Ham is identified as Canaan's father. This identification is significant, as it helps the Israelites recognize the lineage and divine purpose of the Canaanites, who would inhabit the land, and it also prepares them for the forthcoming curse that came from Ham upon Canaan.

As the narrator recounts the event related to Noah's prophecy regarding his descendants, he identifies the three sons of Noah since the prophecy is specifically directed at them. However, the historian focuses particularly on Noah's son Ham and his youngest son Canaan (Genesis 10:6). This emphasis on Ham is significant due to his involvement in the forthcoming incident, while Canaan, as the ancestor of the tribes ordained by God for destruction and subsequently enslaved by the Israelites, warrants special attention from the Jewish audience.