2006-08-18 10:29:12 · 10 answers · asked by tasteefreak23 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
He covered his father's nakedness. I believe Noah had also been drinking, and Ham thought his father was drunk was well. I'm not sure if the Bible clearly states that Noah was drunk, but I do know that Ham saw his naked father sleeping and covered him with a blanket.
2006-08-18 10:36:06 · answer #1 · answered by Mike S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Question: "Why did Noah curse Ham / Canaan?"
Answer: Genesis 9:20-25 tells us, "Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father's nakedness. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father's nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said, "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers."
Why did Noah curse Canaan when it was Ham who saw him naked? Why was Noah so angry that Ham saw him naked? Some propose that Ham and/or Canaan actually did something to Noah in addition to seeing him naked. The passage mentions that Noah was angry when he found out, "what his youngest son had done to him." Homosexuality, rape, and humiliation are frequently mentioned as possibilities. However, the text nowhere states that Ham did anything to Noah. Any view of what occurred is speculation.
Another view arises out of comparison with Leviticus 20:11, "The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness..." With Leviticus 20:11 in mind, some propose that Ham had sex with Noah's wife, and that was what brought the curse from Noah. However, this figurative understanding of "uncovering nakedness" fails to account for the fact that Shem and Japheth walked into the room backward and covered Noah with a garment. This does not make any sense if "uncovering nakedness" means "having sex with Noah's wife." It definitely seems that Noah was lying naked - his nakedness uncovered.
Whatever took place between Ham and Noah, why did Noah curse Ham's son Canaan, when Canaan is nowhere mentioned as having done anything? The Bible does not specifically answer this question. Ham was Noah's youngest son, and Canaan was Ham's youngest son. Perhaps Noah cursed Canaan because it is more painful for a father to see his child suffer than it is for a father to suffer himself. The other possible explanation is that Canaan was somehow involved in the incident, thereby bringing Noah's curse upon himself.
Recommended Resource: The Genesis Flood by Henry Morris and John Whitcomb.
2006-08-18 10:36:57 · answer #2 · answered by Giselle 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is one of the stories in Bible that really confuse me. Ham say his father naked and he laughed. When Noah returned to his senses, he cursed Canaan for NO reason whatever so ever.
And why Canaan is not answered since Ham actually had 3 sons... Poor Canaan didn't know what was going on then why was he cursed.
2006-08-18 10:43:48 · answer #3 · answered by Mesum 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He "saw his nakedness." This is a euphemism for sex.
(I took a class on the Old Testament 2 years ago.)
I like the line, "24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said, "Cursed be Canaan..." Wouldn't that be worse than a hangover?
2006-08-18 10:41:09 · answer #4 · answered by Mrs. Pears 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How weird! I was just reading this yesterday. So, Noah was a man who loved his wine. Ham saw him in the tent or something naked. He went and told his brothers, Shem and Japeth. Shem and Japeth did the good thing and covered their father. Noah cursed Ham and made him be the slave of his brothers.
-Iman J.
2006-08-18 10:38:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Noah got drunk off his wine, then Ham saw him in the tent naked and told his brothers. they went in and put a blanket on him. i think he was cursed because he was not pure and didnt cover him up.
2006-08-18 10:37:27 · answer #6 · answered by Bekah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He looked at his father's naked body. Noah had drunk too much wine and was sleeping. Ham told his brothers, but they would not look.
2006-08-18 10:36:27 · answer #7 · answered by Shossi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What Ham did was that he looked upon his father's nakedness.
2006-08-18 10:35:04 · answer #8 · answered by cabbagepatch862004 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He looked upon his fathers nakedness and then told his other two brothers about it.
2006-08-18 10:37:05 · answer #9 · answered by Grandma Susie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think he saw him naked
2006-08-18 10:34:53 · answer #10 · answered by islandgrl 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋