Bible Study: Genesis

Lesson 7: Genesis 6- 9: The Flood, Part Two

After the Flood

C. Exposition of 9:18-29

1. This section serves as a transition between the section focused on Noah and the coming genealogy which describes the repopulation of the earth by Noah's sons. For the original audience, it also serves to explain the history of the world they inhabit and provides a supporting rationale for the coming wars of conquest. Within the Primeval History, this section displays the perpetuation of the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman.

2. "Ham was the father of Canaan ...": The only grandson of Noah singled out at this point. This foreshadows his coming role in the narrative and alerts the original audience the significance of the coming episode.

3. "a man of the soil": Literally, adama, connecting Noah with Adam and, including the curse on Adam, and with the prophecy of Lamech (Noah's father) who hoped that his son would bring man 'rest' from the curse on the ground.

4. "planted a vineyard": It is unclear whether this was the beginning of viniculture or a continuation of a prior development (e.g., Waltke favors the idea of a new activity. Matthews, Walton favor renewed activity). In any case, some scholars see in Noah's production of wine a fulfillment of Lamech's prophecy. The wine which Noah makes is a source of relief and rest from the land. This too is contested, however, and the making of wine may be just the narrative background for what is surely the focus of the story -- the curse by Noah.

5. "became drunk": Drunkenness is condemned throughout the Hebrew Bible, particularly when it results in sexual impropriety as it does here (Hab. 2:15). If indeed Noah is the first to develop fermented drink, then perhaps he may be excused for his behavior. Certainly, censuring Noah is not the primary focus of the text. Nakedness likewise is condemned in the OT particularly before the presence of God (Ex. 20:26).

6. Ham's sin

a. In the parallels that exist between Gen. 1-3 and Gen. 6-9, this event stands as a parallel to the fall: Nonfunctional cosmos 1:2 7:17-24, Cosmos made functional 1:3-2:4 8:1-22, Blessing given 1:26-30 9:1-8, Plant connected with fall 2:9 9:20, Naked and unaware 2:25 9:21, Offense 3:1-6 9:22-23, Eyes opened, awareness 3:7 9:24 and Pronouncement 3:14-19 9:25-27 b. The precise nature of Ham's sin has been much debated. But this debate may simply be the result of western sensibilities obscuring ancient eastern reality. Typically, some sexual impropriety is suggested ranging from Ham committing incest with his mother, homosexual activity with his father or even castrating his father (Walton, 346). Yet all of these are contradicted by the action of Shem and Japheth. The sin is in fact looking upon the nakedness of his father and reveling in his shameful act. "If the covering was an adequate remedy, it follows that the misdemeanor was confined to seeing" (Cassuto, 151). Some have objected that the verdict is too grave for such a sin, but again this does not take into account ANE sensibilities regarding nakedness and parental honor. (A plausible case can be made for something short of incest with his mother, see Walton, 348, although he fails of fully endorsing the position).

c. Both Eve and Ham are tempted by what they see and try to entice others.

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