Ge 9:18-29

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Noah and his sons

(Gen 9:18-29)

On one occasion Noah brought shame upon himself through becoming drunk. But God’s condemnation was concerned more with Noah’s son Ham, and particularly his grandson Canaan who tried to add to Noah’s disgrace (Gen 9:18-23).

God announced a curse on the descendants of Ham who would come through Canaan, though not on Ham’s other descendants.

The descendants of Canaan would have their land taken from them by the descendants of Shem (the nation Israel) and they themselves would be made to serve Israel (Gen 9:24-26; see Josh 9:23; Judg 1:28; 1 Kings 9:21).

The descendants of Japheth, who spread to the north and west through Asia Minor and Greece, were promised a share in the blessings of Shem. This was fulfilled when the New Testament church spread through this region and multitudes of Gentiles believed.

As a result they enjoyed the blessings of God’s people that formerly had been limited largely to Israelites (Gen 9:27-29; see Gal 3:14; Eph 3:6).