Noah's Vineyard and His Sons

After the flood, Noah’s family began life again on the earth. Noah’s sons who came out of the ship were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. From these three sons, the earth was populated.

Noah became a farmer and planted a vineyard. He drank some of the wine and became drunk. While he was inside his tent, he lay uncovered. The passage tells this plainly and does not present Noah’s drunkenness as something good.

Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father uncovered and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it across their shoulders, walked in backwards, and covered their father. They kept their faces turned away so they would not look at him.

When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him. Then Noah spoke solemn words. He said that Canaan would be cursed and would be a servant of servants to his brothers.

Noah also blessed Yahweh, the God of Shem, and said Canaan would be Shem’s servant. Then he asked that God would enlarge Japheth and let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Again, Noah said that Canaan would be his servant.

After the flood, Noah lived 350 more years. Altogether, Noah lived 950 years, and then he died. What do you notice about the different actions of the brothers in this passage?