Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have selected us from among all the peoples, and have given us your Torah. Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Amein.
ויהיו בני נח
Gen 9:18 And the sons of Noaḥ who went out of the ark were Shĕm and Ḥam and Yepheth. And Ḥam was the father of Kenaʽan. Gen 9:19 These three were the sons of Noaḥ, and all the earth was overspread from them.
Even after the flood, the biblical authors
reference a people group that bears Qayin ‘s name: the Kenites. While this
isn’t as clear in our English translations, it’s the same word in Hebrew and
meant to connect the Kenites with Cain.
It is possible that Cain’s descendants
married into the line of Seth, the family Noah was descended from.
Additionally, the biblical authors don’t tell us which families Noach’s wife or
his son’s wives were from, and they could have been descendants of Qayin (Cain).
Our parashah begins with the three sons of Noach – Shem Cham and Yepeth who will father nations and repopulate the earth. Mention is made of only one of their sons – Kenaan - in the opening verses because he will be the subject of great shame and generational curses.
The name “Kenaan”
S3667 comes from a Hebrew word which means “humiliation”(S3665)
See generational chart
- Sons of Shem: Part VII Charts for P212A-212F (No. 212G)
http://www.ccg.org/weblibs/study-papers/index.php?sort=description
1Pe 1:23 having been born again – not of corruptible
seed, but incorruptible – through the living Word of Elohim, which remains
forever,
One of the most
puzzling question of our time as believers is that how come if we are born
again of an incorruptible seed – the Word of Elohim – there remains corruption
and the ‘’yetzer ha ra’’ within the waiting bride of Messiah?
This perfect seed was
sown into imperfect bodies. That is why the resurrection is so crucial for our
redemption.
1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead: it is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; 1Co 15:43 it is sown in disrespect, it is raised in esteem; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 1Co 15:44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body; there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 1Co 15:45 And so it has been written, “The first man Aḏam became a living being,” Gen_2:7 the last Aḏam a life-giving Spirit. 1Co 15:46 The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 1Co 15:47 The first man was of the earth, earthy; the second Man is the Master from heaven. 1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the likeness of the earthy, we shall also bear the likeness of the heavenly.
Psa 116:15 Precious in the eyes of יהוה Is the death of His lovingly-committed ones.
We see this corruption begin immediately after
Noach and his family leave the ark.
Gen 9:20 And Noaḥ, a man of the soil, began and planted a vineyard. Gen 9:21 And he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.
כא וַיֵּשְׁתְּ
מִן-הַיַּיִן, וַיִּשְׁכָּר; וַיִּתְגַּל, בְּתוֹךְ אָהֳלֹה.
Gen
9:22 And Ḥam, the father of Kenaʽan,
saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
“Now this first incestuous act on the list is described in Leviticus 18:7: “You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.” In other words, a man’s mother has a nakedness that is his father’s nakedness, that is, a nakedness that belongs to his father alone. He is not to “uncover her nakedness,” i.e., have sexual intercourse with her, because her sexuality, her nakedness, is to be reserved only for his father. This sheds an entirely fresh light on Genesis 9:22, for it reveals that Cham’s sin is not that he stared at Noach nakedness but that he had intercourse with Noach’s wife, his own mother, while Noach was passed out on the couch. He “saw the nakedness of his father,” that is, the nakedness that properly belonged only to Noach.
Shem and Japheth
backed into the room so they themselves would not be tempted to commit the same
sin and laid a blanket over the exposed body of their mother. This also
explains an otherwise odd thing. In Genesis 9:22 Cham is identified not just as Cham but as
“Cham, the father of Kena’an.” This is incongruous, unless of course, Ken’an is
the son who was born of this incestuous union between Cham and his mother and
became the father of the Kena’anite people. This explains why the curse
of Genesis 9:25 fell, not
upon Cham, as one might expect, but upon Kena’an. Noach does not say, “Cursed
be Cham,” but “Cursed be Kana’an.” (Now Cham certainly experienced the effect
of this curse himself, as his legacy would forever be tainted.)
In the larger narrative of the Torah, this story is included to lay the foundation for YHVH’s decision to use Yisrael as a means of judgment on the Kena’anites. They were a people conceived in incest, a people who began their history under the curse of sexual depravity, and were a people characterized by sexual perversity for their entire history, as events in Sodom and Gomorrah illustrate. (Gen 10:19 – Sodom Gomorah Kena’anite territory) In time, the unrepentant sexual deviancy of Kena’an caused them to forfeit their moral right to exercise sovereignty over their native land and they were destroyed. The land “vomited them out” (Lev. 18:25), as if their depravity had made their homeland physically sick. In time, when the “iniquity of the Amorites...(was) complete” (Genesis 15:16), YHVH’s patience was exhausted and Kena’an was judged by the armies of Yisrael.
It is suggestive that
the consonantal form הלהא appears to have the feminine possessive suffix (see
Cohen, Drunkenness,8, and Gen. Rab. 36:7; although the MT points
the word according to the qĕrêʾ ולהא , “his tent”). Cohen, Kikawada and
Quinn (Before Abraham Was, 102), and the rabbinic sages suggest it is
the tent of Noah’s wife. The feminine form הלהא also occurs, for example, in
Gen 24:67, where Yitschak brings Rikvah into the tent of his mother to
consummate their marriage.
It preserves the idea
that has been brought forth that this was an attempted seizure of Noach's
authority, quoting a 1971 article from FW Basset: "A son who has sexual
relations with his mother or step-mother commits a rebellious act against his
father, since the possession of a man's wife is seen also as an effort to
supplant the man himself." Note the connection with Absalom, Reuven, Dawid's
taking of Shaul's wives, and Adoniyah's attempt to have Abishag.’’
https://www.jstor.org/stable/30040989?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
See also 1 Cor 5:1-5 Paul deals with a similar problem in one of the assemblies.
Gen 9:22 And Ḥam, the father of Kenaʽan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. Gen 9:23 So Shĕm and Yepheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father, but their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness Gen 9:24 And Noaḥ awoke from his wine, and he knew what his younger son had done to him,Gen 9:25 and he said, “Cursed is Kenaʽan, let him become a servant of servants to his brothers.” Gen 9:26 And he said, “Blessed be יהוה, the Elohim of Shĕm, and let Kenaʽan become his servant. Gen 9:27 “Let Elohim enlarge Yepheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shĕm. And let Kenaʽan become his servant.”
Vs 27
has given rise to a diabolical justification of treating black people poorly.
Every human being on earth is made in the image of YHVH and is worthy of
dignity and respect.
In fact,
the true followers of Messiah will not only see themselves as servants, but as
bond servants. Committing themselves to a life of servanthood as our Master
Messiah came to show us.
The nation
of Yisrael was birthed on the continent of Africa.
Our Messiah Himself found protection on the continent of Africa –
Mat
2:13 And when they had left, see, a messenger of יהוה appeared to Yosěph in a
dream, saying, “Arise, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Mitsrayim,
and remain there until I bring you word, for Herodes is about to seek the Child
to destroy Him.”
Mat
2:14 And rising up, he took the Child and His mother by night and
departed for Mitsrayim,
Mat 2:15 and remained there until the death of Herodes, to fill what was spoken by יהוה through the prophet, saying, “Out of Mitsrayim I have called My Son.” Exo_4:22-23, Hos_11:1, Rev_21:7.
Vs 27 is an often overlooked prophecy in the Torah. The implication is that although there may be three groups of believers in YHVH and His Messiah – there is only one “tent” or one place where YHVH chooses to meet with those who call on His Name – Shem’s tent. (Ez 23)
The tents of Shem…….
Rom 3:1 What then is the advantage of the Yehuḏite, or what is the value of the circumcision? Rom 3:2 Much in every way! Because firstly indeed, that they were entrusted with the Words of Elohim.1 Footnote: 1See 2:20. Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief nullify the trustworthiness of Elohim? Rom 3:4 Let it not be! But let Elohim be true, and every man a liar, as it has been written, “That You should be declared right in Your words, and prevail in Your judging.”
Rom 9:4 who are Yisra’ĕlites, whose is the adoption, and the esteem, and the covenants, and the giving of the Torah, and the worship, and the promises, Rom 9:5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Messiah according to the flesh, who is over all, Elohim-blessed forever. Amĕn.
Rom 9:6 However, it is not as though the word of Elohim has failed. For they are not all Yisra’ĕl who are of Yisra’ĕl, Rom 9:7 neither are they all children because they are the seed of Aḇraham, but, “In Yitsḥaq your seed shall be called.” Rom 9:8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of Elohim, but the children of the promise are reckoned as the seed.
Gen 9:28 And Noaḥ lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. Gen 9:29 So all the days of Noaḥ were nine hundred and fifty years, and he died. Gen 10:1 And this is the genealogy of the sons of Noaḥ: Shĕm, Ḥam, and Yepheth. And sons were born to them after the flood. Gen 10:2 The sons of Yepheth: Gomer, and Maḡoḡ, and Maḏai, and Yawan, and Tuḇal, and Mesheḵ, and Tiras. Gen 10:3 And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Toḡarmah. Gen 10:4 And the sons of Yawan: Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Doḏanim. Gen 10:5 From these the coastland peoples of the nations were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their clans, into their nations. Gen 10:6 And the sons of Ḥam: Kush, and Mitsrayim, and Put, and Kenaʽan. Gen 10:7 And the sons of Kush: Seḇa, and Ḥawilah, and Saḇtah, and Raʽmah, and Saḇteḵa. And the sons of Raʽmah: Sheḇa and Deḏan. Gen 10:8 And Kush brought forth Nimroḏ, he began to be a mighty one on the earth. Gen 10:9 He was a mighty hunter before יהוה, therefore it is said, “Like Nimroḏ the mighty hunter before יהוה.” Gen 10:10 And the beginning of his reign was Baḇel, and Ereḵ, and Akkaḏ, and Kalnĕh, in the land of Shinʽar. Gen 10:11 From that land he went to Ashshur and built Ninewĕh, and Reḥoḇoth Ir, and Kelaḥ, Gen 10:12 and Resen between Ninewĕh and Kelaḥ, the great city. Gen 10:13 And Mitsrayim brought forth Luḏim, and Anamim, and Lehaḇim, and Naphtuḥim, Gen 10:14 and Pathrusim, and Kasluḥim, from whom came the Philistines and Kaphtorim. Gen 10:15 And Kenaʽan brought forth Tsiḏon his first-born, and Ḥĕth, Gen 10:16 and the Yeḇusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite, Gen 10:17 and the Ḥiwwite, and the Arqite, and the Sinite, Gen 10:18 and the Arwaḏite, and the Tsemarite, and the Ḥamathite. And afterward the clans of the Kenaʽanites were spread abroad. Gen 10:19 And the border of the Kenaʽanites was from Tsiḏon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Azzah, as you go toward Seḏom, and Amorah, and Aḏmah, and Tseḇoyim, as far as Lasha. Gen 10:20 These were the sons of Ḥam, according to their clans, according to their languages, in their lands, in their nations. Gen 10:21 And also to Shĕm, the father of all the children of Ěḇer, the brother of Yepheth the elder, children were born. Gen 10:22 The sons of Shĕm: Ěylam, and Asshur, and Arpaḵshaḏ, and Luḏ, and Aram. Gen 10:23 And the sons of Aram: Uts, and Ḥul, and Gether, and Mash. Gen 10:24 And Arpaḵshaḏ brought forth Shelaḥ, and Shelaḥ brought forth Ěḇer. Gen 10:25 And to Ěḇer were born two sons, the name of one was Peleḡ, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother’s name was Yoqtan. Gen 10:26 And Yoqtan brought forth Almoḏaḏ, and Sheleph, and Ḥatsarmaweth, and Yeraḥ, Gen 10:27 and Haḏoram, and Uzal, and Diqlah, Gen 10:28 and Oḇal, and Aḇima’ĕl, and Sheḇa, Gen 10:29 and Ophir, and Ḥawilah, and Yoḇaḇ. All these were sons of Yoqtan. Gen 10:30 And their dwelling place was from Mĕysha as you go toward Sephar, a mountain of the east. Gen 10:31 These were the sons of Shĕm, according to their clans, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations.
The sons of Shem are Elam and Asshur,
Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.
We know for certain that the Elamites
became the Persians, the sons of Asshur became the Assyrians, the sons of
Arphaxad became the Hebrews, and Aram became the Syrians and the source of the
name of the Aramaic language. They also later went north into Armenia. From Shem came the Messianic line through
Arphaxad.
Gen
10:32 These were the clans of the sons
of Noaḥ, according to their generations, in their nations. And from these the
nations were divided on the earth after the flood.
Isa 49:5 And now said יהוה – who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Ya‛aqoḇ back to Him, though Yisra’ěl is not gathered to Him, yet I am esteemed in the eyes of יהוה, and My Elohim has been My strength – Isa 49:6 and He says, “Shall it be a small matter for You to be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Ya‛aqoḇ, and to bring back the preserved ones of Yisra’ěl? And I shall give You as a light to the nations, to be My deliverance to the ends of the earth!” Isa 49:7 Thus said יהוה, the Redeemer of Yisra’ěl, their Set-apart One, to the despised , to the loathed One of the nation, to the Servant of rulers, “Sovereigns shall see and arise, rulers also shall bow themselves, because of יהוה who is steadfast, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ěl. And He has chosen You!”
The Restoration
of Yisrael
Isa 49:8 Thus said יהוה, “In a favourable time I shall answer You, and in the day of deliverance I shall help You – and I guard You and give You for a covenant of the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the ruined inheritances,
Rev 5:9 And they sang a renewed song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, because You were slain, and have redeemed us to Elohim by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,c Footnote: cThis fact is given in 6 other texts in the Book of Revelation. Rev 5:10 and made us sovereigns and priests to our Elohim, and we shall reign upon the earth.”d Footnote: d Dan_7:18-27.
Midrash and reflection:
Perhaps we should examine one of the
hidden lessons of this portion. This portion seems to focus on the sons or the
descendants of Noach, but what about the fathers or the patriarchs? There seems
to be an agenda of the undermining of patriarchs and sadly we cannot ignore the
failures and weaknesses of the patriarchs. There has been and will be serious
consequences for doing so.
Mal
4:5 “See, I am sending you Ěliyah the prophet before the coming of the
great and awesome day of יהוה. Mal
4:6 “And he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with
utter destruction
Bar’chu et YHVH ha-m’vorach, Baruch YHVH ha-m’vorach l’O’lam va-ed! Baruch ata YHVH Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim, v’na-tan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Amein.
Bless YHVH
the blessed One; Blessed is YHVH, the blessed One for all eternity. Blessed are
you, YHVH, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have selected us from among
all the peoples, and have given us your Torah. Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of
the Torah. Amein.