Noah’s sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were Noah’s sons, and from them the whole earth was populated.
Noah, as a man of the soil, began by planting a vineyard. He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a cloak and placed it over both their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father naked.
When Noah awoke from his drinking and learned what his youngest son had done to him, he said:
Canaan is cursed.
He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers.
He also said:
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem;
Let Canaan be Shem’s slave.
Let God extend Japheth;
let Japheth dwell in the tents of Shem;
let Canaan be Shem’s slave.
Now Noah lived 350 years after the flood. So Noah’s life lasted 950 years; then he died.
These are the family records of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They also had sons after the flood.
Japheth’s sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Gomer’s sons: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. And Javan’s sons: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. From these descendants, the peoples of the coasts and islands spread out into their lands according to their clans in their nations, each with its own language.
Ham’s sons: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. Cush’s sons: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And Raamah’s sons: Sheba and Dedan.
Cush fathered Nimrod, who began to be powerful in the land. He was a powerful hunter in the sight of the LORD. That is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a powerful hunter in the sight of the LORD.” His kingdom started with Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, and Resen, between Nineveh and the great city Calah.
Mizraim fathered the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh, Pathrus, Casluh (the Philistines came from them), and Caphtor.
Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, as well as the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the Canaanite clans scattered. The Canaanite border went from Sidon going toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and going toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim as far as Lasha.
These are Ham’s sons by their clans, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.
And Shem, Japheth’s older brother, also had sons. Shem was the father of all the sons of Eber. Shem’s sons were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.
Aram’s sons: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.
Arpachshad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber. Eber had two sons. One was named Peleg, for during his days the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan. And Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were Joktan’s sons. Their settlements extended from Mesha to Sephar, the eastern hill country.
These are Shem’s sons by their clans, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.
These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their family records, in their nations. The nations on earth spread out from these after the flood.
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How does this story of Noah replay and continue Adam and Eve’s story? What do you think the author of Genesis is intending his readers to notice?
Review yesterday’s blog about a principle to use when reading Scripture as literature. How does applying that principle help you better understand, appreciate, and apply this passage today? How does the Bible written to be read in community make a difference to today’s passage?
Lord, thank you for being present with me through the study of your word today. I ask that you open my mind to see the wide and far reaching implications of the truth I have learned today. Plant the seed of your word deep in my heart so that it may bear the fruit of love for you and others made in your image. Guide and strengthen my hands so that I may be a doer of your word and not only a hearer. I ask this all in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.