The Curse of Canaan: Noah’s Drunkenness and Its Connection to 1 Samuel 19

 

The Curse of Canaan: Noah’s Drunkenness and Its Connection to 1 Samuel 19

In this blog, I will argue that Noah was not physically naked or drunk in his tent. He removed his outer garment similar to David, Peter, and Isaiah. See 2 Samuel 6:14, John 21:7, Isaiah 20:2. I cannot prove this, but I speculate that this outer garment was a piece of the ark’s covering (Genesis 8:13). Perhaps it served as a garment of authority- functioning like a pre-High Priest and/or pre-Kingly garment.

When Noah removed his garment, he was humbling himself before God similar to Moses taking off his sandals in Mt Sinai or how the High Priest took off his linen garments before entering the Holy of Holies (Exodus 3:5, Leviticus 16:23). Noah’s tent was the pre-Holy of Holies at Mt Ararat. Noah then experienced this trance-like vision and lay down similar to King Saul in 1 Samuel 19. While he was in this trance-like state, I believe Ham entered Noah’s tent without permission. Ham mocked the presence of God, Noah’s prophesying, and took the garment of authority. This was insulting and disrespectful to say the least. Alternatively, Ham was perhaps trying to usurp his father’s authority since it appeared that Noah was dead in his tent. The brothers, Shem and Japheth walked backwards to cover Noah because they had respect for God’s presence within Noah’s tent. No matter how odd or bizarre the practice looks today. They believed it was not their right to take their father’s authority without him handing it to one of them or God pronouncing a new leader.

When Noah woke up, he noticed that the garment was back on him again. Before the trance, he was not wearing it. Noah then inquired his sons about what happened, which resulted in the cursing of Canaan. The next big question is why Canaan got cursed instead of Ham. I suspect that all the sons were blessed in Genesis 9:1 by God. In scripture, a blessing cannot be reversed into a curse. Similar examples can be found below:

·         Balaam could not curse Israel because God blessed them (Numbers 22:36-24:25)

·         Although Joseph was upset with Jacob, Jacob could not reverse the blessing on Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 48:13-19)

·         Esau couldn’t get his birthright back from Jacob (Genesis 27:36)

 

Genesis 9:21-29 English Standard Version20 Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and became DRUNK and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.” 26 He also said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. 27 May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.” 28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years. 29 All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died.

1 Samuel 19:23-24 English Standard Version 23 And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Acts 2:12-15 English Standard Version 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

Genesis 43:34 English Standard Version 34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.

Song of Solomon 5:1 English Standard Version He 5 I came to my garden, my sister, my bride, I gathered my myrrh with my spice, I ate my honeycomb with my honey, I drank my wine with my milk. Others Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love!

NOTE: The Ancient Hebrew word: šāḵar is used for Noah’s Drunkenness. In a positive context, it can be used for drinking abundantly/drink merrily. Not necessarily drunkenness. (See Genesis 43:34 and Song of Solomon 5:1). Therefore, Noah could have been merry similar to Joseph’s brothers in Genesis 43:34. A better possibility is that Noah was in the Spirit. In Acts 2, when the Apostles were speaking in tongues (in the Spirit), the critics were accusing them of being drunk.  I think the best explanation can be found in 1 Samuel 19 where we see King Saul in a trance-like state among other prophets.