Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did Noach curse Canaan instead of his son Cham who disrespected him?
A: According to Rashi (Genesis 9:25), Noach cursed Canaan (Cham's son) rather than Cham himself because: 1) The sin involved Canaan (as the Midrash says Canaan was the one who actually committed the act against Noach), and 2) Noach had already received a blessing from Hashem (Genesis 9:1), so he redirected the curse to Canaan instead of Cham.
Q: What does 'a servant of servants shall he be' mean in practical terms?
A: The phrase 'servant of servants' (Genesis 9:25) means Canaan would become the lowest of servants. Rambam explains this manifested historically when the Israelites (descendants of Shem) conquered Canaan, and later when the Persians and Greeks ruled over Canaanite lands. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 91a) also discusses how this curse played out in Jewish history.
Q: How does this verse relate to the later conquest of Canaan by the Israelites?
A: This verse (Genesis 9:25) is seen as prophetic justification for the Israelites conquering Canaan centuries later. Rashi explains that because Canaan was cursed to be a servant, it was appropriate for his land to be given to the descendants of Shem (the Israelites). The Torah later commands Israel to drive out the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 20:17), fulfilling this early prophecy.
Q: Does this verse justify slavery?
A: No. Jewish tradition never understood this verse as justifying slavery in general. The curse was specific to Canaan and his descendants. The Torah has many laws regulating and limiting slavery (Exodus 21, Leviticus 25), and the Talmud (Kiddushin 22b) teaches that acquiring a servant is like acquiring a master - implying great responsibility toward servants. Rambam (Hilchos Avadim) emphasizes treating servants with dignity.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Noach's curse on Canaan?
A: The Midrash teaches that this episode shows the severity of disrespecting parents or elders (as Cham/Canaan did to Noach). The Sages derive from here that children can be affected by their parents' sins (see Exodus 20:5). However, Jewish tradition also teaches that repentance can overcome curses, as every person has free will to choose righteousness regardless of ancestry.
Context of the Verse
The verse (Bereshit 9:25) records Noach's curse upon his grandson Kena'an after an incident involving Noach's drunkenness and his son Cham's inappropriate behavior. The Torah states that Noach awoke from his wine and declared, "Cursed be Kena'an; a servant of servants shall he be to his brethren."
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi (Bereshit 9:25) explains that although Cham sinned, the curse was directed at Kena'an because Noach foresaw through ruach hakodesh (divine inspiration) that Kena'an's descendants would be wicked. Additionally, since Cham prevented Noach from having more children (as implied by the phrase "וַיַּרְא חָם אֲבִי כְנַעַן," "Cham, the father of Kena'an, saw"), the curse affected Kena'an's future lineage.
Rambam's Perspective
Rambam (Hilchos Melachim 9:5) discusses the status of the Kena'ani people, noting that they were designated as permanent servants due to this curse. However, he clarifies that this status applies only to the original Kena'ani nations and not to later generations who converted or were subjugated under Jewish rule.
Midrashic Interpretations
The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 36:7) elaborates that Kena'an was cursed because he was already corrupt—either by participating in Cham's sin or because his own nature was inclined toward servitude. The phrase "עֶבֶד עֲבָדִים" ("servant of servants") implies that Kena'an's descendants would serve not only the descendants of Shem and Yefes but also other nations.
Ibn Ezra's Insight
Ibn Ezra (Bereshit 9:25) suggests that the curse was a prophetic declaration about the future subjugation of the Kena'ani people by Bnei Yisrael, as later fulfilled in the conquest of Eretz Kena'an under Yehoshua.
Halachic Implications
Moral Lesson
The incident teaches the severity of disrespecting parents (or ancestors) and the long-term consequences of immoral behavior. Noach's curse reflects the principle of middah k'neged middah (measure for measure), as Cham's impropriety led to his son's degradation.