Beth-El Baptist Church

01/15/06

Greg Tomlinson

 

Why did Noah send out the raven and why was Canaan cursed?

 

This week there are two questions regarding Noah and some post flood events

 

1.      Why would Noah send out a raven as in Genesis 8:7?

a.       Genesis 8:1-12

                                                   i.      Storms outside had subsided (vv1-2)

                                                 ii.      Water levels began lowering (vv3,5)

                                                iii.      Ark quit moving around (v4)

                                               iv.      Noah gave additional time for water levels to drop (v6)

                                                 v.      What the raven did (v7)

1.      Flew ‘to and fro’

2.      Flew until the waters were dried up

                                               vi.      After the raven, the dove (v8-12).

b.      Ravens

                                                   i.      Facts about Ravens (http://www.audubon.org/bird/BoA/F18_G1a.html

1.      Able to fly to great heights and remain there for several hours

2.      Able to travel over great distances (land or water) without rest

3.      Omnivorous – carrion, insects, nuts, berries, other fruit

                                                 ii.      1 Kings 17:1-7

1.      Ravens ability to locate any kind of good, even breads and meat

2.      In drought they may need to fly great distances for food

                                                iii.      Job 38:41

1.      God will uncover and lead the raven to food somewhere, somehow

                                               iv.      Isaiah 34:6-11

1.      Picture of the destitute area

2.      Therefore ravens need to fly great distances to acquire food

c.       ‘to and fro’

                                                   i.      Hebrew literally means ‘went out and returned’

                                                 ii.      Genesis 24:5; 31:13

                                                iii.      Judges 6:18; 11:31

                                               iv.      Ruth 1:7

                                                 v.      Job 1:21

d.      Summary of study

                                                   i.      Flight height and duration allowed “seeing” great distances

                                                 ii.      Flight duration allowed viewing additional distances

                                                iii.      Diet notified Noah of any changes in vegetation, insect colonies, uncovering of dead flesh

 

 

2.      Why did Noah curse Canaan in Genesis 9:25?

Genesis 9:18-27

a.       What was the big deal?

                                                   i.      Noah was drunk and naked in his own tent (v21)

                                                 ii.      Ham saw his nakedness (also means shame)

                                                iii.      Ham reported/spread news of his shame

1.      Dishonored his father

b.      Why not curse Ham since he dishonored his father?

                                                   i.      Genesis 9:1 – Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth already blessed by God himself, therefore any bless/curse by Noah would be on their children

c.       Why curse Canaan, son of Ham?

                                                   i.      Hypothesis – Birth order

1.      Parallelism if Ham is the youngest

a.       curse the youngest of the youngest?

b.      Genesis 10:2,6,20,21

                                                                                                                           i.      V21 - “Japheth the elder”

                                                                                                                         ii.      Implication is Japheth is the oldest then Ham then Shem

                                                                                                                        iii.      Most likely Japheth oldest, Ham middle, Shem youngest

2.      Genesis 9:24 – ‘younger’

a.       Genesis 1:16; 19:11; Exodus 18:22 – Associated more with significance

b.      Genesis 27:42; 29:16; 42:13 – Associated more with age or order (youngest)

Most likely birth order (youngest) is not in view, but Ham’s character as being insignificant or despicable

                                                 ii.      Hypothesis – Canaan saw Noah and reported to his father Ham

1.      His two brethren were told (v22)

a.       Genesis 9:5 – Brethren could be any relative

2.      Therefore there is no biblical evidence to support this

                                                iii.      Hypothesis – Canaan, youngest of Ham, already ‘insignificant’ would have his insignificance amplified to be the ‘servant of servants’

1.      Genesis 10:6 – Canaan fourth of four listed sons of Ham

2.      Genesis 49:3; Deuteronomy 21:17 – Eldest generally identified as the beginning of his strength is to receive the greatest reward. Implies youngest is less significant.

3.      Genesis 9:25 – Canaan referred to as a ‘servant of servants’

4.      Genesis 9:26-27

a.       Shem blessed – Canaan his servant

b.      Japheth blessed – Enlarged, made more significant

c.       Japheth blessed – Canaan his servant

d.      Japheth blessed, but Shem (probably the youngest) will be over Japheth

The best answer that I have is the third hypothesis in which the already insignificance of being the youngest is amplified and magnified.

 

Summary

Two questions were dealt with here. The first regarding the raven of Noah is most likely significant due to the fact that ravens are long range flight birds who will eat just about anything. With their long range and high flight pattern if there was any food anywhere it would indicate that the water has significantly reduced and that dry land is beginning to appear somewhere. The later use of the dove would yield the proximity of the dry land.

 

The second regarding the cursing of Canaan of Ham. This is the result of Ham, instead of honoring his father and hiding his shame, broadcast it to his brothers. The curse could not be on Ham as God blessed all three sons (9:1) and was most likely placed on Canaan, the youngest, to magnify his already lowly or insignificant position to utter lowness.