Friday, March 27, 2015

What was the nakedness of Noah? What exactly was Ham’s sin?

That Noah was drunk seems to be the consensus from many commentators. Not that he was tipsy, he was flat out drunk. This drunkenness caused him to be relieved of his clothing while in his tent. But does the nakedness of Noah simply mean his clothing? I found the comments by Leon R. Kass quite poignant; he says, “His drunkenness robs Noah of his dignity, paternal authority, and humanity. It leaves him prostrate rather than upright; stripped of his clothing, naked, exposed, and vulnerable to disgrace, he appears merely as a male, not as a father--not even as a humanized, rational animal.” John Davis writes of Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is indeed a mocker.”
It was in this vulnerability that Ham “uncovered his father’s nakedness.” There are many speculations as to what exactly is Ham’s sin. Some camps believe, “Ham’s sin to be homosexuality…” or some act of sexual depravity. Others, Kass included speak to Ham gossiping about seeing his father naked and thus bringing shame on Noah. Kass writes that “Ham looks upon his father's shame and traffics in it.” Was Ham’s sin more that he chose to promote his father’s time of weakness rather than see to it that he was protected from it?
The Bible is clear that Ham did go and tell his brothers about what he saw. He was certainly able to cover his father up, gently put him to sleep and leave with none being the wiser. Why he did not do so, well, why do any of us do some of the things we do that are offensive? And as far as Noah, whatever his reason for getting drunk was, it surely left him exposed to the manipulation of Satan. We would be reminded that none of us are exempt from his rage against God’s children. No matter what heights God allows us to attain, we must always be on guard and ever in His presence.

Bibliography
John J. Davis. Paradise to Prison: Studies in Genesis  (Salem: Sheffield Publishing Company, 1975), 128.

Leon R. Kass. 1992. Seeing the Nakedness of his Father. Commentary, vol. 93, no. 6:41, http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/195868738/abstract?accountid=12085 (accessed October 1, 2012).

The New Encylopedia of Judaism, s.v. Noah, http://www.credoreference.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/entry/8446987 (accessed October 1, 2012).

2 comments:

  1. This was a good take on the story about Noah and Ham Mr. Ortiz. I agree with your perspective, good job.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Bill, I appreciate your taking time to read and respond. God bless.

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