Alternate Reading: Noah and Ham, Shem and Japheth

by James
(Addison, TX)

I'm not a Holy Bible scholar by any means. Just a guy who rarely believes the establishment and who has questions.

My premise is that there is possibly another story in the Bible, and one of them is that what I understand about Noah and Ham is 'possibly' incorrect.

9:20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: 9:21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

9:22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

9:23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.

9:24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

To me it's strange that we (me, I) are led to believe all the people in the Bible stories are of the utmost character, when the Bible proves most people in the Bible are common fallen man who fall prey to desires of power and greed just as today.

Now in the flood times, my understanding is that YHWH God picked Noah because he was pure in his generations.

Doesn't that mean his wife, then by default his sons, and by default his son's wives were not, or possibly were not?

To me it's just as likely they were better than the sort YHWH God wished to eradicate, but how much better? Where is the basis of these people being Holy unto YHWH God derived?

I also assume Gen 9:24 is about Noah being told of Ham seeing Noah in his nakedness and not Ham having congress with Noah.

Finally my premise.

Ham was set up.

Ham walked into the tent not knowing the state of Noah and went and told his brothers. His brothers saw an opportunity to take advantage of Ham and they cover Noah.

Before thinking I'm out to lunch think about it.

You're part of a family with direct communication with YHWH God. You know birthright and favor play a role in how inheritance is dispensed.

You're on a camping trip, walk in and see your dad naked and passed out drunk in his tent. How were you supposed to know he's all skin?

Wouldn't you be a little embarrassed and go tell your brothers (assumption is you have two). Now if your brothers know the customs of the times and have lust and greed in their hearts and believe they have something to gain is it not possible they take advantage of the situation and make the third brother look bad?

To me this is why in other parts of the Holy Bible that the 2nd son is elevated to the standing of the first. Though I've read that Ham was oldest and Shem youngest, so my assumptions are based on Shem oldest, Ham second, and the same consideration given for all other times sons are listed is they are listed in order.

I assume the case for Isaac over Ishmael is about infidelity.

Esau and Jacob, not a clue what's up there other than possibly that woman again steps in front of YHWH God.