the son of Ham. The Hebrews believe that Canaan, having first
discovered Noah’s nakedness, told his father Ham; and that Noah, when he
awoke, having understood what had passed, cursed Canaan, the first
author of the offence. Others are of opinion that Ham was punished in
his son Canaan, Gen. ix, 25. For though Canaan is mentioned, Ham is not
exempted from the malediction; on the contrary, he suffers more from it,
since parents are more affected with their children’s misfortunes than
with their own; especially if the evils have been inflicted through some
fault or folly of theirs. Some have thought that _Canaan_ may be put
elliptically for _the father of Canaan_, that is, Ham, as it is rendered
in the Arabic and Septuagint translations.
The posterity of Canaan was numerous. His eldest son, Sidon, founded the
city of Sidon, and was father of the Sidonians and Phenicians. Canaan
had ten other sons, who were fathers of as many tribes, dwelling in
Palestine and Syria; namely, the Hittites, the Jebusites, the Amorites,
the Girgasites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites,
the Zemarites, and the Hemathites. It is believed that Canaan lived and
died in Palestine, which from him was called the land of Canaan.
Notwithstanding the curse is directed against Canaan the son, and not
against Ham the father, it is often supposed that all the posterity of
Ham were placed under the malediction, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of
servants shall he be unto his brethren.” But the true reason why Canaan
only was mentioned probably is, that the curse was in fact restricted to
the posterity of Canaan. It is true that many Africans, descendants of
other branches of Ham’s family, have been largely and cruelly enslaved;
but so have other tribes in different parts of the world. There is
certainly no proof that the negro race were ever placed under this
malediction. Had they been included in it, this would neither have
justified their oppressors, nor proved that Christianity is not designed
to remove the evil of slavery. But Canaan alone in his descendants, is
cursed, and Ham only in that branch of his posterity. It follows that
the subjugation of the Canaanitish races to Israel fulfils the prophecy.
To them it was limited, and with them it expired. Part of the seven
nations of the Canaanites were made slaves to the Israelites, when they
took possession of their land; and the remainder by Solomon.
discovered Noah’s nakedness, told his father Ham; and that Noah, when he
awoke, having understood what had passed, cursed Canaan, the first
author of the offence. Others are of opinion that Ham was punished in
his son Canaan, Gen. ix, 25. For though Canaan is mentioned, Ham is not
exempted from the malediction; on the contrary, he suffers more from it,
since parents are more affected with their children’s misfortunes than
with their own; especially if the evils have been inflicted through some
fault or folly of theirs. Some have thought that _Canaan_ may be put
elliptically for _the father of Canaan_, that is, Ham, as it is rendered
in the Arabic and Septuagint translations.
The posterity of Canaan was numerous. His eldest son, Sidon, founded the
city of Sidon, and was father of the Sidonians and Phenicians. Canaan
had ten other sons, who were fathers of as many tribes, dwelling in
Palestine and Syria; namely, the Hittites, the Jebusites, the Amorites,
the Girgasites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites,
the Zemarites, and the Hemathites. It is believed that Canaan lived and
died in Palestine, which from him was called the land of Canaan.
Notwithstanding the curse is directed against Canaan the son, and not
against Ham the father, it is often supposed that all the posterity of
Ham were placed under the malediction, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of
servants shall he be unto his brethren.” But the true reason why Canaan
only was mentioned probably is, that the curse was in fact restricted to
the posterity of Canaan. It is true that many Africans, descendants of
other branches of Ham’s family, have been largely and cruelly enslaved;
but so have other tribes in different parts of the world. There is
certainly no proof that the negro race were ever placed under this
malediction. Had they been included in it, this would neither have
justified their oppressors, nor proved that Christianity is not designed
to remove the evil of slavery. But Canaan alone in his descendants, is
cursed, and Ham only in that branch of his posterity. It follows that
the subjugation of the Canaanitish races to Israel fulfils the prophecy.
To them it was limited, and with them it expired. Part of the seven
nations of the Canaanites were made slaves to the Israelites, when they
took possession of their land; and the remainder by Solomon.