Noah's drunkenness and Ham's act (Genesis 9:20–24)

Says The sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Ham was the father of Canaan (9:18). From these three נָפְצָה כָל־הָאָרֶץ, the whole earth was scattered (the BSB has populated, 9:19). In 9:20 וַיָּחֶל נֹחַ אִישׁ הָאֲדָמָה וַיִּטַּע כָּרֶם: וַיָּחֶל (vayyakhel) is began; he is a man of the soil and planted a vineyard (the BSB has proceeded to plant). He drank and became drunk, וַיִּתְגַּל, and he uncovered himself, בְּתוֹךְ אָהֳלֹה, in the midst of his tent (9:21). Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness ('ervah) and told his two brothers outside (9:22). Shem and Japheth took the garment, walked backward, and covered him; they did not see (9:23). Noah awoke מִיֵּינוֹ, from his wine (the BSB has from his drunkenness), and knew what בְּנוֹ הַקָּטָן, his small son, had done (9:24).

Implies The sin theme of 8:21 continues after the flood: the first story after the covenant shows drunkenness and a son’s offense. See the Hebrew notes and the Genesis 8 note on 8:21.

Uncertain The syntax of 9:20 is open, and the text gives no verdict on Noah’s fault. What Ham did is open: (a) looking and telling; (b) a sexual act against Noah (the idiom of Lev 18 and 20); (c) an act with Noah’s wife; (d) castration, a rabbinic reading. 9:23 (did not see) is weighed for all. Whether the small son is Ham or Canaan is likewise open. No lean is taken.