Noah Curses Canaan and Blesses Shem and Japheth: In a style characteristic of Genesis, the account of Noah closes with his genealogy. Attached to this genealogy are Noah’s contribution to culture, the report of a troubling incident, and Noah’s blessings and curses.

9:18–19 The three sons of Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth, are identified as those who left the ark. These sons of Noah were the heads of the peoples who populated the earth. Only one grandson, Canaan, is mentioned because of his place in what follows.

9:20–23 After the deluge Noah, like Adam, worked the soil. He developed viniculture, which places him on the same plane as the other predeluvian innovators (4:20–22). From the harvest of his vineyard he made wine, a highly prized drink. The ancients had little variety in drinks, and thi…