Genesis 9 Footnotes

9:2 After the flood the animal world received a new decree imposing on them an inherent fear of humans. As with the creation decree that animals are subject to mankind, the new command is not a license for the inhumane treatment of animals. The new environment following the flood’s judgment was a hostile one characterized by violence and death. Humans maintained their authority over the lower animals, but the relationship would involve struggle in a sinful, fallen world (Rm 8:19-23). All life is valuable to God (Lv 17:14), and the new decree contributed to the preservation of both human and animal life. Israel’s laws provided animals for food but prohibited wanton killing (Lv 17:8-16; Dt 12:23; 15:21-23) and required special protections (Ex 20:10; 23:11; Dt 22:10; 25:4). Despite the fall, God did not revoke man’s stewardship of the earth.

9:25 Although Ham was the one guilty of dishonoring his father, the curse is against his son Canaan. The Bible prohibits inflicting judgment against an innocent son in the place of his guilty father (Dt 24:16; Ezk 18:20), but it also recognizes that the influence of sinful parents typically leads children to follow their pattern of behavior (Ex 20:5). This was especially the case in ancient Israel’s patriarchal society where multiple generations often lived in the household of the patriarch.

The creation account makes it clear that all people are of equal worth (Gn 1:26-27). Slavery contradicts this principle. Those OT and NT passages that provide for and regulate slavery assume it as a regrettable aspect of sinful human society. Early indications that slavery eventually would become obsolete were laws that prohibited the mistreatment of slaves (see notes on Ex 21:2,7; 21:20-21,26). The gospel and the brotherhood of the saints (Gl 3:28; Phm 1-25) undermine the practice of slavery. These considerations suggest that Noah’s curse of Canaan was either figurative, or a misunderstanding of the Lord’s intent. The narrative does not portray Noah as an entirely exemplary character (Gn 9:21).