HAM, the son of Noah, brother to Shem and Japheth. He is believed by some to have been Noah’s youngest son.1 One day, when Noah had drank wine to excess, Ham perceived him lying in his tent, and exposed in an indecent manner: instead of covering him, he went and told Shem and Japheth, who throwing a cloak over themselves, and walking backward, cast it upon their father, and so covered his nakedness. Noah, when he awoke, being informed of what had passed, said, Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall be be unto his brethren. From these words it is conjectured, that Canaan gave his father Ham intelligence of Noah’s nakedness. Others are of opinion, that Noah intended to wound Ham in a more sensible manner, by thus cursing his son Canaan. Noah added, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
Ham had a very numerous posterity. He was the father of Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan. We shall speak of the descendants of each of his sons in their particular articles, and of the country possessed by them. With respect to Ham, it is believed that he had all Africk for his inheritance, and that he peopled it with his children. As for himself, he dwelt in Egypt2, which is thought to be the most fruitful part of Africk. Africk is called the land of Ham, in several places of the Psalms. In Ps. lxxvii. 51. civ. 23. cv. 22. Plut. de Iside & Osiride.Plutarch, Egypt is called Chemia. There are some footsteps of the name of Ham or Cham observed in Pso-chemmis, Psittachemmis, which are cantons of Egypt. Lastly, it is believed, that Hammon, adored in Egypt and Lybia, was no other than Ham, the son of Noah.
Bibl. Orient. p. 425.The Author of Tharik-Thabari says, that Noah having cursed Ham and Canaan, the effect of this curse was, that not only their posterity was made subject to their brethren, and born, as we may say, in slavery, but likewise that on a sudden, the colour of their skin became black; for they maintain, that all the Blacks descend from Ham and Canaan. Noah seeing this so surprizing change, was affected with it, and begg’d of God that he would please to inspire Canaan’s masters with a tender and compassionate love for him: his prayer was heard; for notwithstanding we may still at this day observe the effect of Noah’s curse in the servitude of Ham’s descendants, we may remark likewise the effect of his prayer, in that this sort of black slaves is sought for, and made much of in all places.
Many have been of opinion, that the posterity of Ham was the only, or at least principal cause of building the Tower of Babel; that they first suggested the design to others, and formed the presumptuous project of erecting a tower which should reach as high as heaven, that so their name might be celebrated in all ages, and they secured from the apprehension of a new Deluge, if God at any time should send one on the earth. We shall very readily confess, that the undertaking of the builders of Babel was criminal in the sight of God; the author of the book of Wisdom calls it, a Wisd. x. 5.wicked conspiracy; but it is not just to charge it without proofs upon the race of Ham alone.
An Arabian author assures us, that Ham was the first who spread idolatry over the earth, who invented horoscopes, and magick; Abeneph. apud Kircher. Templ. Isiac.and was the author of divers superstitions, on the account whereof he was called Zoroastres, or Adris the Prophet; that is to say, the Image of a Star, or a Fire at all times giving light.
Fabulous History has preserved some footsteps of Ham’s story. It is related, that on a certain day Myrrha, wife, or as others say, nurse to Hammon, and mother of Adonis, having her son in her company, found Cyniras sleeping in his tent all uncovered, and in an indecent posture. She ran immediately, and informed Hammon of it; he gave notice of it to his brothers, who, to prevent the confusion which Cyniras might be in to find himself naked when he waked, covered him with something. Cyniras understanding what had passed, cursed Adonis, and pursued Myrrha into Arabia, where, after having wandered nine months, she was changed into a tree, which bears Myrrh. Hammon and Ham are the same person; so are Adonis and Canaan.
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Footnotes
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Gen. ix. 24. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. Which words are by some referred to Canaan the son of Ham, and grandson of Noah. But it is more natural to refer them to Ham. ↩
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Translators’ note. M. Basnage is rather of opinion, that neither Ham nor Mizraim ever were in Egypt, but that their posterity settled in this country, and called it by the name of their ancestors. And as to Ham’s being worshipped as a God, and called Jupiter Hammon, he thinks people may have been led into this mistake by the similitude of names; and that Jupiter Hammon was the Sun, to which divine honours have been paid at all times in Egypt. See Histoire des Juifs, t. 3. c. 18. ↩