Cursing Canaan/2/en

Noach's Vineyard

Exegetical Approaches

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Canaan Sinned

Noach punished Canaan because he was the one who had wronged him the most.

Sources:R. Nehemiah in Bereshit Rabbah,36:7About Bereshit Rabbah R. Yosef Kara, RashbamReconstructed Bereshit 9:18About R. Shemuel b. Meir, Ibn EzraBereshit 9:18-27Additional Commentary Bereshit 9:18-27About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, R. Yosef Bekhor ShorBereshit 9:18-27About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Ralbag, SefornoBereshit 9:18-27About R. Ovadyah Seforno

Canaan Born from Cham's Sin

Canaan was cursed as an illegitimate child born of the illicit union between Cham and Noach's wife.

Sources:Hoil MosheBereshit 9:28About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi, I. Elizur

Canaan Cursed for Cham's Sin

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1:6:1About Josephus, opinion in Bavli SanhedrinSanhedrin 70aAbout the Bavli, opinions in Bereshit Rabbah36:7About Bereshit Rabbah, Targum Pseudo-JonathanBereshit 9:20-27About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, RambanBereshit 9:18, 20, 26About R. Moshe b. Nachman, ShadalBereshit 9:18-27About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto

Sources:Despite the fact that it was Cham who acted wrongly, for technical reasons Canaan was cursed instead.

Canaan not Cursed

Canaan was never cursed; only Cham was.

Sources:R. Saadia GaonTafsir Bereshit 9About R. Saadia Gaon