Why Noah Cursed Canaan and the Fate of Ham, Shem, and Japheth

"And he said: Cursed be Canaan" (Genesis 9:25). Ham looked — is Canaan cursed? Rabbi Judah said: The curse does not dwell in a place of blessing, since it is stated, "And God blessed [Noah and his sons]" (Genesis 9:1). [Rabbi Nehemiah says:] Canaan looked and told his father, so the curse returned to its origin; therefore it is stated, "And he said: Cursed be Canaan." Our Rabbis said: When Noah was in the ark, he said: Were my sons to have slaves, so that they might sit while those slaves went forth before them — but when I go out from the ark, whatever I beget I will make into slaves for them. He said to him (Ham): You did not allow me to beget a fourth son who would be a slave to his brothers; by your life, I will make your fourth son a slave, as it is stated, "And he said: Cursed be Canaan; [a slave of slaves shall he be to his brothers]" (Genesis 9:25). Resh Lakish said: Behold, those of Ham are slaves forever, but the sons of Shem go forth free in the world, as it is stated, "If [a fellow Hebrew] is sold to you" (Deuteronomy 15:12), "and you shall take the awl" (Deuteronomy 15:17). What is written there? "And he shall be your slave forever" (Deuteronomy 15:17). But here, "a slave of slaves" — a slave who takes no freedom and never goes out into the world. What caused this curse for him? Through his disgracing his father. And so too the Holy One, blessed be He, is destined to exact payment from the sons of Ham and to disgrace them through the king of Assyria, as it is stated, "So shall the king of Assyria lead [the captives] … [naked and barefoot]" (Isaiah 20:4). What is "naked and barefoot"? That he would disgrace them and lead them about naked. And Japheth, who honored his father — how did the Holy One, blessed be He, repay him? When Gog comes, the Holy One, blessed be He, darkens and covers over him, as it is stated, "And it shall come to pass on that day that I will give to Gog a place there for a grave" (Ezekiel 39:11). And how did the Holy One, blessed be He, repay Shem? When the sons of Aaron entered to offer sacrifice, their bodies were burned but their garments were not burned — why? Because they are the sons of Shem. This is among the righteous; and from where among the wicked? When Sennacherib went up against Jerusalem and all his armies with him, their bodies were burned but their garments were not burned — why? Because they are among the sons of the sons of Shem, as it is stated, "The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram" (Genesis 10:22).