(Genesis 9:18). It seems straightforward, right? But wait a minute... Was Yefet actually the eldest? That's what some of our Sages wondered.
Why does Shem get top billing? Why not list them in order of age?
Well, the Rabbis in Bereshit Rabbah (26) suggest a compelling reason. We should start with the one who was righteous, born circumcised no less! The one whom the Holy One, blessed be He, associated His very name with. As it says, "Blessed be the Lord, God of Shem" (Genesis 9:26).
Think about it: From Shem, Abraham was destined to descend. Shem even served as High Priest! (Genesis 14:18). It's said that Malkitzedek, the King of Salem (Jerusalem), was actually Shem himself (Bereshit Rabbah 56:10). And in Shem's territory, the Holy Temple would eventually be built. Pretty significant, wouldn't you say?
Shimon bar Ḥuta offers another fascinating perspective. Shem takes precedence, he argues, because God, blessed be He, delayed the punishment of that post-Flood generation, from the Flood itself until the Dispersion (the Tower of Babel). How long was that delay? A period equivalent to the numerical value of Shem's name in Hebrew – three hundred and forty years! This calculation lines up with the midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 38:2) which states that the building of the Tower of Babel began immediately after the Flood.
So, while the Torah's seemingly simple list might appear chronological at first glance, a deeper look reveals layers of meaning. It highlights the importance of righteousness, lineage, and divine blessing. It reminds us that sometimes, the order in which things are presented isn't just about age, but about something far more profound.
It begs the question, doesn’t it? How often do we take things at face value, missing the deeper currents flowing beneath the surface? Perhaps the story of Noah's sons is a gentle nudge to look beyond the obvious, to seek the hidden blessings and significance in the order of things.