The Torah gives us a glimpse in the story of Noah and his sons after the flood (Genesis 9:20-27). It's a tale of nakedness, shame, and ultimately, divine reward and retribution. Let's dive into it.
The episode begins, as you likely recall, with Noah’s, shall we say, unfortunate moment of public intoxication. Ḥam, seeing his father in this state, doesn't exactly rush to help. Instead, he tells his brothers, Shem and Yefet, about Noah's embarrassing situation. Shem and Yefet, in contrast, act with profound respect. Genesis 9:23 tells us, "Shem and Yefet took the garment, they placed it upon the shoulders of both of them, they walked backward, and they covered the nakedness of their father and they faced backward, and they did not see the nakedness of their father.” Their actions, according to Bereshit Rabbah 36, weren't just a knee-jerk reaction. They were a carefully considered act of filial piety.
So, what motivated them? Bereshit Rabbah delves deeper. Rabbi Yoḥanan suggests that Shem took the initiative, performing the mitzvah, the good deed, first. Yefet then joined in, heeding Shem’s lead. The text subtly hints at a hierarchy, with Shem taking the primary role. Because of this, Shem merited the tallis, the prayer shawl, as he is the ancestor of Israel, and Yefet merited the regal cloak. Think about it – one small act, laden with layers of meaning.
The Rabbis don't miss the detail of them walking backward. Do we really need to be told that if they walked backward, they didn't see their father's nakedness? Of course not! The point, the Midrash emphasizes, is that they took extra care, placing their hands over their faces, demonstrating the utmost reverence.
Now, here's where it gets really interesting. The Holy One, blessed be He, doesn't let these actions go unnoticed. According to Bereshit Rabbah, God says to Shem: ‘You covered your father’s nakedness, by your life, I will repay you." And the reward? The text connects it to the story of Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azaria (Daniel 3:21), who were descendants of Shem. Remember them? They were thrown into the fiery furnace but miraculously survived, still wearing their garments. The Rabbis Yudan and Huna debate: were those garments their cloaks or robes? The point is, they were protected in their clothing, a direct consequence, says the Midrash, of Shem’s act of covering his father.
And Yefet? God says, ‘You covered your father’s nakedness, by your life, I will repay you." His reward is connected to the future burial of Gog (Ezekiel 39:11), the king of Magog, a descendant of Yefet. Just as Yefet covered Noah’s body, so too will the bodies of his descendants be covered in burial. A beautiful parallel, isn't it?
But what about Ḥam? His disrespect doesn't go unaddressed either. The Holy One says, ‘You brought shame to your father’s nakedness, by your life, I will exact retribution against you." The consequence? Isaiah 20:4 speaks of the future humiliation of Egypt (Mitzrayim) and Kush, descendants of Ḥam, who will be led away "naked and barefoot and bared of buttocks." A stark and painful image, reflecting the shame Ḥam brought upon his father.
So, what does this all mean? It's more than just a story about covering up someone's embarrassing moment. It's about the power of respect, the consequences of disrespect, and the enduring impact of our actions. Bereshit Rabbah teaches us that even seemingly small deeds can have profound and lasting repercussions, shaping not only our own lives but the destinies of our descendants. It makes you think, doesn't it? What kind of legacy are we building with our own actions?