Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 9:25

25. And he said , Cursed be Canaan , a Servant of Servants shall he be unto his Brethren.

Not from the passion of revenge, but by divine inspiration, and the Spirit of Prophesie.

(i. e.) Hateful to God, abhorred by men, miserable in his person and posterity.

Quest▪ Seeing Ham committed the crime, why is the curse inflicted upon his Son Canaan? Answ. 1. When Canaan is mentioned, Ham is not exempted from the curse, but rather more deeply plunged into it, whilest he is pronounced accursed, not only in his person (which is manifestly supposed by his commission of that sin for which the curse was inflicted) but also in his posterity, which doubtless was a great aggravation of his grief: As on the contrary Ioseph is said to be blessed, when his Children are blessed, Gen. 48. 15, 16. 2. It seems therefore very probable from these words, and the Hebrew Doctors and others affirm it, that Canaan did partake with his Father in the sin, yea that he was the first discoverer of his Fathers shame. 3. Canaan is particularly mentioned by the spirit of Prophes[illegible: 1+ letters]e, in regard of the future extirpation of that people, and this is here remembred for the encouragement of the Israelites, who were now in their expedition against them. 4. This may be an ellipsis or defect of the word, Father; for such relative words are oft-times omitted and understood in Scripture, as Matth. 4. 21. Iames of Zebedee, for, the Son of Zebedee. Ioh. 19. 25. Mary of Cl[illegible: 1+ letters]opas, for, the wife of Cleopas. Act. 7. 16. Emmor of Sychem, for, the Father of Sychem, as our English Translation rightly supplies it from Gen. 33. 19. Thus Goliah is put for Goliahs Brother, as is evident by comparing 2 Sam. 21. 19. with 1 Chron. 20, 5. So here Canaan may be put for, the Father of Canaan, as the Arabick Translation hath it, that is, Ham, as the seventy here render it. And though Ham had more Sons, yet he may be here described by his relation to Canaan, because in him the Curse was more fixed and dreadful, reaching to his utter extirpation, whilst the rest of Hams posterity in after ages were blessed with the saving knowledge of the Gospel.

(i. e.) The vilest and worst of Servants; as vanity of vanities, is the greatest vanity, Eccles. 1. 2. and great wickedness, Hos. 10. 15. is in the Hebrew wickedness of wickedness, and King of Kings is put for the chief of Kings.