Midrash su Genesi 9:24

Another interpretation (of Prov. 23:31): HE/IT GOES DOWN SMOOTHLY. In the end he declares transgressions permissible and makes them {a common like something accessible < to all >} [something accessible < to all > like a common]. He converses with a woman in the market place where he talks obscenely and says evil things in a drunken state without being ashamed, because he is confused and knows neither what he is saying nor what he is doing. (Prov. 23:32:) IN THE END IT WILL BITE LIKE A SNAKE. When the snake bites a person, he does not feel it for an time; but after he goes home, < the poison in > the wound permeates him. IN THE END IT WILL BITE LIKE A SNAKE, most certainly like a snake. Just as in the case of the snake, < the Holy One > cursed the land on account of it, as stated (in Gen. 3:17): CURSED IS THE LAND BECAUSE OF YOU; so in the case of wine, a third of the world was cursed on account of it, as stated (in Gen. 9:24–25): THEN NOAH AWOKE FROM HIS WINE…, [AND HE SAID: CURSED BE CANAAN].¹⁹As Enoch Zundel explains in his commentary on Tanh., Lev. 3:5, Canaan’s curse comes through his father Ham, upon whom the curse actually fell. Since Ham represented a third of Noah’s sons, a third of the world came from him. So also Numb. R. 10:2. Ergo (in Prov. 23:32): IN THE END IT WILL BITE LIKE A SNAKE…. (Vs. 33:) YOUR EYES WILL SEE STRANGE THINGS. See what wine causes one who drinks it! It causes him to serve idols. So it says (in Is. 28:7): THESE ALSO REEL WITH LIQUOR AND STAGGER WITH STRONG DRINK. What is the meaning of {REEL?} [THESE? < These of > which they spoke] (in Exod. 32:4): THESE ARE YOUR GODS, O ISRAEL. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 32:6): AND THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO {PLAY} [TO ENGAGE IN AMOROUS SPORT].²⁰See above, Gen. 2:21. < It was > because of wine that they said (in Exod. 32:4) THESE ARE YOUR GODS, O ISRAEL. Therefore (in Prov. 23:33): AND YOUR HEART WILL SPEAK DECEITFUL THINGS. Thus it causes four things: idolatry, uncovering of nakedness, shedding of blood, and evil speech. See how strong wine is! So it is written (in Hab. 2:5): AND MOREOVER, WINE IS TREACHEROUS. It is also written (in Prov. 21:24): A SCORNER AND ARROGANT ONE, INSOLENT IS HIS NAME.²¹In the Masoretic Text SCORNER and INSOLENT are reversed. Now INSOLENT must mean idolatry. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 119:21): YOU REBUKE THE CURSED INSOLENT ONES. Moreover, INSOLENT ONES must < also > refer to the uncovering of nakedness. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 86:14): O GOD, INSOLENT ONES HAVE RISEN UP OVER AGAINST ME….; and it says (in Ps. 19:14 [13]): ALSO KEEP YOUR SERVANT FROM INSOLENT ONES. Moreover, when one drinks and transgresses, he sees the whole world as a ship. It is so stated (in Prov. 23:34): YOU WILL BE LIKE ONE WHO LIES DOWN IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA. When he lies down they smite him, but he does not feel it. Thus it is stated (in vs. 35): THEY STRUCK ME, BUT I FELT NO HURT; THEY BEAT ME, BUT I DID NOT KNOW IT. So when he is unknowing and unashamed, he uncovers himself. Then afterwards he returns and seeks it (i.e., wine). [Thus it is stated] (ibid.): WHEN I WAKE UP, I SEEK IT YET AGAIN.

"And Noah awoke from his wine (Gen 9:24)": he was sobered from his wine. 'And knew what his youngest [qatan] son had done to him.' Here [youngest] means, his worthless son, as you read, 'Because the brazen altar that was before Ad-nai was too small [qatan] to receive the bunt-offering, etc.' (I Kings 8:64). And He said: Cursed be Canaan (Genesis 9:25): Ham disagreed. Rabbi Yehudah said: Since it is written, 'And God blessed Noah and his sons' (Gen. 9:1), while there cannot be a curse where a blessing has been given, consequently. He said: Cursed be Canaan. Rabbi Nehemiah explained: It was Canaan who saw it [in the first place] and informed them, therefore the curse is attached to him who did wrong. Rabbi Berekiah said: Noah grieved very much in the Ark that he had no young son to wait on him, and declared, ‘When I go out I will beget a young son to do this for me.’ But when Ham acted thus to him, he exclaimed, ‘You have prevented me from begetting a young son to serve me, therefore that man [your son] will be a servant to his brethren!’ Rabbi Huna said in Rabbi Yosef’s name: [Noah declared], ‘You have prevented me from begetting a fourth son, therefore I curse your fourth son,’ Rabbi Huna also said in Rabbi Yosef’s name: You have prevented me from doing something that is done in the dark, therefore your seed will be ugly and dark-skinned. Rabbi Hiya said: Ham and the dog copulated in the ark, therefore Ham came forth black-skinned while the dog publicly exposes its copulation. Rabbi Levi said: This may be compared to one who minted his own coinage in the very palace of the king, whereupon the king ordered: I decree that his effigy be defaced and his coinage cancelled. Similarly, Ham and the dog copulated in the Ark and were punished.