וּכְנַ֗עַן יָלַ֛ד אֶת־צִידֹ֥ן בְּכֹר֖וֹ וְאֶת־חֵֽת׃
At naging anak ni Canaan si Sidon na kanyang panganay, at si Het;
Midrash Tanchuma
And it came to pass in the middle of the night, that the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt (Exod. 12:29). The Creator of the night divided the night precisely. The Lord smote all the first born. It was the Lord Himself who smote the firstborn and not His emissary (Moses). In fact, even though a man was elsewhere, and his firstborn was in Egypt, he died. How do we know that the firstborn of the Cuthites, Puthites, and Ludites were also slain? It is said: And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the first fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham (Ps. 78:51).8Ham was the ancestor of Cush, Put, and Lud (Gen. 10:15). Only the firstborn of the Pharaoh remained alive in fulfillment of the verse However, it was for this that I raised you up (Exod. 9:16). And Ba’al Saphon was the only idol remaining, to mislead them, in fulfillment of the verse He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them (Job 12:23). Unto the firstborn of the captives (Exod. 12:29). Why were the firstborn of the captives punished? Because they had rejoiced in the decrees promulgated against Israel. Hence it is written: He that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished (Prov. 17:5). You must not be of the opinion that only the captives reacted in that manner, for the slaves and handmaidens did likewise, as is said: Even unto the firstborn of the maidservants that is behind the mill (Exod. 11:5); that is, even those who were legally bound to the millers. Even their firstborn cattle were destroyed lest the people assert: “Our deities are powerful, and that is why punishment was imposed upon them (and not upon us).”
Vayikra Rabbah
Another matter, “when you will come to the land of Canaan.” They are seven nations, and you say “the land of Canaan”? The Rabbis say: It alluded to the fact that just as Ḥam castrated him and Canaan was punished; here, too, Israel sins and the land is cursed.20The Sages understood Ḥam to have castrated his father Noah (see Sanhedrin 70a, based on Genesis 9:22–24). In response, Noah cursed Ḥam’s son, Canaan (Genesis 9:25). Similarly, the verse refers here to the Land of Canaan to indicate that when the land is struck, it is due to sin, in this case the sins of Israel.
Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov and the Rabbis, Rabbi Eliezer says: It is because Canaan was the progenitor of them all.21The other six nations that inhabited the land were descendants of Canaan, and therefore the land is called the Land of Canaan. That is what is written: “Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Ḥet” (Genesis 10:15).22The subsequent verses (Genesis 10:16–18) list various other sons of Canaan, some of whom were the progenitors of the nations that inhabited the Land of Canaan. The Rabbis say: It is because they were all merchants, just as it says: “Whose merchants are princes; whose peddlers23The term for “its peddlers [kinaneha]” is grammatically related to the name Canaan. are the eminent of the land” (Isaiah 23:8).
Rabbi Yosei ben Dosa said: Eliezer is Canaan.24Eliezer, the servant of Abraham (see Genesis 15:2), was a Canaanite. But because he served that righteous one, he emerged from the category of cursed and came into the category of blessed. That is what is written: “He said: Cursed is Canaan” (Genesis 9:25), and it is written: “Come, blessed of the Lord” (Genesis 24:31).25This was stated by Lavan to the servant of Abraham, identified by the Sages as Eliezer. Rabbi Yaakov in the name of Rabbi Yehuda in the name of Rabbi Natan of Beit Guvrin employed this in requesting to take his leave.26When taking leave of his host or an important individual, he would mention this comment. If Eliezer emerged from the category of cursed and came into the category of blessed because he served that righteous one; our brethren, Israel, who honor their prominent leaders, all the more so. Therefore, Moses cautions Israel: “When you will come to the land of Canaan.”
Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov and the Rabbis, Rabbi Eliezer says: It is because Canaan was the progenitor of them all.21The other six nations that inhabited the land were descendants of Canaan, and therefore the land is called the Land of Canaan. That is what is written: “Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Ḥet” (Genesis 10:15).22The subsequent verses (Genesis 10:16–18) list various other sons of Canaan, some of whom were the progenitors of the nations that inhabited the Land of Canaan. The Rabbis say: It is because they were all merchants, just as it says: “Whose merchants are princes; whose peddlers23The term for “its peddlers [kinaneha]” is grammatically related to the name Canaan. are the eminent of the land” (Isaiah 23:8).
Rabbi Yosei ben Dosa said: Eliezer is Canaan.24Eliezer, the servant of Abraham (see Genesis 15:2), was a Canaanite. But because he served that righteous one, he emerged from the category of cursed and came into the category of blessed. That is what is written: “He said: Cursed is Canaan” (Genesis 9:25), and it is written: “Come, blessed of the Lord” (Genesis 24:31).25This was stated by Lavan to the servant of Abraham, identified by the Sages as Eliezer. Rabbi Yaakov in the name of Rabbi Yehuda in the name of Rabbi Natan of Beit Guvrin employed this in requesting to take his leave.26When taking leave of his host or an important individual, he would mention this comment. If Eliezer emerged from the category of cursed and came into the category of blessed because he served that righteous one; our brethren, Israel, who honor their prominent leaders, all the more so. Therefore, Moses cautions Israel: “When you will come to the land of Canaan.”
Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael
And it is written (Genesis 10:15) "And Canaan begot Tziddon, his first-born, and Cheth," and (Ibid. 23:5-6) "… and the sons of Cheth answered Abraham: Hear us my lord, etc." — whereupon the Holy One Blessed be He said: You honored My loved one; I, likewise, will call the land by your name.