The Son of Noah, brother to Shem and Japheth. Of these three sons of Noah was the whole earth overspread; for it doth not appear, that Noah had any other children. (Genesis 9:18-19) The prophecy of Noah concerning his three sons is very remarkable, and was literally fulfilled. Ham is called Canaan in the prediction, and declared to be a servant of servants. When Joshua conquered Canaan this was literally accomplished. (Joshua 9:23) The blessing of Shem is striking, and the manner of it. God is blessed on Shem's account, and is called the Lord God of Shem. And as Christ after the flesh sprang from Shem, it is truly interesting to behold this preacher of righteousness, for so Noah is called, thus preaching and predicting Christ. (2 Peter 2:5; Hebrews 11:7) And the blessing of Japheth is not less to be noticed. The prophesying father declared, that God would enlarge Japheth, or, as the margin of the Bible expresseth it, would persuade him to dwell in the tents of Shem; meaning, that the race of Japheth, in the Gentiles, should come into the fold of the Lord Jesus. For none but the Lord can persuade, and none but him, by his Holy Spirit, can render all persuasions successful. So that we see, from the ark in this man's family, how effectually the Lord provided for the eventful circumstances that were to follow the new world. Ham and his posterity are declared to be cursed. Shem hath the deposit of all the promises; and Japheth, the father of the Gentiles, it was said, should be brought over to the knowledge of salvation, and to take part in the blessings of it. God will enlarge. (See Isaiah 49:1-6)