The Legacy of Ham

In the past month, I have managed to finish my section of Japheth and have since moved onto the one for Ham. Despite what many seem to think, the Scriptures are far from negative or ignorant towards the descendants of Ham. In fact, so far I have come across over 700 references to him and his people int he Scriptures, and I am only half-way done with the sons of Mizraim. Indeed, while Canaan was cursed for a misdeed of his father, those punishments have come and gone. Many of his, Ham’s, descendants have held something of an important place in Israel’s and the world’s history, which includes Canaan.

Beginning with Cush, his descendants became, mainly, the Ethiopians and the Sudan, among others. One of their kings ended up ruling Egypt and is recorded in the Scriptures. And in the New Testament, a eunuch of the Ethiopia’s queen, while reading the book of Isaiah, is among the first of the Gentiles to hear the Gospel. One Ethiopian in the Old Testament even received special protection for a message he delivered.

Of course, one descendant of Cush is somewhat infamous: Nimrod. Most likely instigator of the Tower of Babel, Nimrod was a nuisance to the early world for a time to come even after Babel and likely also brought rise to the idolatry that quickly spread among his people and to so many others. But as I found, his great buildings were an architectural feat even to the present, as ziggurat and pyramid like structures are found all over the world, a testimony to what happened at Babel so many centuries ago.

But now I am on Mizraim and his sons, and that has been a trial. It would be an understatement to say that Egyptian chronology is confusing, a lie to say that it is complete or even close to it. There are a number of Pharaohs and even a queen recorded in the Scriptures, but their names do not always match up to the histories of Egypt. Likely, this is because of a language barrier and the lack of understanding of Egyptian. However, after more time than I would have preferred, and with more extra help than I care to admit to, I was able to tentatively line up some of these said pharaohs, starting with Mizraim, and the likely possibility of his son Naphtuhim, and going to Hophra. There are even possible cases for Joseph and the many Pharaohs of the Exodus. While much more work needs to be done regarding Egyptian chronology on both Christians and secularists parts, I think the work of mine and others may help solve the riddle of Egypt’s complex but fascinating history.

Fun fact: when one looks at the construction of the Great Pyramid, the reign of Kufu, and Abram’s journey to Egypt,  one may find an interesting correlation. Some texts believe that Abram, coming from Ur of the Chaldean’s, may have bought the knowledge that led to the building and better construction of these marvelous feats of architecture.

So now I am partway done with the descendants of Ham, who so far have been found to dwell in modern day Egypt, Ethiopia, the Sudan, and Libya. After I finish Mizraim and his descendants, I will continue onto his brother Put, who I already know is in Libya and was joined with a couple of Mizraim’s sons, and the last brother Canaan. His story and people, I hope, will be quite interesting as I have reason to believe that some of his people may have traveled to the far reaches of Asia. I can hardly wait to see what I will find!

Lastly, I have reached somewhere around 140 pages to my book. While it may not seem like much, it is quite a feat for me, as I have only been writing hard for a couple of months. And yet, I know my work is far from complete, or even drafted. But Lord willing, I will finish strong and before the year is out.

Blessings to you who find this,

~Rose