Lives of Scripture

Shem was a son of Noah named first in most genealogical lists, though not necessarily Noah's eldest (Genesis 5:32; 9:24; 10:21). He, his wife, and his brothers Ham and Japheth with their wives were among the eight people who survived the flood in the ark (Genesis 7:13). Afterward, Noah planted a vineyard, drank its wine, and lay uncovered and drunk inside his tent. Ham saw his father's nakedness and told his brothers outside rather than covering him; Shem and Japheth instead took a garment, walked in backward, and covered Noah without looking at him (9:20-23). When Noah awoke and learned what had happened, he cursed Ham's son Canaan but blessed Shem directly: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem" (9:26) -- language distinct from the blessing given to Japheth, singling out Shem's line as the one through whom the LORD would particularly be known. Genesis 10 traces Shem's descendants -- Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram -- as ancestors of many peoples of the ancient Near East, and Genesis 11's genealogy narrows that line specifically through Arpachshad to Terah, father of Abram (11:10-26). Through this line Shem stands as an ancestor not only of Israel but, ultimately, through Abraham's family, of the Messiah himself.