תלמוד בבלי סנהדרין ע.
רב ושמואל. חד אמר סרסו וחד אמר רבעו מאן דאמר סרסו מתוך שקלקלו ברביעי קללו ברביעי ומאן דאמר רבעו גמר וירא וירא כתיב הכא וירא חם אבי כנען את ערות אביו וכתיב התם (בראשית לד) וירא אותה שכם בן חמור וגו'
Rav and Shmuel (disagreed). One said he [Ham] castrated him [Noah] and the other said he raped him. The one who claims that he castrated him explains in this way; that Ham thus prevented Noah from having a fourth son, which is why Ham’s fourth son, Canaan, is cursed. The other claims he raped him by a comparison of expressions. Here it is written, “And Ham, the father of Canaan saw the nakedness of his father” and there (Genesis 34:2) “And Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite, chief of the country, saw her (Dina) and took her and lay with her by force.” [Translation by Rabbi Steven Greenberg]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think Rav and Shmuel's disagreement might be about?
2. What motives might be ascribed to Ham for either of these aggressions?
3. Beyond their differences, what does each interpretation share?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)