Noah's sons

Here’s how the evidence fits together:

1. Genesis 9:20-25 describes the incident where Noah became drunk, and Ham saw his father’s nakedness and told his brothers. Genesis 9:24 says that Noah knew what his "youngest son" (often translated as "younger" in some versions) had done to him. This detail confirms that Ham was Noah's youngest son.
2. Based on the fact that Ham is the youngest son, and considering the other data points you mentioned:
   • Genesis 5:32 indicates that Noah was 500 years old when he fathered his first son.
   • Genesis 11:10 says that Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, and by calculating the age of Shem when the flood ended (98 years old), we deduce that Shem was born when Noah was 502 years old.
3. The birth order: Since Shem was born when Noah was 502 years old, and Ham is the youngest son, Japheth must have been Noah’s firstborn, born when Noah was 500 years old.
4. Genesis 10:21 refers to Japheth as Shem's elder brother, supporting the understanding that Japheth was the oldest.

Conclusion:

• Japheth is the oldest son of Noah.
• Shem is the second son, born when Noah was 502.
• Ham is the youngest son, born after Shem.

This interpretation makes sense in light of both the genealogical details and the events described in Genesis 9:20-25, where the reference to the "youngest son" aligns with Ham's position as the youngest of the three sons.