Ham intrudes into his Father’s holiness, entering into the eschaton before he is allowed access. He seeks to draw his brothers into the conflict, but they resist. Ham’s son, Canaan, takes on the role of new Cain.
Ham’s genealogy is much like Cain’s, and from this line comes Nimrod, the new kingly city-builder. Nimrod is the new Lamech, and the sons of Shem in chapter 11 are in Shinar, which is part of Nimrod’s kingdom. Babel is a Nimrodic city, and thus the presence of the sons of Shem there represents a mixing of the lines. It is a new Gen. 6.
And with Babel comes the third fall again. Babel represents a false temple, an attempt for man to enter the heavenlies on his own terms. God comes down in judgment and scatters all mankind.
From this rubble appears the new Noah, Abram, who will have the promise of the true house for all nations.
