…In fact, Ishmael was not only a Hamite, Noah’s problem child, big time; he likely bore the spiritual genes of Cain the first murderer in human history who also was the first murderer of his brother. And why? Sheer naked, wholly unjustified envy of his kid brother who invested more time and care in preparing an offering. Abel did absolutely nothing to his older brother except excel. Unlike Jacob whose behavior toward his older-brother was less pristine; unlike Joseph whose brothers thought of killing him because he too was less than perfect toward them.

But not Cain. He was overcome with sheer envy when his kid brother surpassed him.

And Ishmael can be said to have some of Cain in him too, and here’s why. Cain was not put to death for his crime. On the contrary, G-d protected him with the Mark of Cain, meaning others should not harm him, and he lived to a good old age. He also sired offspring, though he and all of them, seven generations never survived the flood. Most died in it.

But his seventh generation, Lamech, had children with two women, one of whom, according to the Midrash became Noah’s wife, he of the line Seth. And so Ham was the son of a mother descended from Cain…