Why was Kena'an (Canaan) cursed for something his Father did?
Answer From The Annual Reading Schedule - Week 2 Notes For Genesis: Some people have speculated that when Cham (Ham) saw the nakedness of Noach (Noah) (Genesis 9:22), this is really referring to Leviticus 18:8 which states, "The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness." In other words, some speculate that Cham had relations with his Mother that resulted in the birth of Kena'an (Canaan) and that is why Kena'an was cursed. However, I don't hold to this belief because 1) it says his brothers walked backwards with a garment to cover their Father (Genesis 9:23), and 2) how would Noach know the name of a child that had not yet been born, or that a pregnancy had occurred already? I think it is possible that Kena'an was cursed because perhaps, I am speculating/guessing, he may have been the first born son of Cham.