Genesis 5:32 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Shem, Ham, and Japheth— Japheth was the elder born, Ham the second, and Shem the youngest, as appears from chap. 10: and from 1 Chronicles 1 : &c. But it is easy to see the reason why Shem is placed first, to whom probably the right of primogeniture was transferred, and from whom came the Messiah. But it is not so easy to see the reason why Ham is mentioned before Japheth: probably it may be, because the posterity of Ham are more distinctly treated of in the following history, and came more immediately upon the stage of action, prior to the posterity of Japheth. Whatever other children Noah had, these three only were preferred with him.