Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/84

 served him,  he  built  an  altar  to  the  Lord  and  offered  on  it  a sacrifice  of  clean  animals. The sacrifice  of  Noe  was  pleasing  to the  Lord. He blessed  Noe  and  his  sons,  and  said  to  them: “Increase and  multiply,  and  fill  the  earth.”  God  made  a covenant with Noe  that  He  would  never  again  destroy  the  earth  with  water. The rainbow,  which  we  see  in  the  clouds,  is  the  sign  of  this covenant between  God  and  the  earth.

The sons  of  Noe  were  Sem,  Cham  and  Japhet. Now Noe began to  cultivate  the  earth. He planted  a vineyard,  and,  drinking of  the  wine,  he  fell  asleep,  and  was  uncovered  in  his  tent. Cham, seeing  his  father  thus  exposed,  spoke  of  it  in  a jesting way to  his  brothers. They, however,  filled  with  a chaste  and  holy fear, put  a cloak  upon  their  shoulders,  and,  going  backwards  so as  not  to  look  upon  him  where  he  lay,  covered  their  father’s nakedness. And Noe,  awaking  and  hearing  what  had  happened, said: “Cursed  be  Chanaan;  a servant  of  servants  shall  he  be  unto his brethren.”  But  he  blessed  Sem  and  Japhet.