served him, he built an altar[1] to the Lord and offered on it a sacrifice[2] of clean animals. The sacrifice of Noe was pleasing to the Lord. He blessed Noe and his sons, and said to them: “Increase[3] and multiply, and fill the earth.” God made a covenant[4] 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[5]. Now Noe began to cultivate the earth. He planted a vineyard, and, drinking of the wine, he fell asleep[6], and was uncovered in his tent[7]. Cham, seeing his father thus exposed[8], 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[9] 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.
- ↑ Altar. Of stones.
- ↑ Sacrifice. Of those species of animals of which seven pair had been taken into the ark.
- ↑ Increase. Almighty God had said these same words when He blessed Adam and Eve. Noe being the second parent of the human race, God gave him and his sons the same blessing, and in the same words.
- ↑ Covenant. The covenant was a covenant of friendship. Almighty God promised to be gracious to man, and never more to send a Deluge on the earth, or let the succession of seasons, interrupted by the Flood, be again upset. The rainbow was to be a sign of this covenant, and to remind us of God's mercy and promises.
- ↑ Sem, Cham and yaphet. From these three all mankind descended. The children of Sem spread principally through Asia, those of Cham through Africa, and those of Japhet through Europe.
- ↑ Fell asleep. Sufficiently intoxicated to sleep an uneasy sleep. During his restless movements, the covering fell from his body. But bow came holy Noe to be drunk ? For drunkenness is a sin ! He did not drink too much wine intentionally, but through ignorance, not knowing its potency.
- ↑ Tent. He had no house, only a tent which could be easily taken down and carried away.
- ↑ Titus exposed. Cham gazed without shame on his father’s uncovered body, and went and told his brothers mockingly what had happened, so that they too might go and mock their father.
- ↑ Going backwards. So that they might have their faces turned, not towards Noe’s couch, but towards the entrance of the tent.
