Vs. 23-27. _And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both
their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their
father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's
nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest
son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of
servants shall he be unto his brethren._

167. It is truly a beautiful and memorable example of respect to a
father which Moses records in this passage. The sons might without sin
have approached their father and covered him, while turning their
faces toward him. What sin should it be if one, happening upon a nude
person, should see what is before him without his will? Still the two
sons do not do this. When they heard from their haughty and mocking
brother what had happened to their father, they laid a garment upon
both their shoulders, entered the tent with faces turned away (how
admirable!), and lowering the garment backward, covered their father.

168. Who can fail to observe here the thoughtfulness of the will and
Word of God, and reverence before the majesty of fatherhood, which God
requires to be honored, not despised or mocked by children? God seems
to approve this reverence and accept it as a most pleasing offering
and the very noblest worship and obedience. But his utmost hatred
rests upon Ham, who might have seen without sin what he saw, since it
came to his view by chance, if only he had covered it up, if only he
had remained silent about it, if only he had not shown himself to be
pleased by the sin of his father. But he who despised God, the Word,
and the order established by God, not only failed to cover his father
with a garment, but even derided him and left him naked.

169. In describing the act of the two brothers Moses emphasizes the
malice of Ham, who was filled with violent and satanic hatred against
his father. Who of us, on finding a stranger lying by the wayside
drunk and nude, would not at least cover him with his own coat to
forestall disgrace? How much greater the demand in this case of a
father! Ham, however, fails to do for his father, the highest ruler of
the world, what common humanity teaches us to do for strangers.
Moreover he publishes the circumstance joyfully, insulting his drunken
father and making the sin of his father known to his brothers as if he
had a piece of good news.

170. Moses, therefore, sets Ham before us as a fearful example,