And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
Ver. 24. And Noah awoke from his wine.] And returned no more to it. Once was enough; "the time past may well suffice, to have walked in excess of wine". 1Pe 4:3 We will buy repentance so dear no more. It is expressly noted of Judah, that "he knew Tamar again no more". Gen 38:26 And we may be well assured, that Noah was never drunk again. Solomon's drunkard cries, "when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again". Pro 23:35 As swine break their bellies, so do such men their heads, with filthy quaffing; yea, "whoredom and wine, and new wine, take away the heart," saith the prophet. Hos 4:11 They beset and infatuate, yea, rob a man of himself, and lay a beast in his room. Our drunkards say, as the vine in Jotham's parable; Non possum relinquere vinum meum ." Take away my liquor, you take away my life." a How often, saith a grave divine, b have I seen vermin sucking the drunkard's blood, as fast as he that of the grape and malt, yet would he not leave his hold, or lose his draught! Some are soaked with drink, and then laid out to be sunned and scorned.
And knew what his younger son had done unto him.] It is probable, that finding himself covered with a cloak, he asked his wife and children how he came covered; and that then Shem and Japhet told him all the matter; which moved him to bless them. It is our wisest way, to do what good we can to others. And though they, for present, being drunk with malice, or rash anger, know it not, yet a waking time may come, when they may see the good, and bless us for it, as David did Abigail. 1Sa 25:33 When he had slept out his drunken passion, he saw cause to bless God, to bless her, and to bless her counsel. Mr Gilpin's plain dealing with the Bishop of Durham, how well it succeeded. See his life written by Bishop Carleton, p. 58.
a Malle se vitam quam vinum eripi. - August. De Temp. Serm. 131.
b Mr Harris's Drunkard's Cup.