“God spoke to Noah, and to his sons with him, saying:” (Genesis 9:8). “And I hereby establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you” (Genesis 9:9). “God spoke to Noah, and to his sons…and I hereby establish” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda said: Because he violated the command,1He did not engage in procreation immediately (see Bereshit Rabba 34:6). that is why he was degraded.2God did not speak to him alone, but rather, included his sons with him. Rabbi Neḥemya said: He went beyond the command, and conducted himself with holiness,3On the contrary, Noah’s abstinence in the immediate aftermath of the Flood was an indication of his holiness. and that is why he and his sons merited [to hear God’s] communication: “God spoke to Noah and to his sons.”