לָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר פָּדָ֖ה אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֑ם לֹֽא־עַתָּ֤ה יֵבוֹשׁ֙ יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וְלֹ֥א עַתָּ֖ה פָּנָ֥יו יֶחֱוָֽרוּ׃
Sebab itu beginilah firman Yang Mahakekal, yang telah menebus Abraham, kepada kaum keturunan Yakub: “Mulai sekarang Yakub tidak akan mendapat malu lagi, dan wajahnya tidak akan menjadi pucat lagi.”
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Gen. 25:19:) THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF ISAAC BEN ABRAHAM.1Except for most of the last section (# 24), Toledot is not found in Buber’s Oxford MS. Buber has filled in the gap mostly from Codex Vaticanus Ebr. 34. This text is related (to Prov. 17:6): GRANDCHILDREN ARE A CROWN FOR ELDERS, AND THE GLORY OF CHILDREN IS THEIR PARENTS.2Cf. Gen. R. 63:2; Tanh., Gen. 6:4. Who caused Abraham to be magnified? Jacob, as stated (in Is. 29:22): THUS SAYS THE LORD UNTO THE HOUSE OF JACOB, WHICH REDEEMED ABRAHAM. Why? Because, if one is meritorious as a Torah scholar together with his son and his grandson, it will never again be cut off from him. Thus it is stated (in Deut. 4:9f.): AND MAKE THEM (the statutes and ordinances) KNOWN TO YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AS ON THE DAY THAT YOU STOOD < BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD AT HOREB >. Just as the gift of < the > Torah did not become cease on the day it was given; so for one who teaches his son and his grandson Torah, it shall never again depart from him. And so it was when the Holy One saw Abraham was busy with the Torah. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Gen. 26:5): BECAUSE ABRAHAM HEEDED MY VOICE < AND KEPT MY CHARGE: MY COMMANDMENTS, MY STATUTES, AND MY LAWS >. It is also written (above, in 18:19): FOR I HAVE KNOWN HIM. Then Jacob arose up and did not move from the Torah, as stated (in Gen. 25:27): BUT JACOB WAS A PERFECT MAN WHO SAT IN THE TENTS (i.e., in the academies).3For this interpretation, see Gen. R. 63:10; Targum Onqelos, Gen. 25:27; PRK 5:7. What stipulation did the Holy One make with them? (According to Josh. 1:8:) < THIS > BOOK OF THE LAW SHALL NOT DEPART < FROM YOUR MOUTH >…. It is also written (in Prov. 10:1): A WISE SON SHALL MAKE A FATHER GLAD. This is Isaac, since it is stated (in Gen. 21:12): FOR IN ISAAC SHALL YOUR SEED BE NAMED. (Prov. 10:1, cont.:) BUT A FOOLISH SON. This is Ishmael. Thus it is written (in Gen. 25:12): NOW THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF ISHMAEL BEN ABRAHAM. There are children who suffer disgrace through their parents. Josiah suffered disgrace through his father, as stated (in II Chron. 33:23): FOR AMON INCURRED A LOT OF GUILT. Hezekiah suffered disgrace through < his father > Ahaz, as stated (in Is. 8:16): BIND UP THE TESTIMONY.4According to Gen. R. 42:3; Lev. R. 11:7; Ruth R., proem 7; and Esther R., proem 11, this verse alludes to Ahaz, who had seized (ahaz) the synagogues and the academies. There are also parents who suffer disgrace through their children. Eli suffered disgrace through his sons, [as stated (in I Sam. 2:12): NOW ELI'S SONS WERE SCOUNDRELS. And Samuel also suffered disgrace through his sons], as stated (in I Sam. 8:3): BUT HIS SONS DID NOT WALK IN HIS WAYS. It did not, however, turn out in this way for Abraham. Instead he was magnified through Isaac, as stated (in Gen. 25:19, cont.): ABRAHAM SIRED ISAAC. Did he sire no one but Isaac? Now look, it is written {(in Gen. 25:19): THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF ISHMAEL.} [(in Gen. 16:15): SO HAGAR BORE A SON TO ABRAM.] And in addition < there are > the sons of Keturah: Zimran and Jokshan, < etc. > (cf. Gen. 25:2). But it does not say that Abraham sired anyone but Isaac, simply because Isaac was righteous. It is therefore stated (in Gen. 25:19): ABRAHAM SIRED ISAAC.
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
R. Samuel b. Nachmeni in the name of R. Jonathan said: "He who teaches the Torah to the son of his neighbor, Scripture considers him as if he begot him, as it is said (Num. 3, 1) And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses; and the following verse reads: And these are the names of the sons of Aaron, to teach you that Aaron begot [his sons] but Moses taught them, therefore they are recorded under his name." (Is. 29, 22) Therefore thus hath said the Lord unto the house of Jacob, he who hath redeemed Abraham. Where do we find that Jacob redeemed Abraham? R. Juda said: "He redeemed him from the trouble of rearing children. And this is what is meant by the passage (Ib) Not now shall Jacob be ashamed, and not now shall his face he made pale — i.e., he shall not be ashamed of his father and his face shall not become pale because of his grandfather."
Bamidbar Rabbah
Another matter, “the number [mispar] of the children of Israel will be [like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured and cannot be counted]”30There is an apparent contradiction. The beginning of the verse refers to a number, yet the continuation states that they cannot be counted, in which case there would be no number. – Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen the Great said: “The mispar…will be,” just as the scribe [sofer]31Moses. spoke of them in the Torah [kemesaper haTorah] he [Hosea] entreated on their behalf: “You will be blessed more than all peoples” (Deuteronomy 7:14). That is, “the number of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea.”
It likened them to dust and it likened them to the stars. In this world they are likened to dust; just as the dust of the earth is made for trampling by all mankind, so Israel is made for trampling by all the nations of the world, as it is stated: “[The king of Aram] had destroyed them, and he rendered them like dust to be trampled” (II Kings 13:7). Alternatively, the dust of the earth; if it is not present, man cannot exist. If there is no dust there are no trees and there is no grain. So, if there is no Israel, the world cannot exist, as it is stated: “All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants” (Genesis 22:18). In this world, they are likened to dust. In messianic times, they are likened to the sand of the sea. Just as sand typically damages one’s teeth, likewise in messianic times, Israel will eliminate all the nations, as it is stated: “One from Jacob will rule [and destroy the remnant from the city]” (Numbers 24:19), and it is written: “I will set My vengeance upon Edom by means of My people Israel” (Ezekiel 25:14).
Another matter, why did it liken them to sand? Just as sand, if a person takes a handful from it and adds it to dough or to a cooked item, no person can taste it because it damages his teeth, so are Israel; anyone who plunders them or robs them in this world, he damages his teeth in the future. Why? It is because it [Israel] is sacred, as it is stated: “Israel is sacred to the Lord, the first of His crop; all its devourers will be guilty, evil will come upon them, the utterance of the Lord” (Jeremiah 2:3), and anyone who touches sacred items incurs liability to be put to death.
Another matter, “like the sand of the sea,”; just as typically a person places sand into the fire and takes it out as chunks, and they craft glass vessels from it, so Israel enter into the fire and emerge alive, as it is stated: “[Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the gate of the burning fiery furnace and called:]…servants of God Most High, emerge and come” (Daniel 3:26). In the future, too, they enter Gehenna and the nations of the world enter there. They [the nations of the world] enter there and will perish, and Israel emerges from there in peace, as it is stated: “When you walk into fire, you will not be burned” (Isaiah 43:2). Why? “For I am the Lord your God, supporting your right, [who says to you: Do not fear, I will help you]” (Isaiah 41:13). That is why it is likened to sand.
Regarding the future, it likened them to the stars; just as the stars shine in the entire firmament, so they will shine in the future, as it is stated: “The wise will shine like the radiance of the firmament, and those who lead the multitudes to righteousness, like the stars, for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). Why were they likened neither to the sun nor to the moon? It is, rather, Abraham is likened to the sun, Isaac is likened to the moon, and Jacob to the stars. In the future, the sun and the moon will be ashamed, as it is stated: “The moon will be disgraced and the sun will be ashamed, for the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and glory shall be before His elders” (Isaiah 24:23), but the stars will not be ashamed. So, Abraham and Isaac, their faces will turn pale32They will be embarrassed. in the future due to their sons; Abraham, due to Ishmael and the sons of Ketura, Isaac, due to Esau and his chieftains. But the stars have no shame, so Jacob has no shame, as he will not be ashamed, as it is stated: “Not now will Jacob be ashamed, not now will his face pale” (Isaiah 29:22). Why? “For upon his seeing his children, My handiwork” (Isaiah 29:23) that they are all righteous; “All of you is fair, my love” (Song of Songs 4:7).
Another matter, just as the stars accord honor to one another, and there is peace between them, as it is stated: “He makes peace in His heights” (Job 25:2), so the righteous love one another. Just as the stars do not quarrel with one another, so it is with the righteous.
Another matter, just as the stars dominate only at night, so Israel dominates only at night33Most of their Torah study is at night. due to the yoke of the kingdom.
Another matter, just as the stars, one is capable of burning the entire world, so it is with the righteous, like Elijah, that fire descended at his word, as it is stated: “If I am a man of God, let fire descend from the heavens and consume you and your fifty. Fire descended from the heavens, and consumed him and his fifty” (II Kings 1:10).
It likened them to dust and it likened them to the stars. In this world they are likened to dust; just as the dust of the earth is made for trampling by all mankind, so Israel is made for trampling by all the nations of the world, as it is stated: “[The king of Aram] had destroyed them, and he rendered them like dust to be trampled” (II Kings 13:7). Alternatively, the dust of the earth; if it is not present, man cannot exist. If there is no dust there are no trees and there is no grain. So, if there is no Israel, the world cannot exist, as it is stated: “All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants” (Genesis 22:18). In this world, they are likened to dust. In messianic times, they are likened to the sand of the sea. Just as sand typically damages one’s teeth, likewise in messianic times, Israel will eliminate all the nations, as it is stated: “One from Jacob will rule [and destroy the remnant from the city]” (Numbers 24:19), and it is written: “I will set My vengeance upon Edom by means of My people Israel” (Ezekiel 25:14).
Another matter, why did it liken them to sand? Just as sand, if a person takes a handful from it and adds it to dough or to a cooked item, no person can taste it because it damages his teeth, so are Israel; anyone who plunders them or robs them in this world, he damages his teeth in the future. Why? It is because it [Israel] is sacred, as it is stated: “Israel is sacred to the Lord, the first of His crop; all its devourers will be guilty, evil will come upon them, the utterance of the Lord” (Jeremiah 2:3), and anyone who touches sacred items incurs liability to be put to death.
Another matter, “like the sand of the sea,”; just as typically a person places sand into the fire and takes it out as chunks, and they craft glass vessels from it, so Israel enter into the fire and emerge alive, as it is stated: “[Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the gate of the burning fiery furnace and called:]…servants of God Most High, emerge and come” (Daniel 3:26). In the future, too, they enter Gehenna and the nations of the world enter there. They [the nations of the world] enter there and will perish, and Israel emerges from there in peace, as it is stated: “When you walk into fire, you will not be burned” (Isaiah 43:2). Why? “For I am the Lord your God, supporting your right, [who says to you: Do not fear, I will help you]” (Isaiah 41:13). That is why it is likened to sand.
Regarding the future, it likened them to the stars; just as the stars shine in the entire firmament, so they will shine in the future, as it is stated: “The wise will shine like the radiance of the firmament, and those who lead the multitudes to righteousness, like the stars, for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). Why were they likened neither to the sun nor to the moon? It is, rather, Abraham is likened to the sun, Isaac is likened to the moon, and Jacob to the stars. In the future, the sun and the moon will be ashamed, as it is stated: “The moon will be disgraced and the sun will be ashamed, for the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and glory shall be before His elders” (Isaiah 24:23), but the stars will not be ashamed. So, Abraham and Isaac, their faces will turn pale32They will be embarrassed. in the future due to their sons; Abraham, due to Ishmael and the sons of Ketura, Isaac, due to Esau and his chieftains. But the stars have no shame, so Jacob has no shame, as he will not be ashamed, as it is stated: “Not now will Jacob be ashamed, not now will his face pale” (Isaiah 29:22). Why? “For upon his seeing his children, My handiwork” (Isaiah 29:23) that they are all righteous; “All of you is fair, my love” (Song of Songs 4:7).
Another matter, just as the stars accord honor to one another, and there is peace between them, as it is stated: “He makes peace in His heights” (Job 25:2), so the righteous love one another. Just as the stars do not quarrel with one another, so it is with the righteous.
Another matter, just as the stars dominate only at night, so Israel dominates only at night33Most of their Torah study is at night. due to the yoke of the kingdom.
Another matter, just as the stars, one is capable of burning the entire world, so it is with the righteous, like Elijah, that fire descended at his word, as it is stated: “If I am a man of God, let fire descend from the heavens and consume you and your fifty. Fire descended from the heavens, and consumed him and his fifty” (II Kings 1:10).