וַיְחַזֵּ֤ק חָרָשׁ֙ אֶת־צֹרֵ֔ף מַחֲלִ֥יק פַּטִּ֖ישׁ אֶת־ה֣וֹלֶם פָּ֑עַם אֹמֵ֤ר לַדֶּ֙בֶק֙ ט֣וֹב ה֔וּא וַיְחַזְּקֵ֥הוּ בְמַסְמְרִ֖ים לֹ֥א יִמּֽוֹט׃ (ס)
Tukang kayu memberi semangat kepada tukang emas, dan orang yang menghaluskan dengan palu memberi semangat kepada orang yang memukul landasan, sambil berkata tentang patrinya, “Sudah baik,” lalu ia mengokohkannya dengan paku-paku supaya tidak goyah.
Bereshit Rabbah
“Fear not, Abram” – whom did he fear? Rabbi Berekhya said: He feared Shem. That is what is written: “The islands saw and feared, the ends of the earth trembled…” (Isaiah 41:5) – just as islands are conspicuous in the sea, so Abraham and Shem were conspicuous in the world. “And feared” – each one feared the other. This one [Abraham] feared the other, saying: Perhaps Shem has resentment in his heart against me because I killed his descendants.23Kedorlaomer was king of Eilam (Genesis 14:1), and Eilam was Shem’s son (Genesis 10:22). And that one [Shem] feared the other, saying: Perhaps Abraham has resentment in his heart against me because I produced wicked offspring. “The ends of the earth” – this one was situated at one end of the earth, and that one was situated at the other end of the earth. “They approached and came” (Isaiah 41:5) – each one approached the other. “Each man would help the other” (Isaiah 41:6) – this one [Shem] helped the other one with blessings, and that one [Abraham] helped the other one with gifts. This one helped the other one with blessings – “He blessed him, and he said: Blessed is Abram to God, the Most High…” (Genesis 14:19).24These words were spoken by Malkitzedek, who is identified with Shem. And that one helped the other one with gifts: “He gave him a tithe from everything” (Genesis 14:20).
“The carpenter encouraged [the smith]” (Isaiah 41:7) – this refers to Shem, who built the ark. “The smith” – this refers to Abraham, whom the Holy One blessed be He refined in the fiery furnace. “And one who smooths with a hammer, one who strikes on the anvil [paam]” (Isaiah 41:7) – as he [Abraham] would direct his hammer and strike all the people of the world onto a single path25Paam can also mean “a step,” and “once.” Abraham’s “hammer” was his ability to persuade others to recognize and follow God, and with this he led them on a path towards closeness with God. to the Omnipresent. “Saying of the glue: It is good” (Isaiah 41:7) – these are the nations of the world, who say: ‘It is preferable to adhere to the God of Abram, and we will not adhere to Nimrod’s idolatry.’ “He strengthened it with nails” (Isaiah 41:7) – Abraham strengthened Shem in mitzvot and good deeds. And, [as a result] “It26Or “he.” shall not topple” (Isaiah 41:7) – referring to Abraham.
“The carpenter encouraged [the smith]” (Isaiah 41:7) – this refers to Shem, who built the ark. “The smith” – this refers to Abraham, whom the Holy One blessed be He refined in the fiery furnace. “And one who smooths with a hammer, one who strikes on the anvil [paam]” (Isaiah 41:7) – as he [Abraham] would direct his hammer and strike all the people of the world onto a single path25Paam can also mean “a step,” and “once.” Abraham’s “hammer” was his ability to persuade others to recognize and follow God, and with this he led them on a path towards closeness with God. to the Omnipresent. “Saying of the glue: It is good” (Isaiah 41:7) – these are the nations of the world, who say: ‘It is preferable to adhere to the God of Abram, and we will not adhere to Nimrod’s idolatry.’ “He strengthened it with nails” (Isaiah 41:7) – Abraham strengthened Shem in mitzvot and good deeds. And, [as a result] “It26Or “he.” shall not topple” (Isaiah 41:7) – referring to Abraham.