Midrash su Genesi 25:9

On this point, however, the Tanaim of the following Baraitha differ. (Gen. 24) The Lord has blessed Abraham bakol (in all things). What does the word bakol mean? R. Maier savs: "He was blessed in not having any daughters." R. Juda says: "On the contrary he was blessed in having a daughter." Acherim says: "He had a daughter by the name bakol" R. Elazar the Modai, said: "Abraham, our father, was an astrologer; and therefore all the kings from the West and the East came to his door to ask his advice." R. Simon b. Jochai said: "A diamond was hanging on Abraham's neck, and when a sick man looked upon it, he was cured. And when Abraham passed away, the Holy One, praised be He! sealed it in the planet of the sun." Abaye said: "This is the reason for the statement: 'When the sun rises the sick become better.' " There is another explanation [of the word bakol] that as long as Abraham was alive Esau did not become bad. According to still others: "Because Ishmael repented in his days." That Esau did not rebel in his days, as it is written (Gen. 25, 29-34) and Esau came from the field, etc., and it was taught in a Baraitha that on that day our ancestor Abraham died, and Jacob boiled lentils to offer consolation to Isaac. And whence do we learn that Ishmael had repented? As It happened when Rabina and R. Chama b. Bizna were sitting before Raba while Raba was slumbering, Rabina then said to R. Chama b. Bizna: "Is it a real fact what you said in the name of R. Jochanan, that any death which is termed Geviah, refers only to a death of a righteous?" "Yes," came the reply. "But the same expression is also written concerning the generation of the flood?" "Our reference is only when the word geviah (departed) goes together with Asipha (gathered)." But concerning Ishmael both expressions are used." Meanwhile Raba awoke from his slumber. He then said to them: "Children, thus said R. Jochanan, 'Ishmael repented during his father's life, for it is written (Ib., ib. 9) And his sons Isaac and Ishmael, etc. And from the fact that Isaac is named first, although Ishmael was older, it is to be understood that Ishmael had repented and, knowing that Isaac was better than he, he gave him the preference.' " But perhaps the verse counts them inaccordance with their wisdom. Then the Scripture (Ib. 35, 29) And Esau, and Jacob, his sons, buried him, should also have said, Jacob and Esau, and not according to the age, as it is now. Hence, we infer that Ishmael had repented.

These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begot Isaac (Gen. 25:9). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers (Prov. 17:6). The righteous are “regaled” (i.e. saved) by their grandchildren, and their children are regaled by their fathers. How do we know this? We know it because Abraham was saved for Jacob’s sake. After Nimrod caused Abraham to be hurled into the fiery furnace, the Holy One, blessed be He, descended to rescue him. The ministering angels thereupon exclaimed: Master of the Universe, why do You trouble to save him, since so many wicked men will descend from him? The Holy One, blessed be He, replied: I shall save him for the sake of his grandson Jacob, who will descend from him. Whence do we know this to be so? R. Berechiah said: It is written: Thus saith the Lord who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob (Isa. 29:22); that is, He redeemed him from the furnace for the sake of Jacob. Hence, fathers are saved for the sake of their descendants.

(Gen. 23:15:) MY LORD, LISTEN TO ME. WHAT IS A PIECE OF LAND WORTH FOUR HUNDRED SHEKELS OF SILVER BETWEEN YOU AND ME? He said to him: If you want to give me four hundred centenarii of silver from the goods {another reading is hervata, which is construed as "dung" in the 'Arukh}¹¹This bracketed note appears in this form in the Buber text. of your house, you can give it to me. Because he brought in an evil eye (i.e., of greed) for Abraham's wealth, <his name> is lacking the letter waw, where it is stated (in Gen. 23:16): <SO ABRAHAM HEEDED EPHRON,> AND ABRAHAM WEIGHED OUT THE SILVER FOR EPHRON. It is the second EPHRON that is deficient.¹²An English equivalent might be the spelling, EPHRN, although Hebrew would add the second vowel, whether represented by a letter or not. The defective spelling also occurs in Gen. 25:9; 49:30; 50:13.