창세기 15:1의 미드라쉬

(Gen. 23:1:) NOW < THE LENGTH OF > SARAH'S LIFE WAS < A HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS >. (Gen. 24:1:) NOW ABRAHAM WAS OLD, WELL ALONG IN YEARS. This text is related (to Ps. 5:13 [12]): FOR YOU BLESS THE RIGHTEOUS ONE, < O LORD, ENCOMPASSING HIM WITH FAVOR AS WITH A BUCKLER >. From when the world was created until Abraham arose, the Holy One would bless his world. So, when he had created Adam and Eve, he blessed them, as stated (in Gen. 1:28): AND GOD BLESSED THEM…. He blessed Noah and his children, as stated (in Gen. 9:1): THEN GOD BLESSED NOAH AND HIS CHILDREN. When Abraham arose, he made him a father for all creatures,¹Buber suggests emending “creatures” to “blessings.” as stated (in Gen. 12:2f): AND YOU ARE TO BE A BLESSING…. < FOR IN YOU SHALL ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED >. Ergo (in Ps. 5:13 [12]): FOR YOU BLESS THE RIGHTEOUS ONE (i.e., Abraham), O LORD, ENCOMPASSING HIM WITH FAVOR AS WITH A BUCKLER, in that the Holy One became like a shield for him, as stated (in Gen. 15:1): I AM YOUR SHIELD. Now a buckler is nothing but a shield, as shown in the verse (I Sam. 17:7): AND THE ONE BEARING THE BUCKLER WAS GOING BEFORE HIM (i.e., Goliath). What is the meaning of ENCOMPASSING HIM WITH FAVOR? That he blessed Abraham in his old age, as stated (in Gen. 24:1): NOW ABRAHAM WAS OLD.

Another interpretation: David spoke with respect to the event of the <golden> calf. The world said: This is the people who heard from the mouth of its God (in Exod. 20:3): YOU SHALL HAVE NO <OTHER GODS BESIDE ME>. Then at the end of forty days they said of the calf (in Exod. 32:4): THIS IS YOUR GOD, O ISRAEL. Is there salvation for them? (Ps. 3:3 [2]:) <MANY SAY TO MY SOUL>: THERE IS NO SALVATION FOR HIM THROUGH HIS GOD. SELAH. <The word> MANY (in Ps. 3:3 [2]) can only mean the peoples of the world, since it is stated (in Is. 17:12): HERE IS THE ROAR OF MANY PEOPLES. Israel had promised (to have no other gods) and you agreed with them; so you said to Moses our Teacher (in Deut. 9:14): LET ME ALONE, AND I WILL DESTROY THEM. However, (in Ps. 3:4 [3]:) <YOU, O LORD ARE> A SHIELD ABOUT ME. You <are the one> who shielded me through the merit of our ancestors and recalled for us the merit of Abraham, in that you had said to him (in Gen. 15:1): I AM A SHIELD FOR YOU. Before I committed that < sinful > act, you had your Divine Presence dwell in our midst, but after I had committed that act, you said (in Exod. 25:8): AND MAKE ME A SANCTUARY <THAT I MAY DWELL AMONG THEM>. (Ps. 3:4 [3]): THE ONE WHO RAISES UP MY HEAD. Instead of that which we owed you, <namely> the lifting off of our head, you gave us an uplifted head at the hands of Moses our Teacher, [to whom you said] (in Exod. 30:12): WHEN YOU TAKE A CENSUS OF (literally: LIFT UP THE HEAD OF) THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL….>

Another interpretation (of Cant. 4:6): UNTIL THE DAY BECOMES COOL. Until the kingdom of the Holy One appears in this world. (Ibid., cont.:) AND THE SHADOWS FLEE, i.e., the shadows of the kingdom. (Ibid., cont.:) I WILL GO UNTO THE MOUNTAIN OF MYRRH, i.e., Jerusalem. Thus it is stated (in Cant. 5:1): WHEN I COME TO MY GARDEN, MY SISTER, MY BRIDE, I HAVE PLUCKED MY MYRRH ALONG WITH MY SPICE. (Josh. 5:3:) UNTO THE MOUND OF FORESKINS,²⁰Buber again suggests emending to fit Cant. 4:6: UNTO THE MOUND OF FRANKINCENSE. since he took the foreskins and made a mound of them. For that reason the Holy One was revealed to him, as stated (in Gen. 18:1): THEN < THE LORD > APPEARED UNTO HIM. Now when the angels saw this, they also came along with the Holy One, as stated (in Gen. 18:2): WHEN HE LIFTED HIS EYES AND LOOKED, BEHOLD, THERE WERE THREE MEN < STANDING NEAR HIM >. And so David gives praise (in Ps. 25:10): ALL THE PATHS OF THE LORD ARE STEADFAST LOVE AND TRUTH. What is the meaning of ALL THE PATHS OF THE LORD ARE STEADFAST LOVE AND TRUTH? < With reference to > the Torah, its beginning is steadfast love,²¹See above, 4:1; below, 5:2. its end is steadfast love, and its middle is steadfast love. Its beginning is steadfast love. Where is it shown? You find that when the Holy One formed Eve, he adorned her and brought her to Adam, as stated (in Gen. 2:22): THEN THE LORD GOD BUILT THE RIB < WHICH HE HAD TAKEN FROM THE HUMAN INTO A WOMAN >. What is the meaning of BUILT? R. Abbahu said: In Arabia they call the plaited coiffure a "building."²²Cf. Ber. 61a; Shab. 95a; ‘Eruv. 18a; Nid. 45b; ARN, A, 4; Gen. R. 18:1; M. Pss. 25:11; above 4:1; below 5:2. Its end is steadfast love, < i.e., > at Moses' death when the Holy One attended him in his glory,²³BKBWDW: perhaps a misprint for BKBWRW, “at his burial.” as stated (in Deut. 34:6): AND HE BURIED HIM IN THE VALLEY. At the middle there is steadfast love in the case of Abraham, as stated (in Gen. 17:2): AND LET ME PUT MY COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND YOU. When the Holy One was revealed to him, he was sitting, as stated (in Gen. 18:1): < THEN THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM > … AS HE WAS SITTING AT THE TENT DOOR IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY.²⁴Below, 8:28. Abraham went to stand up. The Holy One said to him: Do not trouble yourself to stand up. Sit down! It is so stated (in Ps. 110:1): THE LORD (God) SAID TO MY LORD (Abraham): SIT DOWN AT MY RIGHT HAND. Abraham said to him: Is this good manners for me to be sitting while you are standing? The Holy One said to him: Do not trouble yourself. You are an old man of a hundred years. Sit down! The Holy One said to him: By your life, because you are sitting while I stand, your children at the age of three years, at the age of four years, are going to be sitting in the academies and in the synagogues with me standing over them. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 82:1): GOD STANDS IN THE DIVINE CONGREGATION. Abraham began to praise²⁵Rt.: QLS, possibly related to the Gk.: kalos, which means “beautifully.” God (according to Ps. 18:36 [35]): YOU ALSO GAVE ME THE SHIELD OF YOUR SALVATION, when the kings had pursued < me >. It is so stated (in Gen. 15:1): FEAR NOT, ABRAM, I AM YOUR SHIELD. (Ps. 18:36 [35], cont.:) YOUR RIGHT HAND SUSTAINED ME, when you grasped the foreskin along with me as I was cutting. (Ibid., cont.:) AND YOUR CONDESCENSION MAGNIFIED ME, in that I was sitting while you were standing.

Another matter: “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the strip of crimson wool.⁶²The reference is to the strip of crimson wool that would be tied to the scapegoat on Yom Kippur (see Yoma 41b). “Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – this is the scapegoat. Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: Master of the universe, we do not have the strip of crimson wool and the scapegoat.⁶³After the destruction of the Temple these were discontinued. How, then, does Israel achieve atonement? He said to them: “Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – the murmuring of your mouth is as beloved to Me as the scarlet thread of crimson wool. Rabbi Abbahu said about this: “We will pay bulls with our lips” (Hosea 14:3). What will we pay in lieu of bulls and in lieu of the scapegoat? It is our lips. “Your speech [midbarekh] is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – your wilderness [midbarekh] is fine, your utterances [midabrotayikh] are fine.⁶⁴Just as God is pleased with the ritual of sending the scapegoat to the wilderness, He is pleased with words of prayer and repentance in the absence of the ritual of the scapegoat.
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Even though [the Temple] is desolate, one is liable for [entering] its boundary now when it is destroyed, just as one is liable for [entering] its boundary when it is standing. Rabbi Levi said: The Holy One blessed be He said: In its destruction it produced for Me righteous people and when it was standing it produced for Me wicked people. In its destruction it produced for Me righteous people: Daniel and his associates, Mordekhai and his associates, Ezra and his associates. When it is standing it produced for Me wicked people such as Aḥaz and his associates, Menashe and his associates, Amon and his associates. Rabbi Abba said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan regarding this [statement] of Rabbi Levi: “For the children of the desolate are more than the children of the married woman” (Isaiah 54:1). That is, it produced more righteous people for Me in its destruction than the righteous people it produced for Me when it was standing.
“Your temple is like a pomegranate slice” (Song of Songs 4:3) – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana and Rabbi Aḥa: one said: The most empty in the three rows⁶⁵The three rows of Sages who sat before the Sanhedrin is packed with Torah like this pomegranate, and it goes without saying: “Behind your braid” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding [the Sages of] the Sanhedrin itself. And one said: The most empty in the Sanhedrin is packed with Torah like this pomegranate, and it goes without saying: “Behind your braid” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding those who sit beneath the olive tree and beneath the vine and the fig tree and engage in matters of Torah.⁶⁶These scholars were unburdened by the responsibilities of the Sanhedrin and could thus be even more focused in advancing in their Torah study (Etz Yosef).
“Your neck is like the tower of David” – this is the Temple. Why does [the verse] liken it to a neck? It is because all the days that the Temple was constructed and in existence, Israel’s neck was extended⁶⁷They held their heads up high proudly. among the nations of the world. Once the Temple was destroyed, it is as though Israel’s neck was bowed. That is what is written: “I will break the power of your might” (Leviticus 26:19) – this is the Temple.
Another matter: Just as the neck is situated at the height of the person, so too, the Temple is situated at the height of the world. Just as the neck has the most jewelry suspended from it, so priesthood is from the Temple and the Levites are from the Temple.⁶⁸The uniqueness of the priests and the Levites was apparent only when they were able to perform their functions in the Temple. Just as the neck, if it is removed the person has no life, so too, from when the Temple was destroyed there is no life for the enemies of Israel.⁶⁹This is a euphemism for Israel, to avoid saying there is no life for Israel.
“Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – with four sides.⁷⁰There were entrances [piyot] from all four directions. Ḥiyya ben Rabbi Bon said: It was beauty [yofi], and it became a mound [tel]. The Holy One blessed be He said: It is I who rendered it a mound in this world, and it is I who is destined to render it beautiful in the World to Come.
Another matter: “Magnificently [talpiyot]” – a mound [tel] toward which all mouths [piyot] pray; from here they said: Those standing outside the Land of Israel and praying should turn their faces toward the Land of Israel, as it is stated: “They will pray to you by way of their land” (I Kings 8:48). Those standing in the Land of Israel turn their faces toward Jerusalem and pray, as it is stated: “They shall pray to you by way of this city” (II Chronicles 6:34). Those standing and praying in Jerusalem turn their faces toward the Temple, as it is stated: “He shall pray toward this house” (I Kings 8:42). Those standing on the Temple Mount turn their faces toward the Holy of Holies, as it is stated: “They shall pray toward this place” (I Kings 8:35). Thus, those standing in the north, their faces are to the south; those standing in the south, their faces are to the north; those standing in the east, their faces are to the west; and those standing in the west, their faces are to the east. The result is that all of Israel are praying toward one place. From where is it derived that all of Israel pray toward one place? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: “This is the Sanctuary to the front [lifnai]” (I Kings 6:17) – this is the Sanctuary toward which all the faces [hapanim] are directed.
To this point, when it is standing;⁷¹It has been proven that one prays facing the Temple when it is standing. in its destruction, from where is it derived? Rabbi Avin said: “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – this is the Sanctuary, as all mouths [piyot] pray toward it. In Shema, one recites Builder of Jerusalem.⁷²In the second blessing following Shema in the evening prayer: Who spreads a canopy of peace…and over Jerusalem. In the Amida prayer, one recites Builder of Jerusalem. In Grace after Meals, one recites Builder of Jerusalem. Thus, all mouths pray for it before the Holy One blessed be He. He is destined to rebuild it and to rest His Divine Presence in it. One verse says: “My eyes and My heart will be there always” (I Kings 9:3), and one verse says: “I will go and return to My place” (Hosea 5:15).⁷³In this verse, God says that He will return to heaven rather than rest His presence on earth. How can these two verses coexist? Rather, His face is on High and His heart is below, as it is taught: A person should direct his heart toward the Holy of the Holies. Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great and Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta: Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great said: Toward the supernal Holy of Holies; and Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta said: Toward the earthly Holy of Holies. Rabbi Pinḥas said: I will uphold both of your statements: Toward the supernal Holy of Holies, which is aligned with the earthly Holy of Holies. That is what is written; “The place [makhon] You fashioned for Your dwelling, Lord” (Exodus 15:17) – it is aligned [mekhuvan] with your dwelling place, this is the supernal Temple.
Mount Moriah – Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great and Rabbi Yannai: one said: Because bitterness [mara] emerged to the world from there;⁷⁴It is called Mount Moriah because bitterness was destined to emerge from there due to the destruction of the Temple. and the other said: Because awe emerged to the world from there. Ark [aron] – Rabbi Ḥiyya and Rabbi Yannai: one said: Because light [ora] emerged from there to the world; and one said: Because a curse [arira] emerged from it to the nations of the world.⁷⁵The ark holds the Torah, and the nations of the world are at a disadvantage because they refused to accept the Torah. Sanctum [devir] – Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great and Rabbi Yannai: one said: Because a plague [dever] emerged from there to the nations of the world.⁷⁶This is because they demeaned the Torah and destroyed the Temple. One said: Because the precepts [diberot] emerged from there to the world.
“One thousand bucklers are hung upon it” – Rabbi Berekhya said: The Holy One blessed be He said: I shortened one thousand generations and I brought them that protection that their hearts desired.⁷⁷The Torah was meant to be given after one thousand generations, but it was given after twenty-six generations. Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: Abraham said before the Holy One blessed be He: Master of the universe, You have been a shield for me, but will You not be a shield for My children?⁷⁸This question was in light of God’s statement to Abraham: “I am a shield for you” (Genesis 15:1), in which He did not mention Abraham’s descendants. . The Holy One blessed be He said to him: I have been one shield for you, as it is stated: “I am a shield for you” (Genesis 15:1), but for your children I will be many shields. That is what is written: “One thousand bucklers are hung upon it, all the shields of the mighty” – this is the priesthood and the monarchy.

And Abram brought back all the property of Sodom, and Lot with all his property likewise, and ‎their wives, and their children, and all belonging to them; they missed not the least thing. And ‎when he returned from smiting those kings Abram and his men passed through the vale of ‎Siddim, the battle ground of all the kings, and behold Bera king of Sodom and the rest of his ‎men that were with him, crept out of the slime-pits whereinto they had fallen and they went ‎to meet Abram with bread and with wine, and they rested there together in the vale of the ‎king. And Adonizedek blessed Abram, and Abram gave unto Adonizedek a tenth part of all that ‎he brought back from the spoil of his enemies; for Adonizedek was the priest of God. And all ‎the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah came around Abram, and they begged him to return unto ‎them the captives and to retain all their other property for himself. And Abram said unto them ‎‎: As God liveth, he who created the heavens and the earth, and who hath delivered me from ‎all danger and who hath saved me to-day from my enemies and hath given them unto my ‎hands, if I will take the least thing from all belonging to you. And you shall not say to-morrow: ‎Abram hath enriched himself from our property which he took away from our enemies. For ‎the Lord my God, in whom I trust, spoke unto me, saying: Thou shalt not lack anything, for I will ‎surely bless thee in all the works of thy hands, which thou wilt do. And now behold, here is ‎everything belonging to you, take it and go; as the Lord liveth I will not take from you neither a ‎person nor a shoelatchet nor a thread, save only that the young men who went forth with me ‎and the portion of the men Oner Eshcol and Mamre, they and their men and those that kept ‎guard by the vessels, shall take their portion. And the King of Sodom gave portions to the men ‎as Abram had spoken, and they pressed Abram to select something for himself, but he would ‎not. And he dismissed the kings of Sodom with the remainder of their men, requesting them ‎to be kind to Lot, and they returned to their dwelling place. And Abram sent along with them ‎Lot and all his property, and he returned to his home in Sodom. And Abram and his men ‎returned to their homes in the grove of Mamre, which is in Hebron. At that time the Lord ‎appeared unto Abram, saying: Fear not Abram, thy reward will be very great before me, for I ‎will not forsake thee until I shall have increased thee and blessed thee. And I will make thy ‎seed like the stars of heaven which cannot be measured and cannot be numbered. And I will ‎give unto thy seed all the lands which thou seest with thy eyes, to them they are given a ‎possession forever, only be thou strong and do not fear, walk before me and be perfect.‎

After these things, the word of the Lord came unto Abraham, in a vision, saying: “Fear not, Abram!” (Gen. 15:1). May it please our master to teach us what (the) burnt offerings (prescribed in the Book of Leviticus) atone for? R. Ishmael taught us: Burnt offerings were introduced as an act of atonement for the violation of both positive and negative commandments. R. Simeon the son of Yohai said: They were introduced also as atonement for evil thoughts, as it is said: And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said: “It may be that my sons have sinned, and blasphemed God in their hearts.” Thus did Job continually (Job 1:5).

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram (Gen. 15:1). Scripture says elsewhere in reference to this verse: He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous; He is a shield to them that walk in integrity (Prov. 2:7). What is the meaning of He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous? It means that the Holy One, blessed be He, stored the Torah away, prior to the creation of the world, until Abraham came to fulfill it, as it is said: Because that Abraham hearkened to My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My Laws (Gen. 26:5).

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram (Gen. 15:1). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: The wicked earneth false wages, but he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward (Prov. 11:18). The wicked earneth false wages refers to the evil Nimrod, who erected idols and led mankind astray. Idolatry is coupled with falsehood, as it is said: His molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them (Jer. 10:14). But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward alludes to Abraham, who sowed righteousness by feeding passers-by and travelers, as it is said: And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and called thereupon the name of the Lord, the everlasting God (Gen. 21:33).

(Gen. 15:1:) AFTER THESE THINGS THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ABRAHAM. Let our master instruct us: For what reason was the burnt offering brought?⁶³Tanh., Gen. 3:10. R. Ishmael says: Because of positive and negative commandments.⁶⁴Cf. Yoma 36ab (bar) for the views of Aqiva and R. Jose the Galilean. R. Simeon ben Johay says: On account of < evil > thoughts in the heart,⁶⁵Lev. R. 7:3. as stated (in Job 1:5): AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT WHEN THE DAYS OF THE FEAST HAD COME TO AN END, JOB WOULD SEND AND SANCTIFY THEM … < AND WOULD OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS … FOR JOB SAID: PERHAPS MY SONS HAVE SINNED AND BLASPHEMED GOD IN THEIR HEARTS >. You find that Abraham would reflect on the quality of < Divine > justice. What would he say? R. Levi said: It seems to me that I have received my reward in this world when the Holy One helped me with the kings and delivered me from the fiery furnace (of Nimrod). The Holy One said to him: Since you have reflected on me, you must bring a sacrifice, as stated (in Gen. 22:2): PLEASE TAKE YOUR SON … < AND OFFER HIM THERE AS A BURNT OFFERING >. R. Isaac said: He was saying this: My heart is uttering gall and wormwood. Perhaps among these whom I have killed there were righteous ones.⁶⁶Cf. Gen. R. 44:4. The Holy One said to him: Have no fear of this. They were thorns; and for them you have, not a punishment, but a reward. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 15:1, end): FEAR NOT, ABRAM! I AM A SHIELD FOR YOU; {ALSO} YOUR REWARD SHALL BE VERY GREAT.

The Lord came unto Abraham in a vision, saying: “fear not” (Gen. 15:1). Scripture says elsewhere in allusion to this verse: Then Thou spokest in vision to Thy godly ones, and saidst: “I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people” (Ps. 89:20).

Another interpretation (of Gen. 15:1): AFTER THESE THINGS. This text is related (to Prov. 2:7): HE RESERVES UNDERSTANDING FOR THE UPRIGHT.⁶⁷Tanh.,Gen. 3:11. [What is the meaning of HE RESERVES UNDERSTANDING FOR THE UPRIGHT?] Before the world was created, the Holy One reserved the Law for Abraham, as stated (in Gen. 26:5): BECAUSE ABRAHAM HEEDED MY VOICE < AND KEPT MY CHARGE: MY COMMANDMENTS, MY STATUTES, AND MY TORAHS >. < This > teaches that Abraham kept all the commandments and all the Torahs. R. Samuel bar Nahmani said: R. Jonathan said: Our father Abraham also maintained the 'eruvim of cooked foods.⁶⁸Thus the use of torah in the plural indicates that Abraham knew even the oral Torah. See above, 3:1; below, 11:12. For a full description of the ‘eruvim of cooked foods, see Maimonides, Yad, Yom Tov 6:1-3. Thus it is stated (ibid.): BECAUSE ABRAHAM HEEDED MY VOICE. For that reason, Solomon stated (in Prov. 2:7): HE RESERVES UNDERSTANDING FOR THE UPRIGHT, [A SHIELD FOR THOSE WHO LIVE BLAMELESSLY]. The Holy One said to Abraham: You have been occupied with my Law. By your life, I am a shield for you, as stated (in Gen. 15:1): FEAR NOT, ABRAM! [I AM A SHIELD FOR YOU]. Just as, when one grasps the shield, even if darts and stones are thrown at him, he is not afraid; [so I am doing for you], as stated (in Gen. 15:1): I AM A SHIELD FOR YOU; YOUR REWARD SHALL BE VERY GREAT—not for you alone, but also for your children, if they are occupied with my Law just as you have been occupied. Thus it is stated (in Prov. 30:5): [EVERY] UTTERANCE OF GOD IS PURE, A SHIELD FOR {ALL} WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM. It is therefore stated (in Prov. 2:7): HE RESERVES UNDERSTANDING FOR THE UPRIGHT, [A SHIELD FOR THOSE WHO LIVE BLAMELESSLY].

Rabbi Yoḥanan interpreted the verse regarding the incense of the house of Avtinas.²⁸⁴The house of Avtinas was a priestly family that would prepare the incense to be used in the Temple. See, e.g., Mishna Shekalim 5:1. “A bundle of myrrh,” this is one of the eleven spices that one places in it. Rabbi Huna said in its regard: “The Lord said to Moses: Take spices for you [stacte and onycha and galbanum; spices and pure frankincense; each part shall be equal]” (Exodus 30:34). [Take spices for you], these are two.²⁸⁵The word spices is plural. “Stacte and onycha and galbanum,” these make five. “Spices,” if you say that these are two, “spices” was already stated. “Each part shall be equal,” give five corresponding to five, these are ten. “And pure frankincense,” these are eleven. From here, the Sages examined and found that these eleven spices alone are optimal for incense.
“Lying between my breasts,” as it was confined between the two staves of the Ark.²⁸⁶The cloud created by the burning of incense in the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur was confined to the area between the two staves of the Ark (Matnot Kehuna). “A cluster of henna [eshkol hakofer],” as it atones [mekhaper] for the iniquities of Israel. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Cluster, as it would rise in a column until the rafters and then spread and descend like a cluster. Hakofer, as it atones [mekhaper] for the iniquities of Israel.
And Rabbi Yitzḥak said: It is written: “The incense cloud will cover” (Leviticus 16:13). We did not know what this covering was until David came and explained it: “You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered [all of their sins]” (Psalms 85:3). “In the vineyards of Ein Gedi,” due to the conditions that I stipulated to Abraham your patriarch between the pieces, as it is stated: “On that day, the Lord established a covenant with Abram, saying…” (Genesis 15:18).²⁸⁷The covenant was based on the animals that would be sacrificed by Abraham’s descendants, including the kid [gedi].
The verse is speaking of Abraham, as it is stated: “After these matters, the word of the Lord was to Abram in a vision” (Genesis 15:1). Rabbi Levi said in the name of Rabbi Ḥama: There were ruminations that took place there.²⁸⁸This was after Abraham’s victory over the four kings (see Genesis chapter 14). Who ruminated? Abraham ruminated, and said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, You made a covenant with Noah that You would not eliminate his descendants from the world, and I arose and amassed good deeds before You, and the covenant with me overrode the covenant with him.²⁸⁹Abraham had just eliminated a significant number of his descendants. Perhaps another man will arise and amass more mitzvot and good deeds than me, and the covenant with him will override the covenant with me.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘“Fear not, [Abram,] I am your shield” (Genesis 15:1). From Noah I did not produce protectors and righteous people, but from you I will produce protectors and righteous people. Moreover, when your descendants perform transgressions and evil deeds, I will see who the great man among them is, who is able to say to the attribute of justice: Enough, and I will take him as collateral on their behalf, as it is stated: Eshkol, a man in whom there is everything [ish shehakol bo], Bible, Mishna, Talmud, Tosefta, and aggadot. Hakofer, who atones for the sins of Israel. “In the vineyards of Ein Gedi,”²⁹⁰The Hebrew can also be translated “for the sake of the vineyard…” and it is understood here as a reference to Israel, which is referred to as God’s vineyard (see Isaiah 5:7) (Matnot Kehuna). I take them as collateral on their behalf.’
Another matter, eshkol—ben Gezira said: This is the Holy One blessed be He, a Man in whom there is everything. Hakofer, who renounced the nations of the world and acknowledged Israel. When did He renounce the nations of the world? Say it was during the war of Yehoshafat; that is what is written: “It was thereafter that the children of Moav and the children of Amon, and with them some Amonites, came against Yehoshafat to war” (II Chronicles 20:1). You find Israel coming by virtue of Abraham, and Amon and Moav coming by virtue of Lot. These waged war with those and these fell into the hands of those. Yehoshafat, his God aided him and he prevailed. That is [what is stated] that He renounced the nations of the world. If a person will say to you that the verse is not speaking of Yehoshafat, say to him: “Ein Gedi” is stated here, and it is stated below: “In Hatzetzon Tamar, which is Ein Gedi” (II Chronicles 20:2). Just as Ein Gedi, that is stated below, the verse is speaking of the war of Yehoshafat, here, too, the verse is speaking of the war of Yehoshafat. Rabbi Levi bar Zekharya said: If, in this world, where it is written regarding the Holy One blessed be He: “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a zealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24), He renounced the nations of the world and acknowledged Israel, in the future, where He is likened to dew, as it is stated: “I will be like dew for Israel” (Hosea 14:6), all the more so.

Fear not, Abraham (Gen. 15:1). Scripture states elsewhere in reference to this verse: Happy is the man that feareth always; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil (Prov. 28:14). Similarly, it is written: The wise man feareth and turneth from evil, but the fool behaveth overbearingly, and is confident (ibid. 14:16). This verse should be read as: A wise man, who turneth from evil, is fearful.

(Gen. 15:1:) AFTER THESE THINGS. This text is related (to Prov. 11:18): A WICKED ONE DOES THE WORK OF FALSEHOOD.⁶⁹Tanh., Gen. 3:12; Gen. R. 44:2. This refers to Nimrod the Wicked, who used to make images and lead astray the children of Adam; for idolatry resembles falsehood, as stated (in Jer. 10:14): FOR HIS MOLTEN IMAGE IS FALSEHOOD AND THERE IS NO BREATH IN THEM. (Prov. 11:18, cont.:) THE ONE WHO SOWS RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS A TRUE REWARD. This refers to our father Abraham, who did sow righteousness when he would serve food to those who passed back and forth,⁷⁰Gen. R. 43:7; M.Ps. 110:1. as stated (in Gen. 21:33): THEN HE PLANTED AN INN⁷¹Although Eshel is usually translated “tamarisk,” the word is interpreted here by notrikon, i.e., a method of interpretation which understands each letter of a word as an initial letter for a whole word. In this case the three Hebrew letters in Eshel are understood as the initial letters for “eating,” “drinking,” and “spending the night,” i.e., what one does at an inn. IN BEERSHEBA. The Holy One said to him: By your life you have a true reward, as stated (in Gen. 15:1, end): FEAR NOT, ABRAM!… [YOUR REWARD SHALL BE VERY GREAT].

And you see horse and chariot (Deuteronomy 20:1): And it is stated (Exodus 15:19), "For when the horse of Pharaoh." And why did it not state, "horses and riders?" Rather [it is] because in front of the Holy One, blessed be He, they are only considered like one horse. "A people more numerous than you." The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "They are numerous in front of you. But in front of Me, they are only only considered like one man." And from where [do we know this]? As so did the Holy One, blessed be He, say to Gidon (Judges 6:16), "and you shall smite Midian like one man." And from where [do we know] that they are numerous? As it is stated (Isaiah 17:12), "Ah, the roar of many peoples that roar as roars the sea." And for each one of you, a hundred [to] five, but you are victorious, as it is stated (Leviticus 26:8), "And five of you shall give chase to a hundred." Therefore it is written, "a people more numerous than you." "Do not be afraid of them." Your forefathers were not afraid of them and they were victorious. What is written about our father, Avraham? "At night, he and his servants deployed against them and defeated them" (Genesis 14:16). And he was not afraid of them, as I told him (Genesis 15:1), "Fear not, Avram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great." And I made him a shield, as it is stated, "I am a shield to you." And in the same way that I did [this] for him, so [too] will I do it for you. As it is stated (Isaiah 14:24), "As I have designed, so shall it happen; what I have planned, that shall come to pass." What is [the meaning of] "As I have designed?" As I have done for Avraham, so shall I do for you.

Another interpretation: You have stated (in Gen. 14:23): < NOT > SO MUCH AS A THREAD OR A SANDAL STRAP. I am exalting your children, as stated (in Cant. 7:2 [1]): HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE YOUR FEET IN SANDALS. Another interpretation: < NOT > SO MUCH AS A THREAD. I am exalting your children with a thread, as stated (in Cant. 4:3): [YOUR LIPS ARE] LIKE A SCARLET THREAD. Another interpretation: You have stated: < NOT > SO MUCH AS A THREAD OR A SANDAL STRAP. By virtue of this I am punishing your enemies, as stated (in Ps. 60:10 [8]): UPON EDOM WILL I CAST MY SHOE. You have refused a reward of flesh and blood. See what a reward is prepared for you with me. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 15:1): YOUR REWARD SHALL BE VERY GREAT.

Another interpretation (of Gen. 15:1): AFTER THESE THINGS [THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ABRAM] IN THE VISION, SAYING: FEAR NOT, ABRAM.⁸⁶Tanh., Gen. 3:14. This text is related (to Ps. 89:20 [19]): THEN YOU SPOKE TO YOUR SAINTS IN A VISION. This refers to Abraham, as stated (in Gen. 15:1): IN THE VISION. Then you said (ibid.): AND SAID: I HAVE CONFERRED HELP UPON A MIGHTY ONE, in that the Holy One helped him against the five kings. (Ibid., cont.): I HAVE EXALTED ONE CHOSEN FROM THE PEOPLE. This ONE is Abraham, in that the Holy One chose him, as stated (in Neh. 9:7): YOU ARE THE LORD, THE GOD WHO CHOSE ABRAM. Thus it says (in Gen. 15:1): FEAR NOT, ABRAM.

[(Gen. 15:1:) FEAR NOT, ABRAM.] This text is related (to Prov. 28:14): BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO IS ALWAYS AFRAID, BUT THE ONE WHO HARDENS HIS HEART WILL FALL INTO EVIL.⁸⁷Tanh., Gen. 3:15. It is also written (in Prov. 14:16): A WISE PERSON FEARS AND TURNS AWAY FROM EVIL.⁸⁸Cf. Gen. R. 44:2. Who is he? This is Abraham. And of what was he afraid? Of Shem, whose sons he killed, Chedorlaomer king of Elam and his three sons. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 10:22): THE SONS OF SHEM: ELAM, ASSHUR, ARPACHSHAD, LUD, AND ARAM. So he was afraid, saying: I have killed the children of a saint, and now he will curse me so that I die. What did he do? He went out to meet him there in order to mollify him. It is so stated (in Gen. 14:18): AND MELCHIZEDEK KING OF SALEM < … >. The Holy One said: By your life I will not curse you but bless you. Thus it is stated (in the next verse): THEN HE BLESSED HIM, AND SAID: BLESSED BE ABRAM…. He said to him: Because you have killed my sons, I am blessing you. Thus it is stated (in vs. 20): AND BLESSED BE GOD MOST HIGH, WHO HAS DELIVERED YOUR ENEMIES INTO YOUR HAND…. What is the meaning of WHO HAS DELIVERED (MGN) YOUR ENEMIES? The Holy One made a charm (MNGN')⁸⁹The Buber text here has MGYNH, but the word should probably be read as MNGN’ (Gk.: magganon) in agreement with the traditional Tanhuma and Codex Vaticanus Ebr. 44. For another variation (MGNH), see Codex Vaticanus 34. See also Gen. R. 44:4. and overthrew them before you. So taking dust, our father Abraham scattered it over them, and it became arrows and bows.⁹⁰Sanh. 108b; Gen. R. 43:3; M. Pss. 110:2. Then taking straw, he scattered it over them, and it became swords and spears. Thus it is stated (in Is. 41:2): WHO HAS AROUSED RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM THE EAST?… [HE RENDERS HIS SWORD LIKE DUST, HIS BOW LIKE DRIVEN CHAFF.] This refers to Abraham, of whom it is next stated (in vs. 3): HE PURSUES THEM AND PASSES ON IN PEACE. Thus it says (in Gen. 14:20): WHO HAS DELIVERED YOUR ENEMIES INTO YOUR HAND…. The Holy One said: Are you < still > afraid after these things? (Gen. 15:1:) FEAR NOT, ABRAM. It is therefore stated (in Prov. 28:14): BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO IS ALWAYS AFRAID.

So our father Abraham was still afraid when he had killed the kings.⁹¹Cf. Gen. R. 44:4. He was bewildered and said: Perhaps I have neglected the commandments of the Holy One, which he commanded the children of Noah. (Gen. 9:6:) WHOEVER SHEDS HUMAN BLOOD, < BY A HUMAN WILL HIS BLOOD BE SHED >. Now I have killed all those multitudes.⁹²Gk.: ochlos. The Holy One said to him (in Gen. 15:1): FEAR NOT, ABRAM. Rather I must give you a great reward because you have uprooted thorns. It is so stated (in Is. 33:12): AND THE PEOPLE SHALL BECOME BURNINGS OF LIME; THORNS CUT DOWN THAT ARE BURNED IN THE FIRE. It is therefore stated: FEAR NOT, ABRAM. The Holy One said to Israel: In this world you are anxious over sins, but in the world to come, in which there is no evil drive (yetser hara), you will be anxious over the good that I have ordained for you. Thus it is stated (in Hos. 3:5): {AND} AFTERWARD THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL RETURN AND {SERVE} [SEEK] THE LORD THEIR GOD AND DAVID THEIR KING, AND THEY SHALL BE ANXIOUS FOR THE LORD AND FOR HIS GOODNESS (TWV). What is the meaning of HIS GOODNESS? This refers to the Holy Temple, as < the term > is used (in Deut. 3:15): THIS GOOD (TWV) HILL AND LEBANON. Salvation is from Zion, as stated (in Ps. 14:7): OH THAT THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL WOULD COME OUT OF ZION! The blessing is from Zion, as stated (in Ps. 133:3): LIKE THE DEW OF HERMON WHICH COMES DOWN UPON THE HILLS OF ZION, < FOR THERE THE LORD HAS COMMANDED THE BLESSING >…. Help is from Zion, as stated (in Ps. 20:3 [2]): MAY HE SEND YOUR HELP FROM THE SANCTUARY AND SUSTAIN YOU FROM ZION. The Holy One said: In the world to come also I will bless Israel from Zion, for so David has said (in Ps. 134:3): THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU FROM ZION.

(Exodus 14:20) "And it (the cloud) came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel, and it was cloud and darkness" — cloud for Israel and darkness for Egypt; Israel in the light, and Egypt in the dark, as in (Ibid. 10:23) "One man did not see another, and no man rose from his place for three days." And thus do you find in time to come, viz. (Isaiah 60:1) "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the L rd has shone upon you." Why? (Ibid. 2) "For, behold, the darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds, the peoples, and upon you the L rd will shine, and His honor will be seen upon you." And, what is more, he who is enveloped in darkness will see him who is enveloped in light. For the Egyptians, steeped in darkness, saw Israel in the light, eating, drinking and rejoicing. And they shot arrows and projectiles upon them, and the cloud and the angel protected them. And it is written (II Samuel 22:3) "My Shield, the horn of my salvation, my fortress and my refuge, my savior — You will save me from violence." And it is written (Ibid. 31) "He is a Shield to all who take shelter in Him."

And I and the lad will go yonder (ibid.). What is meant by the word yonder (Heb. koh, which also means “thus, so”)? It means: “Let us see what will be the final outcome of koh. The Holy One, blessed be He, promised me: So (koh) shall thy seed be (Gen. 15:1).” And we will worship and come back to you (ibid. 22:5). His own mouth foretold him that they would both return in peace. And he took in his hand a fire and a knife (ibid., v. 6). Why was it called a slaughtering knife (ma’akhelet)? Because it made food (okhalin) suitable for eating.

Hillel the Elder said: Abraham took all the wealth of Sodom and Gomorrah and all the wealth of Lot, the son of his brother, and he returned in peace, and not even one of his men failed him, as it is said, "And he brought back all the goods, and also his brother Lot" (Gen. 14:16).

THE TRIALS OF ABRAHAM (continued)
THE seventh trial (was as follows): "After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying" (Gen. 15:1). To all the prophets He was revealed in a vision, but to Abraham He was revealed in a revelation and in a vision. Whence do we know of the revelation? Because it is said, "And the Lord appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre" (Gen. 18:1). Whence do we know of the vision? Because it is said, "After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision" (Gen. 15:1). He said to him: Abraham ! Do not fear, for My right hand is shielding thee in every place where thou goest; it is like a shield against misfortunes, and it gives thee a good reward, (even) to thee and to thy children, || in this world and in the world to come, as it is said, "Thy exceeding great reward" (ibid.).

... Teach us o teacher: toward where should one who prays orient his heart? This is what our Rabbis taught: one should orient his heart toward the place of the Holy of Holies (Berachot 4:5). R’ Eliezer ben Yaakov says: if one is praying outside of the land, he should orient his heart to the land of Israel. If one is praying within the land of Israel, he should orient his heart to Jerusalem. If one is praying in Jerusalem, he should orient his heart to the Holy Temple. If one is praying in the Holy Temple, he should orient his heart to the Holy of Holies. R’ Avin the Levi said: “our neck is like the Tower of David, built as a model (talpiyot)…” (Song of Songs 4:4) What does talpiyot mean? The hill (tel) toward which all turns (peniyot) are directed. And after all this praise, it is written “Open your doors, O Lebanon, and let the fire consume your cedars.” (Zechariah 11:1) And so too they said “He has hurled fire into my bones…” (Lamentations 1:13) Israel said to Him: Master of the World! How long will it be like this? Did You not write in Your Torah “…the one who ignited the fire shall surely pay” (Exodus 22:5)? And You are the one who ignited the fire, as it says “From above He has hurled fire into my bones…” (Lamentations 1:13) You need to rebuild it and to console us, not at the hands of an angel but You in Your glory. The Holy One said to them: by your life, so I will do! As it says “The Lord is the builder of Jerusalem; He will gather the outcasts of Israel.” (Psalms 147:2) And I am the one who consoles you. From where do we learn this? From that which they read in the prophets “I, yea I am He Who consoles you…” (Isaiah 51:12)

After these things the word of Hashem came to Abram in a vision, saying, etc. (Psalms 18:31) "As for God — His ways are perfect; the Word of Hashem is tried; a shield is He for all who take refuge in Him." If His way is perfect, how much more is He Himself! Rav said: Were not the mitzvot given so that man might be refined by them? . Do you really think that The Holy One of Blessing cares if an animal is slaughtered by front or by the back of the neck? Therefore, mitzvot were only given to make humans better.

And he did not listen to her to lie down with her - in this world. 'To be with her' in Gehena, in the world to come. And another opinion: 'He did not listen to her' he did not even touch her bed. A certain Roman Matron asked Rabbi Yosi: Is it really possible that Yosef, a young man of 17 resisted all his heat and did this? Rabbi Yosi took out the book of Bereshit and began reading for her the stories of Reuven and Bilhah, Yehudah and Tamar, and said: 'if with those, adults and under their father's authority the Scripture did not hide their misdeed, with this one, not an adult and by himself, all the more so it would have revealed the misdeed!