ציטירנדיקער פּירוש אויף תהילים 128:1

“Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you.” The Yalkut concludes that since Abram was afraid that perhaps he had already received his reward in this world and would have nothing in the World to Come, the Holy One, Blessed be He said to him, “Do not fear, your reward is prepared for the future to come.” This is what is meant by very much, as it is written How abundant is Your goodness that You have stored away for those who fear You (Psalms 31:20). However, this midrash is difficult to understand — if so, what is meant when Abram said What will You give me, as I go childless, etc.? What is the connection between children and reward in the World to Come? This can be resolved based on what is concluded in the chapter “Yesh Nochlin” (Bava Batra 117a): Rabbi Yochanan said, “Anyone who does not leave a son to inherit from him, the Holy One, Blessed be He is filled with wrath against him.” It is written here You shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter (Numbers 27:8) and it is written there A day of wrath is that day (Zephaniah 1:15). The question arises: Why did he bring proof from the Prophetic writings to the words of Torah? He should have brought proof from the verse And the Lord became angry with me for your sake (Deuteronomy 3:26). Rather, he wanted to bring proof about the concept itself and not just about the language, because Rabbi Yochanan held that anyone who doesn’t leave a son to inherit from him will not be exempted from Gehenna, which is called “a day of wrath.” Rabbi Yochanan follows his own reasoning, as he interpreted the verse Those who have no changes, and do not fear God (Psalms 55:20) as referring to one who does not leave a son, because this certainly stems from not fearing God, as it is said Fortunate is everyone who fears the Lord (Psalms 128:1) and adjacent to it is written Your children will be like olive shoots, etc. Indeed so shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord. Therefore, Abram said: What reward will You give me for the World to Come when I go childless, as my judgment will be in Gehenna as stated? And if You say to give my reward in this world, regarding this it is written And Abram said, ‘Behold, You have given me no offspring, and my steward will inherit me.’ See this entire exposition in the portion Pinchas on the verse Ascend these heights of Avarim (Numbers 27:12), for it is a precious exposition.