“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.