“Abraham called the name of that place The Lord will see, as it is said to this day: On the mount where the Lord will be seen” (Genesis 22:14). “Abraham called the name of that place The Lord will see” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: He said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, when You said to me: “Take you your son, your only one,” I had something to argue in response: Yesterday you said: “For it is through Isaac [that descendants will be considered for you[”…” and now You say: “Take you your son … [and offer him up]”? (Genesis 22:2).
But, God forbid, I did not do so. Rather, I suppressed my mercy to fulfill Your will. May it be Your will, Lord our God, when Isaac’s descendants encounter transgressions and wicked deeds, may this binding [of Isaac] be remembered for them, and may You become filled with mercy towards them.’ Abraham called it [Jerusalem] Yireh, as it is stated: “Abraham called the name of that place The Lord will see [yireh].”
Shem called it Shalem, as it is stated: “Malki Tzedek50He is identified with Shem. king of Shalem” (Genesis 14:18). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘If I call it Yireh, as Abraham called it, Shem, a righteous man, will have a complaint. If I call it Shalem, Abraham, a righteous man, will have a complaint. Instead, I shall call it Yerushalayim, as both of them called it, – Yireh, Shalem – Yerushalayim.’
Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo: While it was still called Shalem, the Holy One blessed be made Himself a provisional booth [sukka] and He would pray in it, as it is stated: “His abode [sukko] was in Shalem, His dwelling place in Zion” (Psalms 76:3). What did He say [in His prayers?] May it be My will that I will see construction of My [permanent] house [here]. Another interpretation, this teaches that the Holy One blessed be He showed him [Abraham] the [future] Temple as built,51The Hebrew text in most editions has “destroyed, then built, then destroyed, then built,” but this is a textual error and the extra words should be deleted (Yefeh Toar). then destroyed and then built, as it is stated: “The name of that place The Lord will see [yireh]” – that refers to the Temple built, just as it says: “Three times in the year [all your males] shall appear [yeraeh]” (Deuteronomy 16:16).
“As it is said to this day: On the mount where the Lord” – that refers to the Temple destroyed, as it is stated: “On Mount Zion that is desolate” (Lamentations 5:18). “The Lord will be seen” – [that refers to the Temple] built and perfected in the future, like the matter that is stated: “For the Lord has rebuilt Zion and is seen in His glory” (Psalms 102:17).