Abraham's Fear After the War of Kings and the Good of Zion

And furthermore, our father Abraham was afraid when he slew the kings. He was astonished and said: "Perhaps I have nullified the commandment of the Holy One, blessed be He, who commanded the children of Noah, 'Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed' (Genesis 9:6) — and I have slain all those multitudes!" The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: "Fear not, Abram. Rather, I must give you a great reward, for you have uprooted the thorns," as it is said, "And the peoples shall be as the burnings of lime, as thorns cut down that are kindled in the fire" (Isaiah 33:12). Therefore it is said, "Fear not, Abram." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: "In this world you are afraid on account of sins, but in the world to come, in which there is no evil inclination, you will be afraid on account of the good that I have prepared for you," as it is said, "Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king, and they shall fear toward the LORD and toward His goodness" (Hosea 3:5). And what is "His goodness"? This is the Temple, as it is said, "this good mountain, and Lebanon" (Deuteronomy 3:25). Salvation is from Zion, as it is said, "Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!" (Psalms 14:7). The blessing is from Zion, as it is said, "As the dew of Hermon, that cometh down upon the mountains of Zion" (Psalms 133:3). Help is from Zion, as it is said, "May He send forth thy help from the sanctuary, and support thee out of Zion" (Psalms 20:3). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: "In the world to come also I will bless Israel from Zion," for so David said, "The LORD bless thee out of Zion" (Psalms 134:3).