Four Who Had the Earth Leap Toward Them in the Torah

Another interpretation: "And Jacob went out" (Genesis 28:10). This is one of four human beings for whom the earth was contracted, and these are they: Abraham, Eliezer, Jacob, and Abishai. Abraham — from where? When he went out to pursue the kings, the earth leaped before him, as it is said, "And he divided himself against them by night" (Genesis 14:15). And Eliezer — from where? When he went to bring a wife for Isaac, the earth was contracted before him. What is written concerning him? "And I came this day to the spring" (Genesis 24:42) — on that day he set out and on that day he arrived. And Abishai — from where? When he was fighting with Ishbi-benob, the brother of Goliath, what did he do? He pursued David with the wind of his shield. At that hour the Holy One, blessed be He, set the fear of David upon him, and he said, "How light is this man! Where is David and his mighty deeds?" And from where do we know this? For so it is written, "And David grew faint" (II Samuel 21:15). At that hour David said, "Would that someone would give me one of my sister's sons here!" But Joab and Abishai were far from him, and they were fighting against the children of Ammon and against Aram. And when David prayed, the Holy One, blessed be He, made the earth leap before Abishai, as it is said, "And Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him" (II Samuel 21:17). And Jacob our father — he too, the Holy One, blessed be He, made the earth leap before him, as it is said, "And Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran" (Genesis 28:10), "And Jacob lifted up his feet" (Genesis 29:1). Our Rabbis said: All human beings — their feet carry them, but Jacob — he carries his feet, as it is said, "And Jacob lifted up his feet."