Why are the patriarchs mentioned in reverse order? It is to say that if there, the deeds of Jacob would have been insufficient, the deeds of Isaac would be sufficient. If the deeds of Isaac would be insufficient, the deeds of Abraham would be sufficient. The deeds of each and every one of them is sufficient for the world to maintained on his account.
Why is remembrance stated regarding Jacob and Abraham, but regarding Isaac it is not stated? Rabbi Berekhya and the Rabbis, Rabbi Berekhya said: It is because he was one who experienced suffering. The Rabbis say: [God] sees the ashes of Isaac as though they are piled atop the altar.20This obviates the need for remembrance. Why is “also” stated regarding Abraham and Isaac, but “also” is not stated regarding Jacob?21Because Jacob was stated first, there was no need to employ the word “also” in his regard.
The implication is that God primarily remembers His covenant with Jacob, and also, secondarily, He remembers His covenant with Abraham and Isaac. It is because his bed was complete before him. Ishmael and all the children of Ketura emerged from Abraham. Esau and all the chieftains of Edom emerged from Isaac.
But Jacob, his bed was complete; all his sons were righteous. That is what is written: “We are all the sons of one man” (Genesis 42:11). I have only the patriarchs, from where do I derive the matriarchs?22The verse states that God will remember His covenant with the patriarchs and Israel will gain from their merit; from where is it derived that the same is true of the matriarchs? The verse states: Et…et…et.23The verse uses the word et, which does not have an English equivalent, when it mentions each of the patriarchs.
These words, which are not essential to the verse, are understood to be alluding to the wives of the patriarchs. Et refers only to the matriarchs, as it is written: “There they buried Abraham and [ve’et] Sarah, his wife; there they buried Isaac and [ve’et] Rebecca, his wife and there I buried [et] Leah” (Genesis 49:31). Why does it mention the merit of the patriarchs and mention the merit of the Land with them?
Reish Lakish said: This is analogous to a king who had three sons, and one of his maidservants was raising them. Any time the king would inquire after the welfare of his sons, he would say: ‘Inquire for me after the welfare of the one raising them.’ So, any time the Holy One blessed be He mentions the patriarchs, He mentions the Land with them. That is what is written: “I will remember My covenant with Jacob…and the Land I will remember.”