Why the Valley Was Raised Into Mount Moriah

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 100:1

"And he saw the place from afar" (Genesis 22:4). At first the place was a deep valley. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "It is not the way of a king to dwell in a valley, but rather in a high place, lofty and beautiful." So the Holy One, blessed be He, raised it up. Therefore it is called Mount Moriah [Har ha-Moriyah], for out of its awe [yir'ah] it was made a mountain.

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