Whoever Leans on the Merit of Others Is Granted His Own

"Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants" (Exodus 32:13). Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Yose ben Zimra: Whoever makes his plea depend on his own merit, Heaven makes it depend on the merit of others for him; and whoever makes his plea depend on the merit of others, Heaven makes it depend on his own merit for him. Moses leaned on the merit of others, as it is said, "Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel"; therefore Heaven made his rescue depend on his own merit, as it is said, "He said He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one" (Psalms 106:23). Hezekiah leaned on his own merit, as it is said, "Remember now how I have walked before You" (II Kings 20:3); therefore Heaven made his deliverance depend on the merit of others, as it is said, "I will protect this city for My own sake and for the sake of David My servant." And this is what Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said concerning "Behold, for my peace I had great bitterness" (Isaiah 38:17): even at the hour when the Holy One, blessed be He, sent peace, it was bitter to me. "Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Yourself." What is "by Yourself"? Moses said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the universe, had You sworn to them by heaven and earth, I would say, just as heaven and earth pass away, so Your oath passes away. But now that You swore to them by Yourself, by Your Name, just as Your Name lives and endures forever and ever, so Your oath stands forever and ever. "And You spoke to them, I will multiply..." (Exodus 32:13). It should have said "which You said." Rabbi Elazar said: up to here are the words of the student [Moses]; from here on are the words of the Master [the LORD]. But Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani said: both these and those are the words of the student. Rather, thus said Moses before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the universe, the things You told me, Go and say them to Israel in My Name, I went and said to them in Your Name; now what shall I say to them?