<b>Fear not, Abraham (Gen. 15:1).</b> Scripture states elsewhere in reference to this verse: <i>Happy is the man that feareth always; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil</i> (Prov. 28:14). Similarly, it is written: <i>The wise man feareth and turneth from evil, but the fool behaveth overbearingly, and is confident</i> (ibid. 14:16). This verse should be read as: <i>A wise man, who turneth from evil, is fearful.</i>
<i>He is fearful</i> refers to Abraham, for he was told: Fear not. Whom did Abraham fear? He was afraid of Shem, the son of Noah, for he had slain the descendant of Elam, and Elam was one of Shem’s sons, as it is written: <i>The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur,</i> etc. (Gen. 10:22). He was terrified because he had killed him. He said to himself: “I have slain the son of this righteous man, now he will curse me and I shall die.” The Holy One, blessed be He, replied: Fear not, for not only will he not curse you, but he will go forth to meet you bearing gifts and will bless you, as it is said: <i>And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine … and he blessed him, and said</i>: “… <i>blessed be God the Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand</i>” (Gen. 14:18–20). What is the meaning of the word migen (“delivered”)? It indicates that the Holy One, blessed be He, performed a miraculous feat (<i>manganah</i>) when <i>He delivered</i> (<i>migen</i>) <i>your enemies into your hand.</i> Abraham grasped the dust and hurled it at his enemies, and the Holy One, blessed be He, converted the dust into arrows, bows, and spears, as it is said: <i>His sword maketh them as the dust, His bow as the driven stubble. He pursueth them and passeth on safely</i> (Isa. 41:2–3).
The Holy One, blessed be He, declared unto Israel: In this world you fear sins, but in the world-to-come, where there is no evil inclination, you will tremble with joy over the benefactions reserved for you, as is said: <i>Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and shall come trembling unto the Lord and to His goodness in the end of days</i> (Hos. 3:5). What is the meaning of His goodness? It refers to the Holy Temple, as it is said: <i>That goodly hill country and the Lebanon</i> (Deut. 3:25). The blessing comes from Zion, as is said: <i>The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion, and thou shalt see the goodness of Jerusalem</i> (Ps. 128:5). Dew is blessed from Zion, as is said: <i>Like the dew of Herman, that cometh down the mountains of Zion</i> (ibid. 133:3). Help comes from Zion, as it is said: <i>Send forth thy help from the sanctuary, and support thee out of Zion</i> (ibid. 20:3). Salvation comes from Zion, as it is said: <i>Oh, that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion</i> (ibid. 14:7). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: In the world-to-come I shall bless you out of Zion, as it is said: <i>The Lord blessed thee out of Zion; even He that made heaven and earth</i> (ibid. 134:3). And I shall bless Zion, as is said: <i>The Lord bless thee, O habitation of righteousness, O holy mountain</i> (Jer. 31:22). Amen.