<b>These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begot Isaac (Gen. 25:9).</b> Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: <i>Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers</i> (Prov. 17:6). The righteous are “regaled” (i.e. saved) by their grandchildren, and their children are regaled by their fathers. How do we know this? We know it because Abraham was saved for Jacob’s sake. After Nimrod caused Abraham to be hurled into the fiery furnace, the Holy One, blessed be He, descended to rescue him. The ministering angels thereupon exclaimed: Master of the Universe, why do You trouble to save him, since so many wicked men will descend from him? The Holy One, blessed be He, replied: I shall save him for the sake of his grandson Jacob, who will descend from him. Whence do we know this to be so? R. Berechiah said: It is written: <i>Thus saith the Lord who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob</i> (Isa. 29:22); that is, He redeemed him from the furnace for the sake of Jacob. Hence, fathers are saved for the sake of their descendants.
How do we know that children are “regaled” because of their fathers? At the time that Jacob fled from Laban and was being pursued by him, the Holy One, blessed be He, appeared before Laban on the road and said: <i>Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad</i> (Gen. 31:29). When Laban and Jacob met, they began to rebuke each other. Jacob said to Laban: <i>Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, had been on my side, surely now hadst thou sent me away empty</i>, etc. (ibid. 31:42). Hence, it was only Abraham’s merit that saved Jacob. So Isaac was “regaled” because of Abraham, and Abraham was “regaled” because of Jacob.