[וירא אליו]. זש"ה כה אמר ה' השמים כסאי וגו' ואת כל אלה ידי עשתה וגו' (ישעיה סו א ב), מי הוא חרד על דברו של הקב"ה זה אברהם וירא אליו ה' וגו'. מה כתיב ואל זה אביט אל עני ונכה רוח וחרד על דברי (שם שם), ואם רצונך לידע שעל אברהם הכתוב מדבר, ראה מה כתיב שוחט השור (שם ג), זה אברהם, ואל הבקר רץ אברהם וגו' (בראשית יח ז), מכה איש (ישעיה שם), שהרג את נמרוד, הוא נמרוד הוא אמרפל, זובח השה (שם), אימתי כיון שהקריב את יצחק בנו, שנאמר אלהים יראה לו השה [לעולה] בני (בראשית כב ח).
[(Gen. 18:1:) THEN THE LORD WAS AWESOME UNTO HIM.]9The verse is traditionally rendered, THEN THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM. In the unvocalized text, however, APPEARED can be translated WAS AWESOME; and so the midrash understands it. This text is related (to Is. 66:1-3): THUS SAYS THE LORD: THE HEAVENS ARE MY THRONE … FOR ALL THESE THINGS HAS MY HAND MADE … < BUT UNTO THIS PERSON WILL I LOOK: UNTO ONE WHO IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, WHO TREMBLES AT MY WORD, WHO > 10Translations generally interpret what follows as referring to someone evil who is being contrasted with the ONE WHO IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. SLAUGHTERS THE OX, WHO SLAYS A HUMAN, WHO SACRIFICES THE LAMB…. Who is trembling at the words of the Holy One? This is Abraham, < for > (according to Gen. 18:1) THEN THE LORD WAS AWESOME UNTO HIM…. What is written (in Is. 66:2)? BUT ON THIS PERSON WILL I LOOK: UNTO ONE WHO IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, WHO TREMBLES AT MY WORD. Now, if you want to know that the text is speaking about Abraham, see what is written (in vs. 3): WHO SLAUGHTERS THE OX. This is Abraham (according to Gen. 18:7): THEN ABRAHAM RAN UNTO THE HERD, < TOOK A CALF >…. (Is. 66:3, cont.:) WHO SLAYS A HUMAN < refers to > the one who killed Nimrod, < and > Nimrod is Amraphel (of Gen. 14).11Targum Ps. Joh. to Gen. 14:1; ‘Eruv. 53a; Gen. R. 42:4; Tanh., Gen. 3:6; also PRK 8:2; PR 18:3. (Is. 66:3, cont.:) WHO SACRIFICES THE LAMB. When? When he offered up his son Isaac as stated (in Gen. 22:8): GOD WILL SEE TO THE LAMB [FOR A BURNT OFFERING], MY SON.
[וירא אליו]. זש"ה כה אמר ה' השמים כסאי וגו' ואת כל אלה ידי עשתה וגו' (ישעיה סו א ב), מי הוא חרד על דברו של הקב"ה זה אברהם וירא אליו ה' וגו'. מה כתיב ואל זה אביט אל עני ונכה רוח וחרד על דברי (שם שם), ואם רצונך לידע שעל אברהם הכתוב מדבר, ראה מה כתיב שוחט השור (שם ג), זה אברהם, ואל הבקר רץ אברהם וגו' (בראשית יח ז), מכה איש (ישעיה שם), שהרג את נמרוד, הוא נמרוד הוא אמרפל, זובח השה (שם), אימתי כיון שהקריב את יצחק בנו, שנאמר אלהים יראה לו השה [לעולה] בני (בראשית כב ח).
[(Gen. 18:1:) THEN THE LORD WAS AWESOME UNTO HIM.]9The verse is traditionally rendered, THEN THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM. In the unvocalized text, however, APPEARED can be translated WAS AWESOME; and so the midrash understands it. This text is related (to Is. 66:1-3): THUS SAYS THE LORD: THE HEAVENS ARE MY THRONE … FOR ALL THESE THINGS HAS MY HAND MADE … < BUT UNTO THIS PERSON WILL I LOOK: UNTO ONE WHO IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, WHO TREMBLES AT MY WORD, WHO > 10Translations generally interpret what follows as referring to someone evil who is being contrasted with the ONE WHO IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. SLAUGHTERS THE OX, WHO SLAYS A HUMAN, WHO SACRIFICES THE LAMB…. Who is trembling at the words of the Holy One? This is Abraham, < for > (according to Gen. 18:1) THEN THE LORD WAS AWESOME UNTO HIM…. What is written (in Is. 66:2)? BUT ON THIS PERSON WILL I LOOK: UNTO ONE WHO IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, WHO TREMBLES AT MY WORD. Now, if you want to know that the text is speaking about Abraham, see what is written (in vs. 3): WHO SLAUGHTERS THE OX. This is Abraham (according to Gen. 18:7): THEN ABRAHAM RAN UNTO THE HERD, < TOOK A CALF >…. (Is. 66:3, cont.:) WHO SLAYS A HUMAN < refers to > the one who killed Nimrod, < and > Nimrod is Amraphel (of Gen. 14).11Targum Ps. Joh. to Gen. 14:1; ‘Eruv. 53a; Gen. R. 42:4; Tanh., Gen. 3:6; also PRK 8:2; PR 18:3. (Is. 66:3, cont.:) WHO SACRIFICES THE LAMB. When? When he offered up his son Isaac as stated (in Gen. 22:8): GOD WILL SEE TO THE LAMB [FOR A BURNT OFFERING], MY SON.