## Midrash Tanchuma, Vayera

###### Midrash Tanchuma, Vayera 16:1
[Midrash Tanchuma, Vayera 16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma/s/Vayera/r/16:1)

‎**וַה**' פָּקַד אֶת שָׂרָה. זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: מֵקִים דְּבַר עַבְדּוֹ וַעֲצַת מַלְאָכָיו יַשְׁלִים (ישעיה מד, כו). מֵקִים דְּבַר עַבְדּוֹ, זֶה אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: בַּעֲבוּר אַבְרָהָם עַבְדִּי (בראשית כו, כד), שֶׁהִתְפַּלֵּל עַל אֲבִימֶלֶךְ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אַבְרָהָם אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים (בראשית כ, יז). וַעֲצַת מַלְאָכָיו יַשְׁלִים, שֶׁבִּשְּׂרוּ אוֹתוֹ הַמַּלְאָכִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: שׁוֹב אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ כָּעֵת חַיָּה (בראשית יח, י).

**Midrash Tanhuma-Yelammedenu, trans. Samuel A. Berman:**
**And the Lord remembered Sarah (Gen. 21:1).** Scripture states elsewhere in reference to this verse: *That confirmeth the word of His servant, and performeth the counsel of His messengers. That saith of Jerusalem: “She shall be inhabited”; and of the cities of Judah: “They shall be built”* (Isa. 44:26). *That confirmeth the word of His servant* refers to Abraham, for the Holy One, blessed be He, said: I opened his womb (Abimelech) on account of Abraham, My servant, who prayed in his behalf, as it is said: *And Abraham prayed unto God* (Gen. 20:17). *Performeth the counsel of His messengers* alludes to the angels who informed Abraham that he would have an offspring, as it is said: *I will certainly return unto you when the season cometh around* (ibid. 18:10).


###### Midrash Tanchuma, Vayera 16:2
[Midrash Tanchuma, Vayera 16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma/s/Vayera/r/16:2)

הָאֹמֵר לִירוּשָׁלַיִם תּוּשָׁב וּלְעָרֵי יְהוּדָה תִּבָּנֶינָה (ישעיהו מד, כו). וּמָה עִנְיָן זֶה לְכָאן? אֶלָּא כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּתְיַאֲשׁוּ מִמֶּנָּה הָאֻמּוֹת שֶׁלֹּא נִבְנֵית וְהִיא תִּבָּנֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: הָאֹמֵר לִירוּשָׁלַיִם תּוּשָׁב (שם). וּכְתִיב: כִּי בָנָה ה' צִיּוֹן (תהלים קב, יז). אִם תְּמֵהִים אַתֶּם, הַבִּיטוּ אֶל אַבְרָהָם אֲבִיכֶם וְאֶל שָׂרָה תְּחוֹלֶלְכֶם (ישעיה נא, ב). כְּשֵׁם שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי לְאַבְרָהָם וּלְשָׂרָה, כָּךְ אֶעֱשֶׂה לִירוּשָׁלָיִם.

**Midrash Tanhuma-Yelammedenu, trans. Samuel A. Berman:**
*That saith of Jerusalem: “She shall be inhabited”; and of the cities of Judah; “They shall be built”* (Isa 44:26) relates to the subject we are discussing. Though the nations were confident that Jerusalem would not be rebuilt, it will be rebuilt, as it is said: *That saith of Jerusalem: “She shall be inhabited”*, and it is written elsewhere: *When the Lord hath built Zion* (Ps. 102:17). But if you are doubtful as to the ultimate rebuilding of Jerusalem, *look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah who bore you* (Isa. 51:2), for just as I did in behalf of Sarah and Abraham, so I shall do in behalf of Jerusalem.