[(Gen. 26:1:) NOW THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE LAND.] This text is related (to Ps. 33:18): BEHOLD, THE EYE OF THE LORD IS ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.¹⁹ It is speaking about Abraham, of whom it is read that he feared God. Thus it is stated (of Abraham in Gen. 22:12): THAT YOU FEAR GOD. (Ps. 33:18, cont.:) ON THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE, since Abraham was waiting for the Holy One, for this reason: (Ps. 33:19:) TO DELIVER THEIR LIFE FROM DEATH, i.e., from his execution by Nimrod. (Ibid., cont.:) TO KEEP THEM ALIVE IN THE FAMINE, the one which came in his days, as stated (in Gen. 26:1): NOW THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE LAND.

footnotes: ¹⁹ Gen. R. 40:1.

Another interpretation (of Ps. 33:18): BEHOLD, THE EYE OF THE LORD IS ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM . This refers to Jacob. (Ps. 33:18, cont.:) ON THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE, since Jacob waited for the Holy One.²⁰, Pss., 720, explains that Jacob’s patient waiting took place after he had been told that Joseph was dead. (Ps. 33:19:) TO DELIVER THEIR SOUL FROM DEATH, i.e., from his execution by Esau, who said (in Gen. 27:41): LET THE DAYS OF [MOURNING FOR MY FATHER COME, AND I WILL KILL MY BROTHER JACOB]. (Ps. 33:19, cont.:) TO KEEP THEM ALIVE IN THE FAMINE, the one which came in his days.

footnotes: ²⁰ Yalqut Shim‘oni

Another interpretation (of Ps. 33:18): BEHOLD, THE EYE OF THE LORD IS ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM . This refers to the tribe of Levi, of whom it is stated (in Mal. 2:5): AND I GAVE THEM (i.e., life and peace) TO HIM²¹ (i.e., Levi) AS WELL AS FEAR, [AND HE FEARED ME]. (Ps. 33:18, cont.:) ON THOSE WHO WAIT, since they were always waiting for the Holy One. (Ps. 33:19:) TO DELIVER THEIR SOUL FROM DEATH, when they enter the Sanctuary to offer sacrifice. (Ps. 33:19, cont.:) TO KEEP THEM ALIVE IN THE FAMINE, since he has given them a tithe, as stated (in Numb. 18:26): NOW YOU SHALL SPEAK UNTO THE LEVITES AND SAY UNTO THEM: WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE TITHES FROM THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL .

footnotes: ²¹ Buber’s reading, TO ME, is surely in error.

Another interpretation (of Ps. 33:18): BEHOLD, THE EYE OF THE LORD IS ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM , because it says (in Cant. 8:14): FLEE, MY BELOVED, AND BECOME LIKE A GAZELLE. Just as this gazelle sleeps with one eye open and one closed, so also let it be with you: AND BECOME LIKE A GAZELLE. Therefore David has said (in Ps. 33:18): BEHOLD, THE EYE OF THE LORD (like that of a gazelle) IS ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

[Another interpretation (of Ps. 33:18): BEHOLD, THE EYE OF THE LORD IS ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM .] This is Isaac. (Ibid., cont.:) ON THOSE WHO WAIT, since he was waiting for the Holy One. (Ps. 33:19:) TO DELIVER THEIR SOUL FROM DEATH, when Ishmael sought to kill him, as stated (in Gen. 21:9): THEN SARAH SAW THE SON OF HAGAR THE EGYPTIAN PLAYING. Now PLAYING can only mean "killing." Thus it is stated (in II Sam. 2:14): PLEASE LET THE YOUNG MEN ARISE AND PLAY BEFORE US.²² (Ps. 33:19, cont.:) TO KEEP THEM ALIVE IN THE FAMINE, since the famine did come in his days, as stated (in Gen. 26:1): NOW THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE LAND.

footnotes: ²² The result of their “playing” was that they all killed each other. See below, Exod. 1:24.