[(Gen. 18:1:) THEN THE LORD WAS AWESOME UNTO HIM.]⁹ 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 ¹⁰ 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).¹¹. 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.

footnotes: ⁹ The 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. ¹⁰ Translations generally interpret what follows as referring to someone evil who is being contrasted with the ONE WHO IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. ¹¹ Targum Ps. Joh. to Gen. 14:1; ‘Eruv