17 Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he kept the race alive; therefore a remnant was left on the earth when the flood came. 18 Everlasting covenants were made with him that all flesh should never again be blotted out by a flood. 19 Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and no one has been found like him in glory. 20 He kept the law of the Most High, and entered into a covenant with him; he certified the covenant in his flesh, and when he was tested he proved faithful. 21 Therefore the Lord assured him with an oath that the nations would be blessed through his offspring; that he would make him as numerous as the dust of the earth, and exalt his offspring like the stars, and give them an inheritance from sea to sea and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth. 22 To Isaac also he gave the same assurance for the sake of his father Abraham. The blessing of all people and the covenant 23 he made to rest on the head of Jacob; he acknowledged him with his blessings, and gave him his inheritance; he divided his portions, and distributed them among twelve tribes. From his descendants the Lord brought forth a godly man, who found favor in the sight of all

When Isaac came along, there was plenty, as it is said, and Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year onehundred fold. So long as Abraham was alive, the wells gushed forth water. When Abraham had died, What does it say? Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with Earth all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father. For they said, “Now that they do not gush forth water, they are only a hazard for travelers.” They therefore went and stopped them up. Isaac came along, and the wells gushed water, as it is said, and Isaac dug again the wells of water, which had been dug in the days of Abraham his father. And Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. Before Jacob went down to Aram Naharaim, the House of Laban the Aramaean had not received a blessing, as it is said, for you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. Once he came down, what does it say? And the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. And it says, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. Before Joseph went down to Egypt, the House of Potiphar had not received a blessing. But once he went down, what does it say? From the time that he made them overseer in his house, and overall that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptians House for Joseph's sake. Before Jacob went down to Egypt, there had been famine, as it is said, for the famine has been in the land. These two years. Once he came down there, What does it say? Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. Said R. Yose, “when Jacob, our Patriarch died, the famine came back where it had been, as it is said, so do not fear; I will provide for you and for your little ones.” providing is stated here, and providing is stated later on. Just as in this context, it is a situation of famine, So in the other context, It is a situation of famine.