424. "And Hashem did to Sarah..." (Beresheet 21:9). HE ASKS, It is said, "And Hashem visited Sarah." Why, then, DO WE ALSO NEED "And Hashem did to Sarah"? AND HE REPLIES, We have learned that the 'fruits' of the works of the Holy One, blessed be He, come from the river that flows and issues from Eden, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, and are the souls of the righteous. IN OTHER WORDS, HIS WORKS ARE THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS. And this is Mazal (lit. 'Flow') from where all the good blessings and blessed rains flow. And from there they issue, as it is written, "to water the garden" (Beresheet 2:10), as it flows and irrigates from above downward, because (bearing) children depends on Mazal and no other place.
425. So in reference to this, it is written, "And Hashem visited Sarah," IN WHICH only "visit," WHICH IS THE SECRET OF NUKVA, IS MENTIONED. In the phrase, "And Hashem did to Sarah," THIS 'doing,' WHICH IS THE SECRET OF CHILDREN AND THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS, WHICH ARE THE FRUITS OF HIS HANDIWORK, is higher than the grade OF THE "VISIT," which depends on Mazal, as previously explained. This is why IT IS DESCRIBED here AS a "visit," WHICH IS RELATED TO THE NUKVA, and there as a 'doing,' WHICH IS RELATED TO ZEIR ANPIN. And therefore it is said, "And Hashem," and again, "And Hashem," both being the same. OF THE "VISIT," IT IS WRITTEN, "AND HASHEM (VAV-YUD HEI VAV HEI) VISITED," WHICH IS THE SECRET OF HIM AND HIS COURT OF JUDGMENT, WHICH IS THE NUKVA - WHILE IN THE 'DOING,' IT IS WRITTEN, "HASHEM (YUD HEI VAV HEI) DID," WHICH RELATES TO ZEIR ANPIN.
426. Rabbi Elazar opened the discussion with the verse, "For children are the heritage of Hashem, and fruit of the womb is a reward" (Tehilim 127:3). "For children are the heritage of Hashem" MEANS "a heritage" by which one can cleave to Hashem and never turn away from Him, because a person who merits the virtue of having children in this world shall, as a result of those children, deserve to join the company OF THE HOLY ONCE, BLESSED BE HE, in the World to Come. Thus, that child, whom that person merited and left behind in this world, shall in return bring him merit in the World to Come. Thereby, he shall merit to enter the "heritage of Hashem."
427. HE ASKS, What is the "heritage of Hashem?" AND HE ANSWERS, This is the 'Land of the Living', NAMELY THE NUKVA. And King David called the land of Yisrael, which is the 'Land of the living,' also, the "Heritage of Hashem," as it is written, "For they have driven me out this day from abiding in the heritage of Hashem, saying, Go, serve other Elohim" (I Shmuel 26:19). And this is why THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "For children are the heritage of Hashem." Who enables a person to inherit THE HERITAGE OF HASHEM? Children ENABLE HIM. So if he has the merit of BEGETTING CHILDREN in this world, "the fruit of the womb is a reward," because they are the reward and good portion in that ETERNAL world. So because of this "fruit of the womb," a person deserves to enter the Eternal World.
428. Come and behold, "For children are the heritage of Hashem." THIS REFERS TO the inheritance and heritage of the fruit of the handiwork of the Holy One, blessed be He - NAMELY, the 'Tree of Life,' AS THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, IS CALLED THE 'Tree of Life,'because a person merits his children from there. As it is written, "From me is your fruit found" (Hoshea 14:9). What is written? "Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them, they shall not be ashamed..." (Tehilim 127:5). Happy is he in this world, and happy is he in the World to Come.
429. Of the verse, "They shall not be ashamed when they shall speak with the enemies at the gate" (Ibid.) HE ASKS, Who are the 'enemies at the gate?" AND HE ANSWERS, These are the accusers, because when the soul departs from this world many accusers are standing ready before it, as it enters into its place. "The gate" is the gate through which it enters TO REACH ITS PLACE, AND THERE THEY WAIT. BUT IT IS SAVED FROM THEM, because he has left offspring in this world, REFERRING TO HIS CHILDREN. And because of them, he shall merit the world OF ETERNITY. This is why "they shall not be ashamed when they shall speak with the enemies at the gate."
430. While walking together, Rabbi Yehuda said to Rabbi Yosi, Open your mouth and delve into the teachings of Torah, for the Shechinah dwells upon you. Whenever a person delves into the study of Torah, the Shechinah joins him, and even more so when walking along the road. Then the Shechinah comes and welcomes him and goes in front of those who have merited the Faith in the Holy One, blessed be He.