Degel Machaneh Ephraim

"And he moved from there to the mountain east of Beit El" (Genesis 12:8). One can say regarding this, by way of sod (hidden/mystical meaning): there is "notzer chesed" (one who preserves kindness) and "rav chesed" (abundant in kindness), and there are "yemei olam" (days of eternity) and "yemei kedem" (days of old). Notzer chesed corresponds to yemei olam, and rav chesed corresponds to yemei kedem. And it is known that Avraham's attribute is the attribute of chesed (kindness), which is notzer chesed; and through his constant striving in the attribute of chesed, he would arouse, by means of his own attribute of chesed, the rav chesed — the great chesed called yemei kedem. This, one can say, is the intent of the verse "and he moved from there... mikedem (from the east / from of old)" — meaning, from his attribute, the attribute of chesed, he aroused yemei kedem, which is rav chesed, and he drew down these kindnesses to Beit El, that is, to the Shechinah (Divine Presence), as it were, which Yaakov called Beit El.

And this, one can say, is the intent of the statement of Chazal (our Sages, may their memory be blessed): "Until Avraham there was no zikna (old age)" — for zikna corresponds to the attribute of chesed called "atik" (ancient), which is the great chesed, yemei kedem — until Avraham came, who strove in his attribute, the attribute of chesed, until he drew down the attribute of rav chesed, which is "Atik Yomin" (the Ancient of Days), so named after yemei kedem in the world, as mentioned above. And understand this.