In this way, Rabbi Tanḥuma bar Abba in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina, brother of Rabbi Aḥa ben Rabbi Ḥanina began: This is the portion of libations, as it is stated: “Or for a ram, you shall perform a meal offering…and wine as libation, one-third of a hin” (Numbers 15:6–7). From here forward: “It shall be, when you eat from the bread of the land…the first of your kneading you shall separate a loaf, as a gift” (Numbers 15:19–20).
There is ḥalla below and libations above; that is why Rabbi Ḥanina began: “Go, eat your bread joyfully, and drink your wine goodheartedly” (Ecclesiastes 9:7). What is, “as God has already accepted your actions”? (Ecclesiastes 9:7). “Eat your bread joyfully” – this is the portion of ḥalla. “And drink your wine goodheartedly” – this is the portion of libations.
What is, “as God has already accepted…”? This is having Israel enter the Land, as it is stated: “When you will come into the land…” Another matter, this verse is speaking concerning Abraham. When the Holy One blessed be He said to Abraham: “Take, now, your son, your only one” (Genesis 22:2), Abraham arose early, took him with alacrity, led him, and took him up to Mount Moriah. Abraham said:4This was after the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “Do not extend your hand against the lad” (Genesis 22:12). ‘Master of the universe, did you say “take, now” to me for nothing?’
He said to him: ‘No, it is to make you known [lehodiakha] throughout the world,’ as it is stated: “For I have known him [yedativ], so that he will command” (Genesis 18:19). Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘As you live, I ascribe to you, that had I said to you to slaughter your soul, you would not delay for the sake of My name.’ As it is written: “And you did not withhold your son” (Genesis 22:12).
It is already stated explicitly. What is the meaning of: “Your only one [yeḥidekha]”? (Genesis 22:12). This is your soul, as the soul is called yeḥida, as it is stated: “Rescue me from the sword, my soul [yeḥidati] from the grasp of the dog” (Psalms 22:21). Abraham said: ‘Master of the universe, I cannot descend from here without an offering.’
The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Your offering is prepared from the six days of Creation.’ “Abraham lifted his eyes and saw that, behold, there was a ram” (Genesis 22:13), and our Rabbis taught that Abraham’s ram was created during twilight. Abraham took it and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son, just as it said: “He took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:13).
Is the verse incomplete? What is “in place of his son”? (Genesis 22:13). Abraham said: ‘Master of the universe, see it as though the blood of Isaac is sprinkled before You.’ He took the ram and flayed it and said: ‘So, see it as though it was the skin of Isaac that I flayed before You.’
He took it and absorbed its blood with salt, he said: ‘So, see it as though it is Isaac’s blood that is absorbed before You.’ He burned it and said: ‘So, see it as though Isaac’s ashes are piled atop the altar.’ Alternatively, what is “in place of his son”? The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘As you live, your son was sacrificed first, and the ram is in his place.’
At that moment, Abraham said: ‘I will not move from here until You take an oath to me that You will never again subject me to another ordeal, as God forbid, had I not heeded You, I would have lost everything that I strived for all my days.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘As you live, so it is,’ and He took an oath that he would not subject him to another ordeal, as it is stated: “He said: By Myself I have taken an oath, the utterance of the Lord” (Genesis 22:16).
The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Harsh afflictions and other ordeals were fit to befall Abraham, but they did not come.’ These are the afflictions; those that befell Job, were fit to befall Abraham, as it is juxtaposed to the portion: “It was after these matters, and it was told…Utz his firstborn, and Buz…” (Genesis 22:20–21). Utz was Job: “There was a man in the land of Utz, Job was his name” (Job 1:1).
At that moment, the Holy One blessed be He said to Abraham: “Go, eat your bread joyfully…as God has already accepted your actions” (Ecclesiastes 9:7). Another matter, “go, eat…” is speaking of Solomon; when he built the Temple and completed it, he made a dedication for seven days and made another seven days as a festival, but they forgot to observe Yom Kippur. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: The Divine Spirit emerged and said: “Go, eat your bread joyfully, and drink your wine goodheartedly, as God has already accepted your actions.”