“After these matters [devarim]” – after the words [devarim] that were being contemplated there. Who contemplated [these words]? Abraham contemplated and said: ‘I rejoiced and caused everyone else to rejoice,7When Isaac was born (see Genesis 21:8). but I did not set aside anything [from my feast] for the Holy One blessed be He, neither a bull nor a ram.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘[I do not require your gifts.
I know that] even if I would make a condition with you requiring that you sacrifice your son you would not refuse.’ According to the opinion of Rabbi Elazar,8Bereshit Rabba 51:2. who said: [When, instead of] “God,” [it is written] “and God” – it refers to Him and His court,9God acting in concert with the angels. the ministering angels had said: ‘This Abraham rejoiced and caused everyone else to rejoice, but he did not set aside anything for the Holy One blessed be He, neither a bull nor a ram.’
The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘[I do not require his gifts. I know that] even if I would make a condition with him requiring that he sacrifice his son, he would not refuse.’ [Another interpretation,] Isaac and Ishmael were arguing with one another. This one [Yishmael] was saying: ‘I am more beloved [to God] than you are, as I was circumcised at the age of thirteen years.’ And the other one [Isaac] was saying: ‘I am more beloved [to God] than you are, as I was circumcised at eight days.’
Ishmael said to him: ‘I am more beloved because I had the ability to protest, but I did not protest.’ At that moment, Isaac said: ‘If only the Holy One blessed be He would appear to me and say to me that I should sever one of my limbs, I would not refuse.’ After this, “God tested Abraham.” <variant reading: ishmael said to him: ‘i am more beloved than you, as i was circumcised at age thirteen years, but you were circumcised when you were little, when it was impossible to protest.’ isaac said to him: ‘everything that you gave over10Literally, lent. to the Holy One blessed be He amounted to three drops of blood.
I, though, am thirty-seven years old now, and if He were to ask me to be slaughtered, I would not refuse.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘The hour has come.’ After this, “God tested Abraham.”>