“With what shall I approach the Lord, and bow to God on High? […Shall I offer up my firstborn son for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?]” (Micah 6:6). Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Although these words are [apparently] alluding to Meisha king of Moav, who took action and actually offered his son up as a burnt offering,11See II Kings 3:27. in fact it is alluding only to Isaac, as it is stated: “With what shall I approach the Lord, and bow to God on High? …Does the Lord desire thousands of rams, with tens thousands streams of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression? (Micah 6:6–7). Regarding Isaac, even though no action was actually performed, He accepted it as though the deed were completed. Regarding Meisha, [though he actually performed the act,] it was not accepted before Him.