God Binds The Princes Of The Heathens

"And they came to the place that God had told him, and Abraham built there the altar" (Genesis 22:9). And Isaac, where was he? Rabbi Levi said: He took him and hid him, saying, "Lest that one who reviled him cast a stone and disqualify him from the offering." "And Abraham built there the altar, and bound Isaac his son." Rabbi Chofni bar Yitzchak said: All the while our father Abraham was binding Isaac his son below, the Holy One, blessed be He, was subduing the princes of the worshipers of stars above. But did He do so? Rather, when Israel acted recklessly in the days of Jeremiah, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, "What do you suppose, that these bound ones stand fast?" as it is said, "For while entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink" (Nahum 1:10). [Read not "while entangled like thorns" (ad sirim sevukhim) but rather] "while the princes are entangled" (ad sarim sevukhim), "and drunken as with their drink" (ki-sav'am sevuim) [meaning] those bound ones were loosed, as it is written, "They shall be consumed like fully dry stubble" (Nahum 1:10). At the hour when our father Abraham stretched out his hand to take the knife to slaughter his son, the ministering angels wept. This is what is written, "Behold, their valiant ones cry outside" (Isaiah 33:7). What is "outside" (chutzah)? Rabbi Azaryah said: "Outside" [is to be understood as] "It is strange (chitzah hu) for the creature to slaughter his son." And what were they saying? "The highways are desolate" (Isaiah 33:8): Abraham no longer receives the passersby and the wayfarers. "The wayfarer has ceased" (Isaiah 33:8), just as you say, "It had ceased to be with Sarah" (Genesis 18:11). "He has broken the covenant" (Isaiah 33:8), "And My covenant I will establish with Isaac" (Genesis 17:21). "He has despised the cities" (Isaiah 33:8), "And he dwelt between Kadesh" (Genesis 20:1). "He has not regarded man" (Isaiah 33:8): The merit of Abraham did not avail, [which is] astonishing! And who shall tell you that the verse speaks of none but the ministering angels? "Above" (mi-maal) is said here, and "above" is said elsewhere, "Seraphim were standing above Him" (Isaiah 6:2).