How Ha-Satan Tested Abraham, Isaac, and Sarah at the Akedah

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 22:10

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And he took the knife" (Genesis 22:10). From here we learn that ritual slaughter must be done with a detached implement. And as they were walking, Ha-Satan came to Abraham and said to him: "Old man, where are your wits? A son whom the Holy One, blessed be He, graciously granted you at a hundred years old, and you are going to slaughter him? I am the one who led you astray and said to you, 'Take now your son, your only one.'" Abraham said to him: "Heaven forbid! It is God who spoke to me." When Ha-Satan saw that Abraham would not listen to him, he went at once to Isaac and said to him: "Isaac, where are you going?" He said: "My father is taking me to study Torah." Ha-Satan said to Isaac: "It is not to study Torah that you are going; rather, your father is taking you to slaughter you." Isaac said to him: "Even so, I rejoice in this, if the Holy One, blessed be He, desires me, and furthermore that I shall do my father's will." When he saw that Isaac would not accept it from him, he went to Sarah and said to her: "Where did your son go?" She said to him: "His father took him to study Torah with Eber." Ha-Satan said to her: "Alas, poor wretched woman, it is not to study Torah that he is taking him; rather, he is taking him to slaughter him." When she heard this, she cried out, groaning first and then wailing, and her soul departed from the abundance of grief. Therefore it is said: "And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her" (Genesis 23:2).

Themes

Binding Of IsaacHa SatanFaith And TestingDeath Of SarahMaternal Grief

Biblical References

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