Abraham Doubts the Angel at the Binding of Isaac

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 22:12

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And he said: Do not stretch out your hand." Abraham said to him: Perhaps you are Ha-Satan, and you seek to deceive me. He said to him: No, rather I am an emissary of the Holy One, blessed be He, who does not desire a human sacrifice. And so Ha-Satan said to Abraham: Thus I heard from behind the curtain — "a lamb for the burnt offering," and not Isaac for the burnt offering. Abraham said to him: All the dealings of a liar are such that even when he speaks the truth, he is not heeded. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed Himself to him and said, "By Myself I have sworn," and so forth. "And do not do anything to him." Abraham said: Let me bring forth from him a drop of blood, and it will be reckoned as though I had slaughtered him. The angel said to him: But does the Holy One, blessed be He, not know that Abraham feared the Lord? Rather, "now I know" — I have made known to all the world that you have done My will, until they will say: It is just that He cut a covenant with Abraham and with his seed; and all will know that everything I do well for Abraham, I do in justice.

Themes

Binding Of IsaacAbrahamHa SatanCovenantFear Of God

Biblical References

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Midrash AggadahHow Ha-Satan Tested Abraham, Isaac, and Sarah at the AkedahThe knife rose in Abraham's hand, and from that gleam the sages drew a law: the blade of slaughter must be loosed, held free in the hand. But the road to MoriahMidrash AggadahHa-Satan as a River and the Cloud on the Mountain at the BindingThe River That Was Not There Why three days' journey to a place so near? Because the road itself fought back. Ha-Satan, who could not bear to watch faith walk fMidrash AggadahIshmael and Eliezer Quarrel Over Inheriting Isaac at the AkedahWhile Abraham climbed the mountain with his son, two young men waited below — and they fell to quarreling like vultures over a will not yet read. Ishmael reasonBook of JubileesCovenant of Abraham of IsaacIn this ancient text, which some consider to be part of the broader Jewish apocrypha, we find a pivotal moment concerning Abraham, his wife Sarah, and a promiseApocalypse of AbrahamGod Commands Abraham to Offer Sacrifice for a RevelationThe voice came again. Twice it called his name: "Abraham, Abraham!" "Here I am." "It is I. Fear not, for I am before the worlds, a mighty God who has created thApocalypse of AbrahamGod Promises Abraham Descendants Like the StarsThe Eternal Mighty One said: "Abraham, Abraham!" "Here I am." "Look down at the stars beneath your feet. Count them for me. Make known to me their number." Abra