Why God Named Isaac Step by Step at the Akedah Command

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 22:2

"And He said: Take now your son, your only one." Abraham said: I have two sons, and I do not know which son You are telling me to take. He said to him: "Your only one." Abraham said: this one is the only one of his mother, and this one is the only one of his mother. He said to him: "Whom you love." He said to Him: this one I love and this one I love. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: "Isaac." And why all this? In order to make him beloved in his eyes; and even so, Abraham received the words of the Holy One, blessed be He, with joy. "Moriah" — from there went forth instruction, as it is said, "For from Zion shall go forth Torah" (Isaiah 2:3). And Rabbi Yannai says: from there shall go forth fear of Heaven to the world. Another interpretation: that from there speech goes forth to the world. Another interpretation: that from there the commandments go forth to the world.

Themes

Biblical References