Ha-Satan as a River and the Cloud on the Mountain at the Binding

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 22:4

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"On the third day." Why did he tarry three days, seeing that the place was near? Rather, this teaches that Ha-Satan came and made himself like a river before him. Abraham said, "I will enter the river and see whether the water is deep," and Abraham was nearly drowned. He lifted his eyes to the Holy One, blessed be He, that He save him from the water, that he not drown in it. Immediately the Holy One, blessed be He, rebuked Ha-Satan, and Abraham was found standing on dry land. "And he saw the place from afar." Abraham said to Isaac, "Do you see anything?" He said to him, "I see a cloud bound upon the top of the mountain." And Abraham knew that the lad had consented to be a burnt offering. Abraham said to his lads, "Do you see anything?" They said to him, "No." He said to them, "Stay here with the donkey," for you are like the donkey: just as a donkey sees nothing, so too you see nothing.

Themes

Binding Of IsaacHa SatanFaith And TestingDivine Vision

Biblical References

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