Why God Never Meant Abraham to Slaughter Isaac on the Altar

Another interpretation: "Now it came to pass after these things" (Genesis 22:1). This is what Scripture says: "I will not profane My covenant, and I will not alter what has gone forth from My lips" (Psalms 89:35). Rabbi Aha said: "I will not profane My covenant" — for I made a condition with Abraham and said to him, "for in Isaac shall offspring be called yours" (Genesis 21:12). "And I will not alter what has gone forth from My lips" — for I said to him, "Take, please" (Genesis 22:2). A parable. To what is the matter comparable? To a king who said to the one who loved him, "I desire to see a small child upon my table." At once the one who loved him went and brought his son and set him upon the table before the king, and he went and brought the sword to slaughter him. At once the king commanded and said to him, "What are you doing?" He said to him, "Did you not say to me, 'I desire to see a small child upon my table'?" He said to him, "I said to you a living child — did I perhaps say a dead one?" So too the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Abraham, "Take, please, your son" (Genesis 22:2). At once "Abraham built the altar there" etc., "and Abraham stretched out his hand" (Genesis 22:9–10). The angel commanded him, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad" (Genesis 22:12). Abraham said to Him, "Did You not say to me, 'Take, please'?" He said to him, "Did I perhaps say to him to slaughter him?" This is "I will not profane My covenant, and I will not alter what has gone forth from My lips."