How Abraham Recognized Mount Moriah

Rabbi Yehudah says: On that night the Holy One, blessed be He, was revealed to him and said to him, "Abraham, take now your son" (Genesis 22:2). And Abraham had pity on Isaac, and said before Him: "Master of all the worlds, concerning which son do You decree to me? The uncircumcised son or the circumcised son?" He said to him: "Your only one." He said to Him: "This one is an only son to his mother, and this one is an only son to his mother." He said to him: "Whom you love." He said to Him: "I love them both." He said to him: "Isaac." "And offer him there for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:2). He said to Him: "Master of all the worlds, on which mountain did You tell me?" He said to him: "In whatever place you see My glory standing and waiting for you there, and saying: This is Mount Moriah," as it is said, "upon one of the mountains which I will tell you" (Genesis 22:2). On the third day they reached the lookout point, and as soon as they reached the lookout point he saw the glory of the Divine Presence standing upon the top of the mountain, as it is said, "On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar" (Genesis 22:4). And what did he see? A pillar of fire standing from the earth up to the heavens. And Abraham understood that the lad was found acceptable as an unblemished burnt offering.