The Binding Of Isaac

Genesis 22:1-19

And it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and He said to him: Abraham. And he said: Here I am. And He said: Take, please, your son, your only one, whom you love, Isaac, and go for yourself to the land of Moriah, and offer him up there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains that I will tell you. And Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose and went to the place that God had told him. On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. And Abraham said to his young men: Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder, and we will bow down and return to you. And Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife, and the two of them went together. And Isaac said to Abraham his father, and he said: My father. And he said: Here I am, my son. And he said: Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? And Abraham said: God will see to the lamb for the burnt offering, my son. And the two of them went together. And they came to the place that God had told him, and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and he bound Isaac his son and laid him upon the altar, above the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. And the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said: Abraham, Abraham. And he said: Here I am. And He said: Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him, for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only one, from Me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a ram behind, caught in the thicket by its horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place "The LORD will see," as it is said to this day: On the mountain of the LORD it will be seen. And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven. And He said: By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, that because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only one, that I will surely bless you and will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is upon the shore of the sea, and your seed shall possess the gate of its enemies. And through your seed shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have hearkened to My voice. And Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba, and Abraham dwelt in Beersheba.

Themes

Original Sources

  • Genesis 22:1-19.

Biblical References