Another matter, “in the seventh month” – Rabbi Berekhya would call it the month of the oath, for in it the Holy One blessed be He took an oath to Abraham our patriarch of blessed memory. That is what is written: “He said: I have taken an oath by Myself, the utterance of the Lord” (Genesis 22:16). What need was there for an oath? Rav Beivai bar Abaye said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: Abraham our patriarch stood in prayer and supplication before the Holy One blessed be He and said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, it is revealed and known before You that when You said to me: “Take now your son, your only one” (Genesis 22:2), I had in my heart what to answer You, and I had in my heart what to say: Yesterday You said to me: “For it is through Isaac that offspring will be considered yours” (Genesis 21:12), and now You say to me: “Offer him up there as a burnt offering”? (Genesis 22:2).
However, just as I had what to answer You, but I suppressed my evil inclination and did not answer You, “Like one who is deaf, who does not hear; like a mute who does not open his mouth” (Psalms 38:14), so when Isaac’s descendants engage in transgressions and wicked deeds, recall for them the binding of Isaac their patriarch, and rise from the throne of justice to the throne of mercy, become filled with mercy upon them, have mercy upon them, and transform the attribute of justice to the attribute of mercy on their behalf.’ When? In the seventh month.