The Third Day That Saved Abraham and All Israel

"On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar" (Genesis 22:4). It is written, "He will revive us after two days; on the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live before Him" (Hosea 6:2). On the third day of the tribes, as it is said, "And Joseph said to them on the third day" (Genesis 42:18). On the third day of the giving of the Torah, as it is said, "And it came to pass on the third day when it was morning" (Exodus 19:16). On the third day of the spies, as it is said, "And you shall hide there three days" (Joshua 2:16). On the third day of Jonah, as it is said, "And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days" (Jonah 2:1). On the third day of those who came up from exile, as it is said, "And we encamped there three days" (Ezra 8:15). On the third day of the resurrection of the dead, as it is said, "He will revive us after two days." On the third day of Esther, as it is said, "And it came to pass on the third day that Esther put on royalty" (Esther 5:1). By what merit? The rabbis say: by the merit of the third day of the giving of the Torah. And Rabbi Levi said: by the merit of the third day of Abraham. "On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place." What did he see? He saw a cloud bound to the mountain. He said, "It seems to me that this is the place where the Holy One, blessed be He, told me to offer my son." He said to Isaac, "Do you see what I see?" He said to him, "Yes." He said to his two lads, "Do you see what I see?" They said to him, "No." He said, "Since the donkey does not see, and you do not see, stay here with the donkey." The rabbis bring this from here: "Six days you shall labor and do all your work... and your manservant and your maidservant and your ox and your donkey" (Deuteronomy 5:13-14).