Four "harnessed" with joy — Abraham—(Genesis 22 — 3) "And

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Mekhilta Tractate Vayehi Beshalach 2:26

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 20, 2025

Four "harnessed" with joy: Abraham—(Genesis 22:3) "And Abraham rose early in the morning (for the binding of Isaac), and he saddled his ass." Now did he not have many servants?—(He did so) for the honor of the L–rd. Joseph—(Ibid. 46:29) "and Joseph (himself) harnessed his chariot." Did he not have many servants?—(He did so) in honor of his father. Bilam—(Numbers 22:21) "And Bilam arose in the morning and (himself) saddled his ass" (to go with the emissaries of Balak.) Pharaoh—here. Let the "saddling" of Abraham come, who went to do the will of the L–rd and oppose the "saddling" of Bilam, who went to curse Israel. Let the "harnessing" of Joseph come and oppose the "harnessing" of the wicked Pharaoh, who went to pursue Israel. Variantly: R. Shimon b. Yochai says: Let the hand-sword of Abraham come—(Genesis 22:10) "And he took the knife to slaughter his son"—and oppose the hand-sword wielded by the wicked Pharaoh in pursuing Israel—(Exodus 15:9) "I shall draw forth my sword; my hand will impoverish them."

Themes

Patriarchs Moses Divine justice Holy Land

Biblical References

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