The Akeidah

(1) And it came to pass after these events, that God did test Abraham, and said unto him: ‘Abraham’; and he said: ‘Here am I.’ (2) And He said: ‘Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains where I will tell you.’ (3) Then Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young servants with him, and Isaac his son; and he cleaved the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. (4) On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place from far off. (5) And Abraham said unto his young servants: ‘Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go there; and we will worship, and come back to you.’ (6) Then Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; then he took in his hand the fire and the knife; and then they went both of them together. (7) And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said: ‘My father.’ And he said: ‘Here I am, my son.’ And he said: ‘Here is the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?’ (8) And Abraham said: ‘God will provide Himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.’ So they went both of them together. (9) And then they came to the place where God had told him; then Abraham built the altar there, then he laid the wood in order, and then he bound Isaac his son, and placed him on the altar, upon the wood. (10) Then Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. (11) And then the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said: ‘Abraham, Abraham.’ And he said: ‘Here I am.’ (12) And he said: ‘Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do any harm unto him; for now I know that you are a God-fearing man, seeing that you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’ (13) Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and there was behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering instead of his son. (14) And Abraham called the name of that place Adonai-jireh; (God will appear) as it is said to this day: ‘In the mount where the LORD is seen.’ (15) And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven, (16) and said: ‘By Myself have I sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, (17) that I will certainly bless you, and I will certainly multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and your descendants will possess the gate of his enemies; (18) and through your descendants will all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed My voice.’ (19) So then Abraham returned unto his young servants, and they rose up and went together to Be'er- sheba; and then Abraham settled in Be'er-sheba.