The Akeida “on one foot”:
The story of the Binding of Isaac, or the Akeida in Hebrew, is read on the second day of Rosh Hashanah.
Act 1
(1) Some time afterward, God put Abraham to the test. He said to him, “Abraham,” and he answered, “Here I am.” (2) And God said, “Take your son, your favored one, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the heights that I will point out to you.” (3) So early next morning, Abraham saddled his donkey and took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and he set out for the place of which God had told him.
Context: This is from the Biblical Book of Genesis. Heretofore, Abraham and Sarah have been trying for a child for many many years. In the previous chapter, Isaac was finally born. Moreover, at Sarah’s urging, Abraham’s other son with Hagar, Ishmael, had been sent away, so Isaac was all Abraham had.
Also important to know is that a few chapters previously, G-d had told Abraham that G-d was planning on destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorroh, and Abraham had argued with G-d not only on behalf of his nephew but also on behalf of total strangers.
1. At what points could this story have been changed?
2. G-d tested Abraham. Is he passing?
3. What might Abraham be thinking?
4. What might Isaac be thinking?
5. What might Sarah be thinking?
Act 2
(4) On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place from afar. (5) Then Abraham said to his servants, “You stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go up there; we will worship and we will return to you.” (6) Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. He himself took the firestone and the knife; and the two walked off together. (7) Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he answered, “Yes, my son.” And he said, “Here are the firestone and the wood; but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” (8) And Abraham said, “God will see to the sheep for God’s burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them walked on together. (9) They arrived at the place of which God had told him. Abraham built an altar there; he laid out the wood; he bound his son Isaac; he laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. (10) And Abraham picked up the knife to slay his son.
1. At what points could this story have been changed?
2. What might Abraham be thinking?
3. What might Isaac be thinking?
Act 3
1. At what points could this story have been changed?
2. After this story, G-d never speaks to Abraham again, nor does Isaac or Sarah. Did Abraham pass the test?
3. If Abraham returned to his servants at the end, where is Isaac?
4. What might Abraham be thinking?
5. What might Isaac be thinking?
6. What might Sarah be thinking?
7. How might this story be relevant to our lives today?
The Quran’s Version
Sura 37:99-111
(99) And Abraham said, “I will go to where I am ordered by my Lord; He will guide me. (100) My Lord, grant me a child from among the righteous.” (101) So We gave him good tidings of a forebearing boy. (102) And when he reached with him the age of exertion, he said, “O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you, so see what you think.” Ishmael said, “O my father, do as you are commanded.” You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.” (103) So when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead (104) We called to him, “O Abraham, (105) you have fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. (106) Indeed, this was the clear trial. (107) And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice. (108) And We left for him favorable mention among later generations: (109) “Peace be upon Abraham”. (110) Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. (111) Indeed, he was among Our believing servants.
https://quranonline.net/as-saffat/
Context: This is the Muslim version of this story, found in the Quran. It is in Sura 37, which tells the stories of many prophets. Each one gets the same format of “This is how we reward the doers of good” via future generations saying “Peace be upon ___”. In the Abraham story, he had just broken the idols and was going to be thrown into a fire because of that, but instead he goes where Allah wants him to and Allah grants him a child who will believe in one god (which is where our text picks up).
1. In this version, does Abraham pass the test?
2. How does it change things whether the child knows the plan or not?
3. If this is about Abraham, does it matter which child it is?
Context: This is a rap version of the story done by Matt Bar, though his group “Bible Raps”. It is from Isaac’s point of view.
Context: This is from Alicia Jo Rabin’s 2009 album “Girls in Trouble”; it is from Sarah’s point of view. Lyrics and discussion questions are here: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/94826?lang=bi
A Readers’ Theatre version of “The Binding of Isaac”
Adapted from the Book of Genesis, Chapter 22, by David Schwartz
Act 1
(Setting: Abraham’s tent)
Narrator: G-d decided to test Abraham.
G-d: Abraham
Abraham: Here I am.
G-d: Take your son, your favored one, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the heights that I will point out to you.
Narrator: So early the next morning, Abraham saddled his donkey and took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and he set out for the place of which G-d had told him.
Act 2
(Setting: Mount Moriah)
Narrator: On the third day, Abraham looked up and saw the place from afar.
Abraham: Servants, you stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go up there; we will worship, and we will return to you.
Narrator: Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. He himself took the firestone and the knife; and the two walked off together.
Isaac: Father!
Abraham: Yes, my son.
Isaac: Here are the firestone and the wood, but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?
Abraham: G-d will see to the sheep for G-d’s burnt offering, my son.
Narrator: The two of them walked on together. They arrived at the place of which G-d had told Abraham. Abraham built an alter there; he laid out the wood; he bound his son Isaac; he laid him on top of the alter, on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to slay his son.
Act 3
(Setting: Mount Moriah)
The Full Version
(1) Some time afterward, God put Abraham to the test. He said to him, “Abraham,” and he answered, “Here I am.” (2) And He said, “Take your son, your favored one, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the heights that I will point out to you.” (3) So early next morning, Abraham saddled his donkey and took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and he set out for the place of which God had told him. (4) On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place from afar. (5) Then Abraham said to his servants, “You stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go up there; we will worship and we will return to you.” (6) Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. He himself took the firestone and the knife; and the two walked off together. (7) Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he answered, “Yes, my son.” And he said, “Here are the firestone and the wood; but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” (8) And Abraham said, “God will see to the sheep for His burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them walked on together. (9) They arrived at the place of which God had told him. Abraham built an altar there; he laid out the wood; he bound his son Isaac; he laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. (10) And Abraham picked up the knife to slay his son. (11) Then an angel of the LORD called to him from heaven: “Abraham! Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.” (12) And he said, “Do not raise your hand against the boy, or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your favored one, from Me.” (13) When Abraham looked up, his eye fell upon a ram, caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son. (14) And Abraham named that site Adonai-yireh, whence the present saying, “On the mount of the LORD there is vision.” (15) The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, (16) and said, “By Myself I swear, the LORD declares: Because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your favored one, (17) I will bestow My blessing upon you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sands on the seashore; and your descendants shall seize the gates of their foes. (18) All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants, because you have obeyed My command.” (19) Abraham then returned to his servants, and they departed together for Beer-sheba; and Abraham stayed in Beer-sheba.