1 It happened after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" He said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Now take your son, your only son, whom you love, even Isaac, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of." 3 Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. 5 Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go yonder. We will worship, and come back to you." 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together. 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, "My father?" He said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they both went together. 9 They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. 10 Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to kill his son. 11 The angel of Yahweh called to him out of the sky, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" He said, "Here I am." 12 He said, "Don't lay your hand on the boy, neither do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." 13 Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place Yahweh Will Provide. As it is said to this day, "On Yahweh's mountain, it will be provided." 15 The angel of Yahweh called to Abraham a second time out of the sky, 16 and said, "I have sworn by myself, says Yahweh, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your seed greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. 18 In your seed will all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba. Abraham lived at Beersheba. 20 It happened after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, "Behold, Milcah, she also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel." 23 Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother. 24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
The faith and obedience of Abraham put to a most extraordinary test, Genesis 22:1. He is commanded to offer his beloved son Isaac for a burnt-offering, Genesis 22:2. He prepares, with the utmost promptitude, to accomplish the will of God, Genesis 22:3-6. Affecting speech of Isaac, Genesis 22:7; and Abraham's answer, Genesis 22:8. Having arrived at mount Moriah he prepares to sacrifice his son, Genesis 22:9, Genesis 22:10; and is prevented by an angel of the Lord, Genesis 22:11, Genesis 22:12. A ram is offered in the stead of Isaac, Genesis 22:13; and the place is named Jehovah-jireh, Genesis 22:14. The angel of the Lord calls to Abraham a second time, Genesis 22:15; and, in the most solemn manner, he is assured of innumerable blessings in the multiplication and prosperity of his seed, Genesis 22:16-18. Abraham returns and dwells at Beer-sheba, Genesis 22:19; hears that his brother Nahor has eight children by his wife Milcah, Genesis 22:20; their names, Genesis 22:21-23; and four by his concubine Reumah, Genesis 22:24.
INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 22
In this chapter we have an account of an order given by God to Abraham to sacrifice his son, Genesis 22:1; of his readiness to obey the will of God, he immediately preparing everything for that purpose, Genesis 22:3, of the order being reversed, and another sacrifice substituted in its room, which occasioned the giving a new name to the place where it was done, Genesis 22:11; upon which the promise of special blessings, of a numerous offspring, and of the seed in whom all nations should be blessed, is renewed, Genesis 22:15; after this Abraham returns to Beersheba, where he is informed of the increase of his brother Nahor's family, Genesis 22:19.
(Genesis 22:1, Genesis 22:2) God commands Abraham to offer up Isaac.
(Genesis 22:3-10) Abraham's faith and obedience to the Divine command.
(Genesis 22:11-14) Another sacrifice is provided instead of Isaac.
(Genesis 22:15-19) The covenant with Abraham renewed.
(Genesis 22:20-24) The family of Nahor.
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