Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 22/0
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Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 22
Adam in the Garden and Avraham at the Akeidah
There are many points of parallel between the larger stories of Adam and Avraham. Both are granted an ideal land on condition of living according to God’s will, and both stories center around themes of blessing and curse. While Adam does not heed God's commands in the Garden of Eden, resulting in his being cursed, during the Akeidah Avraham proves himself ever obedient, meriting reward.
Tools
- Tanakh Lab – When comparing the story of Gan Eden with that of the Akeidah in the Tanakh Lab, it becomes evident that there are not many linguistic parallels between the two. Nonetheless, an interesting contrast can be found between Bereshit 22:17-18 and Bereshit 3:16-17. While Avraham is told that his progeny will multiply, Chavvah is told that pain in childbirth will increase. Avraham is promised that his descendant will inherit their enemies' land since he heeded God's word, while Adam is told the land will not produce since he heeded Chavvah's (not God's) voice.
Articles
- See פרשת העקידה בהשוואה לפרשת אדם הראשון בגן עדן by Nava Gutman for comparison of the story of Adam in Gan Eden to the story of Avraham at Akeidat Yitzchak.
Avraham and Iyyov
There are a number of parallels between the narratives of Avraham and of Iyyov. Both are exceptionally God-fearing individuals who endure difficult tests.
Tools
- Concordance – If one highlights the words "יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים" in Bereshit 22:12 and chooses the concordance from the drop-down menu, all appearances of the phrase in Tanakh will display. At a glance, it becomes evident that the only two named individuals who are so-called are Avraham and Iyyov. The shared description invites a comparison between the two figures.
- Similarly, the concordance highlights that the key phrase "אַל תִּשְׁלַח יָדְךָ" (see Bereshit 22:12, is unique to these two stories.
- Tanakh Lab – Compare Bereshit 22 and Iyyov 1 in the Tanakh Lab to see a few other more minor linguistic parallels.
Primary Sources
Several Rabbinic sources compare Avraham and Iyyov:
- R. Yehuda HaNasi in Tosefta Sotah 6:1 compares Avraham and Iyyov, noting that both characters are described as "יְרֵא אֱ-לֹהִים", but that just as Avraham acted out of a love of God (and not merely fear), so too did Iyyov.
- See Tosefta Bava Kamma 9:11, and Bereshit Rabbah 49:9 for other parallels, and Bavli Bava Batra 15b who notes that Tanakh's praise of Iyyov even surpasses that of Avraham.
Articles
- See Avraham and Iyyov for an exploration of the comparisons and contrasts between the two figures.
- Rav Soloveitchik’s writing on Iyyov in Kol Dodi Dofek accentuates the aspects of Iyyov’s personality that are different from the legacy of Avraham.