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 descendants 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. A number of parallels between the two stories are noted, including an emphasis on the sense of sight, the above-noted parallels between the curses of Adam and the blessings of Avraham, and the image of fire and sword. Perhaps these parallels serve to indicate that Adam and Avraham are both tested as to whether they will make their choices in line with Hashem’s sight or their own; Adam fails whereas Avraham succeeds.
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.1 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. Both Avraham and Iyyov are tested by Hashem in a way that involved mortal danger to their children and features an angelic figure, both are God-fearing, both pray for others, both have three associates, both are described as wealthy, and both are informed by a single escapee of disaster that has befallen their family members. There are also points of contrast. The divine instructions given to Avraham are more explicit, Avraham does not question God about his own test whereas Iyyov does, and Iyyov’s children actually die whereas Avraham’s does not.
- 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. He suggests that while Iyyov was personally righteous at the beginning of his story, he lacked Avraham’s empathy for and investment in other individuals and the community as a whole.
Akeidat Yitzchak and Yishmael
There are many points of comparison and contrast between the stories of the expulsion of Yishmael and Akeidat Yitzchak. In fact, Tanakh Lab2 reveals that one of the chapters which is most linguistically similar to Bereshit 22 is Bereshit 21.
Tools
- Use the Tanakh Lab to compare the two stories and find linguistic similarities here.
Articles
- See עקדת ישמעאל : חוויה מכוננת אחת, by Prof. Uriel Simon, for a discussion of how the banishment of Yishmael was in essence also an "Akeidah", with Avraham being asked to sacrifice both of his sons.
- For an exploration of the parallels and differences, see Vayera: Akedat Yishmael by R. Michael Hattin.
- For analysis of how the two narratives reflect different approaches to challenge, see But My Covenant I will Establish with Yitzhak by R. Chanoch Waxman.
