Difference between revisions of "Yitzchak's Role in the Akeidah/2"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
This topic has not yet undergone editorial review
m |
m |
||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li><b>Prior to test </b>– Bavli Sanhedrin, Bereshit Rabbah, and Lekach Tov all suggest that not only was Yitzchak aware, but that the entire trial was his initiative.<fn>They present Yishmael as gloating that he was circumcised when older, while Yitzchak, being just 8 days old, had no choice in the matter. Yitzchak responds that had Hashem asked, he would be willing to sacrifice not just one limb but his entire body.</fn> </li> | <li><b>Prior to test </b>– Bavli Sanhedrin, Bereshit Rabbah, and Lekach Tov all suggest that not only was Yitzchak aware, but that the entire trial was his initiative.<fn>They present Yishmael as gloating that he was circumcised when older, while Yitzchak, being just 8 days old, had no choice in the matter. Yitzchak responds that had Hashem asked, he would be willing to sacrifice not just one limb but his entire body.</fn> </li> | ||
| − | <li>En route – Tanchuma suggests that when Yitzchak noticed the absence of the sheep en route, he suspected the truth and Avraham confirmed his suspicions.<fn>See also Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, R"Y Bekhor Shor and Radak.</fn></li> | + | <li><b>En route</b> – Tanchuma suggests that when Yitzchak noticed the absence of the sheep en route, he suspected the truth and Avraham confirmed his suspicions.<fn>See also Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, R"Y Bekhor Shor and Radak.</fn></li> |
| − | <li>On site – Josephus suggests that Yitzchak first found out that he was to be the sacrifice after the altar was built.</li> | + | <li><b>On site</b> – Josephus suggests that Yitzchak first found out that he was to be the sacrifice after the altar was built.</li> |
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>Yitzchak's question: "וְאַיֵּה הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה"</b></point> | <point><b>Yitzchak's question: "וְאַיֵּה הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה"</b></point> | ||
Version as of 04:34, 13 November 2019
Yitzchak's Role in the Akeidah
Exegetical Approaches
Willing Participant
Yitzchak willingly went to be sacrificed.
Sources:Josephus, Pseudo-Philo, Targum Yerushalmi (Neofiti), Bavli Sanhedrin, Bereshit Rabbah, Tanchuma, Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, Lekach Tov, R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Radak, R. S.R. Hirsch, Hoil Moshe
How old was Yitzchak at the akeidah? All of these sources assume that Yitzchak was old enough to fully comprehend what was going on and capable of resisting his father had he wanted. Most assume that he was a full grown adult with Josephus asserting that Yitzchak was 25, and Targum Yerushalmi (Neofiti) placing him at 37.1
Did he know what was to happen? These sources assume that Yitzchak was well aware of what was to transpire, but differ regarding at what point and via whom he was told:
- Prior to test – Bavli Sanhedrin, Bereshit Rabbah, and Lekach Tov all suggest that not only was Yitzchak aware, but that the entire trial was his initiative.2
- En route – Tanchuma suggests that when Yitzchak noticed the absence of the sheep en route, he suspected the truth and Avraham confirmed his suspicions.3
- On site – Josephus suggests that Yitzchak first found out that he was to be the sacrifice after the altar was built.
Yitzchak's question: "וְאַיֵּה הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה"
"אֱלֹהִים יִרְאֶה לּוֹ הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה בְּנִי"
"וְנָשׁוּבָה אֲלֵיכֶם"
"וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו"
Why was it necessary to bind Yitzchak?
"וַיָּשׇׁב אַבְרָהָם אֶל נְעָרָיו"
"וְהָאֱלֹהִים נִסָּה אֶת אַבְרָהָם"
Motivations
