Genesis Rabbah on the Binding of Isaac

55:2. The Lord tries the righteous, [but His soul despises the wicked and the lover of violence] (Psalm 11:5). R. Jonathan taught: The potter does not test defective vessels, for he hardly has to give them a single blow, and he breaks them. So what does he test? The [strong] vessels, for even if he strikes them they will not break. So too the Holy One does not test the wicked; rather, [He tests] the righteous—The Lord tries the righteous. R. Yosi ben Ḥaninah said: When the flax-maker knows that his flax is of good quality, as long as he beats it, he continues to improve and thicken [it]. But when his flax is of poor quality, he need hardly strike it once because it would split. So too the Holy One does not try the wicked, but rather [only] the righteous, as it says: The Lord tries the righteous. R. Eleazar taught: When a man has two cows, one with great strength and the other lame, on which will he put his yoke? On the strong one. So too the Holy One tests only the righteous—The Lord tries the righteous. Another interpretation: The Lord tries the righteous, this refers to Abraham: And the Lord tested Abraham (Genesis 22:1). [ . . . ]

4. And it was after these things,¹ [and God tested Abraham . . .] (Genesis 22:1). [ . . . ] Isaac and Ishmael were having a dispute with one another. This one was arguing, “I am more beloved than you because I was circumcised at thirteen years of age.” And this one argued, “I am more beloved than you because I was circumcised at the age of eight days.” Ishmael said to him, “I am more beloved than you because I could have protested [my circumcision], but I did not protest.” At that very moment, Isaac said, “Would that the Holy One would appear to me and instruct me to sever one of my limbs. I would not hesitate.” The Holy One said to him, “On condition that you sacrifice yourself and do not hesitate.” Immediately, And God tested Abraham. [ . . . ]

7. And He [God] said, “Take your son, [your only son, whom you love, Isaac . . .] (Genesis 22:2). He [God] said to him [Abraham], “Take please—I beg you—your son.”

Your son—He [Abraham] said to Him [God], “Which son?”

He [God] said to him [Abraham], “Your only [son].”

He [Abraham] said to Him, “This one is an only son to his own mother, and that one is an only son to his own mother.”

He [God] said to him, “[The son] whom you love.”

[Abraham] said to Him, “Are there limits to one’s feeling?”

[God] said to him, “[Take] Isaac.”

And why did He [God] not reveal [the matter] to him immediately? In order to make [Isaac] beloved in his [Abraham’s] eyes and to grant [Abraham] a reward for each successive statement. [ . . . ]

56:4. Isaac spoke to Abraham [his father, and said, “Father” . . .] (Genesis 22:7). Samael came toward our father Abraham. He said to him, “Old man, have you lost your mind? Are you about to slaughter the son who was granted to you at one hundred years of age?” [Abraham] said to him, “Even so.” He [Samael] said to him, “And if He [God] were to test you more [severely] than this, would you be able to endure it?” If he puts you to the test, will you become weary? (Job 4:2). He [Abraham] said to him, “And even more [shall I endure].” He [Samael] said to him, “Tomorrow, He [God] will say to you, ‘You are a murderer. And you are liable!’” He [Abraham] said to him, “Even so.” When he [Samael] realized he was having no effect on him [Abraham], he approached Isaac. He [Samael] said to him, “Son of an unfortunate mother, he is going to slaughter you.” He [Isaac] said to him, “Even so.” He [Samael] said to him, “If so, will all those fine tunics which your mother made become the inheritance of Ishmael, the most despised of her house? But as for you, you fail to take this seriously?” If a word [or argument] is not wholly effective, it may be partly effective, as it is written: Isaac spoke to Abraham, [his father, and said, “Father . . . ”] (Genesis 22:7). Why [does the Torah repeat] his father, [and said,] “father . . . ”? In order that he [Abraham] would be filled with mercy on him. And he [Isaac] said, “Here is the fire and the wood, [but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”] (Genesis 22:7). He [Abraham] said to him, “Beware of that man [Samael, of whom it is said God] shall rebuke [him]. In any case: God will see to the sheep, my son. [ . . . ] And if He does not, the lamb for a burnt offering [is you], my son (Genesis 22:8). And the two of them walked together (ibid.), one to slaughter, and the other to be slaughtered. [ . . . ]

10. And Abraham called the name of that place Adonai-yir’eh [the Lord sees] (Genesis 22:14). R. Bibbi Rabbah said in R. Yoḥanan’s name: He [Abraham] said before Him, “Master of the universe, when you said to me, Please take your son, your only son (Genesis 22:2), I could have responded [that] yesterday You said, ‘For it is through Isaac that your seed shall be called [i.e., your descendants will be through Isaac]’ (Genesis 21:12). [And] now You tell me, Please take [your son] (Genesis 22:2). But Heaven forbid! I did not do this. Instead, I conquered my compassion [for Isaac] in order to do Your will. [Therefore,] may it be Your will, Lord our God, that when the children of Isaac fall into suffering You will remember for them this very binding [of Isaac], and You will be filled with compassion for them.” [ . . . ]

11. And the angel of the Lord called [to Abraham a second time from the heavens and said], “By myself, I swear [ . . . ]” (Genesis 22:15–16). Why was this oath necessary? He [Abraham] said to Him, “Swear to me that you will not test me or my son Isaac [ever again].” Another interpretation: Why was this oath necessary? R. Levi in the name of R. Ḥama the son of R. Ḥanina: He [Abraham] said to Him, “Swear that you will never test me again from now on.” This may be compared to a king who was married to a noblewoman. She gave birth to her first son from him, and he divorced her. A second [son], and he divorced her. A third [son], and he divorced her [again]. When she had given birth to a tenth son from him, everyone [all the sons] gathered together and said to him [the king], “Swear to us, from now on, that you will stop divorcing our mother!” Similarly, when our father Abraham had been tested for a tenth time, he said to Him [God], “Swear to me that you will not test me further.”

R. Ḥanan said: Because you have done this thing (Genesis 22:16), the tenth test. But You say, this [implying: one] thing?! Rather, this was the final test, which was equivalent to all the others. If he had not accepted the final test upon himself, he would have lost everything he had accomplished.