|
| |
Genesis
22:1-18
You can
sponsor this page
of The Text This Week
 | Reading the Text:
 |
NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
|
|
The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc. |
| The Blue
Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance,
commentaries. |
| The World
Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons. |
| Bereshit
22: Massoretic, Hebrew, Aramaic, JPS. |
|
| Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
|
Navigating the Bible: Text/Rabbinic commentary
and Divrei Torah. |
| "The Victor,"
Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit. |
|
Chapter XXXI
of
The First Epistle to the Corinthians,
Clement of Rome (ca.
96). |
|
IV.V.4, Adversus
Haereses,
Irenaeus of Lyons.
(c. 180) |
|
Chapter I,
Chapter X,
Chapter XIII,
Adversus Judaeos,
Tertullian (c.
198) |
|
Chapter
VIII, On Prayer,
Tertullian
(c. 199) |
|
II.5,
V.11, Stromata,
Clement of Alexandria (c 200) |
|
V.20, Against
Marcion,
Tertullian
(c. 212) |
|
Chapter
XIV, Against Praxeas,
Tertullian
(c. 213) |
|
III.II.1, First
Principles (De Principiis),
Origen.
(c.225) |
|
Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org. |
| From
Calvin's
Commentary on Genesis.
 | "At the same time, also, we may observe, that God tempts his servants, not
only when he subdues the affections of the flesh, but when he reduces all their senses to
nothing, that he may lead them to a complete renunciation of themselves." |
|
| From the Geneva Notes.
| "This was the main point of his temptation, seeing that he was commanded to
offer up him in whom God had promised to bless all the nations of the
world." |
|
| From
Matthew Henry's
Commentary.
| "God proved Abraham, not to draw him to sin, as Satan
tempts." |
|
| Abraham's Offering Up
His Son Isaac: sermon by George Whitefield.
| "From what has been said, to sit loose to all your worldly comforts; and
stand ready prepared to part with everything, when God shall require it at your
hand." |
|
| From
Wesley's
Notes.
| "The best evidence of our fearing
God is our being willing to honour him with that which is dearest to us, and to part with
all to him, or for him." |
|
|
"Fear and
Trembling," Soren Kierkegaard ("Johannes de Silentio"), 1843. |
| From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "The sacrifice was virtually offered--the intention, the purpose to do it,
was shown in all sincerity and fulness. The Omniscient witness likewise declared His
acceptance in the highest terms of approval; and the apostle speaks of it as actually
made." |
|
|
| Contemporary References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
|
Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
Sermon Brainwave Podcast. "Join Profs. Karoline Lewis, David Lose
and Matthew Skinner for a conversation around the difficult passage of
Genesis 22:1-14." Luther Seminary's WorkingPreacher.org. |
|
The Old Testament Readings:
Genesis 22:1-14. Weekly Comments on the Revised Common
Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church,
Melbourne, Australia.
| "God
calls Abraham into a place where his faith in the promise and the
God who promises is severely tested. Abraham experiences the depths
of to which faithfulness and righteousness can be pushed. He is
opened up to the suffering that can go with the struggle of faith." |
|
|
"Preaching Stories of Family Origins: Readings from the Book of
Genesis," lectionary reflections for June, Rev. Dr. Ronald J. Allen,
The Living Pulpit, 2008. |
|
Parashat Va-yera, Rabbi David Ackerman, Jewish Theological Seminary
Commentary, 2008.
| "We, like Abraham, don't always know where we're
headed. And like Abraham, we walk in order to learn, in Aviva
Zornberg's rich words, 'what it means not (yet) to be shown, to be
told.'" |
|
|
"When God
Tested Abraham,"
The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus
Foundation.
| "Abraham
had to act as a solitary individual, with no guarantees or clarity,
knowing that he might be horribly wrong and deeply deceived by himself or
others, knowing that his actions would merit the opprobrium of his family
and community, knowing that his act would be irreversible, and contrary to
everyday standards of ethics and rationality. In his radical obedience,
Abraham "worked out his salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians
2:12–13), with palpable dread and humility, before a God who asks
everything, absolutely everything, of us." |
|
|
Genesis 22:1-14, Pentecost 6, Commentary, Background, Insights from
Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna
Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in Australia.
| "When this narrative was read in the
exilic community (587 BCE) it would stress two things to the exiles. The
first was the need for obedience, which had been seen as the reason for
their present situation, and the second that God kept his promises." |
|
|
"Abraham and Isaac," Old Testament
Analysis, Sermons from
Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington. Detailed background and exegesis. |
|
"A
Father Sacrifices His Son, A God Tests His Disciple,"
The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey
with Jesus Foundation, 2008.
|
"Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac is one of those passages in Scripture
that will always remain opaque; I doubt that any interpretation will
fully satisfy us." |
|
|
"Esther Ticktin's Drush on the Akedah," Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The
Shalom Center.
| "What happens when we turn our children into our
idols?" |
|
|
"Close Call," Melinda Bresee Hinners, The Christian Century,
2002.
| "I believe the Abraham-Isaac
scripture comes to us not only to demonstrate how very arduous it is
to have true, abiding faith in God, but also to paint for us the
magnificence of the Creator’s grace in our
lives." |
|
|
"Command to Sacrifice Isaac,"
"The Will of God," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com:
A Lectionary Resource for Catholics. |
|
"'Now I know,' An Exposition of Genesis 22:1-19 and Matthew 26:36-46,"
James L Mays, Theology Today, 2002.
| "Twice in the biblical story, the purpose of God for
the world depends decisively on the obedience of faith. When Abraham binds
Isaac on Moriah's mountain and when Jesus prays, "Not my will, but yours"
in Gethsemane's garden, something crucial happens for the course of God's
way with the rest of us." |
|
|
"God, Abraham, and the Abuse of Isaac," Terence E. Fretheim, Word
& World, 1995.
| "Psychologist Alice Miller claims that Genesis 22
may have contributed to an atmosphere that makes it possible to
justify the abuse of children..." |
|
|
Abraham and Isaac, James Arne Nestingen, The Lenten First Lessons, Word
& World Texts in Context, Luther Seminary, 1985.
| "It is the desolate cry of Good Friday and the
declaration of an Easter that brings Good Friday to an end without denying
or destroying the reality of it." |
|
|
"A Great
Partner for a Great Endeavor," Torah Commentary by Wendy Amsellem.
BeliefNet.
| "Along the way, Abraham learns that no one person has a
monopoly on God's covenant, and that great endeavors require great
partners." |
|
|
"On a Wild and Windy Mountain," William
Willimon, The Christian Century, 1983. At
Religion Online.
| "How odd that we who make our homes and
plant our gardens under the shadow of the mushroom cloud, who regularly
discard our innocents in sacrifices to far lesser gods than Yahweh, should
look condescendingly upon Abraham." |
|
| "The
Sacrifice of Isaac," a discussion between Robert Alter, Father
Alexander A. DiLella O.F.M., and Kenneth A. Mathews at Genesis
Reconsidered by Time.com. |
| "Isaac:
A Reflection on Genesis 22" by William R.G. Loader, Murdoch University,
Australia.
| "Abraham raised his arm. In a moment when he saw nothing and heard nothing
and saw everything and heard everything his hand fell, plunging the sharp knife into the
flesh of his son. Isaac screamed. Abraham, overwhelmed by a sane madness plunged again and
again and again, in frenzied obedience, in blind faith, in passion borne of
distraction." |
|
| "The
Binding of Isaac," W. Dow Edgerton,
Chicago Theological Seminary. Theology Today, 1987.
| "The isolation and
immobilization of the reader, first established in the paralyzing
beginning of the story, are confirmed. We have indeed been outside
looking in; we have been positioned, not to participate, but to
witness. We have been positioned, not where we may understand, but
where we may see. The story gives, not its meaning, but
itself." |
|
| "Confronting
the Character of God: Text and Praxis," by Dr. David R. Blumenthal, Professor of
Judaic Studies, Emory University.
| "One day, in the discussion, a
psychiatrist asked, 'Rabbi, are you trying to tell us God is an Abuser? If so, it will be
easier on you, and on us, if you just say it outright.' So, I did." |
|
| "Final
Exams" from the Biblical Studies
Foundation.
| "Many parents, like Abraham, view
their future as wrapped up in their children. They wish to manipulate their lives so as to
live out their hopes and dreams in them. We must give our children to the Lord and submit
them, as ourselves, to His keeping and care." |
|
|
Parshah Vayeira, text, commentary & articles from Chassidic Masters,
sermons, etc from Chabad Lubavitch. |
|
Parshas
Vayera from The Project Genesis Torah Study. Index to numerous articles and
studies on Genesis 18:1-22:24. |
| Articles from the Jewish Community of Atlanta's The Torah
From Dixie, Parshat Vayeira. |
| "Sacrifice
of Isaac," Rabbi Herczeg, author of new Artscroll translation of Rashi's
commentary to the Pentateuch.
| "According
to tradition, the Binding of Isaac was the tenth and last of Abraham's trials.
Self-sacrifice was the theme of a number of these trials." |
|
| "Commentary
on Genesis 22:1-14: Fifth Sunday After Pentecost (Year A)," by
Dennis Bratcher at the Christian Resource Institute.
| "The temptation in
preaching this story will be to dwell on the emotional aspects of the
passage and neglect the deeper questions that the story itself raises." |
|
| "Abraham
and Isaac: The Test," Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, Project Genesis.
| "Theonomy means: G-d decides. He is the sole legitimate determiner of man's
decisions. If man acts upon G-d's command, this is right. If man acts because of some
force inside him- his conscience, for example- this is wrong." |
|
|
| Articles & Background:
|
Binding of Isaac,
Wikipedia. |
| "The
sacrifice of Isaac in Qumran literature," Joseph A. Fitzmyer, Biblica
2002.
| "Gen 22,1-19 the account of Abraham’s
willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac, is discussed first in its Hebrew
and Old Greek form; then as it was developed in the Book of Jubilees
17,15–18,16, and especially in the form of Pseudo-Jubilees, as it is
preserved in 4Q225 2 i and ii (4QPs-Juba 2 i 7-14, 2 ii 1-14), in order to
ascertain how much of the development of the account can be traced to
pre-Christian Palestinian Jewish tradition prior to the New Testament." |
|
|
"Blood and Stone: Violence in the Bible & the Eye of the Illustrator,"
Barry Moser, CrossCurrents, Summer 2001.
| "...always, cohort and companion in
these mythic or sacred stories, there is the preponderance, the vehemence,
of violence." |
|
|
"Notes on God's Violence, for Mara Benjamin," Catherine Madsen,
CrossCurrents, Summer 2001.
| "What if the alternation in God's
character between tender care and ferocious brutality, between limitless
creation and wholesale wreckage, occurs not because the writers of the
Hebrew Bible admired brutality or wreckage, but because they could not
escape them?" |
|
| Tears
from Jewish Heritage OnLine Magazine. See esp "When Angels Weep"
midrash on angelic interference in the binding of Isaac.
| "The tears of the angels fell upon the knife, so that it could not cut
Isaac's throat, but from terror his soul escaped from him." |
|
| "The
Test," program highlights, discussion & reflection questions and more from
the Bill Moyers PBS series Genesis: A
Living Conversation.
| "'There is no such thing as
the theological suspension of the ethical.' -- Franciso Garcia-Treto." |
|
|
| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
| Alexander, T. Desmond, "Genesis 22
and the Covenant of Circumcision," Journal for the Study of the Old
Testament, 1983.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Balserak, Jon, "Luther, Calvin and
Musculus on Abraham's Trial: Exegetical History and the Transformation
of Genesis 22," Reformation and Renaissance Review, 2004.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Bergen, Robert D., "The Role of
Genesis 22:1-19 in the ABraham Cycle: A Computer-Assisted Textual
Interpretation," Criswell Theological Review, 1990.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Boehm, Omri,
"The Binding of Isaac: An Inner-Biblical Polemic on the Question of
'Disobeying' a Manifestly Illegal Order," Vetus Testamentum,
2002.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Boehm, Omri, "Child Sacrifice, Ethical Responsibility
and the Existence of the People of Israel," Vetus Testamentum,
2004.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Charny, Israel W., "And Abraham Went
to Slay Issac: A Parable of Killer, Victim, and Bystander in the Family
of Man," Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 1973.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Chisholm, Robert B., Jr., "Anatomy of
an Anthropomorphism: Does God Discover Facts?" Bibliotheca Sacra,
2007.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Coats, George W., "Abraham's
Sacrifice of Faith: A Form-Critical Study of Genesis 22,"
Interpretation, 1973.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Collins, John J.,
"The Zeal of Phinehas: The Bible and the Legitimation of Violence,"
Journal of Biblical Literature, 2003.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Daly, Robert J., S.J., "The
Soteriological Significance of the Sacrifice of Isaac," The Catholic
Biblical Quarterly, 1977.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Davies, P.R., and B.D. Chilton, "The
Aqedah: A Revised Tradition History," Catholic Biblical Quarterly,
1978.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Edgerton, W. Dow, "The Binding of
Isaac," Theology Today, 1987.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Feinhor, Stuart, "Post-Mortem: Three
Voices on the Binding of Isaac," Cross Currents, 1996.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Fisk, Bruce N.,
"Offering Isaac Again and Again: Pseudo-Philo's Ue of the Aqedah as
Intertext," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2000.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Fretheim, Terence D., "God, Abraham,
and the Abuse of Isaac," Word & World, 1995.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Green, Ronald M., "Abraham, Isaac,
and the Jewish Tradition: An Ethical Reappraisal," Journal of
Religious Ethics, 1982.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Hayward, C.T.R., "The Sacrifice of
Isaac and Jewish Polemic against Christianity," The Catholic Biblical
Quarterly, 1990.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Hinners, Melinda Bresee, "Close
Call," The Christian Century, 2002.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Kaminsky, Joel S.,
"Humor and the Theology of Hope: Isaac as a Humorous Figure,"
Interpretation, 2000.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Kunin, Seth Daniel, "The Death of
Isaac: Structuralist Analysis of Genesis 22," Journal of the Study of
the Old Testament, 1994.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Madsen, Catherine, "Notes on God's
Violence," Cross Currents, 2001.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Mays, James L., "'Now I Know,' An
Exposition of Genesis 22:1-19 and Matthew 26:36-46," Theology Today,
2002.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| McClendon, James William, Jr., "Three
Strands of Christian Ethics," JOurnal of Religious Ethics, 1978.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Moberly, R.W.L., "The Earliest
Commentary on the Akedah," Vetus Testamentum, 1988.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Moltz, Howard,
"God and Abraham in the Binding of Isaac," Journal for the Study of
the Old Testament, 2001.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Moser, Barry, "Blood & Stone:
Violence in the Bible & the Eye of the Illustrator," Cross Currents,
2001.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Nestingen, James Arne, "The Lenten
First Lessons," Word & World, 1985. (Section on this text begins
on page 91.)
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Novick, Tzvi, "Biblicized Narrative:
On Tobit and Genesis 22," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2007.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Polan, Gregory J., "Preaching at the Easter Vigil:
The Paschal Mystery in the Old Testament Texts," Liturgical
Ministry, 2004. (Section on this text begins on page 154.)
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Pope, Marvin H., "Enigmatic Bible Passages: The
Timing of the Snagging of the Ram, Genesis 22:13," Biblical
Archaeologist, 1986.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Schmid, Konrad, "Abraham's Sacrifice: Gerhard von
Rad's Interpretation of Genesis 22," Interpretation, 2008.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Sherwood, Yvonne, "Binding-Unbinding: Divided
Responses of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to the 'Sacrifice' of
Abraham's Beloved Son," Journal of the American Academy of Religion,
2004.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Tiessen, Terrance, "Does Yahweh Take
Risks?" Didaskalia, 2007.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Wilfong, Marsha M., "Genesis 22:1-18, Expository
Article," Interpretation, 1991.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Wilken, Robert L., "Melito, the
Jewish Community at Sardis, and the Sacrifice of Isaac," Theological
Studies, 1976.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Willimon, William, "On a Wild and
Windy Mountain," The Christian Century, 1983.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Yang, Andrew S., "Abraham and Isaac, Child Abuse and
Martin Luther," Lutheran Quarterly, 2005.
Image Browse -
PDF |
|
| Reviews:
|
Review: Georg Steins, Die "Bindung Isaaks” im Kanon (Gen 22): Grundlagen
und Programm einer kanonisch-intertextuellen Lektuere. (Review is in
English) Herder, 1999. Reviewed by James L. Crenshaw in SBL's Review of
Biblical Literature. |
|
Review: Lothar Ruppert, Genesis, ein kritischer und theologischer
Kommentar: 11,27 - 25, 18. Echter Verlag, 2002. Reviewed by David L.
Petersen in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature. (Review is in
English.) |
|
Review:
Edward Kessler, Bound by the Bible: Jews,
Christians and the Sacrifice of Isaac. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Review by Isaac Kalimi in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature. |
|
Review:
Tammi J. Schneider, Sarah: Mother of Nations. Continuum, 2004. Review
by Carol Dempsey, Review of Biblical Literature, 2005. |
|
Review:
Karin Finsterbusch, Armin Lange and K.F. Diethard Römheld, eds.,
Human Sacrifice in Jewish and Christian Tradition. Brill, 2007.
Review by Jason Tatlock, Review of Biblical Literature, 2008. |
|
| Sermons:
|
| With Children:
|
"Abraham -
Father of Many Nations,"
"Isaac," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons),
coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts. |
|
"Who Do You
Trust?" Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com. |
|
"Offering Our
Isaac," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com. |
|
"The
Sacrifice," Linda Edwards, The Children's Chapel. |
|
"Abraham Offers
Isaac," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise
Christian Center. |
|
"Word Search on Genesis 22,"
Don Crownover's
Bible Puzzles. |
|
| Drama:
|
| Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
|
Clip Art: Abraham
Sacrifices Isaac, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission
Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. |
|
Where's the
Beef,
Sonny beach,
Abraham-style
bulk, Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net. Check for printing
permissions at right-hand side of destination page. |
|
Clip Art, Anglican Diocese of Dunedin, New Zealand. |
|
| Hymns and Music:
| Hymns, midi files, scores at Blue Letter Bible/Cyber
Hymnal:
|
|
| Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's
Art Index:
|
| Movies scenes with the following themes,
listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
|
| Literature and Literary References:
|
| Study links and resou | |
