Changes

Another version of the Midrash on this same biblical portion carries on the conversation between Isaac and Ishmael. Ishmael: "I am more beloved than thou since I was circumcised at the age of thirteen, but thou wast circumcised as a baby and couldst not refuse."  Isaac: "All that thou didst lend to the Holy One, blessed be He, was three drops of blood, But lo, I am, now thirty seven years old *, yet if God desired of me that I be slaughtered, I would not refuse!" Said the Holy One, blessed be He, " This is the moment!"

Another version of the Midrash on this same biblical portion carries on the conversation between Isaac and Ishmael. Ishmael: "I am more beloved than thou since I was circumcised at the age of thirteen, but thou wast circumcised as a baby and couldst not refuse."  Isaac: "All that thou didst lend to the Holy One, blessed be He, was three drops of blood, But lo, I am, now thirty seven years old *, yet if God desired of me that I be slaughtered, I would not refuse!" Said the Holy One, blessed be He, " This is the moment!"

But what about [[Abraham]]'s thoughts? Did he come to faith and obedience easily or was there also an inner struggle about which  the Bible is silent? After all Abraham had three days for reflection! God said "TAKE, I PRAY THEE, THY SON.", and the reader knows already for what purpose. Abraham: "Which son?". Here the midrash separates the words of the Biblical words to interject Abrahams thoughts - and his hopes that it would not be Isaac that God would demand. God: "THINE ONLY SON" Abraham: "But each is the only son of his mother!" God:"WHOM THOU LOVEST" Abraham: Is there a limit to the affections! God: "EVEN ISAAC!"

But what about [[Abraham]]'s thoughts? Did he come to faith and obedience easily or was there also an inner struggle about which  the Bible is silent? After all Abraham had three days for reflection! God said "TAKE, I PRAY THEE, THY SON.", and the reader knows already for what purpose. Abraham: "Which son?". Here the midrash separates the words of the Biblical words to interject Abrahams thoughts - and his hopes that it would not be Isaac that God would demand. God: "THINE ONLY SON" Abraham: "But each is the only son of his mother!" God:"WHOM THOU LOVEST" Abraham: "Is there a limit to the affections?!" God: "EVEN ISAAC"

* Sarah was 99 years old at Isaac's birth. and 127 years at her death, which, according to the Rabbis, was caused by shock when she was wrongly informed that Isaac had been sacrificed. \

* Sarah was 99 years old at Isaac's birth. and 127 years at her death, which, according to the Rabbis, was caused by shock when she was wrongly informed that Isaac had been sacrificed. \