The Offering of Isaac
The test is named at once: God calls Abraham and commands him to take Isaac, his loved and only son, to Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering.
S1ome time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” 2“Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
Abraham rises early, prepares for the journey, and travels for three days until the mountain comes into view. He tells his servants that he and the boy will go on to worship and then return.
3So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated. 4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5“Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told his servants. “The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you.”
Abraham lays the wood on Isaac and carries the fire and knife himself as the two walk on together. When Isaac asks about the lamb, Abraham answers that God Himself will provide it.
6Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together. 7Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” 8Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.
At the place God has shown, Abraham builds the altar, arranges the wood, binds Isaac, and lays him on it. Then he reaches for the knife to complete the offering.
9When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.