#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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VERSE: Gn22-02d
RASHIS COVERED: Gn22-02d Gn22-02e Gn22-04a Gn22-04b Gn22-12b
========== THE AKAYDAH was a test of PROPHECY ===================
REFERENCE
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Some of the ideas in this posting first appeared in the email
group Bais Medrash, Volume 2 Number 44 February 12 2001, by
Russell Hendel (Myself) These ideas are furhter developed here
BACKGROUND
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We have seen on numerous occasions that Prophecy and Jewish
law frequently is not done in one clear statement but rather
develops thru a sequence of stages and even contradictions.
The simplest example are the two statements that slaves on
the one hand WORK FOREVER (Ex21-06) while on the other hand
GO FREE IN THE JUBILEE (eg Lv25-34). The simultaneity of these
2 verses necessitates REINTERPRETING the word FOREVER as meaning
JUBILLEE!!!
REFERENCE
---------
We have fully discussed the vehicle of contradictory verses
to present an idea in http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ri-14.htm In
fact this is one of Rabbi Ishmaels style rules.
THE TEXT
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Gn22-02 says MAKE ISAAC AN OLAH (SACRIFICE) while in Gn22-11
it says DONT TOUCH ISAAC. (Thus we have contradictory verses)
THE RASHI
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Rashi looks at the SACRIFICE OF ISAAC as a TEST IN RECEIVING
PROPHECY which requires a dynamic interaction with G-d thru a
series of STAGES with full and correct understanding not
necessarily happening till the end.
THE LIST
--------
The LIST presents five Rashis supporting the thesis that the
sacrifice of Isaac was, not a test in losing Isaac, but rather,
a test in receiving prophecy. In the LIST below we present
the TEXT OF VERSE and how this supports RASHIS PROPHECY THESIS
The footnotes furter clarify
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VERSES TEXT OF VERSE RASHIS PROPHECY THESIS
======== ================================ =======================
Gn22-02d raise him for an OLAH offering*1 Contradicted in Gn22-11
Gn22-02e On a mountain Ill SHOW you*2 Clarified in Gn22-04
Gn22-04a Abe saw mountain on 3rd day*2 Time delay
Gn22-04b Abraham saw mountain*2 Saw thru prophecy
Gn22-12b Now I know you fear God*3 Received contradictions
NOTES
=====
*1 - Gn22-02 says -- RAISE HIM FOR AN OLAH OFFERING
- Gn22-04 says -- DONT TOUCH HIM
The resolution of the contradiction is that Abraham was
only required to bind Isaac but not kill him Thus Abraham
was tested if he could receive prophecy using the method
of contradictory statements
*2 -- Gn22-02e says -- OFFER ISAAC ON MOUNTAIN ILL SHOW YOU
-- Gn22-04a says -- ABRAHAM SAW THE MOUNTAIN ON 3rd DAY
-- Gn22-04b says -- ABE KNEW BY PROPHECY THIS WAS MOUNTAN*10
Although there are no contradictions here nevertheless there
is still the idea of DEVELOPMENT & RESOLUTION (MOUNTAIN
I WILL SHOW YOU...followed by IDENTIFICATION) The idea of
a 3 day delay to see the mountain also shows development
*3 Rashi explicitly identifies ABRAHAMS FEAR OF GOD with
Abrahams willingness to act on contradictory statements
(RAISE ISAAC AS AN OFFERING, DONT TOUCH HIM) and continue
studying the matter till they were resolved. As indicated
this is part of the hallmark of a prophet that they can
simultaneously receive contradictory statements and act
on it till it is resolved
----------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ------------------------------
*10 The verse uses the phrase HE LIFTED HIS EYES & SAW
This phrase (LIFE EYES + SEE) occurs only about 2 dozen
times in all of the BIble (Usually it simply says SEE).
- The phrase seems to mean HE STUDIOUSLY OBSERVED
- In about a 25% of the cases it is connected with actual
PROPHECY Here are the cases where it refers to prophecy
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Gn18-02 And Abraham LIFTED HIS EYES & SAW 3 Angels (Rambam)
Gn22-04 And Abraham LIFTED HIS EYES & SAW mountain (Rashi)
Nu24-02 He LIFTED HIS EYES & SAW the Jews & had a prophecy
Jos5-13 Joshua LIFTED HIS EYES & SAW the angel Michael
1C21-16 David LIFTED HIS EYES & SAW an Angel
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Therefore it is a reasonable interpretation that either
-- Abraham had been told to offer Isaac on a mountain
with a certain sign
-- Abraham was simply told to offer Isaac on a MOUNTAIN
for which he would receive further information.Abraham
then was shown the mountain in a prophetic vision
Rashis actualy language is
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AND ABE SAW THE MOUNTAIN: (Rashi) It had a cloud on it
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In the Bible, CLOUD is a keyword for prophecies that
are enigmatic (e.g. compare Job40-06 or Ez01-04).
In summary the most reasonable interpretation is that
God told Abraham that he should offer Isaac on a
mountain that God would/did prophetically identify.
Even though there is no contradiction here we have the idea
of AMBIGUITY and RESOLUTION which we mentioned earlier.
In a similar way the explicit Biblical statement that
ABRAHAM SAW THE MOUNTAIN ON THE 3rd DAY contradicts
the idea of INSTANTANEOUS prophecy and instead
emphasizes development, and resolution.
Rashis exact language is not as broad as we have taken it
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Why did God wait 3 days to show him the mountain? So
that people should not say that God appeared to him,
caught him off guard and Abraham went and sacrificed
Isaac. Therefore God waited till the 3rd day to show that
Abraham had time to reflect and still wanted to offer.
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The way we have taken it doesnt contradict this. Indeed,
we simply emphasize that prophecy in general intrinsically
requires deliberation and development
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RASHI RULE USED: OVERALL STRUCTURE
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Volume 11 Number 16
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 11 Number 16