#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
-----------------------------------------------------------
| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
| PERMISSION to reprint WITH this header if NOT for profit |
------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE: Gn22-05b
RASHIS COVERED: Gn22-02d Gn22-02e Gn22-04a Gn22-04b Gn22-12b
Gn22-05b Gn22-06b Gn22-08a Gn22-12a Gn22-13a
Gn22-14a Gn22-14b
========== THE AKAYDAH was a test of PROPHECY ===================
REFERENCES
----------
The ideas in this posting had origins in the following postings
* Bais Medrash, Volume 2 Number 44 (2-12-2001) www.Torah.Org
* Rashi is Simple Volume 11 Number 17 -
http://www.RashiYomi.come/gn22-02d.htm
BACKGROUND
----------
A prophecy and/or Jewish law is frequently not done thru
one statement; rather Prophecy develops thru a sequence of
stages; sometimes prophecy develops thru contradictions.
For example we are told that slaves on the one hand WORK
FOREVER(Ex21-06) while on the other hand we are told that
THEY GO FREE IN THE JUBILEE (Lv25-34). The simulaneity of
these two contradictory verses necessitates REINTERPRETING the
word FOREVER as meaning TILL THE JUBILEE. Thus in this instance
the MEANING of the law was developed thru CONTRADICTORY VERSES.
REFERENCE
---------
A full list of laws derived thru contradictions may be found at
* http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ri-14.htm
In fact this is one of Rabbi Ishmaels style rules.
THE TEXT
--------
Gn22-02 says MAKE ISAAC AN OLAH (SACRIFICE) while in Gn22-12
it says DONT TOUCH ISAAC. (Thus we have contradictory verses)
THE RASHI
---------
Rashi looks at the SACRIFICE OF ISAAC as a TEST IN RECEIVING
PROPHECY. Indeed
* Abraham knew that thru Isaac he would have many children
* Abraham was also told to OFFER ISAAC
Thus Abraham was tested on his ability to receive prophecy
thru contradictory statements. Prophecy requires a
dynamic interaction with G-d thru a series of STAGES with
full and correct understanding not necessarily happening
till the end.
In short I am suggesting that Rashi posits that the test
of the Akaydah was a test in Advanced prophecy -- could
Abraham sustain a relationship with God during the resolution
of contradictory statements. (On a deeper level the purpose
of the Akaydah was not to kill Isaac but rather to
symbolically affirm a value indicated below)
THE LIST
--------
The list below presents 4 groups of verses
* The first group shows contradictions: Isaac would be offered
but Isaac would return.
* The 2nd group shows that prophecy takes place over time.
First God tells Abraham to take Isaac to a mountain and only
later does God tell Abraham which mountain.
* The 3rd group of verses shows that the essence of prophecy
and holiness is this abiblity to receive contradictory
verses and resolve and develop a theme over time. Therefore
the temple was built on the place of the Akaydah since the
purpose of the temple is renewal of prophecy.
* The 4th group of verses shows what I believe to be the true
meaning of the Akaydah: Both Abraham and Isaac were promised
LEADERSHIP. Some leaders have interpreted their God-given
leadership as a right to steer others in the leaders path--
in effect to sacrifice other peoples interests for the group.
Isaac in fact asks: WHERE IS THE LAMB (that is: IF we dont
steer people then everyone will be a leader and there will
be no followers). Abraham answers: GOD WILL SHOW THE LAMB:
(that is: Every ram gets caught in the thickets of life
and seeks leadership to help themselves out)
Thus the Akaydah is a symbolic affirmation that leaders
should wait for requests of help from followers(let GOD
SHOW THE LEADER THE RAM); leaders should not try and
steer followers in their path (DONT SLAUGHTER AND DONT
DO ANYTHING TO THE LAD)
=================================================================
VERSES TEXT OF VERSE RASHIS PROPHECY THESIS
======== ================================ =======================
Gn22-02d raise him for an OLAH offering*1 Contradicted in Gn22-12
Gn22-12a Dont slaughter;dont do anything Contradicts Gn22-02
Gn22-05b wait till I AND ISAAC return*4 Implies BOTH return
Gn22-06b They walked TOGETHER*4 Both would win at end
-------- -------------------------------- -----------------------
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
-------- -------------------------------- -----------------------
Gn22-14a GOD WILL SEE the temple here*3 Prophecy=Temple purpose
Gn22-14b May God reveal Himself*3 Prophecy=Temple purpose
Gn22-12b Now I know you fear God*3 Prophecy development
-------- -------------------------------- -----------------------
Gn22-08a God will show the lamb*5 We dont provide lambs
Gn22-13a Abraham found a Ram to offer*5 God provides lambs
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 it was 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 It is also the reason the temple
was built on Mount Moriah since the purpose of the temple
and sacrifices is to renew prophecy.
*4 As indicated in the introduction both Abraham and Isaac
knew that Isaac would not die. They knew they would both
return. They did not yet know the resolution of the
contradictions and anxiously awaited Gods guidance.
*5 As indicated in the introduction the Akaydah symbolically
affirmed that
-- leaders (Abraham Isaac) should wait for GOD TO SHOW
THEM THE LAMB (The followers)
-- Leaders (Abraham Isaac) should NOT SLAUGHTER OR DO
ANYTHING to followers (Leaders should not steer
followers UNTIL the follower requests it)
----------------- 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
-----------------------------------------------------------
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
-----------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------
AND ABE SAW THE MOUNTAIN: (Rashi) It had a cloud on it
-------------------------------------------------------
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
---------------------------------------------------------
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.
----------------------------------------------------------
The way we have taken it doesnt contradict this. Indeed,
we simply emphasize that prophecy in general intrinsically
requires deliberation and development
================================================================
RASHI RULE USED: OVERALL STRUCTURE
---------------------------------------------------
WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
The hyperlinks only work on the main website
Volume 11 Number 25
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 11 Number 25