#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President             |
  |       http://www.RashiYomi.Com                           |
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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
---------------------------------------------------
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However they frequently contain additional information & lists
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Volume 11 Number 25


#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 11 Number 25