User:Θεόφιλε~enwikiversity

Welcome
I am curious about Biblical studies, physics, biology, psychology, technology, literary criticism, gardening, science fiction, the internet, programming, chemistry and history (among other things).

Biblical Text

 * Read Genesis 20:1 - 20
 * As you read note what your reaction is to the events, especially the dynamic between God and Abraham.
 * Try to notice how the author guides your expectations and understanding of the account.

Biblical Commentary

 * Read Hebrews 11:17-19

Related passages

 * Read Jeremiah 32:35 this is ESV see notes below
 * How do these texts affect your understanding of the passage?

Comments on the Text

 * A Wikipedia Summary of various opinions on the Binding of Isaac
 * A discussion from the Jewish perspective by Louis Jacobs, a British rabbi and theologian.

Lesson
Today's reading will be dealt with in four sections. First we'll deal with the general creation of the world, then we'll focus on the creation of Man, the Garden of Eden, and finally the creation of Woman. At the end of each section, there will be some notable verses from the passage, which are worth thinking about. The debate between Creation and Evolution is beyond the scope of this study; however a guide to the various arguments has been created. If you're interested in the debate, check out the guide.

Sacrifice :: Binding of Isaac
Abraham is given ONE clue that this request is MEANT to be staggering and incomprensible--the presence of the na' particle in the command.
 * narrator says this is a test
 * The use of the נא particle. Glenn M. Miller answers a question about God and sacrifice from section # 8

This particle is normally translated "please" but is NOT translated in the NIV of this verse. I will cite the verse translated by Hamilton (NICOT), so we can see where it fits:

Then He said: "Take, please, your son, your precious one who you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, where you shall offer him up as a burnt offering on one of the peaks I will identify for you"

Na; occurs often in the OT, but only 4 times by God when addressing a human. In each case, God makes a STAGGERING request of the human--and three of these are to Abraham!

* In Gen 13.14, a childless Abraham has just given the best of the land to his closest relative, Lot, who deserts him. God tells Abraham to look around as far as he can see--and that God will STILL give him ALL the land. The command to see and believe is accompanied by na'.

* In Gen 15.5, God instructs a childless, discouraged, and aging Abe to believe His promise of countless descendants!

* (here) In Gen 22.2, God instructs a old Abe to kill the miraculously-birthed son, through whom all the promises of descendants and land are to come!

* (later) In Exodus 11.2, the slave Israelites are ordered to ask their Egyptian captors for free jewelry!