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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 22:3-10

We have here Abraham's obedience to this severe command. Being tried, he offered up Isaac, Heb. 11:17. Observe, I. The difficulties which he broke through in this act of obedience. Much might have been objected against it; as, 1. It seemed directly against an antecedent law of God, which forbids murder, under a severe penalty, Gen. 9:5, 6. Now can the unchangeable God contradict himself? He that hates robbery for burnt-offering (Isa. 61:8) cannot delight in murder for it. 2. How would it... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 22:11-14

Hitherto this story has been very melancholy, and seemed to hasten towards a most tragical period; but here the sky suddenly clears up, the sun breaks out, and a bright and pleasant scene opens. The same hand that had wounded and cast down here heals and lifts up; for, though he cause grief, he will have compassion. The angel of the Lord, that is, God himself, the eternal Word, the angel of the covenant, who was to be the great Redeemer and comforter, he interposed, and gave a happy issue to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 22:9

And they came to the place which God had told him of ,.... Mount Moriah. Maimonides F6 Hilchot Beth Habechirah, c. 2. sect. 1. 2. says,"it is a tradition in or by the hands of all, that this is the place where David and Solomon built an altar in the threshing floor of Araunah, the Jebusite, and where Abraham built an altar, and bound Isaac on it; and where Noah built one when he came out of the ark, and is the altar on which Cain and Abel offered; and where the first man offered when... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 22:10

And Abraham stretched forth his hand ,.... All things being ready for execution, the altar built, the wood laid on it, the sacrifice bound and laid on that, nothing remained but to cut the throat of the sacrifice; and in order to that, the instrument for it laying by him, he put forth his hand, one would think in a trembling manner, for it is enough to make one tremble to think of it: and took the knife to slay his son ; with a full intention to do it, which was carrying his obedience to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 22:11

And the Angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven ,.... Not a created angel, but the eternal one, the Son of God, who perhaps appeared in an human form, and spoke with an articulate voice, as be frequently did; for that this was a divine Person is clear from his swearing by himself, and renewing the promise unto Abraham, Genesis 22:16 , and said, Abraham, Abraham ; the repeating his name denotes haste to prevent the slaughter of his son, which was just upon the point of doing,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 22:12

And he said, lay not thine hand upon the lad ,.... Which he was just going to stretch out, with his knife in it, to slay him; and though the Lord had bid him take his son, and offer him for a burnt offering, to try his faith, fear, love, and obedience, yet he meant not that he should actually slay him, but would prevent it when it came to the crisis; for he approves not of, nor delights in human sacrifices; and that this might not be dawn into an example, it was prevented; though the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 22:9

And bound Isaac his son - If the patriarch had not been upheld by the conviction that he was doing the will of God, and had he not felt the most perfect confidence that his son should be restored even from the dead, what agony must his heart have felt at every step of the journey, and through all the circumstances of this extraordinary business? What must his affectionate heart have felt at the questions asked by his innocent and amiable son? What must he have suffered while building the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 22:11

The angel of the Lord - The very person who was represented by this offering; the Lord Jesus, who calls himself Jehovah, Genesis 22:16 , and on his own authority renews the promises of the covenant. He was ever the great Mediator between God and man. See this point proved, Genesis 15:7 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 22:12

Lay not thine hand upon the lad - As Isaac was to be the representative of Jesus Christ's real sacrifice, it was sufficient for this purpose that in his own will, and the will of his father, the purpose of the immolation was complete. Isaac was now fully offered both by his father and by himself. The father yields up the son, the son gives up his life; on both sides, as far as will and purpose could go, the sacrifice was complete. God simply spares the father the torture of putting the knife... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 22:9

Verse 9 9.And they came to the place. Moses purposely passes over many things, which, nevertheless, the reader ought to consider. When he has mentioned the building of the altar, he immediately afterwards adds, that Isaac was bound. But we know that he was then of middle age, so that he might either be more powerful than his father, or, at least, equal to resist him, if they had to contend by force; wherefore, I do not think that force was employed against the youth, as against one struggling... read more

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