Genesis 22:3-13

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 22:3

And Abraham rose up early in the morning ,.... For it seems it was in a dream or vision of the night that the above orders were given; and as soon as it was morning he rose and prepared to execute them with all readiness, and without any hesitation and delay: and saddled his ass ; for his journey, not to carry the wood and provision on, which probably were carried by his servants, but to ride on; and this Jarchi thinks he did himself, and the words in their precise sense suggest this;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 22:4

Then on the third day ,.... After he had received the command from God, and from his setting out on his journey; for he had now travelled two days, Mount Moriah being forty miles from Beersheba, where Abraham dwelt F19 Bunting's Travels, p. 57. ; or, as others compute it, forty: Hebron F20 Reland. Palestina illustrata, tom. 2. p. 620. was twenty miles from Beersheba, and Jerusalem twenty two from Hebron; and to travel twenty miles a day on foot, as Isaac and the servants seem to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 22:5

And Abraham said unto the young men, abide you here with the ass ,.... At the place from whence he had his first sight of Mount Moriah: he chose not to take his two servants with him, lest when they saw him binding his son, and going about to sacrifice him, they should lay hold upon him, and restrain him from doing it; and to prevent this he takes this precaution, which shows how fully intent he was to yield obedience to the divine precept: and I and the lad will go yonder and worship ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 22:6

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering ,.... Which Josephus F1 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 13. sect. 2. says was laid upon the ass, and carried by that; and if so, he took it from thence: but it is probable it was carried by his two servants, since it was not more than Isaac himself afterwards carried, as in the next clause: and laid it upon Isaac his son : who was a grown man, and able to carry it: in this also he was a type of Christ, on whom the wood of his cross was laid, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 22:7

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father ,.... As they were walking together: and said, my father ; a cutting word to Abraham, who knew what he was going to do with him, so contrary to the relation and affection of a parent: and he said, here am I, my son ; what hast thou to say to me? I am ready to answer thee; he owns the relation he stood in unto him, a sense of which he had not put off, and curbs his affections, which must be inwardly moving towards him, and showed great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 22:8

And Abraham said, my son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering ,.... In which answer Abraham may have respect to the Messiah, the Lamb of God, John 1:29 , whom he had provided in council and covenant before the world was; and who in promise, and type, and figure, was slain from the foundation of the world, Revelation 13:8 ; and whom in due time God would send into the world, John 10:36 , and make him an offering for sin, Isaiah 53:10 , and accept of him in the room... 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

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