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[1]At that time the word of YHWH came to Avraham, and he said unto him, Avraham, and he said, Here I am.
[2]And he said to him, Take now your son, your only son whom you love, even Yitz'chak, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which shall be shown to you, for there will you see a cloud and the glory of YHWH.
[3]And Avraham said in his heart, How shall I separate my son Yitz'chak from Sarah his mother, in order to bring him up for a burnt offering before YHWH?
[4]And Avraham came into the tent, and he sat before Sarah his wife, and he spoke these words to her,
[5]My son Yitz'chak is grown up and he has not for some time studied the service of his Elohim, now tomorrow I will go and bring him to Shem, and Ever his son, and there he will learn the ways of YHWH, for they will teach him to know YHWH as well as to know that when he prays continually before YHWH, he will answer him, therefore there he will know the way of serving YHWH his Elohim.
[6]And Sarah said, you have spoken well, go my lord and do unto him as you have said, but remove him not at a great distance from me, neither let him remain there too long, for my soul is bound within his soul.
[7]And Avraham said unto Sarah, My daughter, let us pray to YHWH our Elohim that he may do good with us.
[8]And Sarah took her son Yitz'chak and he abode all that night with her, and she kissed and embraced him, and gave him instructions till morning.
[9]And she said to him, O my son, how can my soul separate itself from you? And she still kissed him and embraced him, and she gave Avraham instructions concerning him.
[10]And Sarah said to Avraham, O my lord, I pray you take heed of your son, and place your eyes over him, for I have no other son nor daughter but him.
[11]O forsake him not. If he be hungry give him bread, and if he be thirsty give him water to drink; do not let him go on foot, neither let him sit in the sun.
[12]Neither let him go by himself in the road, neither force him from whatever he may desire, but do unto him all that he may say to you.
[13]And Sarah wept bitterly the whole night on account of Yitz'chak, and she gave him instructions till morning.
[14]And in the morning Sarah selected a very fine and beautiful garment from those garments which she had in the house, that Avimelech had given to her.
[15]And she dressed Yitz'chak her son therewith, and she put a turban upon his head, and she enclosed a precious stone in the top of the turban, and she gave them provision for the way, and they went forth, and Yitz'chak went with his father Avraham, and some of their servants accompanied them to see them off the way.
[16]And Sarah went out with them, and she accompanied them upon the way to see them off, and they said to her, Return to the tent.
[17]And when Sarah heard the words of her son Yitz'chak she wept bitterly, and Avraham her husband wept with her, and their son wept with them a great weeping; also those who went with them wept greatly.
[18]And Sarah caught hold of her son Yitz'chak, and she held him in her arms, and she embraced him and continued to weep with him, and Sarah said, Who knows if after this day I shall ever see you again?
[19]And they still wept together, Avraham, Sarah and Yitz'chak, and all those that accompanied them on the way wept with them, and Sarah afterward turned away from her son, weeping bitterly, and all her men servants and maid servants returned with her to the tent.
[20]And Avraham went with Yitz'chak his son to bring him up as an offering before YHWH, as He had commanded him.
[21]And Avraham also took two of his young men with him, Yishmael the son of Hagar and Eliezer his servant, and they went together with them, and while they were walking in the way the young men spoke these words to themselves,
[22]And Yishmael said to Eliezer, Behold my father Avraham is going with Yitz'chak to bring him up for a burnt offering to YHWH, as He commanded him.
[23]Now when he returns he will give unto me all that he possesses, to inherit after him, for I am his firstborn.
[24]And Eliezer answered Yishmael and said, Surely Avraham did cast you away with your mother, and swear that you should not inherit any thing of all he possesses, and to whom will he give all that he has, with all his treasures, but unto me his servant, who has been faithful in his house, who has served him night and day, and has done all that he desired me? to me will he bequeath at his death all that he possesses.
[25]And while Avraham was proceeding with his son Yitz'chak along the way, HaSatan came and appeared to Avraham in the figure of a very aged man, humble and of contrite spirit, and he approached Avraham and said to him, Are you silly or brutish, that you go to do this thing this day to your only son?
[26]For Elohim gave you a son in your latter days, in your old age, and will you go and slaughter him this day because he committed no violence, and will you cause the soul of your only son to perish from the earth?
[27]Do you not know and understand that this thing cannot be from YHWH? for YHWH cannot do unto man such evil upon earth to say to him, Go slaughter your child.
[28]And Avraham heard this and knew that it was the word of HaSatan who endeavored to draw him aside from the way of YHWH, but Avraham would not hearken to the voice of HaSatan, and Avraham rebuked him so that he went away.
[29]And HaSatan returned and came to Yitz'chak; and he appeared unto Yitz'chak in the figure of a young man comely and well favored.
[30]And he approached Yitz'chak and said unto him, Do you not know and understand that your old silly father brings you to the slaughter this day for naught?
[31]Now therefore, my son, do not listen nor attend to him, for he is a silly old man, and let not your precious soul and beautiful figure be lost from the earth.
[32]And Yitz'chak heard this, and said unto Avraham, Have you heard, my father, that which this man has spoken? even thus has he spoken.
[33]And Avraham answered his son Yitz'chak and said to him, Take heed of him and do not listen to his words, nor attend to him, for he is Satan, endeavoring to draw us aside today from the commands of our Elohim.
[34]And Avraham still rebuked Satan, and HaSatan went from them, and seeing he could not prevail over them he hid himself from them, and he went and passed before them in the way; and he transformed himself to a large brook of water in the way, and Avraham and Yitz'chak and his two young men reached that place, and they saw a brook large and powerful as the mighty waters.
[35]And they entered the brook and passed through it, and the waters at first reached their legs.
[36]And they went deeper in the brook and the waters reached up to their necks, and they were all terrified on account of the water; and while they were going over the brook Avraham recognized that place, and he knew that there was no water there before.
[37]And Avraham said to his son Yitz'chak, I know this place in which there was no brook nor water, now therefore it is this HaSatan who does all this to us, to draw us aside today from the commands of our Elohim.
[38]And Avraham rebuked Satan and said unto him, YHWH rebuke you, O HaSatan, begone from us for we go by the commands of our Elohim.
[39]And HaSatan was terrified at the voice of Avraham, and he went away from them, and the place again became dry land as it was at first.
[40]And Avraham went with Yitz'chak toward the place that Elohim had told him.
[41]And on the third day Avraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place at a distance which Elohim had told him of.
[42]And a pillar of fire appeared to him that reached from the earth to heaven, and a cloud of glory upon the mountain, and the glory of YHWH was seen in the cloud.
[43]And Avraham said to Yitz'chak, My son, do you see in that mountain, which we perceive at a distance, that which I see upon it?
[44]And Yitz'chak answered and said unto his father, I see and lo a pillar of fire and a cloud, and the glory of YHWH is seen upon the cloud.
[45]And Avraham knew that his son Yitz'chak was accepted before YHWH for a burnt offering.
[46]And Avraham said unto Eliezer and unto Yishmael his son, Do you also see that which we see upon the mountain which is at a distance?
[47]And they answered and said, We see nothing more than like the other mountains of the earth. And Avraham knew that they were not accepted before YHWH to go with them, and Avraham said to them, Abide you here with the ass while I and Yitz'chak my son will go to yonder mount and worship there before YHWH and then return to you.
[48]And Eliezer and Yishmael remained in that place, as Avraham had commanded.
[49]And Avraham took wood for a burnt offering and placed it upon his son Yitz'chak, and he took the fire and the knife, and they both went to that place.
[50]And when they were going along Yitz'chak said to his father, Behold, I see here the fire and wood, and where then is the lamb that is to be the burnt offering before YHWH?
[51]And Avraham answered his son Yitz'chak, saying, YHWH has made choice of you my son, to be a perfect burnt offering instead of the lamb.
[52]And Yitz'chak said unto his father, I will do all that YHWH spoke to you with joy and with a good heart.
[53]And Avraham again said unto Yitz'chak his son, Is there in your heart any thought or counsel concerning this, which is not proper? tell me my son, I pray you, O my son conceal it not from me.
[54]And Yitz'chak answered his father Avraham and said unto him, O my father, as YHWH lives and as your soul lives, there is nothing in my heart to cause me to deviate either to the right or to the left from the word that YHWH has spoken to you.
[55]Neither limb nor muscle has moved or stirred at this, nor is there in my heart any thought or evil counsel concerning this.
[56]But I am of joyful and with a good heart in this matter, and I say, Blessed is YHWH who has this day chosen me to be a burnt offering before Him.
[57]And Avraham greatly rejoiced at the words of Yitz'chak, and they went on and came together to that place that the Lord had spoken of.
[58]And Avraham approached to build the altar in that place, and Avraham was weeping, and Yitz'chak took stones and mortar until they had finished building the altar.
[59]And Avraham took the wood and placed it in order upon the altar which he had built.
[60]And he took his son Yitz'chak and bound him in order to place him upon the wood which was upon the altar, to slay him for a burnt offering before YHWH.
[61]And Yitz'chak said to his father, Bind me securely and then place me upon the altar lest I should turn and move, and break loose from the force of the knife upon my flesh and thereof profane the burnt offering; and Avraham did so.
[62]And Yitz'chak still said to his father, O my father, when you shall have slain me and burnt me for an offering, take with you that which shall remain of my ashes to bring to Sarah my mother, and say to her, This is the sweet smelling savor of Yitz'chak; but do not tell her this if she should sit near a well or upon any high place, lest she should cast her soul after me and die.
[63]And Avraham heard the words of Yitz'chak, and he lifted up his voice and wept when Yitz'chak spake these words; and Avraham's tears gushed down upon Yitz'chak his son, and Yitz'chak wept bitterly, and he said to his father, Hasten you, O my father, and do with me the will of YHWH our Elohim as He has commanded you.
[64]And it came to pass the hearts of Avraham and Yitz'chak rejoiced at this thing which YHWH had commanded them; but the eye wept bitterly while the heart rejoiced.
[65]And Avraham bound his son Yitz'chak, and placed him on the altar upon the wood, and Yitz'chak stretched forth his neck upon the altar before his father, and Avraham stretched forth his hand to take the knife to slay his son as a burnt offering upon the alter.
[66]At that time the angels of mercy came before YHWH and spoke to him concerning Yitz'chak, saying,
[67]0 YHWH, you are a merciful and compassionate King over all that you have created in heaven and in earth, and you support them all; give therefore ransom and redemption instead of your servant Yitz'chak, and pity and have compassion upon Avraham and Yitz'chak his son, who are today performing your way.
[68]Have you seen, O YHWH, how Yitz'chak the son of Avraham your servant is bound down to the slaughter like an animal? now therefore let your pity be roused for them, O YHWH.
[69]At that time YHWH appeared unto Avraham, and called to him, from heaven, and said unto him, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you any thing unto him, for now I know that you fear Elohim in performing this thing, and in not withholding your son, your only son, from me.
[70]And Avraham lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, a ram was caught in a thicket by his horns; that was the ram which YHWH Elohim had created in the earth in the day that he made earth and heaven.
[71]For YHWH Elohim had prepared this ram from that day, to be a burnt offering instead of Yitz'chak.
[72]And this ram was going toward Avraham when HaSatan caught hold of him and entangled his horns in the thicket, that he might not advance to Avraham, in order that Avraham might slay his son.
[73]And Avraham, seeing the ram advancing to him and HaSatan withholding him, fetched him and brought him before the altar, and he loosened his son Yitz'chak from his binding, and he put the ram in his stead, and Avraham killed the ram upon the altar, and brought it up as an offering in the place of his son Yitz'chak.
[74]And Avraham sprinkled some of the blood of the ram upon the altar, and he exclaimed and said, This is in the place of my son, and may this be considered today as the blood of my son before YHWH.
[75]And all that Avraham did on this occasion by the altar, he would exclaim and say, This is in the room of my son, and may it this day be considered before YHWH in the place of my son; and Avraham finished the whole of the service by the altar, and the service was accepted before YHWH, and was accounted as if it had been Yitz'chak; and YHWH blessed Avraham and his seed on that day.
[76][Parashat Hayyei-Sarah] And HaSatan went to Sarah, and he appeared to her in the figure of an old man very humble and meek, and Avraham was yet engaged in the burnt offering before YHWH.
[77]And he said unto her, Do you not know all the work that Avraham has made with your only son today? for he took Yitz'chak and built an altar, and killed him, and brought him up as a sacrifice upon the altar, and Yitz'chak cried and wept before his father, but he looked not at him, neither did he have compassion over him.
[78]And HaSatan repeated these words, and he went away from her, and Sarah heard all the words of HaSatan, and she imagined him to be an old man from among the sons of men who had been with her son, and had come and told her these things.
[79]And Sarah lifted up her voice and wept and cried out bitterly on account of her son; and she threw herself upon the earth and she cast dust upon her head, and she said, O my son, Yitz'chak my son, O that I had this day died instead of you. And she continued to weep and said, It grieves me for you, [At the end of verse 79 and the beginning of verse 80 Mosheh Samual accidentally repeated the same text over adding "O my son, my son Yitz'chak, O that I had died today in your stead. 23:80 And she still continued to weep, and said, It grieves me for you after that".]
[80]I have reared you and have brought you up; and my joy is turned into mourning over you, I that had a longing for you, and cried and prayed till I bare you at ninety years old; and now have you served this day for the knife and the fire, to be made an offering.
[81]But I console myself with you, my son, in its being the word of YHWH, for you did perform the command of your Elohim; for who can transgress the word of our Elohim, in whose hands is the soul of every living creature?
[82]you are just, O YHWH our Elohim, for all your works are good and righteous; for I also am rejoiced with your word which you did command, and while my eye weeps bitterly my heart rejoices.
[83]And Sarah laid her head upon the bosom of one of her handmaids, and she became as still as a stone.
[84]She afterward rose up and went about making inquiries till she came to Chevron, and she inquired of all those whom she met walking in the road, and no one could tell her what had happened to her son.
[85]And she came with her maid servants and men servants to Kir'at-Ar'va, which is Chevron, and she asked concerning her son, and she remained there while she sent some of her servants to seek where Avraham had gone with Yitz'chak; they went to seek him in the house of Shem and Ever, and they could not find him, and they sought throughout the land and he was not there.
[86]And behold, HaSatan came to Sarah in the shape of an old man, and he came and stood before her, and he said unto her, I spoke falsely unto you, for Avraham did not kill his son and he is not dead; and when she heard the word her joy was so exceedingly violent on account of her son, that her soul went out through joy; she died and was gathered to her people.
[87]And when Avraham had finished his service he returned with his son Yitz'chak to his young men, and they rose up and went together to B'ersheva, and they came home.
[88]And he sought for Sarah, and could not find her, and he made inquiries concerning her, and they said unto him, She went as far as Chevron to seek you both where you had gone, for thus was she informed.
[89]And Avraham and Yitz'chak went to her to Chevron, and when they found that she was dead they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly over her; and Yitz'chak fell upon his mother's face and wept over her, and he said, O my mother, my mother, how have you left me, and where have you gone? O how, how have you left me!
[90]And Avraham and Yitz'chak wept greatly and all their servants wept with them on account of Sarah, and they mourned over her a great and heavy mourning.
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