Page "Binding of Isaac" Paragraph 27

Modern-critical scholars operating under the framework of the documentary hypothesis commonly ascribe the Binding's narrative to the biblical source E, on the grounds that it generally uses God ( אלוהים ) for the deity, and also parallels characteristic E compositions.

On that view, the second angelic appearance to Abraham ( v. 14 – 18 ), praising his obedience and blessing his offspring, is in fact a later interpolation to E ’ s original account ( v. 1-13, 19 ).

This is supported by the style and composition of these verses, as well as by the use of YHWH ( יהוה ) for the deity.

More recent studies question this analysis.

It is argued that Abraham ’ s obedience to God ’ s command in fact necessitates praise and blessing, which he only receives in the second angelic speech.

That speech, therefore, could not have been simply interpolated into E ’ s original account.

This has suggested to many that the author responsible for the interpolation of the second angelic appearance has left his mark also on the original account ( v. 1-13-19 ).

More recently it has been suggested that these traces are in fact the first angelic appearance ( v. 11 – 12 ), in which the Angel of YHWH stops Abraham before he kills Isaac.

The style and composition of these verses resemble that of the second angelic speech, and YHWH is used for the deity rather than God.

On that reading, in the original E version of the Binding Abraham disobeys God ’ s command, sacrificing the ram “ instead of his son ” ( v. 13 ) on his own responsibility and without being stopped by an angel: " And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son ; but Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked and beheld, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns ; and Abraham went, and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son " ( v. 10, 13 ).

By interpolating the first appearance of the angel, a later redactor shifted responsibility for halting the test from Abraham to the angel ( v. 11 – 12 ); due to that shift of responsibility, the second angelic appearance, in which Abraham is rewarded for his obedience ( v. 14 – 18 ), became necessary.

This analysis of the story sheds light on the connection between the Binding and the story of Sodom (), in which Abraham protests against God's unethical plan to destroy the city, without distinguishing between the righteous and the wicked: " Far be it from you to do such a thing .. Shall not the judge of all the earth do what is just?

" Abraham's ethical rebellion against God in Sodom culminates in his disobedience to God, refusing to sacrifice Isaac.