Commentary on the Torah

by Richard Elliott Friedman

from a distance. This account has a multitude of parallels to the account of the binding of Isaac (Genesis 22): Moses says the same words to the elders that Abraham says to the servant boys: “Sit here … we’ll come back to you.” The Exodus account has servant boys (n‘rîm) as well. Both accounts use the term “from a distance” (mrq). Both use the term “to bow” (hištawôt). Both Moses and Abraham come up a mountain. Both have a burnt offering (ha‘lôt ‘ôlh). The two accounts share a chain of ten verbs: “and he said,” “and he took … and he set,” “and he got up early,” “and he built an altar,” “and he put out his hand,” “and he/it was,” “and he/they got up,” “and he/they came,” “and he/they saw.” All these parallels alert us to the fact that some important connection exists here. The culminating parallels indicate what that connection is: Abraham is rewarded at the end “because you did this thing”; and the people in Exodus promise that “We’ll do all the things.” Abraham is rewarded because “you listened to my voice”; and Exodus reports that “they said with one voice,” and they say, “we’ll listen.” So (1) this is a reminder that the merit of Abraham remains the basis on which all of this now happens. (2) This is a fulfillment of promises made following Abraham’s acts of extraordinary obedience. And (3) Abraham’s obedience is an example for the people to emulate. The contrast is striking as well. Abraham’s obedience is the centerpiece of the first story. In this second story, the pe...