10 And Abraham stretched forth called unto him out of heaven, and his hand, and took the knife to slay said, Abraham, Abraham. And he his son. said, Here am I.

11 And the Angel of the Lord

coolly and composedly to have gone ful crisis. Nature shrinks back at the about the execution of the fearful order. spectacle here presented of a father And as it was, what must he have suf- lifting up his hand armed with a deadly fered while building the altar-laying weapon against the life of his son! But on the wood-binding his beloved son- here was the completion of Abraham's and placing him upon the pile so soon to obedience and of his faith. Any thing be smeared with his blood and mingled short of this, and all would have been with his ashes! Every view we can unavailing. This last, this agonizing take of the affecting procedure works moment, when the knife was taken our sympathies to a higher pitch of in- and the hand outstretched to strike, tensity, and elevates the character of consummated the trial of Abraham, the patriarch immeasurably in our es- and bequeathed his faith to the church teem. But let not the almost equal me- of God as the most perfect model which rit of Isaac be forgotten. The conside- mere mortality has ever offered of it. ration of his exemplary conduct, his And as he proceeded so far in his obemeek and pious resignation to the divine dience as to afford demonstrative eviappointment, is perhaps apt to be lost in dence that he would have gone to the the vague impression that he was too utmost extent of the letter of the comyoung to entertain an adequate sense of mand, God accepted the will for the his danger, and too feeble to have made deed, and the apostle therefore speaks resistance, had he been so inclined. of it, Heb. 21. 17, as if the act were But allowing him to have been no more really performed; By faith Abraham, than twenty-five, can it be supposed when he was tried, offered up Isaac: that an old man an hundred and twenty- and he that had received the promises, five years of age, could have bound, with- offered up his only begotten son;' where out his consent, a young man in the ve- the term is that usually employed to sigry prime and vigor of life? Unques-nify not a purposed but an actual offering. tionably Isaac now approved himself 11. The Angel of the Lord called unto the worthy son of such a sire; and in him, &c. A moment more, and the vichis cheerful compliance we seem to hear him saying, 'I should be unworthy of life, were I capable of shewing reluctance to obey the will of my father and my God. It were enough for me that my earthly parent alone called me to the altar; how much more when my heavenly father re-demands his own.' Thus it was not so much the superior strength, or even the parental authority, of the father, as the filial affection and pious obedience of the son, that prevailed on this trying occasion.

10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, &c. We feel an involuntary shuddering as we draw near to the fear

tim would have been smitten; but in that moment the awful mandate is coun termanded. A voice too familiar to Abraham not to be at once recognised as that of God himself addresses him out of heaven, and averts the dire catastrophe. Though termed an Angel, yet it is evident from the manner in which he here speaks of himself, and from what is said v. 12, 16, that he was not a created being, but was no other than the divine personage so often introduced into the sacred narrative under the title of the Angel Jehovah, the Angel of the Covenant, &c. respecting whom see note on Gen. 16. 7.

12 And he said, f Lay not thine 13 And Abraham lifted up his hand upon the lad, neither do thou eyes, and looked, and beheld behind any thing unto him: for now I him a ram caught in a thicket by know that thou fearest God, seeing his horns: and Abraham went and thou hast not withheld thy son, took the ram, and offered him up thine only son, from me. for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son.

1 Sam. 15. 22. Mic. 6. 7, 8. ch. 26.5. Jam. 2. 22.

12. Lay not thy hand upon the lad, knew, by a new proof, by having actu&c. The Heb.yeled, is applied ally made trial of him. He speaks here, not only to lads or children, but also to as in multitudes of other cases, in accomgrown up young men, as above to modation to human usages of speech. Abraham's armed or trained servants, It is common for men to say that they ch. 14. 14; to the young man of She- know that which they have found out by chem who ravished Dinah, ch. 34. 19; special trial, which they have learned to Joseph when called to interpret Pha- as the result of experiment; and the raoh's dreams, ch. 41. 12; to Joshua Most High is here pleased to adopt the acting as a servant or minister to same language. Thus Ps. 139. 23, it is Moses, Ex. 33. 11; and to Absalom said, 'Search me, O God, and know my making war against his father, 2 Sam. heart;' though the psalmist had just be18. 29. The command was intended fore said, v. 2, 'Thou understandest my merely for trial; and as it fully ap- thoughts afar off.' For himself he needpeared on trial that Abraham was cor- ed not the patriarch's obedience to disdially willing and determined to resign cover to him the state of his mind; but his son in obedience to the will of God, for our sakes he made the exhibition of the end of the command was answered; Abraham's obedience a ground for acconsequently the counter-command to knowledging the existence of the inward forego the sacrifice is not to be viewed principle from which it sprang. It is by as militating at all with the unchange-a holy and obedient deference to the ableness of the divine counsels.-The divine authority that faith and fear are voice of God was never so welcome, made manifest. As a sinner, Abraham never so sweet, never so seasonable as was justified by faith only; but as a proIt was the trial that God intend- fessing believer, he was justified by the ed, not the fact. Isaac is sacrificed, and works which his faith produced. This is yet alive; and now both of them are view will probably reconcile the appamore happy in what they would have rent discrepancy of Paul and James in done, than they could have been dis-regard to Abraham's justification. They tressed, if they had done it. God's both allege his case as an example of charges are oftentimes harsh in the be- what they are teaching, but the one resginnings and proceeding, but in the con- pects him as ungodly, the other as godclusion always comfortable. True spir-ly. In the first instance he is justified itual comforts are commonly late and by faith exclusive of works; in the last sudden; God defers, on purpose that by faith, as producing works, and thereour trials may be perfect, our deliver- by proving him the friend of God. ance welcome, our recompences glo- 13. Behold, behind him a ram caught rious.' Bp. Hall.- ¶ I know that thou in a thicket. This was in fact an accomfearest God, &c. God previously knew plishment of what Abraham himself all this, and had in effect declared it, had a little while before unwittingly prech. 18. 19. The idea is simply that he dicted. In reply to Isaac's question,

now.

14 And Abraham called the name said to this day, In the mount of of that place Jehovah-jireh : as it is the LORD it shall be seen.

'Where is the lamb for a burnt-offer- a burnt-offering.' The striking coring?' he had said, 'My son, God will respondence between this name and provide himself with a burnt-offering.'' Moriah' will be evident upon reBy this answer he merely intended to ferring to what is said of the etymolsatisfy his son's mind for the present, ogy of that word in v. 2. The whole till the time should come for making thread of the sacred story makes it known to him the command which he evident that good men of old were parhad received from God, in which com- ticularly solicitous to express in some mand that provision was actually made. public and permanent manner their But now, through the miraculous inter-grateful sense of the divine mercies. position of Heaven and the substitution Hence they scarcely ever received any of the ram in Isaac's place, it had been remarkable deliverance from evil or literally verified in a way which he him- communication of good from God, but self had never contemplated. 'He that they erected some memorial of it, and made that beast brings him thither, fast-gave either to the place or to the memoriens him there. Even in small things al itself, some name that should transmit there is a great providence!' Bp. Hall. to posterity a remembrance of the blessThe command to sacrifice the ram, ing vouchsafed. Such was 'Beth-el,' though not expressly affirmed, is yet to where Jacob was favored with a special be presumed from the cirsumstances; vision, Gen. 28, 19; and 'Peniel,' where and in that incident we perceive not on- he wrestled with the angel, Gen. 32. ly the gracious interposition of Heaven 30; and 'Eben-ezer,' the stone erected in behalf of Abraham, but also a clear by Samuel in memory of Israel's vicintimation of that system of animal sac- tory over the Philistines, 1 Sam. 7. 12, rifices which afterwards constituted the Frequently the name of Jehovah himgrand feature of the Jewish economy, self was annexed to some word expresand which was designed typically to fore- sive of the event commemorated, as shadow the future paramount sacrifice Jehovah-nissi,' the Lord my banner, of the 'Lamb slain from the foundation Ex. 17. 15; 'Jehovah-shalom,' the Lord of the world.' In order to intimate send peace, Judg. 6. 24; 'Jehovah-shamthis still more forcibly, it can scarcely mah,' the Lord is there, Ezek. 48. 25. In admit of doubt that the very place like manner the father of the faithful where the ram, after getting entangled, bestows a commemorative name upon was offered up, was the place subse- the scene of this remarkable transaction. quently chosen for the site of the Tem- As it is said to this day, In the ple, and, by consequence, of the offer-mount of the Lord it shall be seen. Heb. ing up of the stated perpetual sacrifices yeraeh, it shall be seen; the same of the children of Israel. 3 Chron. 3. 1. letters as in the preceding clause, but 14. Abraham called the name of that differently pointed and pronounced. place Jehovah-jireh. Heb.

Gr. Tw opεi Kupios woon in the mountain the Lord hath been seen. The Chal. evidently interprets it of the future erection of the Temple as a place of worship on the spot, And Abraham prayed and served (God) there in that place, and said before the Lord, Here shall the generations (to come) serve (God).

6

15 T And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

sacrifice his own son? Who besides him was ever stayed by a voice from heaven in the execution of such a com

but faith will assure us, that though outward miracles may be withheld, yet that what was formerly done by visible exercises of miraculous power shall now in effect be done by the invisible

The

Therefore was it said in this day, In this mount Abraham served before the Lord.' With this the Jewish critic Jarchi agrees, saying, 'The simple sense is that ex-mand? And yet, behold this very pressed by the paraphrast, viz. that it event was made the foundation of the should be, that God would provide or proverb before us; and from this, parelect for himself this place, in which he ticular and exclusive as it was, all bewould cause the presence of his majesty lievers are taught to expect that God to dwell, and oblations to be offered to will interpose for them in like manner, him.' Some commentators have sup-in the hour of their extremity. Philosoposed that this clause should be transla-phy and reason may remonstrate, and ted more nearly in accordance with the say that we have no grounds to look for Greek, In the mount the Lord will ap-miracles to be wrought in our behalf; pear'; or, disregarding the points, 'The Lord will provide'; but this is less conformable to the Hebrew, and gives at any rate a sense differing only by a shade from the obvious import, viz. that in the crisis of need God will inter-agency of God's providential care. pose. The passage is undoubtedly mode of effecting our deliverance may meant to inform us that the incident here related was so remarkable, the divine intervention so illustrious, that it gave rise to the well-known proverbial saying, 'In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen;' an expression of which perhaps the nearest equivalent in English is the familiar apothegm, 'Man's extremity is God's opportunity.' The name, thus become a proverb in Israel, not only furnished a memorial of God's goodness to Abraham, but a promise also that when those that trusted in him were reduced to the most trying straits, and no way of extrication appeared, he would interpose at the critical moment, and provide for their deliverance and 15, 16. The Angel of the LORD safety. The circumstance plainly said, By myself have I sworn, &c. Chal. teaches us, that whatever God has at By my Word.' Abraham now reaps at any time done for the most favored the reward of his faith, and sees the effiof his saints, may be expected by us cacy of his persevering obedience. The now, as far as our necessities call for it. promise of redemption is renewed, Of all the events related in the Old Tes- a clearer revelation of the divine will is tament, scarcely any one was so pe-made, a more cheering annunciation of culiar and so exclusive as this. Who the future prosperity of his family is gibesides Abraham was ever called to ven. And all this is confirmed and rati

be varied, but the deliverance itself shall be secured. We are indeed very prone to ask, In what way will he interpose? But to this our answer is, It must be left to him. He is not limited to any particular means. He can work by means, or without them, as seemeth to him good. The whole creation is at his command. But two things we certainly know; namely, that he will interpose seasonably; and that he will interpose effectually; for he is, and ever will be, a very present help in time of trouble.' Let us then confidently trust him in seasons of the greatest darkness and distress.

k

thou hast done this thing, and hast heaven, and as the sand which is not withheld thy son, thine only son: upon the sea-shore; and thy seed 17 That in blessing I will bless shall possess the gate of his enethee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the

ich. 15. 5. Jer. 33. 22.

mies;

ch. 13. 16. 1ch. 24. 60. m Mic. 1. 9.

fied by the solemnity of an oath, in his enemies. That is, the 'gates,' collect. which we are told by the apostle Heb. sing. for plur. according to common idi6. 13, 14, God swears by himself because om. Gr. κληρονομησει τας πόλεις των he could swear by no greater. And UTEVAVTIWv shall inherit the cities of their this affords a clear proof of the divinity adversaries. Chal. Shall inherit the ciof the speaker; for had he been a mere ties of them that hate them.' The created angel, he could, of course, have meaning plainly is, that they should sworn by a greater had he sworn by subdue their enemies. As gates were his Maker: but as it is expressly affirm- in ancient times the principal places of ed that he could swear by no greater, resort, as not only their markets were the inference is inevitable that he must held there, but also their courts of have been God. His swearing thus on justice and their deliberative assemblies, this occasion was virtually pledging hence it is common for the scripthe honor of his holy name, and of all tures to speak of the power of a city behis perfections, as the security for the ing concentrated in its gate or gates. fulfilment of his engagements to Abra- The possession of the gates was therefore ham. This was done not only that the the possession of the cities to which they patriarch himself, but that we also might pertained; and this view of the subhave strong consolation, who have fled ject goes to explain and justify the Greek for refuge to lay hold on the hope set version. In this and several other pasbefore us. Because thou hast done sages, the gate is emblematic of authorithis thing, &c. Not that we are to sup- ty and dominion; even as in Europe the pose that Abraham had properly merit- delivery of the keys of a town is a fored or purchased the blessings conveyed mal act of submission to a conquering in the following promises, for it is clear or superior power. Sometimes the word that the same things for substance had 'gate' denotes 'power' in a more genebeen freely promised him long before, ral and absolute sense. A familiar inGen. 12. 2-13. 16. But as he had now stance of this is where we speak of the put forth a new and signal demonstra- Turkish power as 'the Porte,' 'the Subtion of his faith, it pleased God with this lime Porte,' 'the Ottoman Porte.' This to connect the promise of the stupen- denomination is derived from the prindous benefaction which he designed cipal gate or 'porte' of the Turkish for his servant. Indeed, it will be Sultan's palace at Constantinople. observed, that the language is something When the writer saw this gate, it did more than that of mere repetition. The not seem to him very 'sublime,' but the terms are stronger than had been used mention of the gate involves the idea of on any former occasion, and, as such, the palace, and of the power which remore expressive of divine complacency; sides there.' Pict. Bible. We shall and the whole being couched in the hereafter have frequent occasion to adform of an oath, it constituted a more vert to this usage. The words are not emphatic declaration of blessing than to be understood, however, as intimatAbraham had yet received. ing that Abraham's seed were to be uni17. Thy seed shall possess the gate of formly and perpetually victorious over