The Binding of Isaac

God tested Abraham and commanded him to take his only son, Isaac, whom he loved, to the land of Moriah to offer him as a burnt offering (Genesis 22:1-2). Abraham rose early, saddled his donkey, and took two young men and Isaac with him. After cutting wood for the burnt offering, they traveled for three days until Abraham saw the place in the distance. He instructed his young men to stay with the donkey while he and the boy went to worship, stating they would come back to them (Genesis 22:3-5). Abraham placed the wood on Isaac, while he carried the fire and the knife.

As they walked together, Isaac asked his father where the lamb for the burnt offering was, noting they had the fire and the wood. Abraham replied that God would provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering (Genesis 22:7-8). Upon reaching the place God had specified, Abraham built an altar and laid the wood in order. He then bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar upon the wood. When Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son, the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven (Genesis 22:9-11).

The angel commanded Abraham not to lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him, for it was now known that Abraham feared God, seeing as he had not withheld his only son. Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns; he took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son (Genesis 22:12-13). Abraham named the place Jehovah-jireh. The angel of the Lord called a second time, declaring that because Abraham had done this, God would bless him and multiply his offspring as the stars of heaven and the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:15-17). After these events, Abraham returned to his young men and they went to Beersheba.