Avrahams Test
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Please do NOT visit this
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Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I will
use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917),
2. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), and 3. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC).
Colour coded details of
the - TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History &
Law, 2. Nevi’im =
The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song
of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and
Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and
Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ having been corrected as it once was, pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following three truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the LORD your Eloleichem) which I
command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2.
“This is My Name FOREVER, and this is My Memorial to ALL Generations”. Shemot - Exodus 3:15. (JPS).
“I am יְהוָה, that is My Name; and My glory
will I not give to another”. Yeshayahu - Isaiah 42:8. (JPS).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
“Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey the entire Torah My servant Moshe has given you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
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Introduction:
There is no doubt that within this study there is one of the most difficult passages of all, at first glance it seems that it defies understanding.
We are well aware that אַבְרָהָם - Avraham and שָׂרָה - Sarah have waited countless years for a child. However אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) had promised them, repeatedly that they would have many descendants, as many as the stars of the sky, the dust of the earth, the grains of sand on the seashore, etc. They wait, but as we know no child arrives.
The
first Child:
Sarah, who was in deep despair, suggests that Avraham should have a child by her handmaid ‘Hagar’. It was decided that he would do so and Ishmael was born. However, אֱלֹהִיםtells Avraham that Ishmael is not the One. By now Sarah is old, post-menopausal, and unable by natural means to have a child.
Then the Angels came, and again there was a promise that a child will be born. Sarah laughs thinking it was impossible, however a year later Isaac was born. Sarah’s joy was overwhelming! Sarah said;
“אֱלֹהִים has brought me laughter; all those who hear will laugh with me.” (Then she said), “Who would have told Avraham, ‘Sarah will nurse children’? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” Bereshit Genesis 21:6-7.
Then
later came some fateful words for Avraham:
“Take your son, your only one, the one whom you love Yitzchak - Isaac and go to the land of Moriah. There, offer him up as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, the one that I will show you.” Bereshit - Genesis. 22:2.
The rest of the story should be familiar. Avraham takes Yitzchak - Isaac. Together they journey for three days to the mountain. Avraham builds an altar, gathers wood, binds his son and lifts the knife, at that very moment:
The angel of יְהוָה - the LORD called out to him from the heavens;
“And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of יְהוָה - the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said: ‘Avraham, Avraham’. And he said: '’Here am I’. And he said: ‘Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him; for now I know that thou art a אֱלֹהִים-fearing man, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me’. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son”. Bereshit - Genesis 22:10-12.
The trial was over. It is the climax of Avraham’s life, the supreme test of faith, a key moment in Jewish memory and self-definition.
But it is deeply troubling. Why did אֱלֹהִים so nearly take away what He had given? Why did He put these two aged parents – Avraham and Sarah through such an appalling test? Why did Avraham, who had earlier challenged אֱלֹהִים on the fate of Sodom, saying, “Shall the Judge of all the earth not do justly?” And not place such a cruel act against an innocent child?
Of course the interpretation was that Avraham demonstrated his total love of אֱלֹהִים and faith by being willing to sacrifice the most precious being in his life, the son for whom he had been waiting for so many years.
Of course the love of אֱלֹהִים may at times lead us to do things that would otherwise be considered morally wrong, and “faith in the absurd”. I believe that Avraham completely trusted אֱלֹהִים to make the impossible possible. He believed he would not lose Yitzchak - Isaac and that somehow he would keep him!
Throughout Tanakh, the gravest sin is the child sacrifice subject. The Torah and the prophets consistently regard it with horror. Below we can read Jeremiah on the subject:
“They have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as offerings to Baal - something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind.” Yirmyahu - Jeremiah. 19:5.
And this is from Micah:
“Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” Michah - Micah 6:7.
It is what Mesha, King of Moab did to get the gods to grant him victory over the Israelites: When the King of Moab saw that the battle had gone against him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the King of Edom, but they failed. Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall. The fury against Israel was great; they withdrew and returned to their own land.” 2 Kings 3:26-27.
There is way of looking at that trial. To do so we must consider an overriding theme of the Torah as a whole, thus let us look at the evidence.
אֱלֹהִים owns the land of Israel. That is why He can command the return of property to its original owners in the Jubilee year.
The First Principle:
“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is Mine. You are merely migrants and tenants to Me.” Vayikra - Leviticus 25:23.
Second
principle:
אֱלֹהִים owns the Children of Israel, since He redeemed them from slavery. That is what the Israelites mean when they sang, at the Red Sea.
“Until Your people crossed, יְהוָה - the LORD, until the people You acquired ‘am zu kanita’, crossed over.” Shemot - Exodus. 15:16
Therefore they cannot be turned into permanent slaves:
“For the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out from Egypt: they cannot be sold as slaves.” Vayikra - Leviticus 25:42.
Third
principle:
אֱלֹהִים is the ultimate owner of all that exists. That is why we must make a blessing over anything we enjoy.
However, we are to enjoy anything of this world without first reciting a blessing is like making personal use of things consecrated to heaven, since it says;
“The earth is יְהוָה - the LORD’s and the fullness thereof.” It is also written, “The earth is יְהוָה - the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,” and it is also written, “The heavens are the heavens of יְהוָה, but the earth hath He given to the children of men!”
There is no contradiction: in the one case it is before a blessing has been said, in the other, it is after a blessing has been said.
Only the most dramatic event could establish an idea so revolutionary and unprecedented – even unintelligible – in the ancient world. That is what the story of the Binding of Isaac is about. Isaac belongs to neither Avraham nor Sarah. Isaac belongs to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. All children belong to אֱלֹהִים. Parents do not own their children. The relationship of parent to child is one of guardianship. אֱלֹהִים does not want Avraham to sacrifice his child. אֱלֹהִים wants him to renounce ownership in his child. That is what the angel meant when it called Avraham, telling him to stop, “You have not withheld from Me your son, your only one.”
Seen in the light of a trial for Avraham, the Binding of Isaac is now consistent with the other foundational narratives of the Torah, namely the creation of the universe and the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The rest of the narrative also makes sense. אֱלֹהִים had to show Avraham and Sarah that their child Isaac was not naturally theirs, because his birth was not natural at all. It took place after Sarah could no longer conceive.
The story of the first Hebraic child establishes a principle that applies to all of our children. He creates legal space between parent and child, because only when that space exists do children have the room to grow as independent individuals.
The Torah ultimately seeks to abolish all relationships of dominance and submission. That is why it dislikes slavery and makes it, within Israel, a temporary condition rather than a permanent fate. That is why it seeks to protect children from parents who are overbearing or worse.
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“hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!
In Conclusion, a Question
to Deepen the Conversation:
Which part of the Tanakh study, or possibly a particular line or
statement within it has touched you the most? And how do you feel
about spending more time studying our beloved Tanakh? I pray that you are doing
well as a faithful Hebrew, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim willing you are upholding as many of our
blessed Mitzvoth’s?
Dear reader, please remember this, pray for peace and
solitude in your life, and then work on keeping as calm as possible and learn to
improve your life, for אֱלֹהִים - בָּרוּךְ
אֱלֹהִים - Bless Elohim, He is
always there and ready to help and guide you!
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PLEASE NOTE: If you need assistance in some way, just ask, I can email you special items to help you with whatever you may need, etc! Just email me (using the link further below) and I will send it to your email, without any follow up whatsoever, or any requests from me! The email is just down this page.
This site was
originally for those who needed to return to our blessed and wonderful faith,
thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or of possible three
times a day and always seek אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance!
But as you may have discovered it has become very much a teaching site!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following, via a
number of our prophets...
“Return unto Me,
and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat
Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
(the LORD your Elo’hei’chem);
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - YaHVaH your Elo’hei’chem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;
“The More Torah, the More Life”.
For our Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the ‘מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your
daily תְּפִלָּה - Te’fee’lah’s (Prayers) and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and
drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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