Read Genesis 22:1-24 at Bible Gateway.
the teaching tools of scripture
The Hebrew paragraph divisions:
Gen 22:1-19 {p} Abraham and the binding of Isaac
Gen 22:20-24 {p} The seed of Nahor
Strong themes of the parashah:
the same as the Hebrew paragraph divisions
Gen 22:1-19 {p} chiastic structure:
1a) Gen 21:33-34 {p} Abraham dwelt in Beersheba;
1b) Gen 22:1-2, God: Go to Moriah and offer your only son Isaac as a burnt offering;
1c) Gen 22:3-9, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering;
1a.1) Gen 22:3-5, Abraham went to the place of which God had told him;
1a) Gen 22:3, Abraham saddled his donkey, took two of his young men and Isaac his son and went;
central axis) Gen 22:4, Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off;
2a) Gen 22:5, Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go and come back to you;”
1a.2) Gen 22:6, So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son;
central axis) Gen 22:7-8, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering;
2a.1) Gen 22:9a, Then they came to the place of which God had told him;
2a.2) Gen 22:9b, Abraham bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood;
central axis) Gen 22:10, And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son;
2c) Gen 22:11-15, Abraham called the name of the place, The LORD will provide;
1a) Gen 22:11-12, The Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven;
central axis) Gen 22:13-14, Abraham beheld the ram + called the name of the place, The LORD will provide;
2a) Gen 22:15, The Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven;
2b) Gen 22:16-18, God: Because you have not withheld your only son Isaac, blessing, because you have obeyed;
2a) Gen 22:19 {p} Abraham returned to Beersheba and dwelt there.
The C pairs each form mini chiastic structures with the provision of the Lord as the central axis, which themselves pair. The central axis of the entire chiastic structure, is Abraham’s obedience. He is the father of all who believe (Rom 4:11), and he is also the father of all who obey!
Gen 22:20-24 {p} is a loose end for this parashah’s structure, but is an integral component for the chiastic structure of Gen 18:1-22:24, annual cycle Vayeira, “And he appeared.”
Gen 22:20-24 {p} chiastic structure:
1a) Gen 22:20, Children borne to Nahor;
1b) Gen 22:21-22, Eight children borne to Nahor;
central axis) Gen 22:23a, “Bethuel became the father of Rebekah;”
2b) Gen 22:23b, Eight children borne to Nahor;
2a) Gen 22:24 {p} Children borne to Nahor.
Theme of the parashah:
Isaac the promised seed, a type of Messiah, the seed of Abraham, and Rebekah, the seed of Nahor
Finding Messiah in Torah:
gen 22:1-19, the akedah and the signs of messiah
Additional readings for this parashah:
Psa 17 (my notes) | Isa 33 (my notes) | Mar 11 (my notes)
For further study off site:
Isaac – Hebrew word study (Wildbranch)
The Akedah – the Binding of Isaac (Hebrew 4 Christians)
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