The binding of Isaac
1After these things, God tested Abraham. “Abraham,” he said. “Here I am,” Abraham answered. 2God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love — Isaac — and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering, on one of the mountains I will show you.” 3Early the next morning, Abraham saddled his donkey and took two of his young men with him, along with his son Isaac. He split wood for the burnt offering, then set out for the place God had told him about. 4On the third day, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there and worship, and then we will come back to you.” 6Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the knife. The two of them walked on together. 7Isaac spoke to his father Abraham. “Father,” he said. “Here I am, my son,” Abraham answered. “Here are the fire and the wood,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them walked on together. 9When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11But the angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven. “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. 12The angel said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13Abraham looked up, and there behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14Abraham called that place Yahweh Yireh — “Yahweh will provide” — and to this day it is said, “On the mountain of Yahweh it will be provided.” 15The angel of Yahweh called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16and said, “I swear by myself — declares Yahweh — because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will surely bless you and multiply your offspring like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gate of their enemies. 18And through your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you obeyed my voice.” 19Abraham went back to his young men, and they got up and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham settled in Beersheba.
The family of Nahor
20Some time after this, Abraham was told, “Milcah too has borne sons, to your brother Nahor: 21Uz his firstborn, his brother Buz, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24His concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah as well.
