Take now thy son, &c.— The order in which the words are placed in the original, gradually increases the sense, and raises the passions higher and higher: take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac. Jarchi imagines this minuteness was to exclude any doubt in Abraham. Abraham desired earnestly to be let into the mystery of redemption; and God, to instruct him (in the best manner humanity is capable of receiving instruction) in the infinite extent of the Divine goodness to man, who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, let Abraham feel, by experience, what it was to lose a beloved son; the son born miraculously, when Sarah was part child-bearing, as Jesus was miraculously born of a virgin. The duration too of the action, Genesis 22:4 was the same as that between Christ's death and resurrection, both which were designed to be represented in it; and still farther, not only the final architypical sacrifice of the Son of God was figured in the command to offer Isaac, but the intermediate typical sacrifice in the Mosaic oeconomy was represented by the permitted sacrifice of the ram offered up, Genesis 22:13 instead of Isaac.
Land of Moriah— Conformable to the interpretation given of this command, Abraham calls the land to which he was sent with Isaac, the Land of vision, according to Jerom's interpretation, which shews, that the words of the Lord Jesus, Abraham saw my day, allude to this extraordinary circumstance. In a word, Jesus says, Abraham saw my day; and Abraham, by the name he imposed on the scene of action, declared the same thing. Abraham earnestly desired to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.
It is agreed among almost all the Jews, that this is the place where Cain and Abel offered sacrifice, as well as Noah afterwards. It was here also, I doubt not, where Christ was crucified, as Solomon's temple was built upon one of the same mountains of Moriah. But Mr. Mann's observations best deserve notice on this head: he remarks, that this narrative of that signal trial of Abraham's faith and the issue of it, upon God's command to him to sacrifice his most beloved son, in which all agree the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to have been prefigured; in one circumstance of it, namely, the place of the sacrifice, has not been sufficiently considered; perhaps, thought not to be of any significancy, though it is to be observed, that the choice of the place was not left to Abraham as indifferent; but he was directed to make a journey of three days to a particular spot in the land of Moriah; which God would point out to him. Moriah is mentioned once more in 2 Chronicles 3:1 where Solomon is said to have begun to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, in Mount Moriah. It might be better rendered, on a mount of Moriah: accordingly, Maundrell, and other judicious observers, have justly applied Moriah to the whole mountain of Jerusalem, comprehending all those mounts of Gihon without the walls (of which Mount Calvary was once a part) of Sion, of Acra, or Jerusalem Proper, and of the temple within the walls. Of these, Mount Gihon or Calvary was, and still is, notwithstanding the alterations of three thousand years, the highest ground to the west; and the Mount of the Temple, the lowest of them all on the east side of the city. Of this lowness of the Mount of the Temple, one mark was the brook Siloam, springing out of the side of Mount Gihon or Calvary, near the western walls where it entered, and by its channel divided the city of Jerusalem from the city of Sion, passing out to the east near the Mount of the Temple: and Josephus confirms it, with observing how much pains had been taken, during the reign of the Asmonean princes, to lower the ground of Jerusalem, that it might not so much overtop that of the temple, as it naturally did. Beer-sheba, the place of Abraham's residence, was in or near the road from AEgypt to Jerusalem, and from that city forty-two miles distant to the south-west. Conducted in that way probably by an angel, he came not till the third day to the sight of the destined Mount of Moriah, which appeared to him afar off; yet probably was within a few miles, as he was to ascend it on foot with Isaac heavy-loaden. In this position to the west, or south-west, it was impossible but that that Mount of Moriah, which was highest and nearest to him eastward, should meet his eye, which in after-ages was called Mount Calvary, and not that which was beyond it, and much lower, on which afterwards the temple stood. It was therefore on this Mount Calvary, that Abraham offered his only son; as on this same Mount Calvary, about two thousand years after, the Almighty Father ordained that his only Son Jesus should be sacrificed for the redemption of mankind.
Offer him, &c.— The command was only the conveyance of an information by action instead of words, in conformity to a common mode of conversing in former times: and as it was only the grant of an earnest request, and known by Abraham at the time of imposing to be such a grant, he could not possibly have any doubt concerning the Author of it.
REFLECTIONS.—While we are in the body, we must be kept in the exercise of faith and obedience. There is no rest, till the body rest in death. Abraham had weathered his storms, and began to enjoy repose in the comfort of those blessings God had bestowed on him. But now a greater storm overtakes him than ever he felt before. He had left his home, and expelled his son Ishmael; but now the very hope and joy of his life is called, and Isaac must bleed. Observe,
1. The author of this fiery trial, God; who cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man, i.e.. to sin: but his temptations are to prove the truth, and increase the strength of the faith of his servants. Note; If a man have severe trials, it is to make him a burning light to God's glory.
2. The command given. When Abraham expects some message of peace, as usual, from his Covenant-God, how surprised must he be to hear the dreadful word, Take now thy son, make no delay, I call for thy son, take him, thine only son, in whom thou art so wrapped up, that the other is as nothing in thine eyes. This Isaac, the child of thine age, the staff of thy hopes; this darling, whom thou lovest so tenderly, I call for: Isaac must be offered up to me, not as my servant, but as my sacrifice. Thy hands must slay him: thou must kindle the fire, and lay him thereon. Moriah is the distant place; and when thou comest, I will shew thee that mountain where he must be offered a whole burnt-sacrifice unto me. Did ever parent's heart hear so afflictive a command, where every word is torture, and pointed as a dagger to the heart!