And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
Ver 9. And they came to the place.] Mount Moriah; where the temple was afterwards built. 2Ch 3:1 This was a little from Salem, as Mount Calvary also was a little from Jerusalem.
And bound Isaac his son.] Who struggled not, neither resisted, though able for his age (being twenty-five years old, as Josephus makes him; others thirty-three) to have overpowered his old father. He was acquainted with God's counsel, saith Luther, wherein he rested. Yet he was bound, (1.) For that the rite of sacrifices so required; Psa 118:27 (2.) Lest any involuntary motion, by pangs of death, should be procured. Whence various of the martyrs, as Ridley, Rawlins, &c, desired to be bound fast to the stake, lest the flesh should play its part. Rawlins, when the smith cast a chain about him at the stake, "I pray you, good friend," said he, "knock in the chain fast; for it may be, that the flesh would strive mightily. But, God, of thy great mercy, give me strength and patience to abide the extremity." a Nature at death will have a bout with the best, whether he die as Elisha, slowly, or as Elijah, suddenly.
a Act. and Mon., fol 1415