And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
Abraham took the wood, ... Leaving the servants at the foot of the hill, the father and son ascended the height, the one bearing the knife and the fire-not brought, as some have conjectured, all the way from his stated place of worship, on the ground that none but sacred fire was allowable on altar, but kindled at the last stage of the journey, and, from the imperfect means of ignition, carried in a small brazier, as is commonly done in the East, sometimes for a whole day-and the other bearing the wood for consuming the sacrifice. But there was no victim; and to the question so naturally put by Isaac, Abraham contented himself with replying, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." It is likely that these words were spoken evasively-in ignorance of the issue; yet in unbounded confidence that his son, though sacrificed, would in some miraculous way be restored. The dignity of faith was never more beautifully exemplified than in the utterance of this calm and unconsciously prophetic assurance to his son.