hmm, never noticed that before
Nov. 10th, 2008 10:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cellioThe torah uses different names for God in different places, with the most common being Elo[k]im and the tetragramaton (yud - hey - vav - hey). When I've been paying attention they've been distinct -- the first creation story is the E-name, the revelation at Sinai is the Y-name, and so on.
In preparing this week's portion (specifically the binding of Yitzchak) I've noticed something odd. The God who commands Avraham to sacrifice his son is the E-name, and Avraham uses that name when he tells Yitzchak that God will provide the sacrificial animal (there's some nice ambiguity here, but that's a tangent). Then, when the angel intervenes, it's suddenly an angel of the Y-name, and Avraham names the place "awe of Y-name".
Is the mingling of these two names in a single passage common and I haven't been paying enough attention? Is it uncommon but random/not meaningful? Uncommon but meaningful in some way?
In preparing this week's portion (specifically the binding of Yitzchak) I've noticed something odd. The God who commands Avraham to sacrifice his son is the E-name, and Avraham uses that name when he tells Yitzchak that God will provide the sacrificial animal (there's some nice ambiguity here, but that's a tangent). Then, when the angel intervenes, it's suddenly an angel of the Y-name, and Avraham names the place "awe of Y-name".
Is the mingling of these two names in a single passage common and I haven't been paying enough attention? Is it uncommon but random/not meaningful? Uncommon but meaningful in some way?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-13 03:41 am (UTC)I understand the "did not withhold" bit as meaning he was ready to do the deed. I've heard that there are midrashim where the angel isn't in time to prevent it; presumably there's resurrection involved, since Yitzchak continues to have a role.
"And Abraham returned to his servants." Isaac is not mentioned.
I was about to quibble over a plural verb, but on more careful reading that one refers to Avraham and the two boys he brought along. I previously had the impression that Avraham and Yitzchak came down from the mountain -- and then Yitzchak got out of there as expediently as possible. But maybe not!
I'm just excited by being able to participate in one of your theological questions.
I'm glad you can too! (It's funny -- when you write on many topics as I do, you never know until people speak up who's interested in which topics. So I know I have a lot of readers whose reaction is "blah blah blah torah blah blah... ooh, music!", but I can't say which ones. :-) )