an interesting idea

[cellio]

Ruth Levenstein posted an interesting idea to a Jewish mailing list that I'm on.

It is generally held that the binding of Isaac (the Akeidah) was a test, and that Avraham passed the test by obeying the order to sacrifice his son. But maybe Avraham *failed* the test. Maybe passing the test would have meant protesting, as he did to protect S'dom and Gemorrah a few chapters earlier.

The story takes on a very different tone if you read it from this perspective.

Comments

[amergina.livejournal.com]

Woah. I'm gonna have to pull out my Bible (cause it and the Koran are all I have) and read that again.

I never thought of that.

[jeannegrrl.livejournal.com]

I've heard this idea and it resonates with me. As further support for this view, I was also told that not only did G-d send an Angel to stop the sacrifice vs. intervening Himself, but after this, G-d never speaks directly to Abraham again....

[fiannaharpar.livejournal.com]

I like that interperetation, but only because i'm big into questioning.

I have this image of a largish, white-bearded man with a stunned look on his face saying, "He did what? Oy, why did I decide that people were A Good Idea? Go stop him." then muttering under his breath, "Note to self: Don't talk to Abraham, it's just a bad idea."

Then again, the G-d that I perceive is far more fatherly, laid back, and reasonable than the Really Angry G-d(tm) that the church I grew up in told me about.