The Binding of Isaac, Aramaic Targum Comparison
By the first century, the Aramaic Targums portray Isaac as the model of obedience—a willing and virtuous martyr whose merited favor (grace) extends to future generations.
1 It happened after these things that God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham, Abraham." He said, "Here I am (hineni - הנני)."[1]
2 He said, "Now take your son, your only one, whom you love, even Isaac, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer (olah (עֹלָה)) him there as a burnt offering (olah (עֹלָה)) on one of the mountains which I will tell you of."
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan
And it happened after these things that the Lord tempted Abraham with the tenth temptation, and said to him: “Abraham!” Abraham answered in the language of the sanctuary and Abraham said to him: “HERE I AM.” 2. And he said: “Take, I pray, your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the country of Mount Moria and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will say to you.”
Targum Neofiti
(discussion between Ishmael and Isaac about who deserves to be Abraham’s heir)...But you were circumcised at the age of eight days. If you had been aware, perhaps you would not have handed yourself over to be circumcised.” Isaac answered and said, “Behold, today I am thirty seven years old, and if the Holy One, blessed be He, were to ask all my members I would not refuse.” These words were immediately heard before the Lord of the world, and at once the Memra of the Lord tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said to him, “Here I am.” 2. He said, “Take your son, your only one, Isaac whom you love, and go to the land of worship, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”
4 On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place far off.
4. On the third day, Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from afar.
4. On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the Cloud of Glory enveloping the mountain, and he recognized it from afar.
6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together.
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and placed them upon his son Isaac; and took in his hand the fire and the knife and they went, the two of them together, with a perfect heart. (ie. with a complete undivided devotion to God).
6. Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed (it) on Isaac his son, and he took the fire and the knife in his own hand; and the two of them went together. 7. Isaac spoke to his father Abraham, and said, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8. Abraham said, “The Lord will choose for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went together with a perfect heart.
9 They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound (עָקַד (ʿāqad)) his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, on top of the wood.
10 Abraham reached out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son.
10. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son Isaac. Isaac answered and said to his father Abraham: “Father, tie me well lest I kick you and your offering be rendered unfit and we be thrust down into the pit of destruction in the world to come.” The eyes of Abraham were on the eyes of Isaac and the eyes of Isaac were scanning the angels on high. Abraham did not see them.
In that hour a Bath Qol (Heb: daughter of a voice) came forth from the heavens and said: “Come, see two singular persons who are in my world; one slaughters and the other is being slaughtered. The one who slaughters does not hesitate and he who is being slaughtered stretches out his neck
10. Abraham put forth his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. Isaac spoke up and said to his father: “Tie me well lest I struggle because of the anguish of my soul, with the result that a blemish will be found in your offering, and I will be thrust into the pit of destruction.” The eyes of Abraham were looking at the eyes of Isaac, and the eyes of Isaac were looking at the angels on high. Isaac saw them but Abraham did not see them.
The angels on high exclaimed: “Come, see two unique ones who are in the world; one is slaughtering, and one is being slaughtered; the one who slaughters does not hesitate, and the one who is being slaughtered stretches forth his neck.”
14 Abraham called the name of that place Elohim Yireh. As it is said to this day, "On the mountain, God will provide."
15 The angel of God called to Abraham a second time out of the sky,
16 and said, "I have sworn by myself, "says the LORD, "because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only, from me,
14. And Abraham worshiped and prayed10 in the name of the Memra of the Lord and said: “I beseech by the mercy that is before you O Lord:—everything is manifest and known before you—that there was no division in my heart the first time that you said to me to offer my son Isaac, to make him dust and ashes before you; but I immediately arose early in the morning and diligently put your words into practice with gladness and fulfilled your decree.
And now, when his sons are in the hour of distress you shall remember the Binding of their father Isaac, and listen to the voice of their supplication, and answer them and deliver them from all distress, so that the generations to arise after him may say: ‘On the mountain of the sanctuary of the Lord Abraham sacrificed his son Isaac, and on this mountain the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord was revealed to him.’
And the angel of the Lord called from the heavens to Abraham a second time. 16. And he said: “In the name of his Memra I have sworn,” says the Lord, “because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, only son...18. And because you listened to the voice of his Memra, in your descendants will all the nations of the earth be blessed.”
14. Abraham gave thanks and prayed there in that place, and said: “I beseech, by the mercy from before you, O Lord! It is manifest before you that there was no deviousness in my heart, and that I sought to perform your decree with joy.
Therefore, when the children of Isaac my son enter into a time of distress, remember them, and answer them, and redeem them. All these generations to come will say, ‘On this mountain Abraham tied his son Isaac, and there the Shekinah of the Lord was revealed to him!” 15. The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16. and said, “By my Memra I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing and have not refused your son, your only one,
[1] Genesis 22:1-19, New Heart English Bible translation.
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