And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
And God said, 'Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There, offer him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will show you.'
God is asking Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac as a test of faith and obedience.
📚 Historical Context
This command came to Abraham when Isaac was likely a teenager, after Abraham had waited decades for God's promise of a son to be fulfilled. In ancient times, child sacrifice was practiced by some pagan cultures, making God's command particularly shocking yet culturally understandable. The land of Moriah is believed to be the area where Jerusalem would later be built, including the site where Solomon's temple would stand.
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