The Offering of Isaac
(John 3:1–21)

1After these things occurred, God tested Abraham, and he said to him, “Abraham, Abraham.” And he answered, “Here I am.” 2He said to him: “Take your only begotten son Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of vision. And there you shall offer him as a holocaust upon one of the mountains, which I will show to you.” 3And so Abraham, getting up in the night, harnessed his donkey, taking with him two youths, and his son Isaac. And when he had cut wood for the holocaust, he traveled toward the place, as God had instructed him. 4Then, on the third day, lifting up his eyes, he saw the place at a distance. 5And he said to his servants: “Wait here with the donkey. I and the boy will hurry further ahead to that place. After we have worshipped, will return to you.” 6He also took the wood for the holocaust, and he imposed it upon his son Isaac. And he himself carried in his hands fire and a sword. And as the two continued on together, 7Isaac said to his father, “My father.” And he answered, “What do you want, son?” “Behold,” he said, “fire and wood. Where is the victim for the holocaust?” 8But Abraham said, “God himself will provide the victim for the holocaust, my son.” Thus they continued on together.

9And they came to the place that God had shown to him. There he built an altar, and he set the wood in order upon it. And when he had bound his son Isaac, he laid him on the altar upon the pile of wood. 10And he reached out his hand and took hold of the sword, in order to sacrifice his son.

The LORD Provides the Sacrifice

11And behold, an Angel of the Lord called out from heaven, saying, “Abraham, Abraham.” And he answered, “Here I am.” 12And he said to him, “Do not extend your hand over the boy, and do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, since you have not spared your only begotten son for my sake.” 13Abraham lifted up his eyes, and he saw behind his back a ram among the thorns, caught by the horns, which he took and offered as a holocaust, instead of his son. 14And he called the name of that place: ‘The Lord Sees.’ Thus, even to this day, it is said: ‘On the mountain, the Lord will see.’

15Then the Angel of the Lord called out to Abraham a second time from heaven, saying: 16“By my own self, I have sworn, says the Lord. Because you have done this thing, and have not spared your only begotten son for my sake, 17I will bless you, and I will multiply your offspring like the stars of heaven, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gates of their enemies. 18And in your offspring, all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you obeyed my voice.” 19Abraham returned to his servants, and they went to Beersheba together, and he lived there.

The Sons of Nahor

20After these things occurred, it was reported to Abraham that Milcah, likewise, had borne sons for his brother Nahor: 21Uz, the firstborn, and Buz, his brother, and Kemuel, the father of the Syrians, 22and Chesed, and Hazo, likewise Pildash, and Jidlaph, 23as well as Bethuel, of whom was born Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore for Nahor, the brother of Abraham. 24In truth, his concubine, named Reumah, bore Tebah, and Gaham, and Tahash, and Maacah.