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Isaac's Binding (Gen 22:1–19; Jub. 17:15–18:19)

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Isaac's Binding (Gen 22:1–19; Jub. 17:15–18:19) CHAPTER SIX ISAAC’S BINDING (GEN 22:1–19; JUB. 17:15–18:19) 1. An Overall Comparison between Genesis 22:1–19 and Jubilees 17:15–18:19 The story of the offering of Isaac in Jubilees corresponds quite closely to that in Genesis. The most striking deviation is the fact that, in Jubilees, it is preceded by an introduction, and followed by a halakic addition. Genesis 22:1–19 Jubilees 17:15–18:19 17:15–18 Introduction 22:1–19 Story of the binding of Isaac 18:1–17 Story of the binding of Isaac 18:18–19 Halakic addition 2. An Analysis of the Rewriting of Genesis 22:1–19 in Jubilees 17:15–18:19 2.1. The Introduction to Isaac’s Binding ( Jub. 17:15–18) Genesis leaves the reader with the question of why God had to test Abraham in such a cruel way. Moreover, for the ancient reader it might have been a problem that God did not know the result of the test in advance. In the introduction ( Jub. 17:15–18), the author of Jubilees makes clear that it is not God who takes the initiative but the prince of Mastema. Jubilees keeps evil away from God, who is completely good.1 According to Jubilees, the test does not show to God that Abraham is God-fearing, but it demon- strates his loyalty to others (cf. Jub. 18:16: “I have made known to everyone that you are faithful to me in everything that I have told you”). Moreover, Abraham has already been tested six times (Abraham’s land; the famine; the wealth of kings; his wife when she was taken forcibly; circumcision; Ishmael and his servant girl Hagar, when he sent them away),2 God knows 1 Cf. Segal, Book of Jubilees, 190. 2 S. Sandmel (Philo’s Place in Judaism: A Study of Conceptions of Abraham in Jewish Literature (New York 1971), 44, note 129, speaks about six trials in Jub. 17:17. So also L.A. Huizenga, “The Battle for Isaac: Exploring the Composition and Function of the Aqedah in the Book of Jubilees,” JSP 13 (2002): 33–59 (esp. 38); Kugel, “On the Interpolations,” 215–272 210 chapter six that Abraham is faithful to him ( Jub. 17:17–18). The introduction runs as follows: Jubilees 17:15–18 15a During the seventh week, in the first year, during the first month— on the twelfth of this month—in this jubilee, 15b there were words in heaven regarding Abraham, 15c that he was faithful in everything that he told him, 15d that the Lord loved him 15e and (that) in every difficulty he was faithful. 16a Then prince Mastema came 16b and said before God: 16c “Abraham does indeed love his son Isaac 16d and finds him more pleasing than anyone else. 16e Tell him to offer him as a sacrifice on an altar. 16f Then you will see whether he performs this order 16g and will know whether he is faithful in everything through which you test him.” 17a Now the Lord was aware that Abraham was faithful in every difficulty which he had told him. 17b For he had tested him through his land and the famine; 17c he had tested him through the wealth of kings; 17d he had tested him again through his wife when she was taken forcibly, 17e and through circumcision; 17f and he had tested him through Ishmael and his servant girl Hagar when he sent them away. 18a In everything through which he tested him he was found faithful. 18b He himself did not grow impatient, 18c nor was he slow to act; 18d for he was faithful 18e and one who loved the Lord. The introduction is an addition to the text of Gen 22:1–19. It first places the Akedah within the overall chronological framework of the book. Accord- ing to the author of Jubilees, the binding of Isaac takes place during the seventh week, in the first year of the forty-first jubilee (cf. Jub. 17:15a), which is 2003 a.m. Isaac was born in 1988 a.m. (cf. Jub. 16:15; 17:1) and (esp. 263–264). One can also come to seven, if Ishmael and Hagar are seen as two separate trials. So Kugel, Bible As It Was, 168; J.C. VanderKam, Book of Jubilees (Guides to Apocry- pha and Pseudepigrapha; Sheffield 2001), 54; F. García Martínez, “The Sacrifice of Isaac in 4Q225,” in The Sacrifice of Isaac: The Aqedah (Genesis 22) and Its Interpretations (ed. E. Noort and E. Tigchelaar; Themes in Biblical Narrative 4; Leiden, 2002), 44–57 (esp. 49)..
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