Midrash su Genesi 22:6

(Lev. 22:28:) “In the case of an animal from the herd or the flock, [you shall not slaughter] it and its offspring on the same day.”⁶⁶Although the nouns here are masculine singular and would normally read: IN THE CASE OF A BULL OR A SHEEP, Rashi understands the verse as only prohibiting the slaughter of a female beast and its offspring on the same day. Others like Ibn Ezra understand the prohibition in the verse as referring to both sexes. For a discussion of the two interpretations, see Hul. 78b-80a. This text is related (to Prov. 12:10), “A righteous one regards the life of his beast, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel.”⁶⁷Lev. R. 27:11: PRK 9:11. “A righteous one regards the life of his beast.” This refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is written in the Torah (in Deut. 22:6 with reference to birds), “you shall not take the mother with the young.”⁶⁸Cf. Tos. Meg. 25a. “But the compassion of the wicked is cruel.” This refers to Sennacherib, of whom it is written (in Hos. 10:14), “the mother was dashed to pieces with the children.” “A righteous one regards the life of his beast.” This refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is written in the Torah (in Lev. 22:28), “In the case of an animal from the herd or the flock, [you shall not slaughter] it and its offspring….” “But the compassion of the wicked is cruel.” This refers to Haman, of whom it is written (in Esth. 3:13), “to destroy and to annihilate [all the Jews].” R. Levi said, “Woe to the wicked, because they devise secret plans against Israel.⁶⁹M. Ps. 2:4. Each and every one says, ‘My plan is better than your plan.’ Esau said, ‘Cain was stupid to kill [his brother] Abel during his father's lifetime.⁷⁰Cf. Gen. R. 75:9. Did he not know that his father would be fruitful and multiply [afterwards]? I am not acting like that. Instead (in Gen. 27:41), “Let the days of mourning for my father come; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”’ Pharaoh said, ‘Esau was stupid to say, “Let the days of mourning for my father come.” Did he not know that his brother would be fruitful and multiply during his father's lifetime? I will not act like that. Instead, while they are tiny under their mothers' birthstool, I will strangle them.’ Thus it is written (in Exod. 1:22), ‘Every son born you shall throw into the Nile.’ Haman said, ‘Pharaoh was stupid to say, “Every son born [you shall throw into the Nile, but every daughter you shall keep alive].” Did he not know that, when the daughters are married to men,⁷¹According to Yafat Toar, this means foreign men, but it appears to me to be speaking about older Jewish men who were born before this decree (Ed. FN). they are fruitful and multiply through them. I will not act like that. Instead, [I will act] (in Esth. 3:13), “to destroy and to annihilate [all the Jews, young and old, children and women, on a single day].”’” R. Levi said, “Gog and Magog as well are going to say the same, ‘The former ones were stupid because they devised secret plans against Israel. Did they not know that they have a Patron⁷²Lat.: patronus. in the heavens? I will not act like that. First I will join in battle with their Patron, and after that I will join in battle with them.’” Thus it is written (in Ps. 2:2), “The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “O wicked one, have you come to Me to join in battle?⁷³Rt.: ZWG. The root more commonly refers to joining in wedlock as does the Greek verb, zeugnunai. By your life I will wage war with you,” as stated (in Is. 42:13), “The Lord shall go forth like a warrior […].” It also says (in Zech. 14:3) “Then the Lord will come forth and fight with those nations.”

He took the wood and placed it upon the back of his son Isaac, and he took the fire and the knife in his hand, and they went both of them together. Isaac said to his father: O my father! Behold the fire and the wood, where is the lamb for the burnt offering? He replied to him: My son! Thou art the lamb for the burnt offering, as it is said, "And Abraham said, God will provide for himself the lamb" (Gen. 22:8).

(Gen. 22:6:) THEN ABRAHAM TOOK [THE WOOD FOR THE BURNT OFFERING AND SET IT UPON HIS SON ISAAC]. To whom was Isaac comparable? To one who (after being condemned to death) was going out to be burned with his wood on his shoulders. ¹⁷⁰Cf. Gen. R. 56:3.

(Gen. 22:6, cont.:) WHILE HE TOOK [THE FIRE AND THE KNIFE (ma'akhelet)] IN HIS OWN HAND. Why is ma'akhelet (rt.: 'KL) written < here for KNIFE > and sakin (which also means "knife") not written? Because Israel ate a lot of food (rt.: 'KL) under his {bounty} [hand].¹⁷¹I.e., due to Abraham’s merit in this trial.

(Gen. 22:6, cont.:) SO BOTH OF THEM WENT OFF TOGETHER, the one to slaughter and the other to be slaughtered.

Another interpretation (of Gen. 22:6, cont.): SO BOTH OF THEM WENT OFF TOGETHER. R. Abbin Berabbi the Levite said: While they were walking, Satan came to Isaac on his right hand and said: Alas, wretched son of a wretched woman, how many fasts did your mother fast until you came?¹⁷²Tanh., Gen. 4:22; PR 40:6; see Gen. R. 56:4. Now the old man has gone mad in his old age, and here he is going to slaughter you. Isaac turned back and said to his father: Look at what this one is saying to me! He said to him: He has come to confuse you, but the Holy One shall not confuse us, as stated (in Gen. 22:8): GOD WILL SEE TO THE LAMB FOR A BURNT OFFERING. So nevertheless (according to Gen. 22:6): SO BOTH OF THEM WENT OFF TOGETHER. How old was Isaac? He was thirty-seven years old.¹⁷³See Gen. R. 56:8; above, 42.

And Avraham took the wood of the burnt-offering (Gen. 22:6) — like one who carries his own stake [to be impaled] on his shoulder. "And he took in his hand the fire and the knife (Ma’akheleth)" (Gen. 22:6). R. Hanina said: Why is a knife called ma’akheleth? Because it makes food (okhlim) fit to be eaten. While the Rabbis said: All eating (akhiloth) which Israel enjoy in this world, they enjoy only in the merit of that ma’akheleth (knife). "And they went both of them together (Gen. 22:6): one to bind and the other to be bound, one to slaughter and the other to be slaughtered.