1 After these events, God {Elohim, Tester of Faith} tested Abraham. He called to him, “Abraham!” and Abraham replied, “Here I am {hineni: ready and present}.”
2 And He {Elohim, Covenant Tester} said, “Please take Isaac, your son—your only one {yechidcha: unique and precious}—whom you have loved, and go to the land of Moriah. There, offer him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will point out to you.”
3 Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering {olah: complete consumption sacrifice}, then he rose and went toward the place God {haElohim, Divine Commander} had told him.
4 On the third day, Abraham {Avraham: multitude father} looked up and saw the place from a distance {merachok: far off}.
5 Abraham said to his young men {ne'arav: youthful attendants}, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship {nishtachaveh: humble prostration}, and afterward we will return to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood {atsei: prepared fuel-wood} reserved for the burnt offering and set it upon Isaac his son; he carried the fire {esh: ritual consuming flame} and the knife in his hand, and the two of them walked on together.
7 Isaac {Yitschak: Laughter Child} spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father.” He answered, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “Look, the fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering {olah: wholly burned gift}?”
8 Abraham said, “God {Elohim, Divine Provider} will Himself see to {yir’eh: foresee and supply} the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
9 They came to the place which God {Elohim, Faithful Instructor} had told him about. There Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood {etsim: sacrificial material}, bound Isaac his son, and placed him on the altar above the wood.
10 Abraham {Avraham: tested patriarch} extended his hand, took the knife, and prepared to slaughter {lishchot: ritual killing} his son.
11 But the angel of the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Caller} summoned him from the heavens {shamayim: heavenly domain}, calling, “Abraham, Abraham!” And Abraham replied, “Here I am.”
12 And He said, “Do not stretch your hand toward the boy, and do not do anything to him. For now I know that you are one who fears God {Elohim, Divine Examiner}, and you have not withheld your son {binkha: beloved child}, your only one, from Me.”
13 And Abraham lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, behind him a ram {ayil: mature male sheep} caught in the thicket by its horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place {tachat: substitution in sacrifice} of his son.
14 Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD {YHWH, Faithful Provider} Will Provide {yireh: sees ahead},” so that even today people say, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be seen.”
15 From the heavens, the angel of the LORD {YHWH, Faithful Oath Speaker} summoned Abraham a second time {shenit: repeated assurance}.
16 And the LORD {YHWH, Solemn Oath-Giver} said, “By Myself I have sworn {nishba'ti: self-guaranteed oath}—declares the LORD—because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only one.”
17 For indeed, I {YHWH, Faithful Promise-Keeper} will surely bless you, and I will greatly multiply your descendants {zera: covenant offspring}—like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your descendants will possess the gate of their enemies.
18 And in your offspring {zera: covenant line} all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My {YHWH, Oath Speaker} voice.
19 So Abraham returned to his young men {ne'ar: household assistants}. Then they rose up and proceeded together to Be'er Sheva {shava: oath landmark}, and Abraham settled there.
20 And it happened after these things that word was brought to Abraham {Avraham: covenant recipient}, saying, “Behold, Milcah {Milkah: royal matriarch} also has borne sons to Nahor your brother.”
21 Uz the firstborn {bechor: eldest son}, then Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father {avi: ancestral head} of Aram.
22 Also Kesed {Kesed: clan founder}, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel {Bethuel: key forefather}.
23 And Bethuel {betuel: family ancestor} fathered Rebekah {rivkah: future matriarch}. Milkah then bore eight sons to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.
24 And his concubine {pilegesh: secondary wife}—her name was Reumah—she also bore {yalad: gave birth} Tebah, and Gaham, and Tahash, and Maakah.