Isaac Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Jewish views== In [[Rabbinic literature|rabbinical tradition]], the age of Isaac at the time of binding is taken to be 37, which contrasts with common portrayals of Isaac as a child.<ref name="New EoJ">''The New Encyclopedia of Judaism'', ''Isaac''.</ref> The [[rabbi]]s also thought that the reason for the death of Sarah was the news of the intended sacrifice of Isaac.<ref name="New EoJ"/> The sacrifice of Isaac is cited in appeals for the [[Atonement in Judaism|mercy of God]] in later [[Jewish]] traditions.<ref name="Britannica-Isaac">''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', ''Isaac''.</ref> The post-biblical Jewish interpretations often elaborate the role of Isaac beyond the biblical description and primarily focus on Abraham's intended sacrifice of Isaac, called the {{transliteration|hbo|aqedah}} ("binding").<ref name="EoR-Isaac"/> According to a version of these interpretations, Isaac died in the sacrifice and was revived.<ref name="EoR-Isaac"/> According to many accounts of [[Aggadah]], unlike the Bible, it is [[Satan]] who is testing Isaac as an agent of [[God in Judaism|God]].<ref name="Brill's New Pauly">Brock, Sebastian P., ''Brill's New Pauly'', ''Isaac''.</ref> Isaac's willingness to follow God's command at the cost of his death has been a model for many Jews who preferred [[martyr]]dom to violation of the [[halakha|Jewish law]].<ref name="New EoJ"/> According to the Jewish tradition, Isaac instituted the afternoon prayer. This tradition is based on Genesis chapter 24, verse 63<ref>{{bibleverse|Genesis|24:63|HE}}</ref> ("Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide").<ref name="New EoJ"/> Isaac was the only [[patriarch]] who stayed in Canaan during his whole life and though once he tried to leave, God told him not to do so.<ref>{{bibleverse|Genesis|26:2|HE}}</ref> Rabbinic tradition gave the explanation that Isaac was almost sacrificed and anything dedicated as a sacrifice may not leave the [[Land of Israel]].<ref name="New EoJ"/> Isaac was the oldest of the biblical patriarchs at the time of his death, and the only patriarch whose name was not changed.<ref name="EoR-Isaac"/><ref name="Easton">Easton, M. G., ''Illustrated Bible Dictionary'', 3rd ed., ''Isaac''.</ref> Rabbinic literature also linked Isaac's blindness in old age, as stated in the Bible, to the sacrificial binding: Isaac's eyes went blind because the tears of angels present at the time of his sacrifice fell on Isaac's eyes.<ref name="Brill's New Pauly"/> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page