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Why is the binding of Yitzhak the focus of the narrative more so than the attempted offering itself by Avraham?

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    Where do you see that it is?
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Jul 23, 2020 at 16:05
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    Akeida means the binding of Yitzhak, not the offering of Avraham. Seems the importance is in the binding as opposed to the attempted offering that follows.
    – Ephraim77
    Commented Jul 23, 2020 at 16:10
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    Do you mean to ask why is the episode colloquially referred to as the Binding of Isaac / Akeidas Yitzchak, as opposed to something else like Avraham offering his son?
    – robev
    Commented Jul 23, 2020 at 16:12
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    If you want some sources that use the term Akeidas Yitzchak (and thus you'll ask, why is it referred to that way), consider adding to your question Rosh Hashana 16a, Tamid 31b, Vayikra Rabbah, Midrash Tanchuma, etc.
    – robev
    Commented Jul 23, 2020 at 16:24
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    @Josh K. Is not the climax of the episode the raising of the knife and the intervention of the angels to prevent the deed? As opposed to the binding alone of which the episode is titled?
    – Ephraim77
    Commented Jul 23, 2020 at 18:31

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'ה never told אברהם to slaughter his son. Rather he was commanded to prepare his son ("bring him up") to be an offering i.e. bind him (see Rashi's comment on Bereishis 22:2). Therefore it follows to refer to the event as "the binding of יצחק" because that was the actual test, to go up and bind him. Nothing more.

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  • Were the Jews also only commanded to tie animals up on Har Eval and not slaughter them? אֲבָנִים שְׁלֵמוֹת תִּבְנֶה, אֶת-מִזְבַּח יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ; וְהַעֲלִיתָ עָלָיו עוֹלֹת, לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ.
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Jul 28, 2020 at 12:15
  • Why don't we call it עליית יצחק then? This doesn't explain the choice of the root עקד
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Jul 28, 2020 at 12:20
  • @DoubleAA the question about har eval is very good, but it's a question on Rashi , not a question on me.
    – nosh
    Commented Jul 30, 2020 at 12:33
  • @DoubleAA with regards to your second question,(also a good question) the questioner (Ephraim77) asked about the focus of the narrative not the choice of words. I gave a possible answer to his question.
    – nosh
    Commented Jul 30, 2020 at 12:35

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