Page 31 - Pure Life 39
P. 31
(
6 / International Multidisciplinary Journal of Pure Life, 11(39), 2024
horns. He went over and took the ram pronounced as ‘Yawkheed.’ This term is
and sacrificed it as a burnt offering derived from the primary root “ דיחי”
instead of his son. So Abraham called (yachid), which means “to be (or
that place “The LORD Will Provide.” become) one” (Strong, 1980, entry 3173,
And to this day it is said, “On the p. 49; Brown & Briggs, 1996, p. 996).
mountain of the LORD it will be The word “Isaac” in a specific verse
provided.” The angel of the LORD appears out of place when paired with
called to Abraham from heaven a second ‘only son.’ Authors A.S. Ghauri and I.R.
time and said, “I swear by myself, Ghauri argue that this combination is a
declares the LORD, that because you deliberate interpolation (Ghauri &
have done this and have not withheld Ghauri, 2010, p. 57).
your son, your only son, I will surely Opinions of Bible Scholars about
bless you and make your descendants as Isaac being the ‘Only Son’
numerous as the stars in the sky and as 1. Robert Alter writes that since the
the sand on the seashore. Your term ‘your only one’ for Isaac is
descendants will take possession of the technically inaccurate some scholars
cities of their enemies, and through your have preferred to use the yadid
offspring, all nations on earth will be (meaning ‘favored one’) instead of the
blessed, because you have obeyed me.” word yahid (only one) mentioned in
Then Abraham returned to his servants, the verse. In other words, instead of
and they set off together for Beersheba. translating Genesis 22: 2 as “Take your
And Abraham stayed in Beersheba (The son, your only son Isaac,” some
Holy Bible, Genesis 22: 1-19). scholars have translated the verse as
Abraham was eighty-six years old ‘Take your son, your favored son
when Ishmael was born (Genesis 16: Isaac.’ Since Isaac was not Abraham’s
16) and a hundred years old when Isaac only son, referring to him as such is
was born (Genesis 21: 5). Thus, for technically inaccurate.
fourteen years, Ishmael was Abraham’s However, R. Alter disagrees with
only son, and throughout his life, Isaac these scholars, asserting that Isaac was
could never have been called the only the only son Abraham loved because
son of Abraham because Isaac and he was his legitimate wife's child
Ishmael together buried their father, (Alter, 1997, p. 103).
Abraham (Genesis 25: 9).
2. According to John Gill, Ishmael was
Etymology of the ‘Only’ in the Old the son of Hagar, who was Abraham’s
Testament maid and concubine, but not his wife. In
According to Bible dictionaries, the contrast, Isaac was Abraham’s only
Hebrew word for “only” is “דיחי” legitimate son, born to his lawful wife,
