Read Genesis 21 and 22 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph divisions:
Gen 21:1-21 {p} Isaac becomes Abraham’s heir when he is weaned
Gen 21:22-34 {p} Abimelech and Abraham make a covenant of peace
Gen 22:1-19 {p} Abraham and the binding of Isaac
Gen 22:20-24 {p} The seed of Nahor
Each of these paragraphs form their own chiastic structures:
Gen 21:1-21 {p} Isaac becomes Abraham’s heir when he is weaned
1a) Gen 21:1-3, YHVH took note of Sarah, and fulfilled His promise concerning Isaac;
1b) Gen 21:4, Abraham did unto Isaac according to the word of YHVH;
1c) Gen 21:5-7, The son of Sarah caused the laughter of joy;
central axis) Gen 21:8, “The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned;” (i.e., Isaac officially became Abraham’s heir;)
2c) Gen 21:9, The son of Hagar laughed in mockery of Isaac;
2b) Gen 21:10-14, Abraham did unto Ishmael according to the word of YHVH, and sent them away;
2a) Gen 21:15-21, YHVH took note of Hagar, and fulfilled His promise concerning Ishmael.
Gen 21:22-34 {p} Abimelech and Abraham make a covenant of peace
1a) Gen 21:22-23, Abimelech + Phicol want a covenant with Abraham;
1b) Gen 21:24, Abraham spoke his oath;
1c) Gen 21:25-26, Abraham’s well;
central axis) Gen 21:27, “Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant;”
2c) Gen 21:28-30, Seven ewe lambs prove that the well is Abraham’s;
2b) Gen 21:31, Beersheba means “well of the oath;”
2a) Gen 21:32-34, Abimelech + Phicol made a covenant with Abraham.
Gen 22:20-24 {p} The seed of Nahor
1a) Gen 22:20, Children borne to Nahor;
1b) Gen 22:21-22, Eight children borne to Nahor;
central axis) Gen 22:23a, “Bethuel became the father of Rebekah;”
2b) Gen 22:23b, Eight children borne to Nahor;
2a) Gen 22:24 {p} Children borne to Nahor.
But the most puzzling one is Abraham and the binding of Isaac. Why would God ask this terrible sacrifice of Abraham? The answer is amazing!
Gen 22:1-19 {p} Abraham and the binding of Isaac
1a) Gen 21:33-34, Abraham dwelt in Beersheba;
1b) Gen 22:1-2, God: Go to Moriah and offer your only son Isaac as a burnt offering;
1c) Gen 22:3-9, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering;
1a) Gen 22:3-6, Abraham went to the place + laid the wood on Isaac his son;
1) Gen 22:3-5, Abraham went to the place of which God had told him;
2) Gen 22:6, Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son;
central axis) Gen 22:7-8, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering;
2a) Gen 22:9, They came to the place + laid Isaac his son on the wood;
1) Gen 22:9a, Then they came to the place of which God had told him;
2) Gen 22:9b, Abraham bound Isaac his son and laid him upon the wood;
central axis) Gen 22:10, Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son;
2c) Gen 22:11-15, Abraham called the name of the place, The LORD will provide;
1a) Gen 22:11-12, The Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven;
central axis) Gen 22:13-14, Abraham beheld the ram + called the name of the place, The LORD will provide;
2a) Gen 22:15, The Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven;
2b) Gen 22:16-18, God: Because you have not withheld your only son Isaac, blessing, because you have obeyed;
2a) Gen 22:19 {p} Abraham returned to Beersheba and dwelt there.
The central axis of the entire chiastic structure, is Abraham’s obedience. He is the father of all who believe as we saw (Rom 4:11), and he is also the father of all who obey!
But this paragraph is full of signs which proclaim the Messiah by prophetic type — for Moses, Jesus told us, wrote about Him (Joh 5:46). So as God is the Father who would give His only begotten Son, who was the Promised Seed (Gen 3:15), for the sins of the world by sacrifice, Abraham, the father, did likewise by prophetic type with his son, who was also the promised seed (Gen 15:2-4).
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