Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/38

 The Book of Genesis

20

But in the main, these stories a1)out were legends which sprang up in ancient They different times and for varying purposes.

of a part of

Abraham, Israel

at

Israel.

too,

were handed down orally for many generations, until at last, during the eighth, seventh and sixth centuries B. C. they w^ere gradually woven together and written down in the form in which we have them now. A careful study and interpretation of these stories in the light of the times and conditions which jjroduced them, bring out clearly the Jewish truth inherent in them. For example, the story of the sacrifice of Isaac

(XXII)

is

a legend

which took form in prophetic circles of the northern kingdom at some time between 850 and 750 B. C. During this period the horrible practice of child-sacrifice flourished.

The people

believed that

God demanded

the sacrifice of chil-

dren as the most precious gift mortals could bring. combated in every way possible.

This

Thus they conceived and developed this legend that Abraham, the traditional ancestor of Israel, also had thought that God demanded such a sacrifice, and so he prepared to offer up belief the prophets

But before the

ow^n son.

his

God Himself

sacrifice

could be completed,

intervened and provided for the sacrifice of a

Thereby He signified that animal was acceptable to Him, and that human sacSuch was the original form rifice must never be off"ered. and purpose of this legend. But later waiters, in turn, reThey now^ told that God had vised and enlarged upon it. to sacrifice Isaac, not, howAl)raham commanded actually

ram

in place of the child.

sacrifice alone

ever,

with the intention of really allowing this sacrifice to

ness to give up at to

him

in

life.

Abraham's

by his willingthe divine behest that which was dearest

be offered, but merely

Thus

to- test

this

legend, the origin of wdiich

be so clearly determined, became writers an effective

faith

in the

hands of these

means of presenting concretely

can later

that fun-