previous chapter. But the difficulty disappear* when wc liiul that Gn 27'"" is from the Prophetic, and Gn 27^''-28" is from the Priestly source, luii tliat the two traditions are combined, though not harmonized.
The great similarity between the story — though not harmonized — of the repudiation of Rebek.ih by Isaac at the court of Abimelech at Gerar, and the story of the repudiation of Sarah by Abraham, likewise at the court of Abimelech king of Gerar, will have occurred to all readers. The Abraham narrative (Gn 20) is from E; the Ismic narrali^o (Gn 20*"") is from J. It can hardly be doubted that the two traditions are dilierent versions of the same event.
According to the figures given in Gn 25^, where it is stated that Isaac was 60 years old when Jacob and Esau were bom, and those given in Gn 3.'>'*, where it is stated that Isaac died at the age of 180, we should infer that Isaac's deatli occurred only 10 years before Jacob's descent into Egypt (Gn 47'°). Moreover, by a comparison of the data of Joseph's age (Gn 41-'*' 45") with tliose of Jacob's age (Gn 47"), it would appear that Isaac was 137 years old when Jacob went to Haran.
4. The position of Isaac in the narrative is not so conspicuous or so attractive as that of Abraham or of Jacob. He impersonates, as it were, the peaceful, obedient, and submissive qualities of an equable trust in God, distinct alike from the transcendent faith of Abraham, and from that lower type which La Jacob was learned through discipline and purged from self-will. There are but a few items upon the strength of which a picture of Isaac's character can be constructed. But the submission shown at the crisis of sacrilice (Gn 22), the lonely meditation at eventide (Gn 24®), the intercession on his wife's behalf (Gn2.j-'), Jacob's allusion to the object of his father's fear (Gn 31*^), are details which supply features of greater dignity and grace than are suggested by the mention of his fondness for good food in Gn 25^ 27*. He is, however, a subordinate figure as compared with Abraham and Jacob; and the lower level at which he seems to stand is implied in Gn 26', where the covenant of blessiijg is granteil to Isaac and his seed, not for their own sake, but for their father Abraham's sake.
It was not without significance for the Israelites that the prehistoric founders of their race were not all of heroic mould. The ordinary materials of Hebrew life, as represented in Is£iac and Jacob, were selected to be the channels of special revela- tion no less than the more splendid and striking personality of their father Abraham. Isaac was similar to the majority in every community, yield- ing, easy-going, stationary, content to receive the promise without realizing the extent or nature of the privilege. The events of his life are associated with a few localities, all (except Mamre, Gn 35'""-") within a restricted area in S. Palestine. His encampments at Beer-lahai-roi, Gerar, and Beer- slieba form a sharp contrast to the varied scenes in the lives of Abraham and Jacob. The typical service of one of the patriarchs was rendered in quietness and sitting stUl.
5. lieferenres in the New Testament. — The sacrifice of Isaac is t^vice referred to in the NT.
(1) He 11"-'^ where the writer brings out the triumph of Abraham's faith in the conflict between the altection of a father and the duty of obedience ;
(2) Ja 2-', where the apostle appeals to the fjreat deed of sacrifice as against the perversion of the doctrine of justification by faith. In each case the submission of Isaac plays its part, but only a secondary part, in the argument of the writer.
6. The ureat importance attached by the Jews of the Middle Ages to the sacrifice of Isaao it
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worthy of attention. ' The Jewa implore the mercy of God by the sacrifice of Isaac, aa Christians by the sacrifice of Christ' (Mayor, Ep. James, p. 97). In the subtnission of Isa<-ic was seen the sub- mission of the whole race. Cf. 2'arg. on Mic 7" ' Remember for us the binding of Isaac.' Pcsikta It. Kahana, ' For the merit of Isaac who oll'cred himself upon the altar, the Holy One, blessed be He, will hereafter raise the dead ' (Buber).
Amongst many strange Jewish traditions respect- ing Isaac may be mentioned that of Targ. Jerus. on Gn 27', \\ here Isjiac's blindness is accounted for ' because when his father was binding him, he had seen the throne of glory, and from that time his ejyes had be^un to darken.' Even more strange is the altercation between Isaac and Ishmael, wliicli, according to the Targuiii of Palestine, led to tliu sacrifice of Isaac : ' And it was after these things that Isaac and Ishmael contended ; and Ishiiiuul said. It is right that I should inherit what is the father's, because I am his tiistborn son. And Isaac said. It is right that I should inherit what is the father's, because I am the son of Sarah his wife, and thou art the sou of Ilagar the handmaid of my mother. Ishmael answered and said, I am more righteous than thou, because I was circum- cised at thirteen years ; and if it had been iny will to hinder, they should not have delivered me to bo circumcised ; but thou wast circumcised a child of eight daj's ; if thou hadst had knowledge, perhaps they could not have delivered thee to ue circum- cised. Isaac answered and said. Behold now, to-day I am thirty and six years old ; and if the Holy One, blessed be He, were to require all my members, I would not hesitate. These words were heard before the Lord of the World, and the Word (Memra) of the Lord at once tried Abraham ' (Etheiidge's translation).