The Binding of Isaac in the Three ‘Abrahamic’ Traditions

The story of the “Binding of Isaac” in Genesis 22 has exerted enormous influence on the development of the Jewish and Christian traditions. In the case of Judaism, the passage comes to be taken as foundational for God’s promise to the Jewish people. In the case of Christianity, it has deeply affected the narratives about the crucifixion of Jesus, though in ways that can only be recognized if the interpretations of Genesis 22 in Second Temple Judaism are brought to bear. In ways that reflect both the biblical text and its subsequent elaborations, the story also appears in Muslim scripture, though again with important and revealing differences.