Isaac
The son promised to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, through whom the covenant passes. He is laid on the altar on Moriah and spared, marries Rebekah, and is the father of Esau and Jacob.
Isaac is born when Abraham is a hundred years old and is circumcised on the eighth day (Genesis 21:1–5). Genesis has God say beforehand that the covenant would be established with him and not with his elder half-brother Ishmael (Genesis 17:19–21). In the Binding of Isaac he is bound on the altar and a ram is offered in his place (Genesis 22:9–13). At forty he marries Rebekah, who is brought from his father’s relatives in Mesopotamia (Genesis 24:67) (Genesis 25:20), and at sixty he becomes the father of the twins Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:24–26). The promise made to Abraham is repeated to him at Gerar and at Beersheba (Genesis 26:2–5) (Genesis 26:23–25). Old and blind, he gives the blessing of the firstborn to Jacob, who comes to him disguised as Esau (Genesis 27:1–29). He dies at 180 at Hebron and is buried by his two sons (Genesis 35:27–29).
Paul calls Christians “children of promise” as Isaac was (Galatians 4:28), and quotes the words “your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac” to show that descent alone does not make a child of the promise (Romans 9:6–9). His dates are worked out from the Bible’s own figures; see the dating note at the Call of Abraham.
In the timeline
- about 2050 BC, traditional dateThe Binding of Isaac
In Genesis God tests Abraham by telling him to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering in the land of Moriah. Abraham obeys, an angel stops his hand, and a ram is offered in the boy’s place. The promise is confirmed with an oath.