הַנִּסָּיוֹן הָעֲשִׂירִי, ״וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וְהָאֱלֹהִים נִסָּה אֶת אַבְרָהָם״ וְכוּ', הָיָה מְנַסֶּה בְּכָל פַּעַם וּפַעַם לֵידַע אֶת לִבּוֹ אִם יָכוֹל לַעֲמֹד וְלִשְׁמֹר הַמִּצְווֹת שֶׁל תּוֹרָה וְאִם לָאו. וְעַד שֶׁנִּתְּנָה הַתּוֹרָה שָׁמַר אַבְרָהָם מִצְווֹתֶיהָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַע אַבְרָהָם בְּקוֹלִי״. וַיֵּצֵא יִשְׁמָעֵאל מִן הַמִּדְבָּר לִרְאוֹת אֶת אַבְרָהָם אָבִיו. THE BINDING OF ISAAC ON THE ALTAR
THE tenth trial was (as follows): "And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham" (Gen. 22:1). He tried Abraham each time in order to know his heart, whether he would be able to persevere and keep all the commandments of the Torah or not, and whilst as yet the Torah had not been given, Abraham kept all the precepts of the Torah, as it is said, "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my Torah" (Gen. 26:5). And Ishmael went repeatedly from the wilderness to see || his father Abraham.
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: בְּאוֹתָהּ הַלַּיְלָה נִגְלָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָלָיו וְאָמַר לוֹ, ״אַבְרָהָם, קַח נָא אֶת בִּנְךָ״. וְאַבְרָהָם חָס עַל יִצְחָק, אָמַר לְפָנָיו: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, לְאֵי זֶה בֵּן אַתָּה גּוֹזֵר אֵלַי? לַבֵּן הֶעָרֵל אוֹ לַבֵּן הַמִּילָה?״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״אֶת יְחִידְךָ״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״זֶה יָחִיד לְאִמּוֹ וְזֶה יָחִיד לְאִמּוֹ״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״אֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתָּ״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״שְׁנֵיהֶם אֲנִי אוֹהֵב״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״אֶת יִצְחָק״. Rabbi Jehudah said: In that night was the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed unto him, and He said unto him: Abraham! "Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac" (Gen. 22:2). And Abraham, having pity upon Isaac, said before Him: Sovereign of all worlds! Concerning which son dost Thou decree upon me? Is it concerning the son lacking circumcision, or the son born for circumcision? He answered him: "Thine only son." He rejoined: This one is the only son of his mother, and the other son is the only son of his mother. He said to him: "The one, whom thou lovest." He said to Him: Both of them do I love. He said to him: "Even Isaac."
וְהַעֲלֵהוּ שָׁם לְעוֹלָה, אָמַר לוֹ: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, בְּאֵי זֶה הַר אָמַרְתָּ לִי?״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁתִּרְאֶה אֶת כְּבוֹדִי עוֹמֵד וּמַמְתִּין לְךָ שָׁם, וְאוֹמֵר: זֶה הוּא הַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עַל אַחַד הֶהָרִים אֲשֶׁר אֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ״. "And offer him there for a burnt offering" (ibid.). He spake to Him: Sovereign of all worlds! On which mountain hast Thou told me (to offer him)? (God) answered him: In every place where thou dost see My glory abiding and waiting for thee there, and saying, This is Mount Moriah; as it is said, "Upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of" (ibid.).
הִשְׁכִּים אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר וְלָקַח אֶת יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְאֶת אֱלִיעֶזֶר וְאֶת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ עִמּוֹ, וְחָבַשׁ אֶת הַחֲמוֹר. הוּא שֶׁרָכַב עָלָיו אַבְרָהָם, הוּא הַחֲמוֹר בֶּן הָאָתוֹן שֶׁנִּבְרֵאת בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר״. הוּא הַחֲמוֹר שֶׁרָכַב עָלָיו מֹשֶׁה בְּבֹאוֹ לְמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ וְאֶת בָּנָיו וַיַּרְכִּבֵם עַל הַחֲמוֹר״. הוּא הַחֲמוֹר שֶׁעָתִיד בֶּן דָּוִד לִרְכֹּב עָלָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (זכריה ט, ט): ״עָנִי וְרֹכֵב עַל חֲמוֹר״. Abraham rose up early in the morning, and he took with him Ishmael, and Eliezer, and Isaac his son, and he saddled the ass. Upon this ass did Abraham ride. This was the ass, the offspring of that ass which was created during the twilight, as it is said, "And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass" (Gen. 22:8). The same ass was also ridden upon by Moses when he came to Egypt, as it is said, "And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon the ass" (Ex. 4:20). This || same ass will be ridden upon in the future by the Son of David, as it is said, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and saved; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt, the foal of an ass" (Zech. 9:9).
בֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים וָשֶׁבַע שָׁנָה הָיָה יִצְחָק בְּלֶכְתּוֹ אֶל הַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה, וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל בֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה. נִכְנַס תַּחֲרוּת בֵּין אֱלִיעֶזֶר וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל. אָמַר יִשְׁמָעֵאל לֶאֱלִיעֶזֶר: ״עַכְשָׁו אַבְרָהָם הִקְרִיב אֶת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ מוֹקְדָה עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וַאֲנִי בְּכוֹרוֹ יוֹרֵשׁ אַבְרָהָם״. אָמַר לוֹ אֱלִיעֶזֶר: ״כְּבָר גֵּרְשָׁךְ כְּאִשָּׁה שֶׁהִיא מְגֹרֶשֶׁת מִבַּעְלָהּ וְשִׁלְּחֲךָ לַמִּדְבָּר, אֲבָל אֲנִי עַבְדּוֹ מְשָׁרֵת אוֹתוֹ בַּיּוֹם וּבַלַּיְלָה, וַאֲנִי הוּא הַיּוֹרֵשׁ אֶת אַבְרָהָם״. וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ מְשִׁיבָה אוֹתָם וְאוֹמֶרֶת לָהֶם: ״לֹא זֶה יוֹרֵשׁ וְלֹא זֶה יוֹרֵשׁ״. Isaac was thirty-seven years old when he went to Mount Moriah, and Ishmael was fifty years old. Contention arose between Eliezer and Ishmael. Ishmael said to Eliezer: Now that Abraham will offer Isaac his son for a burnt offering, kindled upon the altar, and I am his first-born son, I will inherit (the possessions of) Abraham. Eliezer replied to him, saying: He has already driven thee out like a woman divorced from her husband, and he has sent thee away to the wilderness, but I am his servant, serving him by day and by night, and I shall be the heir of Abraham. The Holy Spirit answered them, saying to them: Neither this one nor that one shall inherit.
בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי הִגִּיעוּ לַצּוֹפִים, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לַצּוֹפִים רָאָה כְּבוֹד הַשְּׁכִינָה עוֹמֵד עַל גַּבֵּי הָהָר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וַיִּשָּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם״. וּמָה רָאָה? עַמּוּד שֶׁל אֵשׁ עוֹמֵד מִן הָאָרֶץ וְעַד הַשָּׁמַיִם. וְהֵבִין אַבְרָהָם שֶׁנִּתְרַצָּה הַנַּעַר לְעוֹלָה תְּמִימָה. אָמַר לְיִשְׁמָעֵאל וְלֶאֱלִיעֶזֶר: ״רוֹאִים אַתֶּם מְאוּמָה בְּאַחַד מִן הֶהָרִים הַלָּלוּ?״ אָמְרוּ לוֹ: ״לָאו״. וְחָשַׁב אוֹתָם כַּחֲמוֹר. אָמַר: ״הוֹאִיל וְאֵין אַתֶּם רוֹאִים מְאוּמָה, שְׁבוּ לָכֶם פֹּה עִם הַחֲמוֹר״, עִם הַדּוֹמִים לַחֲמוֹר. On the third day they reached Zophim, and when they reached Zophim they saw the glory of the Shekhinah resting upon the top of the mountain, as it is said, "On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off" (Gen. 22:4). What did he see? (He saw) a pillar of fire standing from the earth to the heavens. Abraham understood that the lad had been accepted for the perfect burnt offering. He said to Ishmael and Eliezer: Do ye see anything upon one of those mountains? || They said to him: No. He considered them (as dull) as an ass. He told them: Since ye do not see anything, "Abide ye here with the ass" (Gen. 22:5), with such who are similar to the ass.
נָטַל אֶת הָעֵצִים וְנָתְנָן עַל גַּבֵּי יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ, וְלָקַח אֶת הָאֵשׁ וְאֶת הַמַּאֲכֶלֶת בְּיָדוֹ וְהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו. אָמַר יִצְחָק לְאָבִיו: ״אַבָּא, הֲרֵי הָאֵשׁ וְהָעֵצִים, הֵיכָן הוּא הַכֶּבֶשׂ לָעֹלָה?״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״בְּנִי, אַתָּה הוּא הַכֶּבֶשׂ לָעֹלָה״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהִים יִרְאֶה לּוֹ הַשֶּׂה״. He took the wood and placed it upon the back of his son Isaac, and he took the fire and the knife in his hand, and they went both of them together. Isaac said to his father: O my father! Behold the fire and the wood, where is the lamb for the burnt offering? He replied to him: My son! Thou art the lamb for the burnt offering, as it is said, "And Abraham said, God will provide for himself the lamb" (Gen. 22:8).
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: בָּאֶצְבַּע הֶרְאָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְאָמַר לוֹ ״זֶה הוּא הַמִּזְבֵּחַ״. וְהוּא הָיָה הַמִּזְבֵּחַ שֶׁהִקְרִיבוּ קַיִן וְהֶבֶל, וְהוּא הַמִּזְבֵּחַ שֶׁהִקְרִיבוּ נֹחַ וּבָנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּבֶן שָׁם אַבְרָהָם אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ״. אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא ״וַיִּבֶן שָׁם אַבְרָהָם אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ״ – הוּא הַמִּזְבֵּחַ שֶׁהִקְרִיבוּ בּוֹ הָרִאשׁוֹנִים. Rabbi Simeon said: The Holy One, blessed be He, pointed out the altar with a finger to Abraham our father, and said to him: This is the altar. That was the altar whereon Cain and Abel sacrificed; it was the same altar whereon Noah and his sons sacrificed, as it is said, "And Abraham built the altar there" (Gen. 22:9). "And Abraham built an altar there" is not written here, but "And Abraham built the altar there." That was the altar whereon the first ones (of old) had sacrificed.
אָמַר יִצְחָק לְאָבִיו: ״אַבָּא, קְשֹׁר לִי שְׁתֵּי יָדַי וּשְׁתֵּי רַגְלַי, שֶׁלֹּא אוֹתְךָ כְּגוֹן הַדִּבּוּר הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַפֶּה עַל שׁוּם אֹנֶס מִיתָה, וְנִמְצֵאתִי מְחַלֵּל כְּבוֹד אָב״. וְקָשַׁר שְׁתֵּי יָדָיו וּשְׁתֵּי רַגְלָיו וַעֲקָדוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וְאִמֵּץ אֶת שְׁתֵּי זְרוֹעוֹתָיו וְאֶת שְׁתֵּי אַרְכֻּבּוֹתָיו עָלָיו, וְעָרַךְ אֶת הָאֵשׁ וְאֶת הָעֵצִים, וְשָׁלַח יָדוֹ וְלָקַח אֶת הַמַּאֲכֶלֶת. וּכְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל הִגִּישׁ אֶת מִנְחָתוֹ וְאֶת נִסְכּוֹ, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יוֹשֵׁב וְרוֹאֶה הָאָב מְעַקֵּד בְּכָל לֵב וְהַבֵּן נֶעֱקָד בְּכָל לִבּוֹ. וּמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת צוֹעֲקִים וּבוֹכִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הֵן אֶרְאֶלָּם צָעֲקוּ חֻצָה״. וְאָמְרוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, נִקְרֵאתָ רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן, מִי שֶׁרַחֲמָיו עַל מַעֲשָׂיו, רַחֵם עַל יִצְחָק שֶׁהוּא אָדָם וּבֶן אָדָם וְנֶעֱקַד לְפָנֶיךָ כִּבְהֵמָה. אָדָם וּבְהֵמָה תּוֹשִׁיעַ ה'״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״צִדְקָתְךָ כְּהַרְרֵי אֵל, מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ תְּהוֹם רַבָּה, אָדָם וּבְהֵמָה תּוֹשִׁיעַ ה'״. Isaac said to his father Abraham: O my father! Bind for me my two hands, and my two feet, so that I do not curse thee; for instance, a word may issue from the mouth because of the violence and dread of death, and I shall be found to have slighted the precept, "Honour thy father" (Ex. 20:12). He bound his two hands and his two feet, and bound him upon the top of the altar, and he strengthened his two arms and his two knees upon him, and put the fire and wood in order, and he stretched forth his hand and took the knife. Like a high priest he brought near his meal offering, and his drink offering; and the Holy One, blessed be He, was sitting and beholding the father binding with all (his) heart and the son bound with all (his) heart. And the ministering angels cried aloud and wept, as it is said, "Behold, the Erelim cry without; the angels of peace weep bitterly" (Isa. 33:7). The ministering angels said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all the worlds! Thou art called merciful and compassionate, whose mercy is upon all His works; have mercy upon Isaac, for he is a human being, and the son of a human being, and is bound before Thee like an animal. "O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast"; as it is said, "Thy righteousness is like the mighty mountains; thy judgments are like a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast" (Ps. 36:6).
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ הַחֶרֶב עַל צַוָּארוֹ, פָּרְחָה וְיָצְאָה נַפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִשְׁמִיעַ קוֹלוֹ מִבֵּין הַכְּרוּבִים וְאָמַר לוֹ ״אַל תִּשְׁלַח יָדְךָ״, נַפְשׁוֹ חָזְרָה לְגוּפוֹ, וְקָם וְעָמַד יִצְחָק עַל רַגְלָיו. וְיָדַע יִצְחָק שֶׁכָּךְ הַמֵּתִים עֲתִידִים לְהֵחָיוֹת, וּפָתַח וְאָמַר: ״בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים״. Rabbi Jehudah said: When the blade touched his neck, the soul of Isaac fled and departed, (but) when he heard His voice from between the two Cherubim, saying (to Abraham), "Lay not thine hand upon the lad" (Gen. 22:12), his soul returned to his body, and (Abraham) set him free, and Isaac stood upon his feet. And Isaac knew that in this manner the dead in the future will be quickened. He opened (his mouth), and said: Blessed art thou, O Lord, who quickeneth the dead.
רַבִּי זְכַרְיָה אוֹמֵר: אוֹתוֹ הָאַיִל שֶׁנִּבְרָא בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת הָיָה, וּבָא לְהִתְקָרֵב תַּחַת יִצְחָק, וְהָיָה סָמָאֵל עוֹמֵד וּמַסְטִינוֹ כְּדֵי לְבַטֵּל קָרְבָּנוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, וְנֶאֱחַז בִּשְׁנֵי קַרְנוֹתָיו בֵּין הָאִילָנוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּשָּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה אַיִל אַחַר נֶאֱחַז בַּסְּבַךְ בְּקַרְנָיו״. מֶה עָשָׂה אוֹתוֹ הָאַיִל? פָּשַׁט אֶת יָדוֹ וְאָחַז בְּטַלִּיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ וְנֶאֱחַז בִּשְׁתֵּי קַרְנוֹתָיו בֵּין הָאִילָנוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּשָּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה אַיִל אַחַר״. וְהִבִּיט אַבְרָהָם וְרָאָה הָאַיִל וְהָלַךְ וְהִתִּירוֹ וְהִקְרִיבוֹ תַּחַת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּלֶךְ אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אֶת הָאַיִל״ וְכוּ'. Rabbi Zechariah said: That ram, which was created at the twilight, ran and came to be offered up instead of Isaac, but Sammael was standing by, and distracting it, in order to annul the offering of our father Abraham. And it was caught by its two horns in the trees, as it is said, "And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by its horns" (Gen. 22:13). What did that ram do? It put forth its leg and took hold of the coat of our father Abraham, and Abraham looked, saw the ram, and he went and set it free. He offered it up instead of Isaac his son, as it is said, "And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son" (ibid.).
רַבִּי בְּרֶכְיָה אוֹמֵר: עָלָה קָרְבַּן הָאַיִל לְרֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּאִלּוּ הָיָה רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ שֶׁל יִצְחָק, וְנִשְׁבַּע לְבָרְכוֹ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּבָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בִּי נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי נְאֻם ה' כִּי בָרֵךְ אֲבָרֶכְךָ וְהַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה אֶת זַרְעֲךָ כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם״. ״כִּי בָרֵךְ״ – בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, ״אֲבָרֶכְךָ״ – לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, ״וְהַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה אֶת זַרְעֲךָ כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם״ – לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא. Rabbi Berachiah said: The sweet savour (of the ram) ascended before the Holy One, blessed be He, as though it were the sweet savour of Isaac, and He swore that He would bless him in this world and in the world to come, as it is said, "By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, because thou hast done this thing"; and it says, "That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed, as the stars of the heaven" (Gen. 22:16, 17). "That in blessing" (refers) to this world; "I will bless thee," in the world to come; and "I will greatly multiply thy seed," in the future that is to come.
רַבִּי חֲנַנְיָא בֶּן דּוֹסָא אוֹמֵר: אוֹתוֹ הָאַיִל שֶׁנִּבְרָא בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת לֹא יָצָא מִמֶּנּוּ דָּבָר לְבַטָּלָה. אֶפְרוֹ שֶׁל אַיִל הוּא יְסוֹד עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הַפְּנִימִי, גִּידֵי הָאַיִל אֵלּוּ עֲשָׂרָה נְבָלִים שֶׁל כִּנּוֹר שֶׁהָיָה דָּוִד מְנַגֵּן בָּהֶם, עוֹרוֹ שֶׁל אַיִל הוּא אֵזוֹר מָתְנָיו שֶׁל אֵלִיָּהוּ זָכוּר לַטּוֹב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אִישׁ בַּעַל שֵׂעָר״ וְכוּ', קַרְנָיו שֶׁל אַיִל, שֶׁל שְׂמֹאל שֶׁתָּקַע בּוֹ בְּהַר סִינַי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי בִּמְשֹׁךְ בְּקֶרֶן הַיּוֹבֵל״, וְשֶׁל יָמִין שֶׁהִיא גְּדוֹלָה מִשֶּׁל שְׂמֹאל שֶׁהוּא עָתִיד לִתְקֹעַ בָּהּ לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִתָּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר גָּדוֹל וְהָיָה ה' לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ״. Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa said: From that ram, which was created at the twilight, nothing came forth which was useless. The ashes of the ram were the base which was upon the top of the inner altar. The sinews of the ram were the strings of the harp whereon David played. The ram's skin was the girdle (around) the loins of Elijah, may he be remembered for good, as it is said, "And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins" (2 Kings 1:8). The horn of the ram of the left side (was the one) wherein He blew upon Mount Sinai, as it is said, "And it shall come to pass, that when the ram's horn soundeth long" (Josh. 6:5). (The horn) of the right side, which is larger than that of the left, is destined in the future to be sounded in the world that is to come, as it is said, "And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great trumpet shall be blown" (Isa. 27:13); and it is said, "And the Lord shall be king over all the earth" (Zech. 14:9).
רַבִּי יִצְחָק אוֹמֵר: הַכֹּל לֹא נִבְרָא אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל הַשְׁתַּחֲוָיוֹת. אַבְרָהָם לֹא יָצָא מֵהַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת הַשְׁתַּחֲוָיָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְנָשׁוּבָה אֲלֵיכֶם״. בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ לֹא נִבְרָא אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת הַשְׁתַּחֲוָיָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״רוֹמְמוּ ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַהֲדֹם רַגְלָיו״. Rabbi Isaac said: Nothing has been created except by the merit of worship. Abraham returned from Mount Moriah only through the merit of worship, as it is said, "We will worship, and come again to you" (Gen. 22:5). The Temple was fashioned only through the merit of worship, as it is said, "Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship" (Ps. 99:5).