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-
