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Abraham
and
Isaac
Dimensions:
297mmx 420mm
11.7"
x 16.5" A3
Medium:
water
colour
Available
through
Gallery
Serendipity
Copyright
Eric Morris 2006
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TEXTS
The time came when God put Abraham to the test. Take
your only son, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall
offer him as a sacrifice on one of the hills which I will show you. So
Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his ass and he took with
him two of his men and his son Isaac, and
he split the firewood for the sacrifice and set out for
the place of which God had spoken.
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place
in the distance. He said to his men, Stay here with the ass while I and
the boy go over there, and when we have worshipped we will come back to
you. So Abraham took the wood for the sacrifice and laid it on his son
Isaacs shoulder, he himself carried the fire and the knife and the two
of them went on together. Isaac said to Abraham, Father and he answered
, What is it my son. Isaac said , Here are the fire and the wood but where
is the young beast for a sacrifice. Abraham answered, God will provide
himself with a young beast for a sacrifice, my son. And the two of them
went on together and came to the place of which God had spoken. There Abraham
built an altar and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and laid him
on the altar on top of the wood. Then he stretched out his hand and took
the knife to kill his son, but the angel of the LORD called to him from
heaven, Abraham, Abraham.
He answered , here I am. The angel of the LORD
said, Do not raise your hand against the boy, do not touch him.
Genesis Ch.22. v2-12
Artist Notes
Abraham lies to the companions as well as Isaac
about the purpose of the visit. The test itself is questionable. Abraham
is said to love Isaac but is prepared to sacrifice him. It would perhaps
have been more of a sacrifice if it had been one of his own body parts,
a little finger, an ear, an eye, a
hand. Then Isaac is somehow immobilized and tied
up and put on the altar. The murderous intent of his father must be clear
and even if Abraham stopped all that is apparent to Isaac is that he was
to be killed. What effect this senario had on Isaac later is not mentioned.
God here is featured as a god which would accept human sacrifice, and that
is something that Abraham accepts and is prepared to carry out without
question. The cave like teeth in the background represent this god. Perhaps
the goat is the only creature who is interested in Isaac's situation.
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Constructed .19th NOV 2006
