Satan at the Sacrifices of Isaac and Jesus
Résumé
The Akedah—the binding of Isaac—has been a crucial theme in both Judaism and Christianity since the Second Temple period. Despite the abundance of literature on this enigmatic and troubling story, one aspect remains under-examined: the role of Satan during the sacrifice of Isaac. In the book of Jubilees, a satanic figure—Mastema— is the instigator of Abraham’s last trial. In all later Jewish retellings, Satan is actively trying to prevent Abraham’s sacrifice. Similarly, the temptation of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke shows the devil attempting to frustrate Jesus’ mission, a scene reminiscent of Abraham’s troubles en route to Moriah. Furthermore, later Christian literature, such as the Gospel of Nicodemus, shows the devil’s efforts to impede the crucifixion because it will result in his downfall. This paper considers the possibility that Christianity, which looked to the Akedah to interpret the Crucifixion, in turn influenced the Jewish understanding of Genesis 22. Thus, the influence of Jews and Christians on the other’s exegesis is an ongoing exchange.
Domaines
Religions
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