Additional Texts:
Richard McBee’s Akedah Series: Reimagining and Reconfiguring Jewish Art by Matthew Baigell
Hagar Wept
2018 11" x 14"
Genesis 21:14. And Abraham rose up early in the morning… and sent her away... 16. Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. 17. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven…
Abraham, Abraham… Here I am
2018 11" x 14"
Genesis 22:1. And it came to pass after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him…
Take now your son
2018 11" x 14"
Your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you.
And Abraham rose up early
2018 11" x 14"
Took two… and Isaac his son
2018 11" x 14"
For the burnt offering
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And broke the wood
Saw the place far away
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[He] went to the place of which God had told him. 4. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes…
Stay
2018 11" x 14"
5. And Abraham said to his young men, Stay here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come back to you.
Knife, Fire, Wood of the burnt
2018 11" x 14"
6. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 7. And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, My father; and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood.
But where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
2018 11" x 14"
8. And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering; so they went both of them together.
Abraham built an altar there
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9. And they came to the place which God had told him; and Abraham built …[the scene shifts to the interior of my former synagogue…].
Bound Isaac his son
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[Isaac is now blindfolded…]
Laid him on
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On the altar upon the wood.
And Abraham stretched out his hand
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[Sarah prays for her son]
And took the knife to say his son
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[Sarah and an angel protest…]
The Angel of the Lord Called Abraham Abraham… Here Am I
2018 11" x 14"
[A Heavenly Host protests]
Now I Know That You Fear God
2018 11" x 14"
And he said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, nor do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing that you did not withheld your son, your only son from me.
And Looked… a Ram
2018 11" x 14"
13. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns [the Ram was prepared for this before Creation].
For a Burnt Offering… Offered Him
2018 11" x 14"
And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in place of his son. 
In Place of His Son
2018 11" x 14"
…For a burnt offering in place of his son. 14. And Abraham called the name of that place Adonai-Yireh [the ram was totally consumed by the fire].
And the Angel of the Lord Called… Second Time
2018 11" x 14"
Multiply Your Seed… Stars
2018 11" x 14"
16. And said, By myself have I sworn, said the Lord, for because you have done this thing, and have not withhold your son, your only son; 17. That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven [Isaac Cannot Forget… Still Bound; reflecting Caravaggio’s "St. Matthew"].
As the Sand on the Sea Shore
2018 11" x 14"
And as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies [reflecting Caravaggio’s "Narcissus"].
Blessed Seed
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And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice [reflecting Caravaggio’s "St. Francis of Assisi"].
Abraham Returned to His Young Men
2018 11" x 14"
19. So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Rebekah
2018 11" x 14"
20. And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she has also born children to your brother Nahor… 23. And Bethuel fathered Rebekah [reflecting Giotto’s <em>Nativity</em>].
Sarah Died in Kiriat-Arba
2018 11" x 14"
1. And Sarah was a hundred and twenty seven years old; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2. And Sarah died in Kiriat-Arba; which is Hebron in the land of Canaan [Sarah died upon seeing that Isaac was almost slaughtered].
Weep for Her
2018 11" x 14"
And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her [Isaac mourned also].
Isaac Was Comforted
2018 11" x 14"
67. And Isaac brought her to his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
Her Name Was Keturah
2018 11" x 14"
1. Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. 2. And she bore him [6 sons… Rashi says Keturah was Hagar…].