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The Mount of Olives in YEHOVAH God’s Plan 7

Most scholars assume that Mount Moriah was the location YEHOVAH chose for this sacri-
fice. However, a close scrutiny of the passage above reveals that YEHOVAH instructed Abraham
to go to the “land of Moriah” and that once there YEHOVAH would direct him to the appropriate
mountain for the burnt sacrifice. YEHOVAH God first directed Abraham to the land of Moriah and
then specifically guided him to the summit of the mountain to the east of Jerusalem that would later
be known as the Mount of Olives.

In Genesis 22:4 we read that Abraham “saw the place from a distance” after a journey of
three days. He and Isaac left behind the two young men who had accompanied them to this point
and took the wood, fire and knife for the sacrifice. As they were walking to the sacrifice spot –

...Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my
son.” And he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

And Abraham said, “My son, YEHOVAH will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt of-
fering.” And the two of them went together.

We see that Abraham showed total trust in YEHOVAH God. YEHOVAH had done the
seemingly impossible and fulfilled His promise of a son when Abraham was 100 years old.
YEHOVAH had also promised that Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars in
the sky. It is clearly evident that Abraham trusted YEHOVAH to fulfill this promise as well -- not
necessarily knowing how. Perhaps he thought that YEHOVAH would resurrect Isaac -- or perhaps
he trusted YEHOVAH to make another provision in this special circumstance.

At this time, according to The Torah Anthology, Isaac was no longer a child as is often de-
picted by theologians, but rather a young man in his thirties. Therefore, it is clear that he voluntarily
allowed his father Abraham to bind him for the sacrifice. Isaac must have trusted YEHOVAH as
much as Abraham. This scenario, in YEHOVAH’s plan, foreshadowed the willing sacrifice of
Yeshua the Messiah in accordance with his Father’s will. It seems that even his approximate age
was indicated.

Just at the time Abraham was about to plunge the knife into Isaac’s chest, the angel of
YEHOVAH called to him from heaven –

“Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am” (Verse 11).

And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that
you fear YEHOVAH, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me”
(Verse 12).

The Place of Worship

The first mention of the Mount of Olives by name in the Bible appears in the Old Testament
where David escapes from Jerusalem when his son Absalom attempts to seize the throne. David had
to flee the city for his life. The account in II Samuel 15:23 states that he “passed over” the brook

The Berean Voice March-April 2003