Genesis 22:1

after these things An indefinite note of time referring to Isaac's birth and the expulsion of Ishmael: cf. Genesis 22:20. See note on Genesis 15:1.

God did prove Abraham "Prove" in the sense of "make trial of," cf. Exodus 15:25; Exodus 16:4; Deuteronomy 8:2; Deuteronomy 8:16; Psalms 66:10. The A.V. had "tempt," in the old English sense of "put to the test" = Lat. tentare. On the test of faith and obedience, to which human nature is continually subjected, see the N.T. passages: 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 11:17; James 1:12-13; 1 Peter 1:6-7. "Deus tentat, ut doceat: diabolus tentat, ut decipiat" (Augustine in Joan. Tract. 30, Serm. 2). It is instructive to compare the "proving" of Abraham, which is here referred directly to God Himself, with the "proving" of Job, which, in chaps. 1 2, is brought about by "the Satan."

and said unto him Presumably in a dream during the night; cf. Genesis 22:3, "Abraham rose early"; compare Genesis 19:27; Genesis 20:8; Genesis 21:14.

Here am I The first instance of this response. Cf. 11, Genesis 27:1.