Olga Astapova, PhD in History
pp. 75–93
The present article providing the evidence derived from the extra-biblical sources attempts to show that the story of the Binding of Isaac, the Akedah (Genesis XXII) resulted from the Biblical author’s reflections on the Israel’s mission and the peculiarity of its religious way compared to other nations. A focal point of the present interpretation of the Akedah is the dialog between God and man.
Keywords: the sacrifice of Isaac, human sacrifices, the cult of Molek, the substitute sacrifice, the chosenness of Israel, ritual, ritualism, dialog between God and man.