And Abraham stretched forth his hand
All things being ready for execution, the altar built, the wood
laid on it, the sacrifice bound and laid on that, nothing
remained but to cut the throat of the sacrifice; and in order to
that, the instrument for it laying by him, he put forth his hand,
one would think in a trembling manner, for it is enough to make
one tremble to think of it:
and took the knife to slay his son;
with a full intention to do it, which was carrying his obedience
to the divine will to the last extremity, and shows he was
sincere in it, and really designed to complete it; and this was
taken by the Lord as if it was actually done. He had his knife in
his hand, and was near the throat of his son, and just ready to
give the fatal thrust; in another moment, as it were, it would
have been all over; but in the nick of time God appeared and
prevented it, as follows: