Isaac

Isaac, the second patriarch of Israel, son of Abraham and Sarah, and father of Jacob and Esau. Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, his name means "to laugh." After Isaac was weaned, his half brother Ishmael was banished with his Egyptian mother Hagar (Gen 21:8-20), as Isaac alone was designated as Abraham's heir.

Isaac's destiny was confirmed when Abraham proved willing to comply with the divine command to sacrifice his son on Mount Moriah. An angel stopped Abraham from slaying Isaac, and offered a ram as a substitute. Abraham sent a slave to his family in Mesopotamia to procure a wife for Isaac (Gen 24:1-10).

Isaac was forty years old at the time of his marriage to Rebekah, and she eventually bore him twins, Esau and Jacob (Gen 25:21-26). Isaac became very wealthy as a farmer in Gerar, and later returned to the region of Beersheba. In his old age, Isaac grew blind, and through a ruse by Rebekah and Jacob, gave his blessing to Jacob instead of Esau. Isaac died at age 180, and was buried by his two sons (Gen 35:28-29).

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