And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide you here with the donkey; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
All Commentaries on Genesis 22:5 Go To Genesis 22
Caesarius of Arles
AD 542
Why is it said to the servants who prefigured the Jews, “Sit here with the ass”? Could that ass sit down, dearly beloved? It is said, “Sit with the ass,” because the Jewish people who would not believe in Christ could not stand but, like the weak and languid sinner who had despised the staff of the cross, were about to fall to the ground. For this reason blessed Abraham said, “Sit here with the ass while the boy and I go on; and when we have worshiped, we shall come back to you.” What is it that you are saying, blessed Abraham? You are going to sacrifice your son and you say you will return with him? If you offer him as a burnt offering, surely he will not be able to return with you. Blessed Abraham could reply: I speak the truth. I am offering my son, and I will return to you with him. So great is my faith that I believe that he who deigned to give him to me of a sterile mother could raise him from the dead. For this reason I say with truth, “When we have worshiped, we shall come back to you.”
