506. "And the angel of Hashem called to him...ABRAHAM, ABRAHAM" (Beresheet 22:11). There is a disjunctive mark between the two Abrahams, WHICH MEANS THAT the second "Abraham" is not the same as the first. Abraham AFTER THE BINDING has achieved perfection, BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN INCLUDED WITH ISAAC, while the first "ABRAHAM" HAS not yet achieved perfection, BECAUSE HE WAS NOT YET INCLUDED WITHIN ISAAC. Similarly, "Samuel, Samuel" (I Shmuel 3:10) ALSO HAS A DISJUNCTIVE MARK BETWEEN THE TWO NAMES, WHICH MEANS THAT the latter is perfected while the first is not. WHY? BECAUSE the latter was already a prophet, while the former had not yet achieved that grade. But in "Moses Moses" (Shemot 3:4), there is no pause BETWEEN THE NAMES, because ever since the day Moses was born, the Shechinah never left him. THUS, THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LATTER AND THE FORMER. "Abraham, Abraham," Rabbi Chiya said. The reason WHY HE CALLED HIS NAME TWICE was to arouse him with a different spirit, a different action, and a different heart.

507. Rabbi Yehuda said, Isaac was purified and elevated properly before the Holy One, blessed be He (BY BEING BOUND UPON THE ALTAR), like the odor of the incense of spices which the priests offered before Him twice a day. Thus, the sacrifice was perfected AS IF IT WERE OFFERED AND BURNED AS A SWEET SAVOR BEFORE HASHEM. Abraham felt sorry when he was told, "Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him" (Beresheet 22:12), BECAUSE he thought it meant that his offering was not perfect - that all his preparations and the building of the altar were in vain. But immediately, it is written, "And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket" (Ibid. 13); AND HE OFFERED IT INSTEAD OF ISAAC, AND SO ACHIEVED PERFECTION.

508. We have learned that this ram was the one that was created at twilight. But he was one year old, as it is written, "one he-lamb a year old" (Bemidbar 7:63). It was required FOR HIM TO BE ONE YEAR OLD, JUST AS THE DAILY OFFERING (DON'T UNDERSTAND). If so, how can you say that the ram was born at twilight? AND HE REPLIES, It was predestined THEN, AT TWILIGHT ON SHABBAT EVE, that the ram would be at hand for Abraham when he should be in need of it. SO IT WAS REALLY BORN AT TWILIGHT, AND WHEN IT WAS ONE YEAR OLD, IT CHANCED UPON ABRAHAM. It was like all the other things created on Shabbat eve at twilight, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY WERE predestined actually to appear at the time of need. And so was that ram, which was sacrificed instead of Isaac.