Rav Yitzchak asks, “Why was Obadiah accounted worthy to be a prophet?” Because, he answers, he concealed a hundred prophets in a cave; as it is said (1 Kings xviii. 4), “When Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave.”  Why by fifties?  Rabbi Eliezer explains, “He copied the plan from Jacob, who said, ’If Esau come to one company and smite it, then the other company which is left may escape.’” Rabbi Abuhu says, “It was because the caves would not hold any more.”

Sanhedrin, fol. 39, col. 2.

“And it came to pass after these things that God did test Abraham” (Gen. xxii. 1).  After what things?  Rabbi Yochanan, in the name of Rabbi Yossi ben Zimra, replies, “After the words of Satan, who said, ’Lord of the Universe!  Thou didst bestow a son upon that old man when he was a hundred years of age, and yet he spared not a single dove from the festival to sacrifice to Thee.’  God replied, ’Did he not make this festival for the sake of his son? and yet I know he would not refuse to sacrifice that son at my command.’  To prove this, God did put Abraham to the test, saying unto him, ‘Take now thy son;’ just as an earthly king might say to a veteran warrior who had conquered in many a hard-fought battle, ’Fight, I pray thee, this severest battle of all, lest it should be said that thy previous encounters were mere haphazard skirmishes.’  Thus did the Holy One—­blessed be He!—­address Abraham, ’I have tried thee in various ways, and not in vain either; stand this test also, for fear it should be insinuated that the former trials were trivial and therefore easily overcome.  Take thy son.’  Abraham replied, ’I have two sons.’  ‘Take thine only son.’  Abraham answered, ’Each is the only son of his mother.’  ‘Take him whom thou lovest.’  ‘I love both of them,’ said Abraham.  ‘Take Isaac.’  Thus Abraham’s mind was gradually prepared for this trial.  While on the way to carry out this Divine command Satan met him, and (parodying Job iv. 2-5) said, ’Why ought grievous trials to be inflicted upon thee?  Behold thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.  Thy words have supported him that was falling, and now this sore burden is laid upon thee.’  Abraham answered (anticipating Ps. xxvi. 11), ‘I will walk in my integrity.’  Then said Satan (see Job iv. 6), ’Is not the fear (of God) thy folly?  Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent?’ Then finding that he could not persuade him, he said (perverting Job iv. 12), ’Now a word came to me by stealth.  I overheard it behind the veil (in the Holy of Holies above).  A lamb will be the sacrifice, and not Isaac.’  Abraham said, ’It is the just desert of a liar not to be believed even when he speaks the truth.’”

Sanhedrin, fol. 89, col. 2.

It is better to have ten inches to stand upon than a hundred yards to fall.

Avoth d’ Rab.  Nathan, chap. 1.