Summary

This short introductory section begins with a discussion of an unnamed man who reads and studies the famous story of Abraham and Isaac contained in the book of Genesis in the Bible and is followed by four alternate, extra-textual commentaries on the story that emerge from the man’s ruminations. Each commentary speculates about Abraham’s inner psychological state of mind and concludes with a rather cryptic parable involving a woman who is attempting to wean her child. The unnamed man remembers hearing and being fascinated by the story of Abraham’s faith and temptation as child. He returns to it as an adult with even greater enthusiasm only to discover that he understands its meaning even less. As a result, he desires to journey along with Abraham and Isaac to Mount Moriah and to be present at the frightful moment in which Abraham...