The Ram's Gift (Fiction)

Leah Lax re-imagines the biblical story of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac with a feminist bent. Read on:

By Leah Lax,

Abraham woke early one morning, saddled his donkey himself (not a job to delegate, this sacrifice), and tied a bundle of kindling on the donkey’s back.

“Are you coming?” he asked his daughter in an impatient tone.

“Oh yes, Papa,” she said, and she went along.

They walked side by side. She was young, fresh, and full-breasted, walking next to her old, bent father. She took care not to stride ahead of him. Their hands brushed as they walked. The servant Eleazar followed, leading the donkey.

As they walked, she thought of Sarah. Her mother had a way of speaking as if listening to something only she could hear. Know you can choose; she had said. He will not force you. It seemed a strange comment. Her old father couldn’t force her now that she was taller than him, and would not, with his gentle nature. Neither did she comprehend the choice her mother mentioned. Obedience in exchange for love had been her life.