Genesis 22 holds a very different meaning to Hasidic Judaism. The esoteric reading of the old testament which is the very core of Judaism and Jewish Mysticism in Kabbala is echoed by art depicting the binding of Isaac.

Cabbala and The Binding of Isaac

In Cabalistic teaching we find God asking Abraham to make the sacrifice of his son only for Satan to subvert this. He is depicted as the Ram in Thicket, an influence in the background as the Prince of the Air as an “Angel of the Lord” stops him and says God knows he will do it so there is no need to commit the act. This act shows that man by himself cannot do the things of God and where God sacrifices His only son, man allows himself to be deceived in order to avoid this.

We see the occultic suggestions of this within art throughout the ages as “As Above, So Below” esotericism of baphomet is shown in subtle crafty ways… just as you might expect.

Abraham, the Ram and Baphomet

The occult character that first appears in history as the deity the Knights Templar were caught worshipping, Baphomet represents the Satanic world being built in preperation for the antichrist. The famous illustration by famed occultist which holds many of the keys to Freemasonry is in part an amalgamation of the Kabbalist view of Abaraham and the Ram.

In many of the depictions of Abraham he is seen holding the same “As Above, So Below” pose (we take a deeper look at this esoteric signalling in this article)

Abraham, Great Darkness & The Burning Pot

In Genesis 15:12-13 we are told of the horror of a great darkness that falls upon Abraham while he is in a deep sleep.

¹² And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
¹³ And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Genesis 15:12-13 KJV

The darkness isn’t one of night but of the presence and the news that it brings to him. Captivity and mistreatment at the hands of the Egyptians. Not only is the news dark but it is delivered by darkness as although many read this as God delivering news to Abraham, this isn’t to be found in the verses. Only in later translation is “Lord” added as the owner of the voice.

After the darkness and the news it brought has made various pledges to Abraham we are told that the sun goes down bringing physical darkness and a burning pot and a lamp appear. What isn’t clear is what the pot and lamp represent and whether this is a concurrent happening or actually after the darkness in Abrahams deep sleep.

¹⁷ When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.

Genesis 15:17 KJV

In the vast majority of depictions of The Binding of Isaac we see this pot present and alight.