Another interpretation (of Gen. 22:1): NOW IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THESE THINGS. What reflection took place there?¹⁴⁵., Gen. 4:18; Gen. R. 55:4; cf. Sanh. 89b. There seems to be a play on words here between ‘HR (“after”) and HRHR (“reflection”). Thus the midrash here understands Gen. 22:1 to begin, “Now it came to pass that he reflected over these things.” See also Gen. R. 44:5. Isaac was reflecting on when he had contended with Ishmael. [Now Ishmael had complained] and said: I am older than you. I shall inherit the world because I am my father's first-born, and the first-born always inherits twofold (according to Deut. 21:15-17). Isaac said to him: Tell me, what does the Holy One have of yours? Ishmael said to him: I will tell you what I have done, if I have done nothing else. Because I was thirteen years old when Daddy circumcised me, I could have said: It is not my wish to be circumcised; but I gave my life blood and took circumcision upon myself. Isaac said to him: See, all that you loaned¹⁴⁶ to the Holy One were three drops of blood. But I know that when the Holy One wants me to be slaughtered, now when I am thirty-seven years old,¹⁴⁷ 31; TDER 25 (27); TDEZ 2; Seder ‘Olam I. and the Holy One is telling daddy to sacrifice me, I will not prevent him . The Holy One said to the angels: Now is the hour. He immediately rushed to Abraham. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 22:1): NOW IT CAME TO PASS AFTER ('HR) THESE THINGS. Hence you learn that there were reflections (HRHR) over things there.

footnotes: ¹⁴⁵ Tanh ¹⁴⁶ The Buber text omits a letter and reads, “borrowed.” ¹⁴⁷ See below, 46; Gen. R. 56:8; PRE