Why did HaSh-m not tell Avraham immediately where to go?
1.
Rashi: So that people would not be able to say that HaSh-m shocked him suddenly and confused him, and that had he had time to think it over, he would have refused.
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P'ninim mi'Shulchan ha'G'ra: Commenting on the current Pasuk, the Midrash cites the Pasuk in Hoshe'a, 6:2 "Yechayenu mi'Yomayim, ba'Yom ha'Shelishi Yekiymenu Venichyeh Lefanecha", which the G'ra explains as follows: Even though there is no reward for a Mitzvah in this world, there is reward in this world for the Z'rizus and the Hidur that one puts into performing it. Consequently, for al the effort that Avraham put into the Akeidah during the first two days - He got up early, he himself saddled his donkey, he chopped wood for the burnt-offering ... for that "Yechayenu mi'Yomayim" we will receive reward in this world. But for what he did on the third day - the Akeidah itself - "Yekiymenu Venichyeh" - Hashem kept the rewatrd on hold for the world to come.
3)
Seeing as HaSh-m did not actually inform Avraham that he had arrived at his destination, how did he know that he had?
1.
Rashi and Ramban #1: He saw a cloud enveloping Har ha'Moriyah.
2.
Ramban #2: He saw Eretz ha'Moriyah, which he recognized.
4)
What is the significance of the word "me'Rachok"?
1.
Seforno: HaSh-m enabled Avraham to see Har ha'Moriyah whilst it was still outside his range of vision,
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and he understood himself that this was where the sacrifice would take place.
In the same way as He showed Moshe Rabeinu the whole of Eretz Yisrael (Devarim 34:1).
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
5)
Rashi writes: "'On the third day' - So people would not say that he was shocked or confused." Why specifically three days?
1.
Gur Aryeh: The Gemara teaches similarly regarding prayer - until three days elapse after returning from a journey, a person's attention is not at ease to concentrate properly (Eruvin 65a).
