Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac

This grisaille shows Abraham about to sacrifice his son Isaac but prevented from doing so by an angel. Genesis 22 tells how Abraham trusted God to the point of being prepared to obey His command to sacrifice his own son. However, God made a ram appear at the last moment, which Abraham sacrificed in Isaac’s stead.

Additional information:
Exodus 18:21 tells how Moses’ father-in-law Jethro advised Moses to appoint judges. He was to select men who were able, god-fearing, truthful and honest, ‘hating unjust gain’. Each of these four grisailles depicts one of these qualities. This one illustrates the god-fearing man. The message is that the men selected to serve in the council of the city of Amsterdam should display the same qualities as the judges appointed by Moses.