Unknown French artist

Melchizedek, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, and David, 13th century, Stone, Chartres Cathedral, Eure et Loir France; Glenn Harper / Alamy Stock Photo

An Unbroken Line, Almost Severed

Commentary by Tom L. Freudenheim

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The combined majesty and awe of Chartres Cathedral (constructed during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries) includes a seemingly endless array of images, challenging both the eye and the spirit. The sumptuous so-called Royal (west) Portal is the most common entry for both worshippers and sightseers, making it easy to miss the central portal at the north entrance.

There, a group of five Old Testament figures occupies the east side of the central portal. Unlike most of the narrowly accentuated jamb figures at Chartres, these personages form a special ensemble: a highly selective survey of characters in the Hebrew Bible. They appear to have a relationship to one another. That is in sharp contrast to most of the other jamb figures at the three major Chartres portals, where an array of biblical figures seem to ignore each other.

The personages depicted are (left to right) Melchizedek, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, and King David. Of these, the most arresting figure is that of Abraham, his left hand holding a knife while his right hand cradles the head of a young lad: his son, Isaac, whose feet are bound with rope. Both gaze upward toward their right, while standing on a clearly delineated ram. This is a reference to the story often called the Sacrifice of Isaac, as described in Genesis 22:1–19.

Abraham may be looking up listening to God or the angel who called to stop him. But he may also be looking at the priest, Melchizedek (‘righteous king’ in Hebrew) beside him, who had blessed Abram (Genesis 14:18–20) before God named him Abraham (Genesis 17:5). Moses is the central figure, gazing to the distance and holding a tablet of the Law. Next comes the priest, Samuel, holding a lamb and knife (1 Samuel 7:9), and he faces King David, whom he had anointed (1 Samuel 16:12–13).

This extraordinary ensemble can be read in a variety of ways. The centrality of Moses-the-lawgiver almost suggests a Jewish interpretation, since the Law (Torah) forms the centerpiece of Jewish liturgy. But reading the figures from left to right there’s also another kind of hierarchical progression from an early priestly and tribal people to one that accepts the concept of divinely-sanctioned royalty. Thus, David is both a genealogical and royal ancestor of Christ-the-King.

See full exhibition for Genesis 22:6–24

Genesis 22:6–24

Revised Standard Version

6And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 12He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord will provide; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.” 19So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.

20 Now after these things it was told Abraham, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21Uz the first-born, Buz his brother, Kemuʹel the father of Aram, 22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuʹel.” 23Bethuʹel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maʹacah.

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