The Gemara expanded on , explaining that it reports only one side of a dialog. God told Abraham, "take your son," but Abraham replied, "I have two sons!" God said, "Your only one," but Abraham replied, "Each is the only one of his mother!" God said, "Whom you love," but Abraham replied, "I love them both!" Then God said, "Isaac!" The Gemara explained that God employed all this circumlocution in so that Abraham's mind should not reel under the sudden shock of God's command.