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[...] when he finally has the chance to cut down a Frenchman, he cannot do it, because the soldier's face is not that of an enemy but 'a most simple, homelike face'. He gets a medal and is even called a hero, but can only think: 'So that's all there is to so-called heroism?' [...]

[...] Moses, speaking on behalf of the Lord, threatens a hell in which the Israelites will not even be competent slaves:

[...] and you will put yourselves up for sale there to your enemies as male slaves and slavegirls, and there will be no buyer.

[...] Abraham's gesture, of raising the eyes, though a formulaic one in biblical narrative, takes on here a great power of dread, as if Abraham can hardly bear to look upon the chosen site. Kierkegaard's inspired, appalled rewriting of this scene in Fear and Trembling emphasises its unspeakabilit…

[...] The King James has: 'And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.' Alter has: 'And God saw the Israelites, and God knew'. [...]

[...] He is now 'in a free state', but ends his tale like this: 'All that my freedom has brought me is the knowledge that I have a face and have a body, that I must feed this body and clothe this body for a certain number of years. Then it will be over.'