Discussion of Genesis CHAPTER 1: Creation 1. God is Creator of the universe. 2. Categories of creation 3. God's principle of individuality (unity w/in diversity; diversity w/in unity). Everything in God's universe is revelational of God's infinity, God's diversity, God's individuality. God creates distinct individualities. God maintains the identity and individuality of everything which He created. 4. People have uniqueness, value by God given design and purpose. God defined the value of who people are. 5. People are to take dominion over the earth, not domination over man. Dominion means the power to direct, control, use and dispose of at pleasure. This right God gave to people over the physical earth. But people have turned aside from their God-given task of caring for creation and turned to tyranny over their fellowman. CHAPTER 2: Marriage and law. The chapter emphasizes two things: self government (2:16,17) 2:16 and monogamous marriage (2:24) a. Govern: to control or regulate b. Government: that which controls the actions of the individual c. 2:16 is the command for christian self-government. An individual is to govern himself according to the dictates of God. This is the Christian philosophy of government. It is to be Christian self government. 1) Christian: God's principles are to be the directives: to have order w/o anarchy. 2) self: so there can be freedom w/o tyranny. God's method is internal control (Ga.5:23.) Internal government results in liberty. Without it, there must be strong external control. We are not to steal because it is wrong, not because of what punishment we will get if we are caught. (We are not under law but under grace.) But if we are not regulated by grace, then external government of law must be there to regulate us. "We will either be governed by the Bible or by the bayonet." The nation of Iran is religious government with both 'Christian' and self left out. Because 'Christian' is left out, without strong external control, there would be anarchy. And because internal, self control is left out, the form of government is oppressive. 2:24 God established monogamy, not polygamy. CHAPTER 3: The tree 1. Man refused Christian self-government. 2. Disobedience to God results in consequences. For every action there are consequences, both here and now and forever. 3. Whenever a person refuses internal government, government is shifted upward. God must come looking for Adam and deal with him. Adam is controlled externally, rather than from within, according to the dictates of his own conscience. Adam and Eve were created with a right attitude and disposition of heart that directed them in how they ought to act and react in every situation. 4. External control is necessary to retard the spread of evil. CHAPTER 4: Cain & Abel 1. God is not arbitrary. The form of the offering had to deal with man's internal condition. God's way or "I'm going to do what I want to do?" 2. Responsibility to choose on the basis of value rather than to be controlled by emotions. 4:7 "but you must master it." (Tubal-Cain: the first forger of bronze & iron)
Tubal Cain Old Tubal Cain was a man of might In the days when the Earth was young; By the fierce red light of his furnace bright The strokes of his hammer rung; And he lifted his brawny hand On the iron glowing clear, Till the sparks rushed out in scarlet showers, As he fashioned the sword and spear. And he sang: "Hurray for my handiwork! Hurray for the spear and sword! Hurray for the hand that shall wield them well, For he shall be king and lord!" To Tubal Cain came many a one,
As he wrought by his roaring fire, And each one prayed for a strong steel blade As the crown of his desire: And he made them weapons sharp and strong, Till they shouted loud for glee, And gave him gifts of pearl and gold, And spoils of the forest free, And they sang: "Hurray for Tubal Cain, Who has given us strength anew! Hurray for the smith, Hurray for the fire, And hurray for the metal true!" But a sudden change came o'er his heart Ere the setting of the sun,
Outline Overview of the Book of Genesis And Tubal Cain was filled with pain For the evil he had done; He saw that men, with rage and hate, Made war upon their kind, That the land was red with the blood they shed, In their lust for carnage blind, And he said: "Alas! That ever I made, Or that skill of mine should plan, The spear and the sword for men whose joy Is to slay their fellow-man!" And for many a day old Tubal Cain Sat brooding o'er his woe; And his hand forbore to smite the ore, And his furnace smoldered low, But he arose at last with a cheerful face, And a bright courageous eye, And bared his strong right arm for work, While the quick flames mounted high.
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And he sang: "Hurray for my handiwork!" And the red sparks lit the air; "Not alone for the blade was the bright steel made"; And he fashioned the first plowshare. And men, taught wisdom from the past, In friendship joined their hands, Hung the sword in the hall, the spear on the wall, And plowed the willing lands; And sang: "Hurray for Tubal Cain! Our stanch good friend is he; And for the plowshare and the plow To him our praise shall be. But while oppression lifts its head, Or a tyrant would be lord, Though we thank him for the plow, We'll not forget the sword!" ----Charles Mackay
CHAPTER 5: Generations of Adam The Bible is not a book of myths of legends but a record of God's hand in history dealing with real people. It establishes that Noah is not a mythological character but has ancestry. CHAPTER 6-8: The corruption of mankind 1. The wickedness of man was great on the earth. (6:5) INTERNAL GOVERNMENT IS TOTALLY BROKEN DOWN. 2. God is a real God who really cares, and He is grieved, hurt by the stupid disobedience of people (6:6) 3. Our obedience to God is historically significant (6:7,8) Things really would have been different if Noah hadn't been righteousness. 4. Providential view of history. God maintains control of the direction and purpose of history. (6:13-7:17) 5. Noah obeyed God a. He did exactly what God told Him to. God guides in specifics. b. He obeyed from a right heart(7:20) c. Capacity of the Ark is adequate (Archer,p.212, 216t,) d. Flood stories (Halley,p.75) (Archer,p.216b)
Genesis According to the Miao People a people living in the mountains of southwest China Translated by Edgar A. Truax Introductory Note: The Miao tribes, or as it is spelled in most encyclopedias "Miautso," at one time occupied most of inland China south of the Yangtze River, but have gradually moved into the mountains of southwest China. The Miao of our section claim to have been driven out of Kiangsi Province.
Outline Overview of the Book of Genesis
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The Miao traditions are very precise, as compared with those of many primitive peoples, because they are not only handed down in metrical form, but, also, they are in couplets. in which the same or similar meaning is expressed in different wording, so that the second sentence acts as a definition of the first, where it might otherwise not be clear. This is very much like one form of Hebrew poetry-an example of which is found in Psalm 21:1,2. THE TRANSLATION-THE CREATION On the day God created the heavens and earth. On that day He opened the gateway of light. In the earth then He made heaps of earth and of stone. In the sky He made bodies, the sun and the moon. In the earth He created the hawk and the kite. In the water created the lobster and fish. In the wilderness made He the tiger and bear, Made verdure to cover the mountains, Made forest extend with the ranges, Made the light green cane, Made the rank bamboo. Man On the earth He created a man from the dirt. Of the man thus created, a woman He formed. Then the Patriarch Dirt made a balance of stones. Estimated the weight of the earth to the bottom.1 Calculated the bulk of the heavenly bodies. And pondered the ways of the Deity, God. The Patriarch Dirt begat Patriarch Se-teh. The Patriarch Se-Teh begat a son Lusu. And Lusu had Gehlo and he begat Lama. The Patriarch Lama begat the man Nuah. His wife was the Matriarch Gaw Bo-lu-en. Their sons were Lo Han, Lo Shen and Jah-hu.2 So the earth began filling with tribes and with families. Creation was shared by the clans and the peoples. The W orld W icked These did not God's will nor returned His affection. But fought with each other defying the Godhead. Their leaders shook fists in the face of the Mighty Then the earth was convulsed to the depth of three strata. Rending the air to the uttermost heaven. God's anger arose till His Being was changed; His wrath flaring up filled His eyes and His face. Until He must come and demolish humanity. Come and destroy a whole world full of people. Their speaking was all with the same words and language. Then they said let us build us a very big city; Let us raise unto heaven a very high tower. This was wrong, but they reached this decision; Not right, but they rashly persisted. God struck at them then, changed their language and accent. Descending in wrath, He confused tones and voices. One's speech to the others who hear him no meaning; He's speaking in words, but they can't understand him. So the city they builded was never completed; The tower they wrought has to stand thus unfinished, In despair then they separate under all heaven, They part from each other the globe to encircle. 4 They arrive at six corners and speak the six languages.
The Flood So it poured forty days in sheets and in torrents. Then fifty-five days of misting and drizzle. The waters surmounted the mountains and ranges. The deluge ascending leapt valley and hollow. An earth with no earth upon which to take refuge! A world with no foothold where one might subsist! The people were baffled, impotent and ruined, Despairing, horror stricken, diminished and finished. But the Patriarch Nuah was righteous. The Matriarch Gaw Bo-lu-en upright. Built a boat very wide. Made a ship very vast. Their household entire got aboard and were floated, The family complete rode the deluge in safety, The animals with him were female and male. The birds went along and were mated in pairs. When the time was fulfilled, God commanded the waters. The day had arrived, the flood waters receded. Then Nuah liberated a dove from their refuge, Sent a bird to go forth and bring again tidings. The flood had gone down into lake and to ocean; The mud was confined to the pools and the hollows. There was land once again where a man might reside; There was a place in the earth now to rear habitations. Buffalo then were brought, an oblation to God, fatter cattle became sacrifice to the Mighty. The Divine One then gave them His blessing; Fatter cattle became sacrifice to the Mighty. The Divine One then gave them His blessing; Their God then bestowed His good graces. Babel Lo-han then begat Cusah and Mesay.3 Lo-shan begat Elan and Nga-shur. Their offspring begotten became tribes and peoples; Their descendants established encampments and cities. Their singing was all with the same tunes and music; Miao Genealogy The Patriarch Jahphu got the center of nations.5 The son he begat was the Patriarch Go-men. Who took him a wife called the Matriarch Go-yong. Their grandson and his wife both took the name Tutan. Their descendants are given in order as follows: Patriarch Gawndan Mew-wan, Matriarch Cawdan Mew-jew; Patriarch Jenku Dawvu, Matriarch Jeneo Boje; Patriarch Gangen Newang (wife not given); Patriarch Seageweng, Matriarch Maw gueh. Their children, eleven in number, was each the head of a family. Five branches became the Miao nation. Six families joined with the Chinese.
Outline Overview of the Book of Genesis
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The story continues through many more pages, telling of the separation of the Chinese and Miao; their travels and demon worship, their division in families. The Miao at funerals and weddings recite the ancestry of the principal principals clear back to Adam. Their frequent use of it may account for it's accuracy. Notes: 1.
The M iao say that on the bottom of the bottom of the earth is a (tribe) of dwarfs.
2.
Note the similarity of some of these names to those in the Bible account Seth, Lamech, Noah, Ham, Shem, and Japheth.
3.
Note the similarity: Ham's descendants: Bible-Cush, M izram; M iao-Cushu, M esay Shem's descendants: Bible-Elam, Asshur; Miao-Elan, Ngashur
4.
The literal translation here is: "They parted went live encircle-world ball." The Miao know nothing of the world being round, so this passage seems to Indicate the perfect knowledge of the original man-Devolution instead of Evolution.
5.
From this we see that they trace their ancestry from Japheth and Gomer, which makes them of the Indo-European stock.
The M iao did not originally worship idols, but learned this from the Chinese after having been subdued by them. This poem, which is learned heart and transmitted from generation to generation, is translated and brought to you with the hope that you will be inspired to PRAY MUCH for these people. They evidently once knew the true God. Pray that they may learn to know Him as Father, and Jesus, whom Ho has sent to be the Way back to Him. Editor's Comments: This remarkable account of creation and the flood apparently has been handed down generation after generation from the ancestors of the Miao tribes people in the mountains of southwest China, for they possessed this legend before they met missionaries. it was translated into English by a missionary, Ernest Truax, who spent most of his life working for the Lord among these people. He sent me the story many years ago, before Acts & Facts began publication. Recently, Mr. James Honeyman also acquired a copy and sent it to me. He also was able to find the address of Mrs. Ellen Truax, widow of the missionary, and make contact with her. Mrs. Truax has now copyrighted the translation and has graciously given us permission to publish it as an "Impact" article, so that Christians everywhere could become aware of this amazing record, and also could pray for the Miao people as Mr. Truax desired. Although many legends of creation and the flood have been preserved, only a few have included the story of Babel and the post-flood dispersion. This is surely one of the most Bible-like of all these traditions, and bears significant independent testimony to the truth of the record in Genesis. Even though we have been unable so far to locate anyone who can confirm the authenticity of the Miao tradition or the accuracy of its translation, it clearly has the ring of truth about it and we can believe it is authentic until someone can prove otherwise. Its differences from the Biblical account clearly show its source was not directly from the Bible or early Christian missionaries (if any), but its similarities are so striking as to imply that it came from the same original source-namely, the events themselves! In any case, it is certainly of sufficient importance to warrant sharing it with our readers, If anyone has any additional information about the Miao tradition, or their history in general, we would be pleased to hear from them. CHAPTER 9 God re-establishes man's dominion over the earth.(9:1) 1. To man's responsibility to care for the earth, God also establishes man's responsibility for the conduct of civil government. (9:6) a. Granting man's society the authority to deal with the most severe offense establishes the precedence for dealing with all lesser offenses. b. God gives men authority over men for a specific purpose: the protection of the individual. (Civil government only has authority to do what God has authorized it to do. And it is bound in its method of operation to the manner God states.
Outline Overview of the Book of Genesis
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c.
2.
God establishes a combination of internal government and external government. (Circle of total government, external government, internal government.) 1) In heaven it is all internal government. 2) In hell it is all external government -- a prison If we want to change nations, we must strengthen and expand the internal government. This requires evangelism, discipleship, and christian education. God reaffirms His love for all mankind with the rainbow ( 9:13)
CHAPTER 10, 11 1. Nimrod, the beginning of centralization and imperialism. 2. Tower of Babel a. v.4 "a tower whose top will reach into heaven." An expression of the vast pride of man. (Halley,p.84) b. Humanism: c. Confidence placed in powerful cities rather than God (Co.2:10) 3. Providential Hand of God in history in confusing language. God working for liberty, opposing tyranny. CHAPTER 12 1. God calls Abraham. (v.1-3) a. The first of the called out ones, (ekklesia) the church b. Missionary calling c. God blesses us to enable us to be a blessing to the nations, not in order for us to gratify our own lust. 2. Reason is to inspire faith. Faith requires understanding of: a. The character and abilities of God. b. The will of God. (not presumption; Pr.22:3,27:12) c. Faith tested in Egypt 3. Characteristics of Ur' idolatry (Halley,p.94,5) 4. Abraham's age a. 75, called b. 80, rescues Lot c. 86, Ishmael's birth d. 99, Sodom destroyed e. 100, Isaac born f. 137, Sarah died g. 160, Jacob born h. 175, Abraham dies, 115 years before Jacob goes to Egypt. CHAPTER 13: Abraham & Lot separate 1. Lot's selfishness, v.10 2. Abraham ministers in the opposite spirit, a. Gives deference b. Value system beyond the material & temporal. CHAPTER 14: Abraham goes to war 1. Necessity to engage in spiritual, defensive warfare. a. (It is highly unlikely that 400 men could defeat the armies of 4 kings. The victory was by the hand of the Lord, v.20) b. Refused any reward from King of Sodom, v.24 (motivated by virtue, not greed) 2. Melchizedek a. A superior priesthood to that of Aaron (He.7:1-10) b. Blesses Abram c. Abraham tithes to him 1) Jesus is king of kings from the tribe of Judah. 2) But to be high priest, he would have to be of the tribe of Levi, except Abraham submitted to the priesthood of Melchizedek, acknowledging a priesthood greater than his. Jesus, the high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Outline Overview of the Book of Genesis CHAPTER 15: THE PROMISE We must walk by faith, not by sight.
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"to your descendants..." v.18
CHAPTER 16: Sarai and Hagar Faith must operate, not by presumption, but according to understanding -- of the abilities of God, and the will of God. CHAPTER 17: Circumcision, v.11 The Covenant of promise 1. An external symbol, representing no multiplication but according to the will of God, for the purposes of God. In ministry we must be doing God's work, God's way, for God's chosen ends. 2. Symbolic of a purified internal condition of heart. (Jr.4:3,4) 3. Jerusalem council Acts 15: a. 15:8,9 Purification is not brought about by the symbol b. The Jews, having turned their focus from the internal to the external (Is.29:13) began to consider themselves righteous based upon an external symbol 4. Abraham had received the promise before he was circumcised. a. Circumcision was not the cause of the promise and God's covenant with Abraham, but rather the representation of it. b. THE INTERNAL CAUSES THE EXTERNAL. When our internal condition of heart is right, there will be visible, external evidence of it. 5. Ishmael was also circumcised, v.25 The 1. 2. 3.
promise God's love for Sarai, changed her name to Sarah, "princess" v.15 God purposes to bring forth the prototype nation and light to the world through Isaac. But Ishmael is precious to God & Abraham too: a. "Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee." v.18 b. God says, 1) I will bless him 2) He will be father of a great nation. v.20
CHAPTER 18, 19 1. Birth of Isaac ('he laughs') 2. Destruction of Sodom a. "I will go down & see..." v.20-1 b. Abraham's intercession appealing to the conscience of God, that God may live justly too v.24-5 c. The sin of Sodom (Ezk.16:49) d. Description (Halley, p.98-100) 3. Lot rescued a. The blessing of the faithful intercession of Abraham b. Lot had been a testimony to Sodom (2Pt.2:6-9) c. From Lot's daughters came the M oabites, and the Ammonites. CHAPTER 20: Abraham & Abimelech 1. Abraham fails another test of faith. (Spiritual victory can't be stored up) 2. God warns Abimelech a. Abimelech pleads innocent b. God honors him (Jas.4:17) It is a matter of comfort to those that are honest that God knows their honesty, and will acknowledge it. (Matthew Henry,p.38) c. v.7-9 Ignorance will excuse no longer than it continues. Though we may have entered a wrong path ignorantly, this won't excuse knowingly continuing in it. (Henry,p.38) 3. Our merciful God allows Abraham to minister to Abimelech. v.17,18 CHAPTER 21 1. Birth of Isaac 2. Love is the pursuit of the highest good, not silly sentimentalism. Abraham released Ishmael in obedience to God, overcoming great emotional struggle. v.11 3. God's love and provision for Hagar and Ishmael
Outline Overview of the Book of Genesis 4.
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Covenant with Abimelech. Covenant: the basis of civil government, defining how one community is to relate to another. Relationship can only be sustained in the context of definition and integrity.
CHAPTER 22: The testing of Abraham's faith 1. It was: (Matthew Henry, p.40-1) a. Contrary to God's forbidding of murder. b. Contrary to a father's natural affection. With what heart could tender Abraham tie those guiltless hands? c. Commanded without explanation. d. Contrary to the specific promise of God. e. A reproach to God's name. What would the Egyptians, the Canaanites, and the Perrizites say? 2. One of the greatest worship services of all history v.5 3. Abraham established in faith (Heb.11:17) 4. Test: Abraham, are you committed to Me supremely, unreservedly? v.12 Abraham loved God supremely. He served God because of who He is; he didn't serve Him for what he could get out of Him. Abraham didn't serve God for the purpose of having God as a means to his own ends. 5. Declaration God is contrary to pagan religion, and opposes human sacrifice (though God is the only one w ho could lawfully choose such, BUT GOD DOESN'T. Such is totally opposed to His loving disposition and created purpose for people.) 6. Parallels the atonement a. The father is willingly offering up his son. b. The son is dead for three days in the mind of Abraham. v.4 c. It was an actual sacrifice on Mt. Moriah, the very same place where, 2000 years later, Jesus died. (Halley, p.101) CHAPTER 23: Death of Sarah, at age 127. 1. Abraham mourned and wept for her. v.2 2. Buying a grave for Sarah of tremendous significance to Abraham. a. This was the first spot of ground Abraham possessed in Canaan. b. Abraham's heart for Sarah longed for her to share in the inheritance. (It must have been a test for Abraham to see Sarah sacrifice, investing for posterity. Perhaps Abraham thought, "At least she will possess her grave, not just a borrowed one.") Yet Abraham sought a better country, that is, a heavenly. Abraham is content to be still flitting, while he lives, but secures a place where, when he dies, his flesh may rest in hope. 3. Abraham approached the sons of Heth in greatest respect. Though he was a great man, an old man, and now a mourner, yet he humbly bows before them. Being truly humble, and genuinely knowing the value of another made in the image of God, he therefore, displays the greatest of respect and excellency of manners toward them. 4. Ephron expresses a heart of true generosity and compassion, and certainly it must ever have remained a mystery to him why Abraham insisted upon paying for the grave: "The land is worth four hundred shekels (maybe about $200.), but what is that between me and thee? ... What is that between me and my friend? But God's provision must be by His hand. It is by the will of God, not by the will of a pagan culture, which one day would come under God's judgment. Abraham was not at their mercy. His dependency was not upon them, but upon God. CHAPTER 24: God provides Rebekah for Isaac. 1. Abraham's purpose in sending back to his own people -- to keep posterity free from idolatry. 2. The basis of marriage is the Word of the Lord. CHAPTER 25 1. Concluding remarks about Abraham a. Married Keturah b. Had 6 more children c. Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. d. Died at age of 175 2. Isaac a. When he was 37, Sarah dies b. At age 40, he marries Rebekah c. At age 60, Jacob & Esau born in answer to prayer d. At age 75, Abraham dies e. At age 137, Jacob had to flee from Esau f. At age 157, Jacob returns
Outline Overview of the Book of Genesis
3.
4.
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g. At age 167, Joseph sold into slavery h. At age 180, he dies (the same year Joseph becomes ruler over Egypt) Birth of Esau & Jacob a. They had been prayed for b. Rebekah had been barren 20 yrs; Isaac now 60. c. Prophecy that the older shall serve the younger.v.23 d. Isaac loved Esau; Rebekah love Jacob v.28 Esau sells his birthright
CHAPTER 26 1. God appears to Isaac a. Dwell in the land of Gerar, endure the famine; don't go to Egypt. b. "I will multiply your descendants; all the families of the earth will be blessed" c. Isaac's faith tested concerning Rebekah d. Patience & Steadfastness through Conflict 2. Esau's foolish marriage, bringing grief to Isaac & Rebekah CHAPTER 27 1. Jacob's deception of Isaac for the blessing 2. Flees to work for Laban CHAPTER 28 1. Jacob's dream; the transfer of the blessing of Abraham to him ("in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.") 2. Jacob names the place Bethel, the house of God. CHAPTER 29 & 30 1. Jacob meets Rachel; Jacob loves Rachel; Jacob works for seven years "for Rachel and they seemed to him but as a few days because of his love for her." (v.20. compare 2Pet.3:8 context) 2. Laban tricks Jacob; Jacob gets Leah a. Jacob loves Rachel more than Leah b. "the Lord saw that Leah was unloved; gave her children; Rachel is barren." v.31 3. Jacob's sons a. to Leah, Reuben (see a son) "surely now my husband will love me." b. to Leah, Simeon "because the Lord has heard I am unloved" c. to Leah, Levi (joined) "Now will my husband be joined unto me" d. to Leah, Judah (praise) "Now I will praise the Lord BUT AN UNHAPPY HOM E IS TWO WIVES IN CONFLICT. Rachel being barren, is embittered toward Leah e. For Rachel, Bilhah has a son, Dan (judgment) "God has judged me ... given sentence in my favor." f. For Rachel, Bilhah has another, Nepthali (wrestlings) "I have wrestled with my sister and prevailed" g. For Leah, Zilpah has a son, Gad (with fortune) "How fortunate" h. For Leah, Zilpah has a son, Asher (happy) "Happy am I for women will call me happy" There was much amiss between these two sisters; yet God brought good out of evil. i. To Leah, Issachar, (wages) "God has given me my wages, because I gave my maid to my husband. j. To Leah, Zebulun (dwelling) "God has endowed me with a good gift" Afterwards Leah gave birth to Dinah. k. To Rachel, Joseph (He has taken away my reproach; the Lord shall add to me another son.) (No book but the Bible narrates with such integrity the weaknesses of its heroes, and things so contrary to ideals which it aims to promote. Halley, p.104) CHAPTER 31: Jacob leaves secretly for Canaan 1. He had the Word of the Lord v.2 2. Rachel steals the household gods v.19 3. Laban pursues; consequences of disobedience
Outline Overview of the Book of Genesis
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CHAPTER 32 & 33 1. Jacob fears Esau; God protects & reconciles in response to: a. Jacob desperate plea to God b. Humility toward Esau: v.4 c. Appeals to Esau to extend grace to him. v.5 2. Jacob's prayer: "I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which Thou hast shown to Thy servant..." v.10 3. Jacob wrestles with the angel CHAPTER 34: Dinah defiled 1. Simeon and Levi pursue revenge through treachery a. God's name defiled b. The cause of missions greatly hindered c. Jacob's standing jeopardized CHAPTER 35: Jacob moves to Bethel at the Word of the Lord 1. God reaffirms the Covenant with Jacob 2. Rachel dies giving birth to Ben-oni (the son of my sorrow), but Jacob declares his name, Benjamin (the son of my right hand) that is very near to me, set on my right hand for a blessing, the support of my age, like the staff in my right hand 3. Reuben sins with Bilhah CHAPTER 36 From Esau came the Edomites, and the Amalekites CHAPTER 37: Joseph 1. born 75 years after Abraham's death 30 years before Isaac's death 8 years before Jacob returned to Canaan 2. at 17 years, Joseph sold into slavery CHAPTER 38 Judah's genealogy inserted because from his line, came the Messiah. CHAPTER 39:
Joseph imprisoned
CHAPTER 40,41: Joseph is made ruler over Egypt Brugsch, in his 'Egypt under the Pharaohs,' tells of an inscription which he calls a "very remarkable and luminous confirmation" of the seven years' famine. In a family rock-cut tomb of a certain Baba, governor of the city of El-Kab... is an inscription which Baba claims to have done for his city what the Bible says Joseph did for all Egypt: "I collected corn, as a friend of the harvest god. And when a famine arose, lasting many years, I distributed corn to the city, each year of the famine." Brugsch says: "Since famines in Egypt are of the very greatest rarity, and since Baba lived about the same time as Joseph, there remains but one fair inference: that the 'many years famine' in the days of ?Baba are the 'seven years of famine' under Joseph. CHAPTER 42-45:
Joseph's testing of his brothers and revealing himself to them
CHAPTER 46,47:
Jacob's family settle in Egypt
CHAPTER 48,49:
Jacob gives the blessing over his sons.
CHAPTER 50:
Death of Jacob and Joseph
Outline Overview of the Book of Genesis
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The Reliability and Accuracy of the Genesis Account Ancient Records and the Structure of Genesis D. J. Wiseman A Summary I. The Problem: It was assumed until the mid 1930's that Genesis had been handed down by word of mouth until written down by Moses. "...if one looks carefully at Scripture, it is evident that in certain places quite obvious and specific methods were employed in the compilation of the materials, and that since these reflect accredited procedures, used by the ancient scribes, they must in fact be studied carefully if we are to avoid the mistakes and erroneous conjectures of the nineteenth-century European scholars, and examine the transmission and compilation of sources in terms of ancient Near Eastern rather than modern European traditions. (16) Archaeological discoveries have produced thousands of clay tablets from Mesopotamia, written in a strange wedge-shaped script (cuneiform). In many instances the tablets that have been recovered exhibit a specific literary form comprising a title followed by the body of the text and concluding with a colophon. This latter feature generally contained the name of the owner or scribe and some attempt at dating. Since the colophon comes at the end of a tablet or a series of tablets, it naturally refers to material that precedes it on the tablet. Using these archaelolgical records as a pattern of specific literary activity, it is possible for anyone to isolate eleven sections of material from Genesis once the colophon has been identified. The presence of a colophon is indicated by the recurring phrase, "These are the generations (toledoth) of...," the Hebrew phrase meaning "histories, family histories, genealogies (descendants)." (17) II. Thesis: "The book of Genesis was originally written on tablets in the ancient script of the time by the patriarchs who were intimately concerned with the events related, and whose names are clearly stated. Moreover, Moses, the compiler and editor of the book, as we now have it, plainly directs attention to the source of his information." (20) III. History: It was not until circa 1850 that archaeological discoveries gave us many ancient writings from approximately 1000 years before Abraham (ca. 3000 BC). A. Clay tablets: are, next to stone, the most imperishable form of writing material known to man. Even when dried in the sun they become so hard that for thousands of years they have remained intact and legible. B. Seal: When scribes were employed, they not only wrote the whole of the letter, record, or legal tablet, but also took the owner's seal and impressed it on the clay; for these scribes knew best just how much pressure the seal should have on the clay to make it distinct. The seal was usually a cylinder from half an inch to an inch and a half long, but sometimes a precious stone engraved and worn on a ring was used. Each seal was specially inscribed for the owner and often included his name in cuneiform. A reference to the use of the seal is found in Job 38:14, "It is changed as clay under a seal." Judah carried a seal about with him, and Joseph was given Pharaoh's seal ring (Gen. 41:42)...The use of this seal was equivalent to the modern signature. (55) C. Linking a series of tablets: In the absence of page numbers, it was necessary to establish a sequence if a record required more than one clay tablet. This was achieved by the use of titles or catch lines. The title was taken from the first words of the first tablet, these were repeated at the end of each subsequent tablet, followed by the serial number of that tablet. The Hebrew verb "to write" means to "cut in" or "dig," a reference to the early method of writing. D. The significance of the phrase, "These are the generations of..." (toledoth). Following this phrase is often a genealogy, which has led scholars to associate it with that following genealogy. The normal Hebrew word for "generations" is dor, and not toledoth. To this day, Rabbis who are immersed in Biblical Hebrew use the word toledoth as the equivalent of the ordinary English word "history." Therefore the phrase is used in Genesis to point back to the origins of the family history and not forward to a later development through a line of descendants. In Matthew 1:1 the equivalent phrase means history, not descendants. In early Babylonian records the genealogical list was placed at the beginning of a tablet...When this is understood it clears away the great difficulty out of which commentators have labored to extricate themselves in endeavors to account for the absence of a genealogical list after the formula. (65) The genuineness of the Genesis records and their uncorrupted state, is attested by this adherence to the prevailing literary method of ancient writing, where we find little or nothing by way of preface, but frequently a very formal conclusion. (66)
Outline Overview of the Book of Genesis
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The phrase therefore means (1) It is the concluding sentence of each section, and therefore points backward to a narrative already recorded. (2) The earliest records claim to have been written. (3) It normally refers to the writer of the history, or the owner of the tablet containing it. IV. The Meaning of the Phrase toledoth. Tablet Series 1 2 3 4 5 6 7-8 9-11
Reference 1:1-2:4 2:5-5:2 5:3-6:9a 6:9b-10:1 10:2-11:10a 11:10b-11:27a 11:27b-25:19a 25:19b-37:2a
Contents This is the book of the origins of the heavens and the earth. This is the book of the origins of Adam. These are the origins (or histories) of Noah. These are the origins (or histories) of the sons of Noah. These are the origins (or histories) of Shem. These are the origins (or histories) of Terah. These are the origins (or histories) of Ishmael and Isaac. These are the origins (or histories) of Esau and Jacob.
In this way M oses clearly indicates the source of the information available to him and names the persons who originally possessed the tablets from which he gained his knowledge. These are not arbitrarily invented divisions; they are stated by the author to be the framework of the book. Two remarkable confirmations of these divisions are: (1) In no instance is an event recorded which the person or persons named could not have written from his own intimate knowledge, or have obtained absolutely reliable information. (2) It is most significant that the history recorded in the sections outlined above, ceases in all instances before the death of the person named, yet in most cases it is continued almost up to the date of death or the date on which it is stated that the tablets were written. (68-69) V. History of the tablets: A.
The First Series of Tablets (Gen. 1:1-2:4)...no man could have written the first series of tablets from personal knowledge...Significantly enough this is the only tablet which does not state the name of the author...It is God teaching Adam, in a simple yet faultless way, how the earth and the things which he could see on and around it had been created. The Lord God talked with Adam in the Garden. This tablet purports to be a simple record of what God said and did. (So Adam probably wrote down what God told him.)
B.
Tablet 2 (2:5-5:2), the history ceases abruptly with Tubal-cain, the "instructor of every artificer in brass and iron"; Jabal, "the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle", Jubal "the father of all such as handle the harp and organ"; and Tubal-cain "the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron." These men were the eighth generation from Adam, and a comparison with the chronology given in Genesis 5 shows that this generation lived immediately before Adam's death.
C.
Tablet 3 (5:3-6:9a) written or owned by Noah. The genealogical list ends with the birth of his three sons. This list is followed by a statement concerning the corruption of humankind, revealing that this was the cause of the Flood, which took place when Noah was an old man. In this instance he could have written the story of the Flood. This is contained in the tablets of the "history of the sons of Noah."
D.
Tablet (series) 4 (6:9b-10:1) written or owned by Noah's sons. The contain the account of the Flood and the death of Noah. How long Ham and Japheth lived after Noah's death we are unaware, but we know that Shem survived him by 150 years, hence there is nothing in this section which the sons of Noah could not have written.
E.
Tablet (series) 5 (10:2-11:10) written or owned by Shem. He writes of the birth and the formation into clans of the fifth generation after him. We know that he outlived the last generation recorded in this tablet, that is, the sons of Joktan.
F.
Tablet 6 (11:10-27) written or owned by Terah. Terah's genealogical list registers the death of his father Nahor, while he himself lived on until his son Abraham was seventy-five years old.
G.
The series of Tablets 7 and 8 (11:27-25:19) written or owned by the two brothers Ishmael and Isaac. The latest chronological statement (25:1-4) refers to the birth of Abram's great-grandsons, and of their growth into clans. Ishmael died 48 years and Isaac 105 years after Abraham. As Abraham would seem to have married Keturah soon after Sarah's death (which occurred 38 years before Abraham died), this period of 38 years added to the remaining 105 years of Isaac's life, is a most reasonable period to assign for the birth of Abraham's great-grandsons by Keturah.
Outline Overview of the Book of Genesis This indicates that the history recorded in these tablets ceases just before the death of Isaac, whose name is given as the last writer, for Isaac survived Ishmael by 57 years and records his death. H.
The remaining Tablet (series) 9, 10, and 11 (25:20-37:2), were the tablets belonging to, or written by, Esau and Jacob. Jacob is the central figure in the record, and the latest chronological statement in them is that of the death of Isaac. Immediately before the ending formula, "these are the origins of Jacob," we read, "and Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojourning, in the land of Canaan." This sentence has seemed so isolated that it has been regarded by many to have little relation to the context, yet, as we shall see in a later chapter, it is evidence of the date when and where the tablets were written. Within a few years Jacob had moved down to Egypt. This sentence indicates where he was living w hen he closes his record. For although he tells us of the death of Isaac, he says nothing whatever of the sale of Joseph into slavery, which occurred eleven years before Isaac's death. Neither does he tell of Joseph's interpretation of the butler's dream or of any other event in Egypt. Until Jacob went down to Egypt (10 years after he had buried his father), thus leaving "the land of his father's sojourning," he could not know anything whatever about these things. thus the record of Jacob closes precisely at the period indicated in 37:1. He had gone back to the south country, Hebron (where his father lived), only 10 years before Isaac had died, and records his death. Within 10 years of this latter event, Jacob was himself living in Egypt. So this previously obscure verse of Genesis 37 clearly indicates not only that Jacob wrote the tablets but when and where they were written. (70-73, 87-90)
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