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 Yoo
DEFENDERS
Study Bible
 Yoo
DEFENDERS
Study Bible
King James Version

Annotations prepared by

Henry M. Morris, Ph.D., LL.D., Litt. D.

President, Institute for Creation Research

CONSULTANTS

J.Gordon Henry, Ed.D.

Henry M. Morris III, D.Min

JOHNSON
UNIVERSITY
FLORIDA

\ l Bible Publishers, Inc.

lowa Falls, IA 50126 U.S.A.
 The Defender’s Study Bible
Copyright 1995 by World Bible Publishers, Inc.
All rights reserved.

All notes and appendixes copyright 1995 by Dr. Henry M. Morris

Color maps copyright 1990 by World Bible Publishers
All rights reserved.

34567 RRDC 050403 0201

Manufactured in the United States of America

 Introduction to
The Defender’s Study Bible
he written Word of God, with its glorious message of creation, redemption and
| eternal life with God, has always been under attack by the secular world and the
unseen hosts of darkness who control it. Yet, out of the ungodly world, year after
year, God chooses some to follow Him, and He has provided a wonderful plan of sal-
vation and everlasting joy for all who respond to His call, believe His Word and receive
His incarnate Son as Savior and Lord.
The Need for the Defender’s Study Bible
To these redeemed sinners He has given the privilege of proclaiming His saving gospel
to others yet unsaved. This means they must not only “preach the gospel to every crea-
ture” (Mark 16:15) but also defend the gospel against those who seek to destroy it. Like
the Apostle Paul, we who know the Lord must be “set for the defense of the gospel” (Philip-
pians 1:17). Like the Apostle Peter, we must “be ready always to give an answer to every
man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (I Peter
3:15). Neither ignorance nor arrogance is appropriate armor for the Christian soldier.
It is with such admonitions in mind that the writer has undertaken the challenging task
of preparing the annotations for The Defender’s Study Bible. As an engineering scientist
who has spent many years among the skeptical intellectuals of the academic world, he
has felt very keenly the need for this kind of Bible study tool “in the defense and con-
firmation of the gospel” (Philippians 1:7), and has therefore spent many, many hours
in the study of Christian evidences and the scientific integrity of Scripture.
More importantly, every day for over fifty years has been partially devoted to the study
of the Bible itself. The result has been a deep and settled conviction, stronger every year,
that the Bible is indeed the very Word of the living God. Its histories are authentic, its
science is accurate and far in advance of its times, its practical wisdom for daily living
is unexcelled, and its insights into the human heart are profoundly perfect for every need.
Furthermore, its own internal structures, as well as the claims of its authors, provide end-
less evidences of its divine inspiration to all who study it with open mind and heart. “Thou
hast magnified thy Word above all thy name,” the psalmist testified (Psalm 138:2).
The Bible does have the answer; its gospel can be defended; and it is hoped that this
Defender’s Study Bible will prove of significant help in this great cause to those who
use it. Its annotations seek to explain the Bible’s difficult passages, resolve its alleged
contradictions, point out the evidences of its divine origin, confirm its historical accu-
racy, note its remarkable anticipations of modern science, demonstrate its fulfilled prophe-
cies and in general remove any doubts about its inerrancy, its authority and its ability
to meet every human need.
 The Defender’s Study Bible Supports Literal Biblical Creationism
Probably the most distinctive feature of The Defender’s Study Bible is an uncompromising
commitment to literal Biblical creationism. That is, it accepts at face value the majestic
revelation of special creation in the Bible’s very first chapter, acknowledging and defending
the literal, six-day creation of all things. This truth of recent creation, combined with the
truth of the global cataclysmic flood in the days of Noah, is the real key to the true sci-
entific understanding of earth history. The doctrine of special creation then pervades all
the rest of the Bible and is the real foundation of all other truth, especially including all
the great doctrines of the Christian faith. The evolutionary concept of history, on the other
hand, is Satan’s greatest weapon in his long war against God, serving him as the root
of every false philosophy and evil practice known to man. The annotations in The
Defender’s Study Bible stress these great truths wherever they surface in Scripture.
Most importantly, the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ are emphasized through-
out. Christ is both eternal God—the second Person of the tri-une Godhead—and perfect
man, man as God intended man to be. His uniquely miraculous conception, His virgin birth,
His sinless life, His powerful teachings, His mighty miracles, and then His substitution-
ary death and glorious resurrection are all stressed in the notes of The Defender’s Bible.
The Defender’s Study Bible Follows a Literal Approach to the Bible
The Bible does contain many teachings that Christians have disagreed about, of course,
and some annotated Bibles try to take neutral positions on such controversial doctrines.
This writer, however, has thought it best to express his own convictions on these mat-
ters, even at the risk of losing some readers who hold other views.
Thus a literalistic approach has been taken, not only in Genesis but throughout the whole
Bible. It would seem that, if the Bible is really God’s Word, intended as His authorita-
tive revelation to all men, we ought to assume He means exactly what He says. If fig-
ures of speech or symbols or metaphors are used, they are for the purpose of helping
us understand, not confusing us, so they will be explained in the Biblical context itself,
not requiring the professional help of specially illumined priests or prophets.
Based on this literal and contextual approach, the notes become what one might call
Baptistic in ecclesiology, pre-millennial in eschatology, non-charismatic in pneumatol-
ogy and moderately Calvinistic in soteriology. These are man-made terms, of course, and
no attempt has been made to develop formal theological doctrines in the notes. The writer
has tried to be irenic, rather than argumentative, in dealing with such controversial mat-
ters, so it is hoped that anyone who disagrees with any particular annotation will still
find the other notes helpful and profitable.
Finally, it is hoped that The Defender’s Study Bible will not only help many Christians
to be able better to defend and contend for the faith, but will also be used to lead many
to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Most of all, it is fervently hoped—following much
prayer and many years of study—that it will honor and please our great God of creation
and redemption, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Henry M. Morris
 Books OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
Arranged in the order in which they are found in the Bible

THE OLD TESTAMENT

Genesiseat nen ee 1 HChronicles..<..022: 487 DYAIMCLE 5.Hesctnctnscaiee: 906
FXOCMSe cohssc nae 87 | AC ee ee 525 HIGSeay cee ears 930
WEVIVICUS re Gen rene 135 INEMe Nae actu 538 JOC eis nee cccdvraiaccs: 940
INUmpersh..8.£. fered 169 FISUICT poeee esc eicast 55 AMOS # 0.4.88... 945
Deuteronomy............ 215 NOOR ten czcee 565 ODadiaien« cevenncse 953
NOSINUWA Sesto: 2D BSAlMS posh esa Baesate 598 UGE hee eee ee 955
MUSES cen crete 284 IPNOVENDS tee cca. ase 675 MICA oe orewtnreettee nats 960
Ruth....ctas. sue B12 Ecclesiastes 2\...00.ue 701 INQ Bee es 966
LeSamucla reste 318 Song of Solomon.....711 Habakkuk cen: 970
IL Samuel. ceesties *355 [SGA OM AAY) esse 718 Fe PMA Al. <.cssecceccesss-s 974
I Kings pus cougege. © 385 HeLeMmialiy oes es 778 Mascara Lae... 978
I KingSi.2:. nc axasee. 42] Lamentations ........... 840 (FSC IEEE ARN eee 981
Ihronielests See 455 Ezekiel ei sanes nek oe847 Malachiie Wee sae... 995

THE NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew oceieccen ae 1005 Epnesians::.....00..5 1302 HEDLEWSi econ ee 1363
Mark’ te. a oticin 1056 PAID plansi..aes..8e 1314 VamleS: ccae tek 1384
Luke’... sed re 2 1082 Colossians ............6.. 1321 Peter] see is ae 1392
dc) uk Wem te ele Rt eonen 1130 I Thessalonians........ 1329 lhPetet.2.2..5 4 1401
INCISH2O4 uses tee i es II Thessalonians.......... 1336 Politic: 265s ose aee 1409
Romansises. fees! 1228 FTimothy 22428 1341 IbJonn a.k.a 1418
I Corinthians........... 1254 Tt UMOUNY, cers cee: 1350 WN Wet cola ch sree teers 1420
II Corinthians.......... Ti AEGIS oe eee ee 1357, ASDs(oh mee les de eee 1422
Galatians ................ 1292 Rhilemon.e..e08.3 1361 Revelation sevicue. 1426

Midex tor Major: LODICS IM ATMOLATION Sirens cots: 5-89 bias ocateveatoad seetetoesees scat aseeoeetha cous 1471

PND DELICIR tree Cn eer teieeee sey, cee nerre meas SCTTUh ,aA any Oma S, HAVE MOD. AE1487-1595

Authenticity of Biblical Text........ 1489 Chronology of Patriarchs in Genesis .1544

Creation vs. Evolution AsWorld-Views .1491Genesis in the New Testament ...... 1545
The Logic of Biblical Creation ...... 1496 Important First Mentions in Genesis .1557
History Outline As Revealed in Genesis. 1499 Fulfillment of Biblical Prophecies... . 1559
Processes Indicating Recent Creation. 1505 “I AM’—the Eternal Self-Existent God. . 1567
Universality of the Deluge.......... Pe tine Detty of Cnyvist...5. ><- sameeren 1570
Bible-Believing Scientists of the Past. 1518 The Resurrection of Christ......... 1573
Science and the Scriptures......... I5V3eeulihe Bookwon Revelation: eee. 1579
Miracles of the Bibles 2m... 2 a... 25 1529 Internal Designs in the Bible ....... 1586

OPES BYOLOU TEN OVGcline RRC OyIbro SERO 1597

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The Defender’s Study Bible
Introduction to the Old Testament
ll Scripture is given by inspiration of God (II Timothy 3:16). This was the testi-
~ mony of the great theologian/philosopher and brilliant intellectual, the Apostle
Paul, near the end of his life. He was referring to the Old Testament, and it was
his considered conviction that (literally) “all Scripture is God-breathed.”
His colleague, the Apostle Peter, likewise assures us that in writing these Old Testa-
ment Scriptures, “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II
Peter 1:21). Like Paul, Peter made this affirmation shortly before he was martyred for
his faith. Men like Paul and Peter would surely not be willing to die for a faith they knew
to be false, or even doubtful.
Most importantly of all, the Scriptures were the sure teaching of the Lord Jesus Himself.
“The Scriptures cannot be broken,” He said (John 10:35). “Till heaven and earth pass, one
jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).
There is no doubt that Christ and the apostles all believed the Old Testament Scriptures
to be the divinely inspired, infallible, inerrant, authoritative written Word of God. They
quoted from it and referred to it profusely, always with absolute confidence in its ac-
curacy and integrity.
Consequently, the notes attached to the text here in The Defender’s Study Bible all are
based on this same premise. In the notes, an attempt is made to support this premise
and its implications wherever there may be a question, as well as to help clarify the mean-
ing of the text whenever it seems appropriate. The notes are not infallible and are only
offered in an attempt to be helpful to the Bible reader in understanding, defending and
teaching the Bible.
Furthermore, no English translation of the Bible is perfect (though it is our conviction
that the so-called King James Version comes closest to that ideal) and neither is any
specific Hebrew manuscript of the text. The doctrine of inerrant inspiration applies only
to the original writings, called the autographs, of Moses, David and the other authors
of the canonical Old Testament books. These original autographs have long since van-
ished (in fact, it is just as well that they have for, otherwise, men would have made idols
out of them), but we still can have strong confidence in the accurate preservation of
the original text.
The Hebrew scribes who had the responsibility of copying and transmitting the old scrolls
to new generations took it very seriously, using many methods of cross-checking and
re-checking to detect and correct mistakes. The present form of the Hebrew text is due
largely to the efforts of a group of careful Hebrew scholars known as the Masoretes (“tra-
ditionalists”), who labored mainly in Tiberias during the period A.D. 500 to 950. The
discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the mid-twentieth century, dating about a thou-
sand years earlier than the oldest extant Masoretic manuscripts, confirmed the highly
accurate status of the transmitted Old Testament text. Although some errors of copy-
ing and transmission were inevitable, the science of textual criticism has been able to
detect most of these and restore the original text. Conservative Old Testament schol-
ars have been able to assure us that the so-called Masoretic text is an extremely reli-
able and accurate replica of the ancient autographs. It is this text upon which the King
James Authorized Version in English has been based. At the very least, it represents
an infinitely more accurate preservation than is true for any other Near Eastern doc-
ument of antiquity. We are well justified in regarding it as divinely inspired.
In its present form, the Old Testament contains thirty-nine books accepted as divinely
inspired and thus as belonging to the canon of Scripture. There is every indication in-
ternally that each of these books was accepted as infallibly authoritative right from the
time each was written. They were accepted as such not only by Jesus and His apostles
but also by the Pharisee sect and most of the rank-and-file Jews of His day (the Sad-
ducees accepted only the Pentateuch).
Modern liberals, on the other hand, tend to reject the traditional authors and dates of
practically all the canonical books, preferring to interpret these writings—as well as the
history of Israel itself—in an evolutionary context, filled with errors and anachronisms.
Unfortunately, this so-called “higher criticism” has infected not only the secular world
but also most of the “main-line” seminaries and church colleges.
Nevertheless, the great weight of external evidence (archaeological findings, other doc-
uments from antiquity, etc.), as well as the internal evidence of the Old Testament books
themselves, all favor the traditional view of their origin. These matters are discussed
in the introductions to the various books, as well as in relevant footnotes. The testimony
of Jesus, Paul, Peter and the others that the Old Testament was, in effect, “God-breathed”
is abundantly warranted. It should be unreservedly accepted as the very Word of God.
The thirty-nine books are commonly considered to fall into four major divisions, as follows:
I. The Pentateuch (Genesis—Deuteronomy)
II. Historical Books (Joshua—Esther)
III. Poetical Books (Job—Song of Solomon)
IV. Prophetical Books (Isaiah—Malachi)
They are arranged accordingly in our modern Bibles.
 The
OLD TESTAMENT
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 The First Book of Moses, called

GENESIS

Introduction to Genesis
n a very real sense, the book of Genesis is the most important book in the world, for it is the
[iesnstton upon which all the other sixty-five books of God’s written Word have been based.
When Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, gave a key Bible study to His disciples on the way to
Emmaus, He began with Genesis.
“Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things
concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). We would do well to follow His example. If we want to under-
stand the New Testament, we first need to understand Genesis; the New Testament contains at least
200 direct quotations or clear allusions to events described in Genesis—more than from any other
book in the Old Testament.
All the great doctrines of Christianity—sin, atonement, grace, redemption, faith, justification, salva-
tion, and many others—are first encountered in Genesis. The greatest doctrine of all—the special cre-
ation of all things by the eternal, self-existent God—is revealed in the very first chapter of Genesis, the
foundation of all foundations.
It is hardly surprising, therefore, that the greatest attacks on the Bible have been directed against
the integrity and authority of Genesis. Since the only alternative to creation is evolution, these
attacks are all ultimately based on evolutionism, the assumption that this complex universe can
somehow be explained apart from the infinite creative power of God.
The creation account in Genesis is supported by numerous other references throughout the Bible,
and this is true for all the later events recorded in Genesis as well. To some degree, archaeological
discoveries, as well as other ancient writings and traditions, also support these events, but the only
infallibly correct record of creation and primeval history is the book of Genesis. Its importance can-
not be over-estimated.
Authorship
ntil about 200 years ago, practically all authorities accepted the fact that Moses wrote Genesis
| | and all the rest of the Pentateuch as well. The first writer to question this seems to have been
a French physician, Jean Astruc, about the time of the French revolution. Astruc argued that
two writers wrote the two creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2, on the basis of the different names
for God used in the two chapters. Later writers during the nineteenth century, notably the German
higher critic Julius Wellhausen, developed this idea into the elaborate documentary hypothesis of the
origin of the Pentateuch.
According to this notion, the Pentateuch was written much later than the time of Moses, by at least
four different writers or groups of writers, commonly identified now by J, E, D and P (standing for
the Jehovist, Elohist, Deuteronomist and Priestly documents, respectively). Although some form of
this theory is still being taught in some seminaries and college departments of religion, it has been
thoroughly discredited by conservative scholars. This is discussed further in the Introductions to
Exodus and other books of the Pentateuch. In any case, there is no valid reason to question the
Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, except for Genesis itself.
For Genesis, however, there is real substance to the documentary idea, though certainly not in the
Astruc/Wellhausen form. In fact, it seems very likely that Moses was the compiler and editor of a
number of earlier documents, written by Adam and other ancient patriarchs. After all, the events of
Genesis took place long before Moses was born, whereas he was a direct participant in the events
recorded in the other four books of the Pentateuch.
GENESIS 2

It is reasonable that Adam and his descendants all knew how to write, and therefore kept records of
their own times (note the mention of “the book of the generations of Adam” in Genesis 5:1). These
records (probably kept on stone or clay tablets) were possibly handed down from father to son in the
line of the God-fearing patriarchs until they finally were acquired by Moses when he led the children
of Israel out of Egypt. During the wilderness wanderings, Moses compiled them into the book of Gen-
esis, adding his own explanatory editorial comments where needed. Genesis is still properly consid-
ered as one of the books of Moses, since its present form is due to him, but it really records the eye-
witness records of these primeval histories, as written originally by Adam, Noah, Shem, Isaac, Jacob
and other ancient patriarchs.
The respective divisions of Genesis can be recognized by the recurring phrase: “These are the genera-
tions of....” The archaeologist P. J. Wiseman has shown that these statements probably represent the
“signatures,” so to speak, of the respective writers as they concluded their accounts of the events
during their lifetimes.
The Hebrew word for “generations” (foledoth) was translated in the Septuagint Greek by the Greek
word genesis (used in the New Testament only in Matthew 1:1, there translated “generation”). Thus
these divisional notations have indirectly provided the very name for the book of Genesis, which
means “beginnings.”
It is interesting to note, as an indirect confirmation of this concept of Genesis authorship, that while
Genesis is cited at least 200 times in the New Testament, Moses himself is never noted as the author
of any of these citations. On the other hand, he is listed at least 40 times in reference to citations
from the other four books of the Pentateuch. There are also frequent references to Moses in the later
books of the Old Testament, but never in relation to the book of Genesis.
In sum, we can be absolutely confident that the events described in Genesis are not merely ancient
legends or religious allegories, but the actual eyewitness accounts of the places, events and people of
those early days of earth history, written by men who were there, then transmitted down to Moses,
who finally compiled and edited them into a permanent record of those ancient times.
 GENESIS 1:1-1:5

CHAPTER 1 11 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there

Ps 33:6
God creates the heaven and the earth Isa 48:13 was light.
if the beginning God created the heaven j.» 4 And God saw the light, that it was
and the earth. Job 26:13 good: and God divided the light from the
2 And the earth was without form, and void; Ps 10430 darkness.
and darkness was upon the face of the deep. | ie BP 5 And God called the light Day, and the dark-
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of Se ness he called Night. And the evening and the
the waters. OWAt:
' morning were the first day.

1:1 God. This opening verse of the Bible is unique, this eventual death of the universe has not yet occurred
the foundation of foundations, probably the first words and since it will occur in time, if these processes contin-
ever written down, either revealed to Adam, or even ue, the Second Law proves that time (and therefore, the
written directly by God Himself. One who really believes space/matter/time universe) had a beginning. The uni-
Genesis 1:1 will have no difficulty believing the rest of verse must have been created, but the First Law pre-
Scripture. God (Elohim) is eternal, existing before the cludes the possibility of its selfcreation. The only reso-
universe, and is omnipotent, having created the uni- lution of the dilemma posed by the First and Second
verse. Therefore, nothing is impossible with God, and Laws is that “in the beginning God created the heaven
He alone gives meaning to everything. No attempt is and the earth.” The so-called big bang theory of the ori-
made in this verse to prove God; it was recorded in the gin of the cosmos, postulating a primeval explosion of
beginning when no one doubted God. the space/mass/time continuum at the start, beginning
1:1 created. No other cosmogony, whether in ancient with a state of nothingness and then rapidly expanding
paganism or modern naturalism, even mentions the into the present complex universe, contradicts both
absolute origin of the universe. All begin with the these basic laws as well as Scripture.
space/time/matter universe, already existing in a 1:2 the earth. In an attempt to accommodate the sup-
primeval state of chaos, then attempt to speculate how posed evolutionary geological ages in Genesis, theorists
it might have “evolved” into its present form. Modern postulate a long gap in time between Genesis 1:1 and
evolutionism begins with elementary particles of matter Genesis 1:2, in which it was hoped these ages could be
evolving out of nothing in a “big bang” and then devel- pigeon-holed and forgotten as far as Biblical exegesis
oping through natural forces into complex systems. was concerned. This gap theory, however, requires a
Pagan pantheism also begins with elementary matter in worldwide cataclysm at the end of the geological ages in
various forms evolving into complex systems by the order to account for the globally inundated and dark-
forces of nature personified as different gods and god- ened earth described in Genesis 1:2. The cataclysm, in
desses. But, very significantly, the concept of the special turn, is hypothetically connected with the fall of Lucifer
creation of the universe of space and time itself is found in heaven (Isaiah 14:9-14) and his expulsion to the earth
nowhere in all religion or philosophy, ancient or mod- (Ezekiel 28:12-15), though such a cataclysm is nowhere
ern, except here in Genesis 1:1]. mentioned in Scripture. However, in addition to its obvi-
Appropriately, therefore, this verse records the cre- ous contradictions with other important and clear Bible
ation of space (“the heaven”), of time (“in the begin- passages (Genesis 1:31; Exodus 20:11), the gap theory is
ning”) and of matter (“the earth”), the tri-universe, the self-defeating geologically. The geological age system
space/time/matter continuum which constitutes our (which is the necessary framework for modern evolu-
physical cosmos. The Creator of this tri-universe is the tionism) is based entirely on the principle of uniformi-
triune God, Elohim, the uni-plural Old Testament name tarianism, a premise which precludes any such world-
for the divine “Godhead,” a name which is plural in wide cataclysm, and requires the interpreting of earth
form (with its Hebrew “im” ending) but commonly sin- history by the extrapolation of present slow geological
sular in meaning. processes into the remote past. The concept of geologi-
The existence of a transcendent Creator and the cal ages is based entirely on a uniformitarian explana-
necessity of a primeval special creation of the universe tion of the fossil beds and sedimentary rocks of the
is confirmed by the most basic principles of nature dis- earth’s crust, which would all have been destroyed by
covered by scientists: the postulated pre-Adamic cataclysm. Thus, any attempt
(1) The law of causality, that no effect can be greater to ignore or explain away the supposed great age of the
than its cause, is basic in all scientific investigation and earth by appeal to the gap theory makes an unnecessary
human experience. A universe comprising an array of and abortive compromise with evolutionism, and dis-
intelligible and complex effects, including living systems plays a lack of understanding of the geological struc-
and conscious personalities, is itself proof of an intelli- tures and processes to which evolutionists appeal in
gent, complex, living, conscious Person as its Cause. postulating their long ages.
(2) The laws of thermodynamics are the most univer- The real answer to the geological ages is not a pre-
sal and best-proved generalizations of science, applica- Adamic cataclysm, but the very real cataclysm of the
ble to every process and system of any kind, the First Noahic Deluge (see comments on Genesis 6-9), which
Law stating that no matter/energy is now being created provides a much better explanation of the fossil beds
or destroyed, and the Second Law stating that all exist- and sedimentary rocks, eliminating all evidence of geo-
ing matter/energy is proceeding irreversibly toward ulti- logical ages and confirming the Biblical doctrine of
mate equilibrium and cessation of all processes. Since recent creation.
GENESIS 4

1:2 was upon the face of the deep. The verb “was” in 1:5 Day. The use of “Day” (Hebrew yom) in Genesis
Genesis 1:2 is the regular Hebrew verb of being (hayetha) 1:5 is its first occurrence in Scripture, and here it is
and does not denote a change of state unless the context specifically defined by God as “the light” in the cyclical
so requires. It only rarely is translated “became,” as the succession of light and darkness which has, ever since,
gap theory postulates here. Neither does the phrase tohu constituted a solar day. Since the same word is used in
waw bohu need to mean “ruined and desolated,” as the defining all later “yoms” as used for this “first” yom, it
gap theory requires. The King James translation “without is incontrovertible that God intends us to know that the
form and void” is the proper meaning. days of creation week were of the same duration as any
1:2 was without form, and void. The universe as natural solar day. The word yom in the Old Testament
first called into existence by Elohim was in elemental almost always is used in this natural way and is never
existence, still “unformed” and unenergized, not yet used to mean any other definite time period than a liter-
ready for habitation, “void” (see notes on Psalm 33:6-9; al day. This becomes especially clear when it is com-
Proverbs 8:22-31; Isaiah 45:18; II Peter 3:5). It would bined with an ordinal (“first day”) or with definite
not be perfect (finished) until the end of creation week, bounds (“evening and morning”), neither of which
when God would pronounce it “very good” and “fin- usages in the Old Testament allow non-literal meanings.
ished” (Genesis 1:31-2:3). The “earth” material was sus- It is occasionally, though rarely, used: symbolically or in
pended in a matrix of water (the “deep”), completely sta- the sense of indefinite time (“the day of the Lord,”
tic and therefore in “darkness.” I Thessalonians 5:2), but such usage (as in English or
1:2 And the Spirit . . . moved. However, this condi- other languages) is always evident from the context
tion prevailed only momentarily. Then, the “Spirit” itself. Thus the so-called day-age theory, by which the
(Hebrew ruach) of “God” (Elohim) proceeded to “move days of creation are assumed to correspond to the ages
upon the face of the waters” (literally, “vibrate in the of geology, is precluded by this definitive use of the
presence of the waters”). Waves of gravitational energy word in its first occurrence, God Himself defining it.
and waves of electro-magnetic energy began to pulse 1:5 evening and morning. The use of “evening and
forth from the great “Breath” (another meaning of morning” in that order is significant. As each day’s work
ruach) of God, the Prime Mover of the universe. The was accomplished during the “light,” there was a cessa-
unformed “earth” material (Hebrew eretz), as well as tion of God’s activity during the “darkness.” Conse-
the “waters” permeating it (Hebrew shamayim) quickly quently, there was nothing to report between “evening
coalesced into spherical form under the new force of and morning.” The beginning of the next day’s activity
gravity, and the first material body (Planet Earth) had began with the next period of light, after the “morning,”
been formed at a point in space. or better, “dawning.” The literal sense of the formula
1:3 God said. As the “Spirit” of God “moved” (Gene- after each day’s work is: “Then there was dusk, then
sis 1:2), so now the Word of God speaks in Genesis 1:3. dawn, ending the first day.”
The result is light, the energizing of the vast cosmos 1:6 firmament. The “firmament” is not a great vault-
through the marvelous electro-magnetic force system ed dome in the sky but is simply the atmospheric
which maintains all structures and processes in matter. expanse established between the waters above and
These varied energies include not only visible light, but below. The Hebrew word, ragiya, means “expanse” or
also all the short-wave radiations (ultra-violet, x-rays, perhaps better, “stretched-out thinness.” Since God
etc.) and the long-wave radiations (infra-red, radio specifically identified it with “Heaven,” it also can be
waves, etc.), as well as heat, sound, electricity, magnet- understood simply as “space.” Thus, on the second day,
ism, molecular inter-actions, etc. “Light,” the most basic God separated the primeval deep into two deeps, with a
form of energy, is mentioned specifically, but its exis- great space between. The waters below the space
tence necessarily implies the activation of all forms of retained the elemental earth materials which would be
electro-magnetic energies. Light was not created, since utilized on the following day to form the land and its
God Himself dwells in light. On the other hand, He cre- plant cover. The waters above the firmament had appar-
ated darkness (Isaiah 45:7). ently been transformed into the vapor state in order to
The existence of visible light prior to the establish- be separated from the heavier materials and elevated
ment of the sun, moon and stars (Genesis 1:16) empha- above the atmosphere, where it could serve as a thermal
sizes the fact that light (energy) is more fundamental blanket for the earth’s future inhabitants.
than light givers. God could just as easily (perhaps more Such a vapor canopy would undoubtedly have provid-
easily) have created waves of light energy as He could ed a highly efficient “greenhouse effect,” assuring a
have constructed material bodies in which processes perennial spring-like climate for the entire earth. Water
function which generate light energy. The first is direct vapor both shields the earth against harmful radiations
(since God is light), the second indirect. For the cre- from space and also retains and spreads incoming solar
ation of such light generators, see note on Genesis 1:14. heat. A vapor canopy would thus provide an ideal envi-
1:4 darkness. That these rays of light energy includ- ronment for abundant animal and plant life and for
ed the visible light spectrum is obvious by its separation longevity and comfort in human life. Water vapor is
from the newly created “darkness.” That most of this invisible, and thus would be translucent, allowing the
visible light emanated from one direction in space and, stars to be seen through it. This would not be the case
further, that the newly-sphericized earth began now to with a liquid water or ice canopy.
rotate on its axis, is shown by the establishment of a 1:7 above the firmament. The “waters which were
cyclical succession of “Day” and “Night,” which has con- above the firmament” are clearly not the clouds or the
tinued ever since. vapor which now float in the atmosphere. The Hebrew
a GENESIS 1:6-1:14

6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in _ Seas: and God saw that it was good.
the midst of the waters, and let it divide the Dee 6 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth
waters from the waters. 17,8 grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree
7 And God made the firmament, and divided ?rov8:28 yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in
the waters which were under the firmament 1:9 itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
from the waters which were above the firma- peaecse 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and
ment: and it was so. * pan herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree
8 And God called the firmament Heaven. Gen 1-4 yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after
And the evening and the morning were the 1.11,12 his kind: and God saw that it was good.
second day. ee 13 And the evening and the morning were
9 And God said, Let the waters under the {46-44 the third day.
heaven be gathered together unto one place, ‘e067 14 And God said, Let there be lights in the
and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 1:14, 15 firmament of the heaven to divide the day
10 And God called the dry land Earth; and ae from the night; and let them be for signs, and
the gathering together of the waters called he 519419 for seasons, and for days, and years:

word al, definitely requires the meaning “above.” Fur- | 1:11 bring forth grass. The ability of the earth to
thermore, the absence of rain (Genesis 2:5) and the rain- begin immediately producing abundant plant life every-
bow (Genesis 9:13) is not only explained but required by where, on the very same day as the forming of the land
a vapor canopy, not by an atmosphere like that of the surfaces, shows that the upper portion of the crust was
present. Furthermore, these waters extending far out a rich soil, fertile in chemical nutrients and retaining
into space eventually condensed and fell back to the adequate moisture to sustain the lush vegetation. This
earth at the time of the Great Deluge, providing the fact illustrates an important principle. True creation
source of the worldwide rainstorm that contributed to necessarily involves the theory of a “creation of appar-
the Flood. Although the exact extent and structure of ent age,” or better, “creation of functioning maturity.”
this canopy is still being researched by computer simu- | That is, the soil did not gradually form over hundreds of
lations, there are no insuperable scientific problems years by rock weathering and other modern uniformitar-
with the concept. ian processes. It was readied instantaneously by divine
1:9 dry land. The work of the third day began with the fiat. The plants did not develop from seeds; rather the
laying of the foundations of the earth (see notes on Job herb was formed “yielding seed.” Similarly, the fruit
38:4; Proverbs 8:29; Psalm 33:7) by the power of God’s trees were “yielding fruit,” not requiring several years
spoken Word. The waters “under the heaven” apparenily | of preliminary growth as do modern fruit trees.
still contained all the material elements of the earth in 1:11 seed. The “seed” which God designed guaran-
solution or suspension until the energizing Word initiat- teed reproduction of each plant “after his kind.” This
ed a vast complex string of chemical and physical reac- phrase, repeated nine more times in Genesis 1 after this
tions to precipitate, combine and sort all the rock materi- first occurrence, obviously precludes transmutation of
als and metals comprising the solid earth. The “earth” one kind into another. The “seed” was programmed for
(Hebrew eretz) thus formed was the same “earth” which stable reproduction of each kind through a remarkable
had initially been “without form” (the same word eretz is system known today as the “genetic code,” the complex
used in Genesis1:1,2,10), but it was now “dry land,” no | information program in the DNA molecule. This system
longer mixed in the initial watery matrix. allows wide “horizontal” variation within the kind, but
1:10 Seas. As the solid materials precipitated and no “vertical” evolution from one kind into a more com-
then moved down and around under the forces of gravi- plex kind. It is significant that, despite widespread belief
ty, internal heat, and other electro-magnetic energies | in evolution, no scientist has yet documented a single
(not to mention the outflowing energy of the divine instance of true vertical evolution occurring today. The
Word), great basins opened up to receive and store the modern taxonomic equivalent of “kind” is probably
waters. Some of these waters were trapped and stored broader than “species” in many cases, since the latter
in the “great deep” (Genesis 7:1), subterranean cham- term is an arbitrary man-made category. That is, the
bers beneath the earth’s crust. Others accumulated in many varieties of dogs are all part of the created “dog
surface basins. However, all were evidently interconnect- | kind,” just as all tribes and nations of men constitute
| one “mankind” (Acts 17:25,26).
ed through a network of subterranean channels, so that
they were both singular and plural—gathered together 1:12 grass. It should be noted that plant life, in all its
into “one place,” yet called “Seas.” forms, was created before animal life, thus contradicting
Thus were established the primeval continents and | the order postulated by evolutionists. There are over
primeval oceans. We do not now know the original twenty such contradictions between the order of cre-
geography, however, since all was cataclysmically | ation in Genesis and that in evolutionary paleontology.
changed at the time of the Great Flood. We can infer 1:14 lights. On the first day, God had said: “Let there
that the topography was gently rolling and the water- be light” (Hebrew or). Now He says: “Let there be
ways were relatively shallow and narrow, since all was lights” (ma-or). Light energy was activated first, but
“yery good” and was made for man’s enjoyment and uti- now great masses of material (part of the “earth” ele-
lization (Genesis 1:26-28, 31). ments created on the first day) were gathered together
GENESIS 1:15-1:24 6

15 And let them be for lights in the firma-. ae abundantly the moving creature that hath life,
ment of the heaven to give light upon the ion y ‘and fowl that may fly above the earth in the
| 1 Cor 15:41 ‘open firmament of heaven.
earth: and it was so. |
Rev 21:23
16 And God made two great lights; the | 21 And God created great whales, and every
greater light to rule the day, and the lesser | Jer 31:35 living creature that moveth, which the waters
light to rule the night: he made the stars 4.29 | brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and
also. | Gen 8:17 “every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw
17 And God set them in the firmament of the | 5 a GH that it was good.
heaven to give light upon the earth, | 22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful,
18 And to rule over the day and over the Gen6:20 and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas,
night, and to divide the light from the dark: a Ae ‘and let fowl multiply in the earth.
ness: and God saw that it was good. tev26:9 | 23 And the evening and the morning were
19 And the evening and the morning were | ‘the fifth day.
the fourth day. 24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth
20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and

in one of the firmaments, or spaces, of the cosmos—the 1:20 open firmament. Both the “lights” (Genesis 1:15)
space beyond the waters above the space adjacent to and the “fowl” are said to be in the “firmament of heav-
the earth. These great bodies were set burning in com- en.” However, the fowl were to be in the “open” (Hebrew
plex chemical and nuclear reactions, to serve henceforth pene) firmament of heaven, or better, “the face of the fir-
as light-givers for the earth. mament of heaven.” Thus, birds fly only in the lower
1:14 signs. The Hebrew word for “signs” is the same reaches of the vast spaces of the heavens. Or, it may be
word (oth) used for Cain’s “mark” (Genesis 4:15) and that there are two different firmaments of heaven.
for Noah’s “token” (meaning the rainbow—Genesis 1:21 great whales. Fish and other marine organisms
9:12). Evidently the stars were arranged by God to signi- were created simultaneously with birds and other flying
fy something to those on the earth, not just scattered creatures, in obvious contradiction to the sequence pos-
evenly or randomly around in space. God even named tulated by evolutionists. The “moving creature” (Hebrew
the stars and their constellations Job 38:31-33; Isaiah sherets) of Genesis 1:20 is translated elsewhere as “creep-
40:26). For their possible significance, see notes on ing thing,” and here evidently refers to marine inverte-
Amos 5:8; Job 9:9; 26:13; 38:32. brates and marine reptiles, as well as the fishes. The word
1:14 seasons. The establishment of “seasons” (and translated “great whales” (Hebrew tannin) is elsewhere
these were not simply religious seasons, but actual cli- the regular word for “dragons,” and most probably refers
matological seasons) indicates that the earth was to the great marine reptiles often called dinosaurs.
formed with an axial inclination from the beginning, for 1:21 living creature. It is significant that the word “cre-
this is the basic cause of its seasons. ate” (Hebrew bara) is applied to the introduction of ani-
1:16 the stars also. These stars were scattered in mal life, but not to plant life. Plants are highly complex
tremendous numbers throughout the infinite recesses of replicating chemical systems, as are animals, with repro-
the heavens (Isaiah 55:9). The light energy emanating ductive programs based in the remarkable DNA molecule
from them would henceforth traverse space to “give light in both cases. However, animals possess another entity—
upon the earth,” providing patterns and movements which that of consciousness—which plants do not possess, and
would also enable man to keep records of time and histo- this required a second act of true creation (the first was in
ry. In order to serve these purposes, however, light energy Genesis 1:1, the creation of the basic space/mass/time
trails would need to be established already in space universe). Such consciousness is the essential meaning of
between each star and earth. Thus, men would have been the Hebrew word nephesh, commonly translated “soul,”
able to see stars billions of light-years away at the very but here in its first occurrence translated “life,” and then
moment of their formation, in accordance with the princi- in the next verse “living creature.” In Genesis 2:7, refer-
ple of mature creation, or creation of apparent age. ring to man, it is rendered “living soul.” Thus, both men
1:17 light upon the earth. The establishment of the and animals possess the specially-created nephesh.
light-giving functions of the sun and moon half-way 1:24 earth bring forth. The land animals were
through creation week is obviously inconsistent with brought forth (no need for a further act of creation,
the day-age theory. This is compounded by the fact that since the nephesh principle had already been created)
plant life on the earth was made one day before the in the early part of the sixth day. There was a natural
sun, a situation which would be absurdly impossible if three-fold categorization (no correlation with the arbi-
this “day” was an “age.” Furthermore, these “lights” trary classification system used by modern biologists)
were to be used to measure days and years. This is the consisting of cattle (domesticable animals), beasts of the
plural (yamin) of the Hebrew “day” (yom). They were earth (large non-domesticable animals) and creepers
also to “rule over the day and over the night,” and all (small animals that crawl or creep close to the ground).
this was done on the fourth day (Genesis 1:19). This The reversal of the sequence in Genesis 1:24,25 indi-
repeated use of the same word in the passage requires cates that all were formed simultaneously. The bodies of
the meaning in each case to be the same. The fourth these animals, like that of man (Genesis 2:7) were all
“day” was thus obviously a solar day like all the rest. formed from the basic elements of the earth.
7 GENESIS 1:25-1:29

creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his | He 27 So God created man in his own image, in
kind: and it was so. fee Lt the image of God created he him; male and
25 And God made the beast of the earth after | }.26 female created he them.
his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every | Gen9:6 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto
thing that creepeth upon the earth after his | 1:27 them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish
kind: and God saw that it was good. eed the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion
26 And God said, Let us make man in our, 1Cor11:8,9 | over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of
image, after our likeness: and let them have | 1.28 the air, and over every living thing that
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the be a 'moveth upon the earth.
fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all | — 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you
the earth, and over every creeping thing that ps115.16 | every herb bearing seed, which is upon the
creepeth upon the earth. | Mté:11 ‘face of all the earth, and every tree, in the

1:24 it was so. Note the logical order of God’s forma- both man and woman. Both male and female were creat-
tion of things. On the first day, He made the earth’s ed (the details of their physical formation being given in
atmosphere and hydrosphere, on the second day its Genesis 2) in God’s image. Thus both possess equally an
lithosphere and biosphere. On the central day of the eternal spirit capable of personal fellowship with their
week, the heavenly astrosphere was formed. Then, on Creator. Shared equally by men and women are all
the fifth day, living creatures were formed for earth’s those spiritual attributes not shared by animals—moral
atmosphere and hydrosphere, and on the sixth day, for conscience, abstract thought, appreciation of beauty,
its lithosphere and biosphere. On the first day God cre- emotional feelings, and, especially, the capacity for wor-
ated and energized His elemental universe; on the last shipping and loving God.
day, God blessed and sanctified His completed universe. 1:28 replenish. God’s first command to man was that
1:25 after his kind. The phrase “after his kind” of producing abundant progeny sufficient to fill the
occurs repeatedly, stressing the reproductive integrity earth (not replenish, a misleading translation of the
of each land animal kind, of the same sort as that of Hebrew word male). Perhaps the animals had been cre-
each plant kind (Genesis1:11,12) and each air animal ated in large numbers of each kind, but the human pop-
and water animal (Genesis1:21). All of these reproduc- ulation began with only two people. The function of sub-
tive systems are programmed in terms of the biochemi- duing the earth and having dominion over it would nec-
cal genetic code, utilizing the basic elements of the essarily require a long time—first, for the growth of a
earth. Both plants and animals are formed from the cre- large enough population to fill the earth, and second, for
ated eretz (“earth”), only animals from the created the acquiring of enough knowledge and skill to enable
nephesh (“soul” or “consciousness”). man to bring it under full control and development.
1:26 in our image. God is, as it were, taking counsel 1:28 have dominion. This primeval commandment to
here with Himself, not with angels, since man was to be conquer and rule the earth has been called the dominion
made in the image of God, not of angels. “Our image,” mandate, though a better term might be the primeval
therefore, implies human likeness to the triune God- commission to mankind. It has never been abrogated, but
head. Plants possess a body and animals possess a body was specifically renewed and extended after the Flood
and consciousness; man was not only to have a body (of (see notes on Genesis 9:1-7). The military terminology in
the created “earth”) and a consciousness (of the created no way implies hostility and resistance from the earth, for
“soul”), but man was also to possess a third created it was all “very good” (Genesis 1:31). It suggests, rather,
entity, the image of God, an eternal spirit capable of intensive study of the earth and its creatures (that is, sci-
communion and fellowship with his Creator. ence) and then application of that knowledge (that is,
1:26 likeness. Man was not only created in God’s technology and commerce) for the optimum benefit of
spiritual image; he was also made in God’s physical mankind and the animals, and for the glory of God.
image. His body was specifically planned to be most Note that no instruction was given to exercise dominion
suited for the divine fellowship (erect posture, upward- over other men but only over the earth and the animals.
gazing countenance, facial expressions varying with Had man not rebelled against God’s Word, all would have
emotional feelings, brain and tongue designed for artic- remained in perfect fellowship with God and, therefore,
ulate symbolic speech—none of which are shared by the with one another. There was no initial need for the so-
animals). Furthermore, his body was designed to be like called social sciences and technologies, but only the natur-
the body which God had planned from eternity that He al sciences and their implementation. This situation was
Himself would one day assume (I Peter 1:20). radically changed at the Fall, and God’s commandment
1:26 dominion. The “dominion” man was to exercise accordingly expanded officially after the Flood.
was to be over both “the earth” and also all the other 1:29 given you every herb. It is plain that both men
living creatures on the earth. Such dominion obviously and animals were originally intended to be vegetarian
was under God as a stewardship, not as autonomous and herbivorous in their appetites. There was adequate
sovereign. Man was to care for the earth and its crea- nourishment and energy value available in the fruits
tures, developing and utilizing the earth’s resources, and herbs to enable both to accomplish the work God
not to despoil and deplete them for selfish pleasure. had given them to do. The supply could not be exhaust-
1:27 male and female. Note that “man” is here (and ed, since these plants were designed to replicate them-
often in Scripture) used in a generic sense to include selves through the seeds they produced.
GENESIS 1:30-2:3

which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to 1:30 CHAPTER 2

Ps 104:14
you it shall be for meat. | Ps 147:9 hus the heavens and the earth were fin-
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to) 4.3; ished,
and all the host of them.
every fowl of the air, and to every thing that) 1 Tim 4:4 God creates Adam
creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is. 2:1 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work
life, I have given every green herb for meat: ™ 20:11 which he had made; and he rested on the sev-
and it was so. encuy: enth day from all his work which he had made.
31 And God saw every thing that he had | ee) 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanc-
made, and, behold, it was very good. And the sa 56:2 tified it: because that in it he had rested from
evening and the morning were the sixth day. lsa 58:13, 14| all his work which God created and made.

1:29 all the earth. The fact that their food would be bumbler or a monster. In reality, the geological ages are
available everywhere, “upon the face of all the earth,” nothing but evolutionary delusions; the fossils are much
shows that in the originally created world there were no more realistically explained in terms of the Flood.
deserts or other uninhabitable regions, no frozen tun- Even Satan himself (with all the host of heaven who
dras or ice caps, no rugged high mountain ranges. With later followed him in rebelling against God) still “wast
lush vegetation everywhere, the animals no doubt soon perfect” (Ezekiel 28:15) at the end of the creation week.
had populated all the earth. His fall from heaven to the earth could only have been
1:29 be for meat. The question as to how or when after God’s universal “very good” proclamation.
some of the animals became carnivorous is not definite- 2:1 finished. The strong emphasis in these verses on
ly answerable at this late date, since the Bible does not the completion of all of God’s creating and making
say. In the future kingdom age, there will again be no activity is a clear refutation of both ancient evolutionary
predation or struggle between animals or between ani- pantheism and modern evolutionary materialism, which
mals and men (Isaiah 11:6-9; Hosea 2:18). Even today, seek to explain the origin and development of all things
both animals and men can (and do, on occasion) live on in terms of natural processes and laws innate to the uni-
a strictly vegetarian, herbivorous diet. The development verse. Creation is complete, not continuing (except in
of fangs and claws, as well as other such structures and miracles, of course; if evolution takes place at all, it
practices, may be explained as either (1) recessive creat- would require continuing miraculous intervention in
ed features which became dominant by selection the present laws of nature).
processes as the environment worsened following the 2:2 ended his work. This statement of completed cre-
Fall and Flood; (2) features created originally by the ation anticipates the modern scientific laws of thermo-
Creator in foreknowledge of the coming Curse; or (3) dynamics. The First Law states essentially the same
mutational changes following the Curse, converting truth: the universe is not now being created but is
originally benign structures into predatory and defen- being conserved, with neither matter nor energy being
sive structures. created or destroyed. On the Second Law (the univer-
1:31 very good. This one verse precludes any inter- sal law of increasing disorder) see notes on Genesis
pretation of Genesis which seeks to accommodate the 3:17 and Genesis 1:1.
geological ages in its system. The “geological ages” are 2:3 sanctified it. God’s “rest” on the seventh day is not
identified by the fossils dated in the sedimentary rocks continuing; the verb is in the past tense—“rested,” not “is
of the earth’s crust, which supposedly depict a billion- resting.” His blessing and hallowing of the seventh day
year history of the evolution of life on the earth. In this could not apply to this present age of sin and death, but
case simple fossils are found in ancient rocks and more only to the “very good” world He had just completed.
complex fossils in younger rocks. But fossils really Nevertheless, this “hallowing” of every seventh day
depict a world in which death reigns. Fossils are the was for man’s benefit (Mark 2:27) and was obviously
remains of dead organisms, from amoebae to man, and intended as a permanent human institution. This institu-
thus represent a world full of suffering and death, not a tion is not controlled by the heavenly bodies which
world pronounced by God as “very good.” mark days, months, seasons and years, but by the physi-
Six times before in this chapter, God had adjudged cal and spiritual need of all men for a weekly day of rest
His work to be “good.” Now, after completing every- and worship in thankfulness for God’s great gift of cre-
thing (even the “host of heaven:” see next verse), He ation and (later) for His even greater gift of salvation.
declared it all to be “exceedingly good” (literal meaning The Sabbath (literally rest) day was incorporated in the
of the Hebrew word rendered “very”). The evolutionary Mosaic covenant with Israel in a special way, but its use
ages of geology represent a billion years of wasteful preceded Israel and will continue eternally (Isaiah
inefficiency and profound cruelty if they were, indeed, a 66:23). However, the emphasis is on a seventh day, not
part of God’s work. They would completely discredit necessarily Saturday. Since Christ’s resurrection, in fact,
God as a God of order, intelligence, power, grace and most Christians have identified their weekly cycle as
love. Death represents “the wages of sin” (Romans centering on the first day of the week. The age-long,
6:23), not of divine love. worldwide observance of the week is not contingent on
Thus, the gap theory (placing the geological ages the movements of the sun and moon (like the day, the
before creation week) and the day-age or progressive cre- month and the year) but is rather mute testimony to its
ation theory (incorporating the geological ages during primeval establishment as a memorial of God’s literal
creation week) in effect imply that the Creator is either a seven-day creation week.
9 GENESIS 2:4-2:9

4 These are the generations of the heavens | 2:4 6 But there went up a mist from the earth,
Gen 10:1
and of the earth when they were created, in _and watered the whole face of the ground.
the day that the Lorp God made the earth and ar 37:5 7 And the Lorp God formed man of the dust
the heavens, FREE oe _of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the
5 And every plant of the field before it was in breath of life; and man became a living soul.
the earth, and every herb of the field before it 78 8 And the Lorp God planted a garden east-
Joel 2:3
grew: for the LorD God’ had not caused it to ward in Eden; and there he put the man whom
PAKS)

rain upon the earth, and there was not a man Prov 11:30 he had formed.
to till the ground. Rev 22:2, 14
9 And out of the ground made the Lorp God

2:4 generations. “Generations” (Hebrew foledoth) is the 2:6 mist. The “mist” was not a river, as some writers
word from which the book of Genesis gets its name. In the think, as the Hebrew word simply means water vapor
Septuagint it is rendered by the Greek genesis, which in (Job 36:27); it refers merely to the local daily cycle of
Matthew 1:1 is translated “generation.” This is the first evaporation and condensation occasioned by the
occurrence of the formula which marks the key subdivisions day/night temperature cycle.
of the book: “These are the generations of....” The others are 2:7 dust of the ground. Man’s body was formed out
at Genesis 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10,27; 25:19; 36:1,9; 37:2. of the “elements of the earth,” the same materials (car-
In all except this first one, the name of a specific patri- bon, hydrogen, oxygen, etc.) from which both plants
arch is attached. Parallels with the terminology of the and the bodies of the animals had been formed (Genesis
ancient Babylonian tablets indicate that these names are 1:12,24). This unity of physical composition is a fact of
actually the signatures of the original writers of the par- modern science long anticipated by Scripture.
ticular tablets. That is, each of these primeval patriarchs 2:7 breath of life. Though animals also possess the
kept the narrative records of his own generations, “breath” (Hebrew neshimah;—Genesis 7:22) and the
inscribing them on stone or clay tablets and then “soul” (Hebrew nephesh;—Genesis 1:24), man’s breath
appending his name at the end when he was ready to (same word as spirit) and soul were imparted to him
turn over the tablets and the task of writing the toledoth by God directly, rather than indirectly, as imparted to
to the next in line. These tablets eventually came into the animals.
Moses’ possession, who wrote the last section of Genesis 2:7 living soul. Evolution is again refuted at this point.
(37:3), obtaining the information from “the sons of If man’s body had been derived from an animal’s body by
Jacob” (Exodus 1:1), as well as organizing and editing all any kind of evolutionary process, he would already have
the rest under divine inspiration, so that the entire col- possessed the nephesh, rather than “becoming a living
lection finally became, in effect, the first of the five books soul” when God gave him the breath of life.
of Moses. Since the first tablet (Genesis 1:1-2:4a) tells of 2:8 Eden. Eden was evidently a region somewhere
events prior to the existence of any witness to record east of where Adam first received consciousness, so that
them, God Himself either wrote this section directly or he could watch as God “planted” a beautiful garden
specifically revealed it to Adam. It describes the genera- there for his home. Though this was to be his base, he
tions of no person but rather those of the cosmos itself. was actually instructed to “subdue” and “rule” the
2:4 in the day. As per the ancient Babylonian prac- whole earth (Genesis 1:26-28). This verse is a summary,
tice, the next tablet, beginning at 2:4b, keys in to the with Genesis 2:9-14 going back to give more details con-
previous one by a phrase which both associates with the cerning Adam’s home.
preceding histories and initiates the new narrative. The 2:9 tree of life. The “tree of life” was an actual tree,
“day” of this verse does not necessarily refer to the with real fruit (Genesis 3:22; Revelation 22:2) whose
entire creation week, as day-age theory advocates allege. properties would have enabled even mortal men to live
It more likely refers to the first day of that week when indefinitely. Though modern scientists may have difficul-
God created the earth and the heavens, as just stated in ty in determining the nature of such a remarkable food,
Genesis 2:4a, and then proceeded also to “make” them they also have been unable so far even to determine the
through the rest of the six days. basic physiological cause of aging and death. Thus it is
2:5 before it grew. This statement clearly teaches the impossible to say scientifically that no chemical sub-
fact of a mature creation, or creation of apparent age. stance could exist which might stabilize all metabolic
The first plants did not grow from seeds but were creat- processes and thereby prevent aging.
ed full grown. 2:9 tree of knowledge. The same cautions apply to any
2:5 rain upon the earth. The primeval hydrological discussions of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good
cycle was subterranean rather than atmospheric (see and evil, which likewise was genuinely physical. It is con-
note on Genesis 1:7). The absence of rain was a conse- ceivable that the fruit contained substances capable of
quence of the water vapor above the firmament and the catalyzing physiological decay processes in the body, per-
uniform temperature which it maintained over the earth. haps affecting even the genetic system. Whether or not
Rain today is dependent on the global circulation of the this was the case, a “knowledge” of evil would necessarily
atmosphere, transporting water evaporated from the follow its eating, since evil is fundamentally rejection of
ocean inland to condense and precipitate on the lands. God’s Word. Man had abundant knowledge of good
This circulation is driven by worldwide temperature dif- already since everything God had made was “very good”
ferences in the atmosphere and would be impossible to (Genesis 1:31), but disobedience would itself constitute
attain with the global warmth sustained by the canopy. an experimental knowledge of evil.
GENESIS 2:10-2:20 10

to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, 2:10 ‘him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to
Rev 22:1, 17
and good for food; the tree of life also in the ‘keep it.
midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge 1 Sam 15:7
_ 16 And the Lorp God commanded the man,
of good and evil. 2:14 saying, Of every tree of the garden thou
10 And a river went out of Eden to water the, Gen15:18 | mayest freely eat:
garden; and from thence it was parted, and meee) _ 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good
became into four heads. oe _and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day
11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it Deut 30:15 that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, | 2:17 God creates Eve
where there is gold; ra re 18 And the Lorp God said, It is not good
12 And the gold of that land is good: there is jas 1:15 that the man should be alone; I will make him
bdellium and the onyx stone. 2.18 _an help meet for him.
13°And the name’ of the-second’ river-is | Prov 18:22 ©)" 19 And out of the ground the Lorp God
Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the 2:19 | formed every beast of the field, and every fowl
whole land of Ethiopia. a bee of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see
14 And the name of the third river is Hid- what he would call them: and whatsoever
dekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Adam called every living creature, that was the
Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. name thereof.
15 And the Lorp God took the man, and put | i 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to

2:10 out of Eden. The geography described in these fruit of all types available, there was no justification for
verses obviously corresponds to nothing in the present his desiring the one forbidden fruit. Nevertheless, he
world, although some of the names sound familiar. The did have a choice, and so was a free moral agent, capa-
Noahic Flood was so cataclysmic in its effects (II Peter 3:6) ble of accepting or rejecting God’s will.
that the primeval geography was obliterated, with the post- 2:17 die. "Thou shalt surely die” could be rendered,
Flood continents and oceans being completely different. “Dying, thou shalt die!” In the very day that he would
The similarity of certain names (Ethiopia, Euphrates) experimentally come to “know evil” through disobeying
is best explained in terms of the ascription by Noah or God’s Word, he would die spiritually, being separated
his sons of these names to postdiluvian features which from God’s direct fellowship. Adam would also begin to
reminded them of antediluvian geographic features, just die physically, with the initiation of decay processes in
as the explorers of America often gave European names his body ultimately causing his physical death.
to American sites. 2:18 meet for him. The events described here all took
2:10 four heads. The rivers described in this section place on the sixth day of the creation week after which
could not have derived their waters from rainfall (Gene- God pronounced all things very good. All the animals
sis 2:5), and so must have been fed by artesian springs, had been created “male and female” (Genesis 6:19) and
or controlled fountains from the great deep. This implies instructed to “multiply on the earth” (Genesis 1:24), but
a network of subterranean pressurized reservoirs and man still needed a “helper like him” (literal meaning).
channels fed from the primeval seas and energized by 2:19 God formed. A better, and quite legitimate, trans-
the earth’s internal heat (see note on Genesis 1:9,10). lation is “had formed.” Thus there is no contradiction
2:12 is good. The present tense in which this descrip- with the order of creation in Genesis 1 (animals before
tion is written indicates it to be an eye-witness account, man). The first chapter of Genesis gives a summary of
and thus most likely a record originally from Adam him- the events on all six days of creation; the second chapter
self. However, the past tense in Genesis 2:10 “went” provides more details of certain events of the sixth day.
may suggest that at the time when Adam actually wrote 2:19 the name thereof. The animals named by Adam
it, the garden of Eden was no longer there. included only birds, domesticable animals, and the
2:12 bdellium. The “bdellium” was evidently a pre- smaller wild animals that would live near him. It would
cious gum, likened to the bread from heaven sent to the be possible for him to name about 3,000 of the basic
Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 11:7). kinds of these animals in about five hours (one every six
2:15 keep it. The ideal world, both before the seconds), and this would be adequate both to acquaint
entrance of sin and after the removal of sin (Revelation Adam with those animals and also to show clearly that
22:3) is not one of idleness and frolic, but one of seri- there were none who were sufficiently like him to pro-
ous activity and service. Adam was placed in an ideal vide companionship for him. This is still further proof
environment and circumstances, so he had no excuse that man did not evolve from any of the animals, even
for rejecting God’s love and authority. those that were most directly associated with him.
2:17 not eat of it. For true fellowship with God (hav- 2:20 not found. As far as fossil evidence is con-
ing been created in His image), man must be free to cerned, many fossils of true men have been found
reject that fellowship. The restriction imposed here by (Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon, etc.) as well as fossils of true
God is the simplest, most straightforward test that could apes. The so-called hominids (Australopithecus, Homo
be devised for determining man’s volitional response to erectus, etc.) are fragmentary and controversial even
God’s love. There was only one minor restraint placed among evolutionists and can all be interpreted either as
on Adam’s freedom and, with an abundance of delicious extinct apes or degenerated men.
11 GENESIS 2:21-3:1

the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the | 2:22 | Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
field; but for Adam there was not found an | — ie _ 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and
help meet for him. 2:23 | his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and
21 And the Lorp God caused a deep sleep to) Gen 29:14 they shall be one flesh.
fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one Eph 9:28-205) 365 And they were both naked, the man and
of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead fire his wife, and were not ashamed.
thereof; Eph 5:31
22 And the rib, which the Lorp God had) 2:25 CHAPTER 3
taken from man, made he a woman, and Adam and Eve sin
brought her unto the man. 3:1 ow the serpent was more subtil than any
1Chr2t:1 |
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my Rev 20:2 beast of the field which the Lord God
bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called | had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea,

2:21 deep sleep. The “deep sleep” was not simply an today, but because the physiological differences of
anesthetized state to prevent pain, since there was as Adam and Eve had been divinely created in accordance
yet no pain in the world. It was most likely ordained as with God’s purpose. They had been brought together by
a primeval picture of the future death of the second God with the express commandment to “be fruitful and
Adam, whose sacrificial death would result in the forma- multiply” (Genesis 1:28). At this time they were still
tion of His bride (II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:30). without sin and thus without consciousness of moral
2:21 ribs. The “rib” was actually the “side” of Adam guilt. Later, however, their sin brought an awareness
(the Hebrew fse/a occurs thirty-five times in the Old Tes- that the springs of human life had been poisoned, both
tament and is nowhere else translated “rib”), The side in themselves and in their progeny. This discovery made
contained both “bone” and “flesh” (Genesis 2:23), but it them painfully aware of their reproductive organs, and
may be that both are implied in the blood that would they were then “ashamed.”
necessarily flow from the opened side. The “life of the 3:1 serpent. The “serpent” was not merely a talking
flesh is in the blood” (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11) and snake, but was Satan himself (Revelation 12:9; 20:2) pos-
a primeval blood “transfusion” would more perfectly fit sessing and using the serpent’s body to deceive Eve.
the event as a type of the opened side of Christ on the Satan had been originally “created” (see notes on Ezekiel
cross (John 19:34-36). Even if the operation did actually 28:14,15) as the highest of all angels, the anointed cherub
extract a rib from Adam, this would not suggest that covering the very throne of God in heaven. He, along with
men should have one less rib than women, since all the angels, had been created to be “ministering spirits,
“acquired characteristics” are not hereditable. sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salva-
2:22 made he a woman. This remarkable record of tion” (Hebrews 1:14). Not content with a role inferior in
the formation of the first woman could hardly have two important respects to man (angels were not created in
been invented by human imagination. Neither can it be God’s image, nor could they reproduce after their kind,
interpreted in the context of theistic evolution, even if there being no female angels), Satan led a third of the
one could interpret the formation of Adam’s body from angels (Revelation 12:4,9) to rebel against God, seeking to
the dust in evolutionary terms. Its historicity is con- become God himself. Evidently, he did not really believe
firmed in the New Testament (I Timothy 2:13; I that God was the omnipotent Creator, but rather that all
Corinthians 11:8). All other men have been born of had evolved from the primeval chaos (probably the expla-
woman, but the first woman was made from man. nation for the widespread ancient pagan belief that the
2:24 one flesh. The literal historicity of this event and world began in a state of watery chaos). God, therefore,
its primary importance in human life are corifirmed by “cast thee to the ground” (Ezekiel 28:17), allowing Satan
both the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 5:30-31) and the Lord to tempt the very ones he had been created to serve.
Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12). Although 3:1 subtil. The physical serpent was clever, and possi-
men and women through the ages have corrupted this bly originally able to stand upright, eye-to-eye with man,
divine institution in many ways (adultery, divorce, (the Hebrew word is nachash, possibly originally mean-
polygamy, homosexuality, etc.), “from the beginning it was ing a shining, upright creature).
not so” (Matthew 19:8). The institution of the home is the 3:1 he said. Some of the animals may have originally
first and most basic human institution and was intended been able to communicate on an elementary level with
to be monogamous and permanent until death. It is signif- their human masters, an ability later removed by the
icant that cultures of all times and sorts have acknowl- Curse. More likely, God allowed Satan to use the ser-
edged the superiority of monogamy, even though they pent’s throat (as He later allowed Balaam’s ass to
have not always practiced it. Such an awareness could not speak—Numbers 22:28) and Eve was, in her innocence,
be a product of evolution since it does not characterize not yet aware of the strangeness of it.
most animals, and thus can only be explained in terms of 3:1 hath God said. The root of all sin is doubting
this primeval creation and revelation. Furthermore, the God’s Word. Satan was successful in this approach even
fact that it took place at the very beginning of creation, with one who had never sinned before and who had no
rather than billions of years after the beginning, was con- sin-nature inclining her to sin. Satan merely implanted a
firmed by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (Mark 10:6). slight doubt concerning God’s veracity and His sover-
2:25 not ashamed. The lack of shame at nakedness eign goodness. The approach so successful in this case
was not because of a hardened conscience, as is true has provided the pattern for his temptations ever since.
GENESIS 3:2-3:13 12

hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree 33 8 And they heard the voice of the Lorp God
| Ex19:12
of the garden? £ walking in the garden in the cool of the day:
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We. * 6:23 ‘and Adam and his wife hid themselves from
may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: Acts 26:18 the presence of the Lorp God amongst the
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the 3:6 ‘trees of the garden.
1 Tim 2:14
midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not | Jas 1:14 |
9sae And the : Lorp God called unto Adam, and
eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. a7 said unto him, Where art thou? '
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye | sa 47:3 _ 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the gar-
shall not surely die: amis den, and I was afraid, because I was naked;
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat | 23 _and I hid myself.
thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and {ev 26:12 _ 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou
ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Ps 139:1-12 wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree,
| 215-17 |
6 And when the woman saw that the tree moe whereof I commanded thee that thou
was good for food, and that it was pleasant to “¢x3-6 shouldest not eat?
the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one) Ps119-120 | 12 And the man said, The woman whom
wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, 3:12 | thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the
and gave also unto her husband with her; and le1i3. tree, and I did eat.
he did eat. | 13 And the Lorp God said unto the woman,
3:13
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and 2Cor11:3. | What is this that thou hast done? And the
1 Tim 2:14
they knew that they were naked; and they sewed | /woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I
fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. ‘did eat.

3:3 touch it. Eve, in her developing resentment against 3:7 naked. The sudden recognition of their naked-
God, fell into Satan’s trap, both taking away from God’s ness indicates the realization that their descendants, as
Word and adding to it. God had said they could “freely well as themselves, would suffer the effects of this origi-
eat” of “every tree” (Genesis 2:16); Eve quoted him as say- nal sin. The ability and instruction to be fruitful, given
ing they could eat of the trees. God had said they should by God as a unique blessing, now would also convey the
not eat of the fruit of one tree; Eve added the statement Curse of sin and death. Adam was the federal head of
that they should not even touch it. These are the very sins the human race, and it was “through the offence of one
God warned about after His written Word was finally com- many be dead” (Romans 5:15).
pleted (Revelation 22:18,19). Doubting God’s Word, aug- 3:7 fig leaves. The hasty fabrication of fig leaf aprons
menting, then diluting, and finally rejecting God’s Word— might conceal their procreative organs from each other,
this was Satan’s temptation and Eve’s sin, and this is the but could hardly hide their sin from God. Neither will
common sequence of apostasy even today. the “filthy rags” of self-made “righteousnesses” (Isaiah
3:5 be as gods. Satan’s sin led him to desire to be as 64:6) cover sinful hearts today. The “garments of salva-
God, and this was the desire he placed in Eve’s mind tion” and the “robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10) can
(see notes on Isaiah 14:13,14). In fact, when one ques- be provided only by God, just as God provided “coats of
tions or changes the Word of God, he is, for all practical skins” for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21).
purposes, making himself to be “god.” 3:8 walking in the garden. This is not a crude
3:5 knowing good and evil. Satan’s deceptions are anthropomorphism, but an actual theophany. The
always most effective when they have some truth in them. “Word of God,” Christ in His preincarnate state, regular-
Through eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve would ly appeared in the garden for fellowship and communi-
indeed come to “know good and evil,” but not “as gods.” cation with His people. How long this period of fellow-
3:6 make one wise. The threefold temptation, appeal- ship had endured is not stated, but it was long enough
ing to body (“good for food”), soul (“pleasant to the for the Satanic rebellion in heaven and expulsion to
eyes”) and spirit (“make one wise”), was the same by earth. Since it was not long enough for Eve to conceive
which Satan appealed to Christ in the wilderness (Luke children, however, and since she and Adam had been
4:1-12), and against which Christians are warned in instructed by God to do so, it was probably not more
I John 2:16 (“the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the than a few days or weeks.
eyes, and the pride of life”). 3:10 hid myself. The shame associated with nudity is
3:6 he did eat. It was at this point that “by one man no artificial inhibition of civilization, but has its source in
sin entered into the world, and death by sin” (Romans this primeval awareness of sin. It is only lost when con-
5:12). There could have been no death in the world sciences are so hardened as to lose sensitivity to sin.
before man brought sin into the world. Thus, the fossils Clothing is even worn in heaven (Revelation 1:13; 19:14).
in the earth’s crust cannot be a record of the evolution of 3:11 Hast thou eaten. God’s questions were not to
life leading up to man but must be a record of death after obtain information but to encourage Adam and Eve to
man. In the evolutionary scenario, struggle and death in confess their sin. Instead of repentance, however, they
the animal kingdom eventually, after a billion years, responded by feeble attempts at self-justification, each
brought man into the world. The truth is, however, that blaming someone else. In this, they behaved like most
man brought death into his whole dominion by his sin. of their descendants.
 13 GENESIS 3:14-3:17

14 And the Lorp God said unto the serpent, | oy mie multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sor-
Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed | row thou shalt bring forth children; and thy
ak all ste ee oc eee beast sate | need Sa shall be to thy husband, and he shall
eld; upon thy belly sha ou go, and dust) Acts 13:10 —rule over thee.
shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: | EEE 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou
15 And I will put enmity between thee and | acer hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and
the woman, and between thy seed and her Ephs:22 _ hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded
seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt) ™2° thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is
bruise his heel. Bah ie the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly ‘eat of it all the days of thy life;

3:14 cursed above all cattle. God’s Curse fell first on the every woman experiences by proxy, the privilege granted
Serpent, representing man’s great enemy the devil, as a per- Mary when she became the mother of the promised Seed.
petual reminder to man of his fall. All other animals were Furthermore, she even becomes a type of Christ, who
also placed under the Curse but the Serpent was cursed “shall see his seed....he shall see of the travail of his soul
above all others, becoming a universal object of dread and and shall be satisfied” (Isaiah 53:10,11). The suffering is
loathing. Whatever may have been its original posture, it submerged in the rejoicing, and this in itself goes far
would henceforth glide on its belly, eating its prey directly toward mitigating the physical pain (I Timothy 2:15).
off the ground and covered with the dust of the earth. 3:16 rule over thee. She who had acted independent-
3:15 enmity between thee. This verse is famous as ly of her husband in her desire for the forbidden fruit
the Protevangel (“First Gospel”). The Curse was direct- must henceforth exercise her desires through her hus-
ed immediately toward the Serpent, but its real thrust band, and he would be ruler in the family.
was against the evil spirit possessing its body, “that old To the woman who knows God, however, especially in
serpent called the devil” (Revelation 12:9). Satan may the full light of Christianity, her role of submission to God
have assumed he had now won the allegiance of the and to her husband becomes her means of greatest fulfill-
woman and all her descendants, but God told him there ment and happiness. The “rule” of a true Christian hus-
would be enmity between him and the woman. band is not one of harshness and subjugation, but one of
3:15 her seed. The “seed of the woman” can only be loving companionship and caring responsibility (Colos-
an allusion to a future descendant of Eve who would sians 3:18-21; Ephesians 5:22-33; I Peter 3:1-7; etc.).
have no human father. Biologically, a woman produces 3:17 unto Adam. The full force of the Curse fell on
no seed, and except in this case Biblical usage always Adam, as the responsible head of the human race, and
speaks only of the seed of men. This promised Seed on all his dominion. Instead of believing God’s Word,
would, therefore, have to be miraculously implanted in Adam had “hearkened to the voice of his wife,” and she
the womb. In this way, He would not inherit the sin had been beguiled by the voice of the serpent. It is
nature which would disqualify every son of Adam from always a fatal mistake to allow the words of any crea-
becoming a Savior from sin. This prophecy thus clearly ture to take precedence over the Word of God.
anticipates the future virgin birth of Christ. 3:17 cursed is the ground. The “ground” is the same
3:15 bruise thy head. Satan will inflict a painful word as “earth.” The very elements of matter, out of
wound on the woman’s Seed, but Christ in turn will which all things had been made, were included in the
inflict a mortal wound on the Serpent, crushing his curse so that the “whole creation” (Romans 8:22) was
head. This prophecy was fulfilled in the first instance at brought under bondage to a universal principle of “cor-
the cross, but will culminate when the triumphant Christ ruption” (literally “decay”—Romans 8:21). That is, all
casts Satan into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). things had been built up by God from the basic elements
3:15 bruise his heel. This primeval prophecy made such of matter (“the dust of the earth”), but now they would
a profound impression on Adam’s descendants that it was all begin to decay back to the dust again. The curse evi-
incorporated, with varying degrees of distortion and embel- dently applies to the entire physical cosmos, as well as to
lishment, in all the legends, mythologies and astrologies of planet Earth, though it is possible that the decay princi-
the ancients since they are filled with tales of mighty heroes ple operating in the stars and the other planets may
engaged in life-and-death struggles with dragons and other relate also to the prior sin of the angelic host of heaven.
monsters. Mankind, from the earliest ages, has recorded its 3:17 for thy sake. The Curse was not only a punish-
hope that someday a Savior would come who would ment for man’s disobedience but also a provision for
destroy the devil and reconcile man to God. man’s good, forcing him to recognize the seriousness of
3:16 multiply thy sorrow. Had Eve not sinned, the his sin, and realize the folly of trusting anyone but his
experience of childbirth would have been easy and pleas- Creator. This showed man’s inability to save himself from
ant, like every other experience in the perfect world God destruction which would encourage him to a state of true
had made. The Curse, however, fell in a peculiar way on repentance toward God and trust in God to save him.
Eve and her daughters, and the pain and sorrow of con- Analogously, the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which
ception and birth would be greatly multiplied. is the modern scientific statement of this decay principle
Nevertheless, the bearing of children, especially by a (see notes on Genesis 1:1), though pointing toward an
woman who loves God and seeks to obey Him, is a time of ultimate death of the universe at the same time points
blessing and rejoicing even though accompanied by a time back to a primeval creation and therefore compels men
of suffering John 16:21). In the experience of giving birth, to look toward the Creator as the only possible Savior.
GENESIS 3:18-3:22 14

18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring 3:!8 | 20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve;
forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of | a aa because she was the mother of all living.
the field; | pe 512 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat 3.59 _Lorb God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out | 8 B® | 22 And the Lorp God said, Behold, the man
im 2:
of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and | ‘is become as one of us, to know good and
unto dust shalt thou return. | 3:22 ‘evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and
Ps 22:26

3:18 thistles. It seems unlikely that God actually cre- God’s whole creation. It is so universal as to have been
ated “thorns also and thistles” at this time. More proba- discovered and recognized empirically as a general sci-
bly, He allowed the beneficent processes and structures entific law, the law of increasing entropy (“in-turning”).
He had made previously, all of which were very good This famous Second Law of Thermodynamics is some-
initially, to deteriorate in varying degrees, some even times also called the law of morpholysis (“loosing of
becoming harmful to man and to each other. There structure”). It expresses the universal tendency for sys-
exists now a host of systems in nature (disease, bacteria, tems to decay and become disordered, for energy to be
viruses, parasites, fangs and claws, weeds and poisons, converted into forms unavailable for further work, for
etc.) which reflect a state of conflict, predation, and information to become confused, for the new to become
struggle for existence in the plant and animal kingdoms, worn, for the young to become old, for the living to die,
as well as in human life, all of which seems, at first, to even for whole species to become extinct. One of the
be inconsistent with the concept of an ideal creation. In most amazing anomalies of human thought is the con-
the physical world there are storms and earthquakes, cept of evolution, which has never been observed in
extremes of heat and cold, weathering and disintegra- action scientifically and is exactly the opposite of the
tion, and many other unpleasant phenomena. There is universally proven scientific principle of increasing
still need for research to understand the mechanisms by entropy. This theory is nevertheless believed to be the
which this change of state from the perfect creation was most fundamental principle of nature by almost the
brought about. In plants and animals, beneficent struc- entire intellectual establishment.
tures may either have mutated to malevolent structures 3:20 Eve. Eve means life, and her name indicates
or else have been replaced through natural selection by Adam’s faith in God’s promise that the woman would
recessive characteristics, coded into the genetic system bear a Seed. Even though he realized he was going to
by God at the time of creation in anticipation of the die, Adam still believed that God would provide life. He
future environmental changes that might be necessitat- had disobeyed God’s Word by partaking of his wife’s
ed if Adam used his freedom wrongfully. forbidden fruit; now he believed God’s Word centered
These systems and processes now maintain a balance on his wife’s fruitfulness. Since true faith is always
of nature and so are indirectly beneficial in maintaining accompanied by repentance, it is evident that Adam had
life on a cursed earth, even though individual organisms turned away from Satan and back to God. No doubt Eve
all eventually die. Had the Fall and Curse not taken had done the same, desiring now to follow her husband
place, populations would probably have eventually been instead of leading him.
stabilized at optimum values by divine constraints on 3:20 all living. There were no children at this time,
the reproductive process. With God’s personal presence so this statement is apparently an editorial insertion by
withdrawn for a time, it is more salutary to maintain Moses, testifying that all mankind had descended from
order by these indirect constraints associated with the Adam and Eve. There were no pre-Adamite men (com-
Curse than with direct action by God. pare I Corinthians 15:45, speaking of “the first man
3:19 sweat of thy face. The Curse on Adam had four Adam”), nor were there any pre-Fall children, since “in
main aspects: (1) sorrow, because of the futility of end- Adam all die” (I Corinthians 15:22).
less struggle against a hostile environment; (2) pain, sig- 3:21 coats of skin. This action is very instructive in
nified by the thorns; (3) sweat, or tears, the “strong cry- several ways: (1) God considers clothing so vital in this
ing” (Hebrews 5:7) occasioned by the labor necessary to present world that He himself provided it for our first
maintain life and hope; and (4) eventual physical death parents; (2) the aprons fashioned by Adam and Eve
in spite of all his efforts, returning back to the dust. were inadequate, testifying in effect that man-made
But Christ, as the second Adam, has borne the Curse efforts to prepare for God’s presence will be rejected:
for us (Galatians 3:13): as the “man of sorrows” (Isaiah (3) the clothing provided by God requires shedding the
53:3), wearing the thorns and suffering the greatest blood of two animals, probably two sheep. They were
pain (Mark 15:17), accompanied by strong crying thus the first creatures actually to suffer death after
(Hebrews 5:7) to sweat drops of blood before being Adam’s sin, illustrating the basic Biblical principle of
finally brought into the dust of death (Psalm 22:15), substitutionary atonement or “covering” which required
Because He so suffered for us, someday God will dwell the shedding of innocent blood as a condition of for-
with men, and “there shall be no more death, neither giveness for the sinner.
sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more 3:22 as one of us. Once again there is a divine coun-
pain” (Revelation 21:4). Indeed “there shall be no more cil of the Godhead; this time it is to decree man’s expul-
curse” (Revelation 22:3). sion from the garden. Man’s ultimate restoration
3:19 dust thou art. The Curse thus applies to man requires his full instruction in the effects of sin and sep-
and woman, the animals, and the physical elements: aration from God.
15 GENESIS 3:23-4:8

take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live ie Fei, Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an
for ever: Heb 1:7. offering unto the Lorp.
23 Therefore the Lorp God sent him forth 4.5 4 And Abel, he also brought of the
from the garden of Eden, to till the ground (k 11:50, 51 firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.
from whence he was taken. 4:4 And the Lorp had respect unto Abel and to
Heb 11:4
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed his offering:
at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, | 4:5 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had
Mt 20:15
and a flaming sword which turned every way, | 6 | not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his
to keep the way of the tree of life. lsa1:18-20 | countenance fell.
Mic 6:3-5 6 And the Lorb said unto Cain, Why art thou
CHAPTER 4 47 3903 Wtoth? and why is thy contenance fallen?
Cain kills Abel 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accept-
9 s/o. | 4:8
jaye Adam knew Eve his wife; and she | “S’s4m 14:6 ed? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the
conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I Mt 23:35 | door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and
Jude 11
have gotten a man from the Lorp. thou shalt rule over him.
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and
Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a it came to pass, when they were in the field,
tiller of the ground. that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that ' slew him.

3:22 live for ever. The fruit of the tree of life will 4:3 process of time. Literally, “at the end of the
be freely available to all in the new earth (Revelation days,” undoubtedly a reference to the “seventh day,”
Zit DoMee)! which God had hallowed as a day of rest and blessing
3:23 sent him forth. Evidently, Adam and Eve were (Genesis 2:3). On such a day, men would follow God’s
reluctant to leave their beautiful garden home and example in ceasing from their regular labors in order to
God’s personal fellowship, but it was for their own have fellowship, possibly meeting with God at the
good, and God finally “drove out” those whom He loved entrance to Eden (Genesis 3:24).
(Genesis 3:24). 4:3 an offering. Such fellowship, however, required
3:24 Cherubims The cherubim are apparently the high- that worshipers approach God with an offering that
est beings in the hierarchy of angels, always associated would make them suitable for His presence. Adam and
with the immediate presence of God (Psalm 18:10; 80:1; Eve no doubt had instructed their sons that this
99:1; Ezekiel 1:4-28; 10:1-22; Revelation 4:6-8; etc.). Satan required a substitutionary sacrifice of innocent blood
himself had once been the “anointed cherub” on God’s (Genesis 3:21). Cain, however, chose to bring another
holy mountain (Ezekiel 28:14). The appointment of the type of offering on this occasion.
cherubim to keep (or guard) the way to the tree of life 4:4 Abel. Abel was a man of faith, the first listed in
with swordlike tongues of flame, suggests that God’s per- the chapter of faith (Hebrews 11). Since he brought “by
sonal presence continued to be associated with the garden faith ... a more excellent sacrifice” (Hebrews 11:4), it is
and the tree. By analogy with the representations of the evident that God had given instruction concerning the
cherubim in the holy of holies in the tabernacle (Exodus sacrifice, which Abel believed and obeyed. The Lord
25:17-22; Hebrews 9:3-5), it may be that God continued to Jesus described him as “righteous” (Matthew 23:35) and
meet at stipulated intervals with his people at the even as one of God’s prophets (Luke 11:50,51).
entrance to the garden (see notes on Genesis 4:3-5). 4:5 his countenance fell. Cain’s anger reflects pride
4:1 Cain The name “Cain” means “acquisition,” in his own works which God regarded as “evil” (I John
expressing Eve’s thankfulness that the Lord was keep- B22)
ing His promise to her, and her faith that her son 4:6 Why art thou wroth. God’s questions reminded
would grow to manhood. Possibly Eve jumped to the Cain that he knew the type of sacrifice required and
unwarranted conclusion that Cain was the promised had no reason to be surprised when God would not
Deliverer. Actually, however, he was “of that wicked accept another.
one” (I John 3:12), and thus was the first in the long 4:7 rule over him. Note the similar terminology to
line of the Serpent’s seed. that of Genesis 3:16b. Just as Eve’s desire would be
4:2 Abel. “Abel” means “vapor” or “vanity.” By the toward Adam and he would lead her, so would an unre-
time Abel was born, Eve was fully aware of the effect of pentant Cain become so committed to rebellion that
God’s curse on the creation, which was made “subject “sin” (described as a crouching animal) would become
to vanity” (Romans 8:20). Cain’s obedient servant.
4:2 tiller of the ground. Both Cain and Abel had hon- 4:8 talked with Abel. Abel was a prophet and no
orable occupations, Cain provided food for the family, doubt urged Cain to repent and believe God’s Word, but
and Abel tended sheep for clothing and sacrifice. As this only angered Cain further. The Serpent was quickly
time would pass and populations would multiply, such striking at the Seed of the woman, corrupting her first
specializations could provide the basis for trade and son and slaying her second, trying to prevent the fulfill-
optimum implementation of the Edenic mandate. ment of the Protevangelic promise.
GENESIS 4:9-4:18 16

9 And the LorpD said unto Cain, Wherevagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass,
is | “9
Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am | Page that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
I my brother’s keeper? | | “Heb 1>24 | 15 And the Lorp said unto him, Therefore
10 And he said, What hast thou done? the | 4 ‘whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be
voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me Gal 3:10 ‘taken on him sevenfold. And the LorpD set a
from the ground. | 4:12 | mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should
11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, ‘e262 kill him.
which hath opened her mouth to receive thy | he aes _ 16 And Cain went out from the presence of
brother’s blood from thy hand; Prov 28:1 ‘the Lorpb, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the
12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not! 4.15 east of Eden.
henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugi- £zek 9:4 17 And Cain knew his wife; and she con-
tive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. ee ee | ceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city,
13 And Cain said unto the Lorp, My punish- 2 Kgs 13:23 | and called the name of the city, after the name
ment is greater than I can bear. 2 Kgs 24:20 | of his son, Enoch.
14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day /*°7? = 18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and
from the face of the earth; and from thy face 43!7.,.,, Trad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat
| Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a_

4:9 I know not. Cain thus added blatant lying to his 4:15 mark. The “mark” is not described. The Hebrew
sins of self-righteous pride and murder. However, in one word oth is better rendered “sign.” Whether this sign
sense, he was speaking the truth. He knew where Abel’s was a physical marking on Cain’s body or a miraculous
blood was spilled but not where Abel himself was. Abel display of some sort, it was widely known for many gen-
was now the first human inhabitant of Sheol (or Hades), erations (Genesis 4:24) and did serve to inhibit any who
that place in the heart of the earth where departed spir- might be inclined to slay Cain.
its would reside while awaiting the coming of the Savior 4:16 from the presence. Cain, thus, becomes the type of
(Luke 16:22-26; Ephesians 4:8-10; I Peter 3:18-20). those “that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
4:10 thy brother’s blood. This first mention of “blood” Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from
in Scripture prefigures the innocent blood of Christ, which the presence of the Lord” (II Thessalonians 1:8,9).
“speaketh better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 4:16 Nod. “Nod” means “wandering,” and so may be a
12:24). The voice of Abel’s blood cried for vengeance (com- figurative expression depicting Cain’s vagabond life-style.
pare Revelation 5:9,10), but the blood of Christ speaks of Since he built a city, however, it probably was also the
cleansing and forgiveness (I John 1:7; Ephesians 1:7). name of a region in which he led this wandering existence.
4:11 cursed from the earth. The earth had been 4:17 knew his wife. His wife was probably one of
cursed because of Adam’s sin; now the earth itself had Adam’s daughters (Genesis 5:4), although it could have
been defiled by Cain’s sin. God’s curse was on the earth; been a later descendant, since it would easily have been
Cain’s curse was from the earth. His boastful pride in possible for the population to grow to several hundred
the fruits he had been able to grow from the cursed thousand by the time of Cain’s death.
earth had been the occasion of his sin, but now he 4:17 Enoch. Cain named his son “Enoch,” meaning
would no longer be able to till the ground even for his “dedication” or “commencement,” probably signifying
own food. Those who trust in their own good works the beginning of a new manner of life.
eventually find it impossible to produce them any more. 4:17 city. Urbanization is usually considered by evo-
4:12 vagabond. As yet there was no law given to lutionary archaeologists to be one of the first indicators
order man’s behavior. Therefore Cain’s crime could not of the emergence of true civilization from a hunting:
be punished by governmental means, but only by its and-gathering culture (so-called stone age culture). It is
natural consequences. significant that true civilized cultures, by this definition,
4:13 punishment. The word “punishment” is usually have existed since the very first generation following
translated “iniquity,” and its use by Cain indicates that, Adam, with no suggestion of a long evolutionary
for the first time, Cain acknowledged his sin and guilt to advance from an imaginary stone age. Evidently Cain,
the Lord. This may partially explain the degree of mercy unable to survive either as a farmer or by trade, had to
shown by God in sparing his life after Abel’s murder. develop his own self-sufficient economy through the
4:14 every one. Adam had daughters as well as sons patriarchal clan which he established around his son
(Genesis 5:4), and brother/sister marriages were neces- Enoch and the city which Cain built for him.
sary before the accumulation of genetic mutations could 4:18 Lamech. The possible meaning of these names are:
make such close marriages genetically dangerous. Since “Trad” meaning “Townsman;” “Mehujael” meaning “God
the antidiluvians lived for hundreds of years and since gives life;’ “Methusael” meaning “Man of God;” “Lamech”
they could propagate children for hundreds of years meaning “Conqueror.” The similarity of some of the names
(Genesis 5:15,32), the population multiplied rapidly. This to those in the Sethitic line, as well as their religious “-el”
concern of Cain’s, therefore, was quite realistic. Since endings, probably indicates that the two families kept in
Cain could not produce his own food, he would have to touch with each other and that the Cainitic line continued
purchase it from others, but other people would natural- to believe in God as long as Adam remained alive to exer-
ly tend to fear him and try to avoid him or even kill him. cise some degree of patriarchal leadership.
17 GENESIS 4:19-5:1

19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: ae stn 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly
the name of the one was Adah, and the name peut 32:35 | Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
of the other Zillah. 4:25 25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she
20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of | pes pes bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God,
Ae 8 ee oe and of such as Ce 1 che 13 ‘said a ae ae ‘ai another seed
nd his brother’s name was Jubal: he | Lk 3:38 instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
was the father of all such as handle the harp | 4:26 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a
and organ. Seats son; and he called his name Enos: then began
22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an| 1 Kgs 18:24 men to call upon the name of the Lorp.
instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: 5:1
Gen1:26 CHAPTER 5
and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
Gen 6:9
23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah | Adam’s genealogy
and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, | his is the book of the generations of
hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man | Adam. In the day that God created man,
to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. | in the likeness of God made he him;

4:19 two wives. Lamech is the first recorded rebel Lamech’s attitude (in the preceding verse) of
against the divine command of monogamous marriage. vengeance and pride.
It is probable that Adam died during Lamech’s time (by 4:26 Enos. “Enos” means “mortal frailty.” It is interest-
comparison with the chronological data in the Sethitic ing that Eve gave the name to her son, while Seth gave
line), and the Cainites thenceforth became more openly the name to Ais son. This probably suggests that both
rebellious against God. husband and wife normally consulted with one another
4:19 Zillah. “Adah” apparently means “ornament” in deciding on appropriate names for their children.
and “Zillah” means “shade.” Lamech’s motivation in tak- 4:26 call upon the name. To “call upon the name of
ing two wives may have been partially physical lust and the Lorb” normally implies a definite action of prayer
partially the desire to establish a large clan in the and worship. It was evidently at this time that godly
increasingly violent antediluvian society. men and women first initiated formal public services of
4:20 bare Jabal. Lamech’s children were given names sacrifice, worship and prayer, replacing the earlier prac-
associated with their talents: “Jabal” seems to mean tice of meeting personally with God, as Cain and Abel
“wanderer,” “Jubal” means “sound” and “Naamah” had done. The practice of individual prayer is also inti-
means “pleasant.” “Tubal-cain” is of uncertain meaning mated, implying that God’s personal presence was no
but is associated etymologically with the Roman god longer regularly available. In any case, an act of faith is
Vulcan. The inventions of these talented progeny no implied. In later times, “calling upon the name of the
doubt contributed greatly to the wealth and power of LORD” was accompanied by the building of an altar and
Lamech’s clan and to the increasing materialism of the the offering of a sacrifice (Genesis 12:8; 26:25; etc.).
Cainite civilization in general. Since Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary, however, men need
4:21 brass and iron. Evolutionary archaeologists only call in faith on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
have attempted to organize human history in terms of “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
various supposed “ages”—Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Age, etc. The Noahic record, however, indicates that 4:26 the Lorp. This is the name of the self-existing,
early men were very competent in both brass and iron redeeming Lord, Jehovah. There is no contradiction
metallurgy, as well as agriculture, animal husbandry, with Exodus 6:3, especially if the statement there is
and urbanization. It is significant that many kinds of punctuated with a question mark: “But by my name
bronze and iron implements are known to have been JEHOVAH was I not known to them?” The obvious
used in the earliest civilizations of Sumeria and Egypt. answer to this rhetorical question is yes.
The same is true of musical instruments, and it is evi- 5:1 book. The use of the word “book” in this connec-
dent that the science and art of metallurgy and music tion strongly implies that reading and writing were abili-
had been handed down from ancient times to these ear- ties shared by the earliest generations of mankind.
liest post-Flood civilizations. Modern archaeology is con- These records, edited and assembled by Moses, must
firming the high degree of technology associated with have originally come from eye-witnesses, and there is no
the earliest human settlers all over the world. reason (other than evolutionary presuppositions), why
4:24 sevenfold. A Jewish tradition suggests that one their transmission could not have been by written
of the men slain by Lamech was his ancestor, Cain him- records instead of orally-repeated tales.
self. In any case, Lamech’s boast is nothing less than 5:1 generations. This is the second of the toledoth
blasphemy against God’s promise of protection to Cain. statements in Genesis (the first at Genesis 2:4a). Since
4:24 seventy and sevenfold. Contrast Lamech’s vin- Adam (and only Adam) could have personal knowledge
dictiveness with the forgiving attitude taught by Christ, of all the events in Genesis 2, 3 and 4, it is reasonable to
who urged Peter to forgive his brother seventy times conclude that this section was originally written by him.
seven times (Matthew 18:22). Genesis 5:la is thus Adam’s signature at its conclusion.
4:25 Seth. “Seth” means “appointed” or “substitute.” 5:1 made he him. If Genesis 5:la is the concluding
Contrast Eve’s attitude of thankfulness and trust with statement of Adam’s record, then Genesis 5:1b is the
GENESIS 5:2-5:22 18

2 Male and female created he them; and, >:2 | 12 And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat
¥ : Gen 1:27
blessed them, and called their name Adam, in) mk 10:6 | Mahalaleel:
the day when they were created. | 13 And Cainan lived after he begat Maha-
5:3
3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty |Gen 4:25 laleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat
years, and begat a son in his own likeness, | 5:4 sons and daughters:
W Ghats

after his image; and called his name Seth: 14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hun-
4 And the days of Adam after he had begot *°,,.,, dred and ten years: and he died.
ten Seth were eight hundred years: and he) Heb 9:27 15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years,
begat sons and daughters: |
5:6 and begat Jared:
5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine Tees 16 And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared
hundred and thirty years: and he died. i | eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons
6 And Seth lived an hundred and five years, ~{chri1-1 | and daughters:
and begat Enos: Lk 3:37 17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight
7 And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight 5:12 __ hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
hundred and seven years, and begat sons and i | 18 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two
daughters: es | years, and he begat Enoch:
8 And all the days of Seth were nine hun-) 1chr.1: | 19 And Jared lived after he begat Enoch
dred and twelve years: and he died. eee eight hundred years, and begat sons and
9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat | a | daughters:
Cainan: | Gen 6:9 20 And all the days of Jared were nine hun-
10 And Enos lived after he begat Cainan a re 'dred sixty and two years: and he died.
eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat) Heb 11:5 Enoch disappears
sons and daughters: ieee te 21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and
11 And all the days of Enos were nine hun- begat Methuselah:
dred and five years: and he died. 22 And Enoch walked with God after he

opening statement of Noah’s record, which concludes 5:6 begat Enos. These records provide three items of
with Noah’s signature at Genesis 6:9. As is true with the necessary information nowhere else available: (1) the
opening statements following the other toledoth endings names of the antediluvian patriarchs in the line of the
in Genesis, as well as similar phenomena in Babylonian promised Seed who would ultimately fulfill God’s Prote-
tablets, each statement ties in to the previous division by vangelic promise (these names are accepted as authen-
keying in to relevant statements. The opening statement tic and repeated in I Chronicles 1:1-4 and Luke 3:36-38);
in Genesis 5:1,2 obviously refers back to Genesis 1:26-28. (2) the chronological framework of primeval history,
Note that God “created” man in His spiritual image, and showing a total of 1656 years from Adam to the Flood
“made” man in His physical “likeness” (anticipating His (there is no internal evidence to suggest any gaps in
future incarnation in human flesh). these records); and (3) the lifespans of the antediluvians
5:2 their name Adam. “Adam” and “man” are both averaged over 900 years (912 to be exact, excluding
translations of the same Hebrew word. Its generic use Enoch), indicating environmental conditions were vastly
in this context would perhaps better warrant the trans- superior to our age.
lation “and called their name Man.” 5:8 nine hundred and twelve years. These great
5:3 hundred and thirty years. It is possible that other ages have been questioned. However, a “king list” was
children were born to Adam, particularly daughters, dur- excavated near Babel, which tells of ten kings who had
ing this 130 year period. Only Seth is mentioned by lived to great ages before the Flood. Although these
name in light of an implied revelation to Eve that he was ages were first deciphered as thousands of years,
the appointed son leading eventually to Christ. improved translations have brought them more in line
5:3 begat a son. Adam was “created” in God’s like- with those in the Bible record. The Egyptians, Chinese,
ness (Genesis 5:1), whereas Adam “begat” Seth in his Greeks and Romans also record a tradition that the
own likeness. Jesus Christ is the only “begotten” Son of ancient men lived to great ages.
God (John 3:16). 5:21 Methuselah. “Methuselah” may mean “when he
5:4 sons and daughters. Probably many children were dies, judgment.” He died in the same year that God sent
born to Adam during his long life; the ancient quibble the Flood suggesting that his father Enoch received a
about “Cain’s wife” is easily resolved in terms of broth- prophecy concerning this coming judgment at the time
er/sister marriages in the first generation. Close mar- Methuselah was born.
riages are genetically dangerous today because of the 5:22 walked with God. Enoch presumably did not
accumulation of harmful mutations in the human genetic literally walk with God, as had Adam before the fall,
system over many generations, and incest has been pro- but walked “by faith” (Hebrews 11:5) in prayer and
hibited since Moses’ time (Leviticus 20:11-20). In the first obedience to God’s Word. There seems to be an impli-
few generations, including those after the flood, marriages cation that this spiritual walk had a special beginning
of near relatives were necessary in order for mankind to at the time of his son’s birth and the accompanying
obey God’s command to “multiply” (Genesis 1:28; 9:1). revelation.
19 GENESIS 5:23-5:32

begat Methuselah three hundred years, and 74 Bet kod, 28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and
begat sons and daughters: Ps IS two years, and begat a son:
23 And all the days of Enoch were three) Ps 73:24 29 And he called his name Noah, saying,
hundred sixty and five years: This same shall comfort us concerning our
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was work and toil of our hands, because of the
not; for God took him. ground which the Lorp hath cursed.
25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty | 30 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah
and seven years, and begat Lamech: five hundred ninety and five years, and begat
26 And Methuselah lived after he begat | sons and daughters:
Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, | 31 And all the days of Lamech were seven
and begat sons and daughters: hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine | _ 32 And Noah was five hundred years old:
hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. 'and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

5:22 sons and daughters. It is worth noting that the Sethitic line who did not outlive their fathers. Further-
Enoch’s walk with God was not such a mystical, pietistic more, Enoch and Lamech are the only two of these patri-
experience as to preclude an effective family life or a archs from whom have been handed down to us fragments
strong and vocal opposition to the apostasy and wicked- of their prophecies (Jude 14,15; Genesis 5:29).
ness of his day. 5:27 nine hundred sixty and nine. Methuselah’s 969
5:24 Enoch walked. Twice Enoch’s walk with God is year life span is the longest ever recorded, possibly testi-
mentioned, and he is elsewhere (Jude 14,15) said to have fying to God’s “long-suffering...in the days of Noah” (I
been a great prophet who prophesied of God’s ultimate Peter 3:20; II Peter 3:9) since the Flood was to be sent to
judgment on all ungodliness at His coming, as well as the destroy the world immediately after Methuselah’s death.
precursive fulfillment at the coming deluge. There are at 5:29 Noah. “Noah” means “rest,” and his father
least three apocryphal books that have been attributed to prophesied that he would bring the rest and comfort so
Enoch, and they may have preserved certain elements of desired by the godly remnant in that day.
his prophecies. However, in their present form they actu- 5:29 hath cursed. The memory of God’s curse on the
ally date from shortly before the time of Christ and are ground was still fresh in the memory of Adam’s godly
certainly not part of the inspired Scriptures. descendants, showing that the million or more years of
5:24 was not. It is not said of Enoch that he “died,” human history imagined by evolutionary anthropologists
like the other antediluvian patriarchs, but only that sud- are an absurd dream. Lamech was undoubtedly one of
denly he was no longer present on earth. The New Tes- those in Peter’s mind when he preached about those holy
tament makes it plain that he “was translated that he prophets who “since the world began” had been promis-
should not see death” (Hebrews 11:5). Elijah had a simi- ing the “times of restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21).
lar experience twenty-five centuries later (IJ Kings 2:11). 5:30 begat sons. All the antediluvian patriarchs are
Both Enoch and Elijah were prophets of judgment to said to have begotten sons and daughters, probably
come, ministering in times of deep apostasy. Enoch, as many of each, so the world population grew explosively.
the “seventh from Adam” (Jude 14), a contemporary of The names listed are not those of the firstborn, but of
ungodly Lamech (Genesis 4:18-24), prophesied midway the one in each family who would serve as spiritual
between Adam and Abraham, when God was dealing leader of his people and who would be in the line of
directly with mankind in general. Elijah prophesied mid- promise. In Noah’s case, his brothers and sisters were
way between Abraham and Christ when God was deal- probably ungodly like the rest of their generation, final-
ing with Israel in particular. Both were translated in the ly perishing in the flood.
physical flesh directly to heaven (not yet glorified, as at 5:32 begat Shem. Shem, Ham and Japheth were not
the coming rapture of the church, described in I Thessa- triplets. Japheth is later called “the elder” (Genesis
lonians 4:13-17 since Christ had not yet been glorified). 10:21) and Ham the “younger son” (Genesis 9:24). How-
5:24 God took him. The text does not say where God ever, Noah was 500 years old before any of these sons
took him, but presumably he, like Elijah, was taken into were born. Evidently all of Noah’s older “sons and
heaven and the personal presence of God. Elijah is defi- daughters” had followed the ungodliness of their aunts
nitely scheduled to return to earth to preach again and uncles and of the world in general, and thus even-
(Malachi 4:5,6; Matthew 17:11). It may be that Enoch tually perished in the flood.
will accompany Elijah, and they will serve as the two 5:32 Japheth. The meanings of the names are probably
prophetic witnesses of Revelation 11:3-12, prophesying as follows: “Shem” meaning “name;” “Ham” meaning
again of God’s coming judgment, this time to the whole “warm;” “Japheth” meaning “enlarged.” The common
world, both Jew and Gentile. notion that their names corresponded to three different
5:25 Lamech. “Lamech” probably means “conqueror.” It skin colorations (“dark,” “black,” and “fair”) has no sub-
is interesting that Lamech and his grandfather Enoch both stance. Note, however, the significant fact that all the per-
appear to have been named after their older relatives in sonal names listed for men and women who lived before
the line of Cain, possibly as a gesture of family affection in the confusion of languages at Babel seem to have a dis-
hope of leading the Cainites back to God. It is also interest- tinctive meaning in the Hebrew language. This implies
ing that these are the only two antediluvian patriarchs in that the original language of mankind was Hebrew.
GENESIS 6:1-6:5 20
| 6:1
CHAPTER 6 always strive with man, for that he also is
| Gen 1:28
Noah builds the ark We flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and
| twenty years.
nd it came to pass, when men began to \um 11-17
multiply on the face of the earth, and)IsaAE
63:10 | 4 There were giants in the earth in those
daughters were born unto them, days; and also after that, when the sons of God
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of | pe 13:33 came in unto the daughters of men, and they
men that they were fair; and they took them | 6:5 bare children to them, the same became mighty
wives of all which they chose. Ps 14:2, 3 men which were of old, men of renown.
3 And the Lorp said, My spirit shall not. | 5 And Gop saw that the wickedness of man

6:1 multiply. God had commanded Adam and Eve to already been translated. Shem, Ham and Japheth had
“multiply” (Genesis 1:28). With each man and woman not yet been born and God’s specific commands to Noah
enjoying hundreds of years of parental productivity plus (Genesis 5:32; 6:10,13,21) had not yet been given.
almost ideal environmental and climatological condi- 6:4 giants. These “giants” were the monstrous proge-
tions, the earth could well have been “filled” with people ny of the demon-possessed men and women whose illicit
long before the Flood. For example, an initial population activities led to God’s warning of imminent judgment.
of two people, increasing at the rate of 2% annually (esti- The Hebrew word is nephilim (“fallen ones”), a term
mated to be the annual growth rate at present) would possibly relating to the nature of their spiritual “par-
generate a population of well over ten trillion people in ents,” the fallen angels. That they were also physical
1,656 years (the time span from Adam to the Flood). giants is evident from the fact that the same word is
6:2 sons of God. The identity of these “sons of God” later used in connection with the giants in Canaan at
has been a matter of much discussion, but the obvious the time of Joshua (Numbers 13:33) and by the fact that
meaning is that they were angelic beings. This was the the word here was translated in the Septuagint by the
uniform interpretation of the ancient Jews, who translated Greek word gigantes.
the phrase as “angels of God” in their Septuagint transla- 6:4 also after that. “After that” clearly refers to Num-
tion of the Old Testament. The apocryphal books of bers 13:33 and probably represents an editorial inser-
Enoch elaborate this interpretation, which is also strongly tion in Noah’s record by Moses. These giants in Canaan
implied by the New Testament passages Jude 6; II Peter may also have had demonically-controlled parents; they
2:4-6; I Peter 3:19,20. The Hebrew phrase is bene elohim, were also known as the Anakim, the sons of Anak.
which occurs elsewhere only in Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7. In these 6:4 daughters of men. The idea that these “daugh:
three explicitly parallel usages, the contextual meaning ters of men” were actually descendants of Cain, and the
can be nothing except that of angels. A similar phrase bar “sons of God” descendants of Seth has been a widely
elohim, occurs in Daniel 3:25, and another, bar elim, held Christian naturalistic interpretation. This was not
occurs in Psalm 29:1 and Psalm 89:6. All of these also the intended meaning of the writer, however, who could
refer explicitly to angels. The intent of the writer of Gene- certainly have written that the male descendants of Seth
sis 6 (probably Noah) was clearly that of introducing a began to take wives from the daughters of Cain if that
monstrous irruption of demonic forces on the earth, lead- were his meaning. The descendants of Seth were not
ing to universal corruption and eventual judgment. “sons of God” (most of them perished in the Flood) and
6:2 took them wives. The “taking” of these women the female descendants of both Cain and Seth were cer-
most likely refers to fallen angels, or demons, “possess- tainly “daughters of men” (literally, daughters of Adam).
ing” their bodies. The word “wives” (Hebrew ishshah) is Besides, Adam had many other sons in addition to Cain
better translated “women.” There is no necessary inti- and Seth. Further, even though intermarriage between
mation of actual marriage involved. By this time in his- believers and unbelievers is wrong, it could not in itself
tory, anarchism and amorality were so widespread that have produced universal wickedness and violence.
these demons were easily able to take possession of the 6:4 men of renown. The antediluvian giants had, by
bodies of multitudes of ungodly men; these in turn the time of Moses, become renowned heroes of antiquity,
engaged in promiscuous sex with demon-possessed as far as the world was concerned. They, like their par-
women, with a resulting rapid population growth. Satan ents, were probably demon-controlled. Their gigantic
perhaps hoped to generate a vast army of human stature was engineered by genetic manipulations. They
recruits to his rebellion and also to thwart the coming could not have been demi-gods (half man, half “god”),
of God’s promised Seed by corrupting all flesh. however, as ancient mythology claims, since such imagi-
6:3 My spirit. One of the ministries of God’s Holy nary beings are beyond the pale of God’s creative purpos-
Spirit has always been to convict man’s spirit of “sin, es. Fallen angels are not prospects for salvation whereas
and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). fallen men and women are. A half-angel, half-human
Man is also “flesh,” however, and there is perpetual con- being would be an impossible anomaly in terms of soteri-
flict between the flesh and the spirit, even in the life of a ology. The only apparent solution to all the problems
believer (Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:16,17). God is long- posed by these verses is demon possession of both par-
suffering with respect to man’s rebellion, but only for a ents and progeny, not demonic marriage or procreation.
time; the hour of His judgment must eventually arrive. 6:5 only evil continually. Universal wickedness
6:3 hundred and twenty years. This prophecy was requires a universal cause adequate to produce it. Noth-
apparently given, perhaps through Methuselah, just 120 ing less than a worldwide influx of demonic control
years before the coming Flood. The prophet Enoch had seems adequate to explain it.
21 GENESIS 6:6-6:16

was great in the earth, and that every imagina- 66 11 The earth also was corrupt before God,
Num PERN
Ee)
tion of the thoughts of his heart was only evil Jas 1:7 _and the earth was filled with violence.
| 6:7
continually. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and,
6 And it repented the Lorp that he had Deut 29:19 behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had cor-
made man on the earth, and it grieved him at 6:8 rupted his way upon the earth.
his heart. Prov 3:4" 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all
7 And the Lorp said, I will destroy man | Hinge flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled
whom I have created from the face of the Eccles 7:20 | with violence through them; and, behold, I will
earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping 6:11 destroy them with the earth.
thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth jes ms 14 Make thee an ark of gopher ani rooms
me that: I have made them. ay | shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the p<'53.2 3. within and without with pitch.
Lorp. 6:13 15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt
9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah | |sa34:1-4 —make it of: The length of the ark shall be three
was a just man and perfect in his generations, EAC ae /hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits,
and Noah walked with God. | eas _and the height of it thirty cubits.
10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, | asg 16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and
and Japheth. Gen8:8 | in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the

6:6 his heart. The first mention of the word “heart” doubtful since animals do not make moral judgments.
occurs here, connecting the evil in man’s heart with However, as a part of man’s dominion, they shared in his
grief in God’s heart. This figure occurs. often in Scrip- curse and now in the judgment of the Flood. This verse
ture, the “heart” representing the deepest seat of one’s may possibly imply the development of carnivorous
emotions and decisions. appetites and increasing hostility to man by the animals.
6:7 repenteth me. The apparent contradiction 6:13 with the earth. God did not promise to destroy
involved in the Biblical record of God “repenting” when man from the earth but with the earth. The physical earth-
the Bible also says God does not repent (contrast system itself, as man’s home and dominion, must share in
I Samuel 15:11 and 15:29) is resolved in terms of man’s his judgment. The Flood obviously was to be global and
viewpoint versus God’s viewpoint. To “repent” means to cataclysmic, not'local or tranquil, as many modern com-
“change the mind.” God cannot repent, since He cannot promising Christians have sought to interpret it.
change His mind concerning evil. He seems to repent, 6:14 pitch. The ark (an ancient Hebrew word used
when man changes his mind concerning evil. God’s atti- also for the small box in which the infant Moses floated
tude toward man is conditioned by man’s attitude on the Nile) was made of a hard dense wood whose
toward Him. It is because God does not repent that He species has not yet been identified; it was made water-
must seem to repent when man “changes his mind.” proof, not by a bituminous pitch (a different Hebrew
6:8 found grace. This is the first mention of “grace” word) but by some as-yet-unknown “covering.” The
in the Bible; the first mention in the New Testament is Hebrew word is kopher, equivalent to kaphar, frequent-
Luke 1:30, where Mary “found favor” (same word as ly translated later as “atonement” (Leviticus 17:11). In
“srace”) with God. God’s grace is found, not earned. providing a protective covering against the waters of
Note the consistent Biblical order here: Noah found judgment, it thus becomes a beautiful type of Christ.
grace, then he was a justified, righteous man, finally 6:15 three hundred cubits. The dimensions of the ark
becoming perfect (complete or mature) in his relation to were ideally designed for both stability and capacity. It has
both God and man, and ultimately walking with God in been shown hydrodynamically that the ark would have
a life of total faith and fellowship. been practically impossible to capsize and would have
6:9 generation of Noah. This seems to be Noah’s sig- been reasonably comfortable, even during violent waves
nature concluding his personal record (Genesis 5:29- and winds. Assuming the ancient cubit to have been only
6:9a). It is significant that his last word emphasizes only 17.5 inches (the smallest suggested by any authority), the
that he was being saved from a sinful world by the ark could have carried as many as 125,000 sheep-sized
grace of God. animals. Since there are not more than about 25,000
6:9 perfect in his generations. \t is likewise signifi- species of land animals known (mammals, birds, reptiles,
cant that the first sentence of the toledoth of Noah’s amphibians), either living or extinct, and since the average
sons (note Genesis 10:1) stresses the godliness of their size of such animals is certainly much less than that of a
father. Noah is an outstanding example of parental sheep, it is obvious that all the animals could easily have
example and guidance. His sons were saved on the ark been stored in less than half the capacity of Noah’s ark,
because of his own righteousness (Genesis 7:1). each pair in appropriate “rooms” (literally “nests”).
6:11 filled with violence. In order to be “filled” with vio- 6:16 window. The “window” was probably an open-
lence, the earth by this time had become filled with people. ing for light and ventilation extending circumferentially
6:12 all flesh. Since “all flesh,” as destroyed in the around the ark with a parapet to keep out the rain. The
Flood, included animals (Genesis 7:21), some have sug- one large door in the side was to be closed only once
gested that animals also had “corrupted their ways” and (after the animals were in) and opened only once (to
were contributing to the worldwide violence. This is release them a year later).
GENESIS 6:17-7:8 22

door of the ark shalt thou set in the side there- ® aae CHAPTER 7
of; with lower, second, and third stories shalt ps 29-10 Rain for 40 days and nights
thou make it. | 2 Pet 2:5 nd the Lorp said unto Noah, Come
Noah obeys God | 6:18 thou and all thy house into the ark; for
17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of °"'’*' thee have I seen righteous before me in
waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, oe 714 this generation.
wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; 2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee
6:20
and every thing that is in the earth shall die. Gen 1:20-29 by sevens, the male and his female: and of
18 But with thee will I establish my 6:22 beasts that are not clean by two, the male and
covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, Ex 40:16 his female.
thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’) 7:1 _ 3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male
wives with thee. Bea and the female; to keep seed alive upon the
19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two) Mt24:38 face of all the earth.
of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to rie 4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to
keep them alive with thee; they shall be male 1Pet3:20 rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights;
and female. | 7:2 and every living substance that I have made
Lev 11:2-47
20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle | Deut 14:3-20
will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
after their kind, of every creeping thing of the Ezek 44:23 5 And Noah did according unto all that the
earth after his kind, two of every sort shall | 7:5 LorD commanded him.
Gen 6:22
come unto thee, to keep them alive. | 6 And Noah was six hundred years old when
21 And take thou unto thee of all food that | 7:6 the flood of waters was upon the earth.
Gen 5:32
is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it | Gen 8:13 7 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his
shall be for food for thee, and for them. | ‘wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the
22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God ark, because of the waters of the flood.
commanded him, so did he. | 8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not

6:16 third stories. The three decks may have been laid Noah under the most difficult and discouraging of cir-
out as follows: large animals on the bottom; small animals cumstances. Not only here but three other times (Genesis
and food storage on the middle deck; family quarters, pos- 7:5,9,16) it is said that Noah did all God commanded him.
sessions, records, etc., on the top deck. Water could have 7:2 by sevens. The “clean” kinds of beasts and birds
been stored in cisterns on the roof and piped throughout were those suitable for domestication and a form of fel-
the ark where needed. Overhead water storage could also lowship with man, as well as for sacrificial offerings.
have provided fluid pressure for various other uses. Apparently three pairs of each of these were preserved
6:17 a flood. The “flood” (Hebrew mabbul) was a in order to allow for wider variation in breeding after
unique event. Various other words were used in Scrip- the Flood. The seventh was offered by Noah in sacrifice
ture for local floods. The mabbul was the Flood. when they left the ark (Genesis 8:20).
6:17 every thing that is in the earth. The purpose of 7:3 keep seed alive. God’s purpose for the ark was to
the Flood—to destroy all flesh—could only have been “keep seed alive” in the earth, a statement meaningful
accomplished by a worldwide deluge. The idea of a local only in the context of a universal flood. The ark was far
flood is merely a frivolous conceit of Christians seeking too large to accommodate merely a local or regional
to avoid imagined geological difficulties. Although many fauna. In fact, if the Flood were only local, the ark
marine organisms would perish in the upheavels every- would not have been needed at all. Noah’s family, as
thing in the earth (“on the land”) would die. well as the birds and beasts, could far more easily have
6:19 two of every sort. Two of each kind of bird, cat- simply migrated away from the region to be flooded.
tle, and creeping thing (the “beasts” are also included in 7:4 seven days. This seven-day period of final warn-
Genesis 7:14) were to be put on the ark. Again, marine ing and preparation marks the first of many references
animals are omitted, as representatives of their kinds to seven-day intervals during the Flood year. This fact
could survive outside the ark. Note that the animals makes it obvious that the practice of measuring time in
were to “come unto thee.” God directed to the ark, by a seven-day weeks had been in effect throughout the peri-
miraculous selection process, those animals who pos- od between the creation week and the Flood.
sessed the necessary genes for instincts which would be 7:4 forty days. A worldwide rain lasting forty days
needed by their survivors in the post-Flood world. Noah would be impossible under present meteorologic condi-
did not have to gather the animals himself, but merely tions. The condensation of the antediluvian vapor
opened the ark to the animals God sent. canopy, the “waters above the firmament,” (Genesis 1:6-
6:21 all food. Since the pre-Flood world was essen- 8) is the only adequate explanation.
tially uniform climatologically, it was probably equally 7:4 every living substance. “Every living substance”
uniform ecologically, with representatives of all plants includes the plant life on the land. All the lush vegeta-
and animals located reasonably near Noah’s home base. tion of the pre-Flood world was to be uprooted, trans-
6:22 so did he. This simple statement summarizes a ported and buried in great sedimentary beds, many of
whole century of absolute obedience to God’s Word by which would eventually become the world’s coal beds.
23 GENESIS 7:9-7:21

clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that | 7:11 his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every
creepeth upon the earth, | Ss bird of every sort.
9 There went in two and two unto Noah into | Mal 3:10 15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark,
the ark, the male and the female, as God had | 7:12 'two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath
Ex 24:18
commanded Noah. Deut 9:9 ' of life.
10 And it came to pass after seven days, that 1 Kgs 19:8 16 And they that went in, went in male and
Mt 4:2
the waters of the flood were upon the earth. ‘female of all flesh, as God had commanded
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, 7:!3 | him: and the Lorp shut him in.
Gen 9:18
in the second month, the seventeenth day of | Heb 11:7 17 And the flood was forty days upon the
the month, the same day were all the fountains | see he earth; and the waters increased, and bare up
of the great deep broken up, and the windows ean the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.
of heaven were opened. Gen 6:19
18 And the waters prevailed, and were
12 And the rain was upon the earth forty | 7.15 increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark
days and forty nights. _ Gen 16:19 | went upon the face of the waters.
13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and | 7:18 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly
Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Se upon the earth; and all the high hills, that
Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of 7.49 were under the whole heaven, were covered.
his sons with them, into the ark; Ps 46:2, 3 20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters pre-
14 They, and every beast after his kind, and a de vail; and the mountains were covered.
all the cattle after their kind, and every creep-| 7:29), 21 And all flesh died that moved upon the
ing thing that creepeth upon the earth after earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast,

7:11 seventeenth day. The exact date of the Flood’s cubits above the platform on which it had been con-
onset must have been noted for some reason. The ark structed, it would begin to float.
landed on the mountains of Ararat exactly 150 days or 7:18 prevailed. The word “prevailed” in the original
five months later (Genesis 8:3,4). The implication is that Hebrew conveys the meaning, “were overwhelmingly
the primeval year contained twelve months of thirty mighty.” Not only would all land animals eventually
days each (Revelation 11:2,3). drown, but the plant covering would be uprooted and
7:11 fountains of the great deep. The physical cause rafted away, the soils eroded and finally even the moun-
of the Flood is clearly identified as the eruption of the tains and hills washed away. In the sea depths, the erup-
waters in the “great deep” and the opening of the “win- tion of the fountains of the great deep would also pro-
dows of heaven.” These are quite sufficient in themselves foundly affect marine life. Great quantities of magma,
to explain all the phenomena of the Flood. The antedilu- metals and other materials were extruded from the
vian hydrologic cycle was apparently controlled by a sys- earth’s mantle. The sediments from the lands were trans-
tem of subterranean pressurized reservoirs and conduits, ported down to be deposited in the encroaching sea
but these fountains were all cleaved open in one day, basins. Complex hydrodynamic phenomena—tsunamis,
releasing tremendous quantities of water and magma to vortices, turbidity flows, cyclic erosion and deposition,
the earth’s surface and dust and gas into the atmosphere. and a variety of geomorphologic activity—took place
The resulting combination of atmospheric turbulence and throughout the year. Earth movements of great magni-
dust nuclei of condensation was probably the immediate tude and tremendous volcanic explosions shook the earth
cause of the precipitation of the vapor canopy. The cata- again and again, until finally, “the world that then was,
clysmic restoration of the primeval deep which resulted being overflowed with water, perished” (II Peter 3:6).
left the antediluvian world completely devastated. 7:18 face of the waters. The occupants of the ark,
7:15 two of all flesh. Two of every kind of land ani- unaware of the convulsions in the depths below, rode safe-
mal entered the ark, including those animals (for exam- ly and in comparative comfort, steered by God’s unseen
ple, dinosaurs) that have become extinct in the millen- hand away from the zones of hydrodynamic violence.
nia following the Flood. The animals were all young ani- 7:19 all the high hills. The double superlative pre-
mals, since they would have to spend the year in the ark cludes the use of “all” in a relative sense here. The
without reproducing and then emerge to repopulate the obvious intent of the writer was to describe a univer-
earth after the Flood. The animals entering the ark pos- sal inundation.
sessed genes for the remarkable physiologic abilities of 7:20 mountains. The words “high hills” and “moun-
migration and hibernation. These were not needed in tains” are the same in the original Hebrew. The waters
the equable climates of the primeval world, but would were 15 cubits (22.5 feet) above the highest mountains,
be vital for survival in the post-Flood world. After being patently including Mount Ararat, which is now 17,000 feet
installed in their respective “rooms” in the ark, and high. In the “local-flood” theory, Mt. Ararat would have
after a good meal, most of them probably spent most of had the same elevation before and after the flood, but it is
the Flood year in a state of hibernation. obvious that a 17,000 foot flood is not a local flood.
7:17 bare up the ark. The ark was thirty cubits high 7:21 moved upon the earth. “All flesh” died that moved
and, when loaded, probably had a draft of almost fifteen on land. In a local flood, at least most of the animals (cer-
cubits. As soon as the water rose to a level of fifteen tainly all the birds) would escape to higher ground.
GENESIS 7:22-8:4 24

and of every creeping thing that creepeth 7:23 CHAPTER 8

| Mt 24:37-39
upon the earth, and every man: 1 Pet 3:20 The earth dries out
22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of 2 Pet 2:5 bane God remembered Noah, and every liv-
life, of all that was in the dry land, died. | 8:1 ing thing, and all the cattle that was with
23 And every living substance was destroyed 2:39.99 him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass
which was upon the face of the ground, both) & 2:24 over the earth, and the waters assuaged;
man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and hee aa _ 2 The fountains also of the deep and the win-
the fowl of the heaven; and they were | Jer2:2 dows of heaven were stopped, and the rain
destroyed from the earth: and Noah only 2Pet2> from heaven was restrained;
remained alive, and they that were with him in ye 724 | 3 And the waters returned from off the earth
the ark. | 8:4
continually: and after the end of the hundred
24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth = Gen7:11 ‘and fifty days the waters were abated.
| Isa 37:38. |
an hundred and fifty days.. 4 And the ark rested in the seventh month,

7:22 breath of life. The “breath (Hebrew neshamah) subterranean reservoir chambers, forming the present
of life” is clearly stated here to be a component of ani- ocean basins and causing further extrusions of magmas
mal life as well as human life. Thus animals possess around their peripheries and through openings in their
“spirit,” but not the “image of God.” floors. The light sediments in the sea troughs were
7:23 every living substance. The rocks of the earth’s forced upward by isostatic readjustment to form moun-
crust now contain the fossil remains of unnumbered bil- tain ranges and plateaus. Thus the waters originally
lions of plants and animals, buried in water-transported stored in the vapor canopy and the subterranean cham-
sediments which quickly became lithified. This “geologic bers are now stored mainly in the present ocean basins
column” has been grossly distorted by evolutionists into (these waters would be sufficient to cover a “smoothed”
the record of an imagined 3-billion-year history of evolu- earth to a depth of almost two miles) after the vast topo-
tion during the geological ages. Actually, it represents graphic adjustments that followed the Flood.
the deposits of the cataclysmic Flood with the fossil 8:3 continually. This expression, to some degree,
order primarily depicting the relative elevations of the suggests a cyclic tidal action, but especially connotes
habitats—and therefore the usual order of sedimentary rapid subsidence and drainage. It is significant that all
burial in the Flood—of the organisms of the pre-Flood the world’s oceans bear evidence (sea mounts, subma-
world. Many modern geologists are again admitting the rine canyons, etc.) of former lower levels and that all
necessity of catastrophic formation and burial to explain the world’s continental drainage systems (rivers, lakes)
the fossiliferous rocks in the geologic column. The rea- bear evidence of former higher water levels and quanti-
son why very few fossil men (also few fossilized flying ties of flow (old raised river terraces and lake beaches,
birds) are found in the rocks is their high mobility and vast alluvial valleys and “underfit” streams). These
ability to escape burial in sediments. When eventually worldwide evidences clearly picture a world in the
drowned, their bodies would remain on the surface until process of emerging from a recent global inundation.
they decayed. 8:4 seventeenth day of the month. This “resting” of
7:24 prevailed. This is the third emphasis on the the ark, after protecting its precious cargo against the
waters “prevailing” (Genesis 7:18,19,24). This highest terrible cataclysm for five long months, occurred exactly
intensity of flood action continued for five months. 150 days after the Flood began. It may be significant
8:1 a wind. The uniform temperatures of the pre- that on the anniversary of this date many years later,
Flood would have prevented the great atmospheric cir- Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The seventh month of
culations that now prevail, so that significant wind the civil year used by the Jews (almost certainly the cal-
movements were impossible. With the almost complete endar used in the Flood narrative) was later set as the
precipitation of the waters in the primeval canopy, after first month of their religious year. The Passover was on
150 days the latitudinal temperature differentials were the fourteenth day of the first month, and Christ rose
soon functioning to initiate tremendous winds all over three days after the Passover. Thus, He “rested” in
the earth. These winds, blowing on a shoreless ocean, Joseph’s tomb and then rose from the dead on the sev-
would certainly generate gigantic surface waves and enteenth day of the seventh month of the civil calendar.
tidal surges. The latter, superimposed on all the other 8:4 mountains of Ararat. “Ararat” in the Bible is the
hydrodynamic and geophysical forces at work, evidently same as “Armenia.” The “mountains of Ararat” could
served as the critical factor to trigger great tectronic apply to the entire region; however, the present Mount
forces that eventually would restore at least partial Ararat, 17,000 feet high, is the only logical site for the ark
equalibrium to the disturbed surface of the earth. The to rest. The ark landed the very day the waters began to
earth’s crust was in a highly unstable condition, with assuage, and it was another 2 1/2 months until the tops
the tremendous subterranean reservoirs now emptied of of nearby mountains could even be seen. Furthermore,
their pressurized waters and with vast depths of light there have been many reported sightings of the ark, seem-
sediments piling up in the antediluvian sea basins. ingly still preserved on an almost inaccessible ledge and
8:1 assuaged. As a result of the water subsiding, the most of the time encased in the stationary ice cap near its
phenomena described in Psalm 104:6-9 began to take summit. Though none of these reports are sufficiently doc-
place. The earth’s crust collapsed deep into the previous umented to constitute proof, the very number and variety
25 GENESIS 8:5-8:20

on the seventeenth day of the month, upon | 8&6 sent forth the dove; which returned not again
the mountains of Ararat. eRe | unto him any more.
5 And the waters decreased continually until | ede 15 13 And it came to pass in the six hundredth
the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the Deut 14:14 “and first year, in the first month, the first day
first day of the month, were the tops of the oe bi of the month, the waters were dried up from
mountains seen. off the earth: and Noah removed the covering
6 And it came to pass at the end of forty 1sa60:8 of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of
days, that Noah opened the window of the ark wate the ground was dry.
which he had made: sas 14 And in the second month, on the seven
7 And he sent forth a raven, which went) Gen7:11 and twentieth day of the month, was the
forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up. g:15 earth dried.
from off the earth. | ree oe | 15 And God spake unto Noah, saying,
8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see | | 16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife,
if the waters were abated from off the face of “Genz. 14 and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
the ground; 8:19 | 17 Bring forth with thee every living thing
9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of Gen 7:2,3, | that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and
her foot, and she returned unto him into the ®? of cattle, and of every creeping thing that
ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole ®°.,, __ creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed
earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, Gen 22:2 | abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and
and pulled her in unto him into the ark. multiply upon the earth.
10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and 18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and
again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; | ‘his wife, and his sons’ wives with him:
11 And the dove came in to him in the’ 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and
evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon
leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters | the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of
were abated from off the earth. | | the ark.
12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and | | 20 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lorp;
of them is at least intriguing evidence that the ark has land were available. Experiments have shown that seeds
been divinely preserved, awaiting God’s timing for its con- of a wide variety of plants will sprout even after many
firmed discovery and manifestation. Mount Ararat is a vol- months of submergence in salt water. Actually, the
canic mountain, formed evidently during the early months waters of the earth changed only gradually and slightly
of the Flood year (there were no volcanoes before the in salinity during the Flood, certainly not so much as to
Flood). There is also considerable geological evidence that prevent the survival and multiplication of all kinds of
it was further uplifted sometime after the Flood, so that it plants and marine animals after the Flood.
may well have been much lower and easier to access dur- 8:17 multiply upon the earth. This is a repetition of the
ing the years immediately following the Flood. That even Edenic command to the created animal kinds (Genesis
the summit of Ararat was at one time under water, howev- 1:20,22). In order to do this, the animals must migrate from
er, is evident both from the marine fossils that have been Ararat, each finding its proper ecological niche in the drasti-
found there and the extensive pillow lavas (lavas formed cally changed and widely varied environments of the post-
under high hydrostatic pressure) which exist there. diluvian world. During the ice age following the Flood, land
8:7 raven. The raven, a hardy flier and carrion eater, bridges existed across the Bering Strait from Siberia to Alas-
could survive indefinitely even before there was much ka and down the Malaysian Strait into New Guinea, facilitat-
dry land. The dove, however, required fresh plant mater- ing such migrations. Also, Noah’s descendants certainly
ial and dry ground. knew how to build and use boats, and some of the animals
8:10 other seven days. The frequent references to may well have been transported in this way, as well as on
“seven days” in the flood account, plus the fact that rafts of vegetation transported out to sea during river floods.
Noah left the ark 371 days (fifty-three weeks) after 8:19 out of the ark. Here it is again asserted, as clear-
entering it, indicates they were following a calendar ly as could be expressed, that a// the present land ani-
based on seven-day weeks. Confined in the ark, the crew mals in the earth have descended from those on the ark.
could not use the moon or stars for navigation or 8:20 offered burnt offerings. Noah thus sacrificed
chronology but could, of course, count days. what amounted to one-seventh of his flocks and herds
8:11 olive leaf. The olive tree is extremely hardy and of domestic animals, a real act of thanksgiving and faith
can grow and thrive on almost barren, rocky slopes. The on his part. The world was far more forbidding than
fresh olive leaf plucked by the dove proved the land was when they had entered the ark: rugged and desolate,
beginning to produce a vegetal cover and so would cold and stormy, barren and silent. However, it had
soon be ready to support its human and animal resi- been purged and cleansed of its wicked and violent
dents again. Both seeds and cuttings from pre-Flood inhabitants, and God had preserved His remnant
plants were abundant in the sediments of the Flood and through the awful cataclysm, so Noah’s sacrifice was a
could grow again as soon as adequate sunlight and dry service of both great praise and earnest petition.
GENESIS 8:21-9:6 26

and took of every clean beast, and of every clean ay a _ 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you
fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. Isa 54:9 ‘shall be upon every beast of the earth, and
21 And the Lorb smelled a sweet savour; and g.92 ‘upon every fowl of the air, upon all that
the Lorp said in his heart, I will not again Gen45:6 =moveth upon the earth, and upon all the
curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for | Ps74:16, 17 Fishes of the sea; into your hand are they
the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his ane 54.60 » | delivered.
youth; neither will I again smite any more Ps 128:3 3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be
every thing living, as I have done. 9:3 meat for you; even as the green herb have |
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and opel poe ‘given you all things.
harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and | Ps 104:14 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the
winter, and day and night shall not cease. 9:4 blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
_ lev 7:26,27 | 5 And surely your blood of your lives will I
CHAPTER 9 | eis ‘require; at the hand of every beast will I
God sends a rainbow | 9:5 ‘require it, and at the hand of man; at the
nd God blessed Noah and his ‘sons, and. 21:12, | hand of every man’s brother will I require the
ee unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, | 28, 22 life of man.
and replenish the earth. | 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall

8:21 not again curse. The promise of God, given in though Satan’s usurpation of that dominion must contin-
response to Noah’s sacrificial prayer of thanksgiving ually be recognized and rectified with God’s enablement.
and intercession, is tremendous in scope. He would Man’s relation to the animals (except perhaps for the
never again “curse the ground” with a worldwide curse domestic animals not mentioned here) has been changed
as He had done following Adam’s sin. The Edenic curse by God’s imposition on them of literally the “terror” of
is still in effect, of course, but there would be no other man. Their newly-developed carnivorous appetites and
curse. Noah had, indeed, brought “comfort” to the other abilities inimical to close contact with man, com-
world concerning “the ground which the Lord had bined with their more rapid multiplication, might other-
cursed” (Genesis 5:29). wise have resulted in man’s extermination.
8:21 every living thing. Neither would God ever 9:3 meat for you. For the first time, human beings
again bring a worldwide cataclysm to the earth as He are given divine permission to eat animal flesh. Initially,
had with the Flood. they were to have been vegetarians (Genesis 1:29). The
8:22 remaineth. This dual promise would be kept as reason for this change was due to the greater need for
long as the earth existed in its probationary state, with animal protein in man’s diet in view of the nutrient-
man still in his sinful condition, his “heart evil from his impoverished soils of the post-diluvian world and the
youth.” Eventually, the earth would be renovated and much more rigorous climatic conditions. A second rea-
the curse removed altogether (Revelation 22:3). son may have been to emphasize the great gulf between
8:22 shall not cease. The principle of uniformity is man and the animals. Evolutionary and polytheistic
here established by God for the post-Flood world. Not philosophies, then as now, had seriously blurred that
only would the basic laws of nature still continue (these distinction (Romans 1:21-25).
had, of course, operated even during the Flood) but 9:4 the blood thereof. The profoundly scientific truth
also the regular operation of its natural processes (these that “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus
had been greatly intensified during the Flood). The 17:11) is here mentioned for the first time. This, as well
basic processes of earth are its rotation on its axis and as the other principles of the Edenic mandate and the
its orbital revolution around the sun. These control all Noahic covenant, is still in effect and should be
annual and diurnal processes which in turn control observed by Christians especially. The blood, both in
practically all biological and geological processes. symbol and in reality, is “the life of the flesh.” Thus, it is
Absolute uniformity of the day/night cycle and the sea- appropriate to offer in sacrifice (until the offering of
sonal cycles assures at least general uniformity of func- Christ) but never to consume, either as food or as a reli-
tioning (allowing for statistical variations) of other gious ritual.
processes. Thus, the principle of uniformitarianism is 9:5 will I require. If the blood of animals is to be
valid absolutely for the /aws of nature ever since the regarded as too sacred to be eaten, since it represents
imposition of God’s curse (except for special miracles) the “life” (or “soul”—Hebrew nephesh) of the animal
and is valid statistically for the processes of nature and is acceptable as a substitutionary sacrifice for man’s
since the Flood. sins, how much more sacred is the blood of man him-
9:1 replenish the earth. This is the same command self. His blood represents his life and, since he alone is
given to Adam and Eve; the word “replenish,” (Hebrew “in the image of God,” the Creator of life, man’s blood
male), simply means “fill.” is not even to be shed, let alone eaten. If either man or
9:2 are they delivered. In essence the primeval com- beast slays a man, that man or that animal is, judicially,
mission to mankind (the so-called “dominion mandate”) to be slain himself, the reason being the divine sacred-
is here reiterated to Noah and his descendants though ness of human life.
with some emendations. Man is still to be in dominion 9:6 blood be shed. This establishment of capital punish-
over all other creatures and over the earth itself, even ment, administered judicially by man, has never been
27 GENESIS 9:7-9:21

his blood be shed: for in the image of God. 9:7 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a
Gen 1:28
made he man. cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be
9:9
7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring 73 54-9 seen in the cloud:
forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply Ps 25:14 15 And I will remember my covenant, which
therein. 9:11 ‘is between me and you and every living crea-
Isa 54:9
8 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons | ture of all flesh; and the waters shall no more
2 Pet 3:6
with him, saying, 9:12 become a flood to destroy all flesh.
9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with Ex 13:16 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I
you, and with your seed after you; | Mt 26:26
will look upon it, that I may remember the ever-
10 And with every living creature that is with |
9:13
Ezek 1:28 lasting covenant between God and every living
you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every | creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
beast of the earth with you; from all that go He 7:9 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the
out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. 9:18 token of the covenant, which I have estab-
11 And I will establish my covenant with | een ee lished between me and all flesh that is upon
you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more
Lina

the earth.
by the waters of a flood; neither shall there %:2" 18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of
Prov 20:1
any more be a flood to destroy the earth. | the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth:
12 And God said, This is the token of the and Ham is the father of Canaan.
covenant which I make between me and you. 19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of
and every living creature that is with you, for them was the whole earth overspread.
perpetual generations: 20 And Noah began to be an husbandman,
13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall. _and he planted a vineyard:
be for a token of a covenant between me and 21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunk-
the earth. en; and he was uncovered within his tent.

changed or withdrawn. It is still God’s law today and forms 9:13 my bow. The rainbow, requiring small water
the basic authorization of the institution of human govern- droplets in the air, could not form in the prediluvian
ment. It implies also the enactment and enforcement of world where the high vapor canopy precluded rain
regulations for those human activities (stealing, adultery) (Genesis 2:5). After the Flood, the very fact that rainfall
which if unrestrained, would lead to murder. It does not is now possible makes a worldwide rainstorm impossi-
stipulate the form, but only the fact of government. It ble, and the rainbow “in the cloud” thereby becomes a
extends the primeval mandate by giving man the responsi- perpetual reminder of God’s grace, even in judgment.
bility to control not only the animals but his own society 9:18 Japheth. The original meanings of these
also. The original commission had authorized the natural names are uncertain, but the most probable meanings
sciences and technologies; this new extension incorporated are: “Shem” means “Name” or “Renown;” “Ham”
in God’s covenant with Noah authorizes the social sciences means “Warm” or “Hot;” “Japheth” means “Enlarged”
and their technologies (psychology, law, sociology, anthro- or “Beautiful.”
pology, political science, government, police, criminology). 9:19 whole earth overspread. This plain declaration
Although capital punishment is the proper prerogative (Genesis 10:32) leaves no possibility that any other peo-
of human society (“every man’s brother”) as far as strict ple survived the worldwide Flood. All the world’s pre-
justice is concerned, mitigating circumstances (especial- sent peoples are descendants of Noah’s three sons and
ly sincere repentance and restitution) may warrant their wives. The gene pool from these six individuals (all
extension of mercy in individual cases. Nevertheless, the originally from Adam and Eve) provided far more than
basic right of governments to exact capital punishment enough genetic variational potential to account for the
as penalty for murder cannot legitimately be abrogated wide range in national and tribal characteristics which
as far as God is concerned. This is clear even in the have surfaced since the Flood. The world’s present pop-
Christian dispensation. The eating of meat (I Timothy ulation of approximately five billion people, likewise,
4:3,4), the abstinence from blood (Acts 15:19,20) and could easily have been developed in approximately 4000
the authority of the governmental sword (Romans 13:4; years. An average annual growth rate of 1/2% (only
Acts 25:11) were reaffirmed to the early church, making one-fourth the present rate), or an average family size of
it clear that the Noahic mandate still applied. only 2.5 children per family, could easily accomplish
9:9 my covenant. The Noahic covenant (Hebrew berith) this.
is the first covenant mentioned in Scripture and is ever- 9:21 wine. This is the first mention of wine in Scrip-
lasting (Genesis 9:16). It applied not only to Noah and his ture, but there is no reason to doubt that the antedilu-
seed (Genesis 9:9), but also to the animal kingdom (Gene- vians used wine and intoxicating beverages. Christ said
sis 9:10) and even to the earth itself (Genesis 9:13). It was they were characterized by much “eating and drinking”
unconditional, promising the age-long endurance of the (Matthew 24:38). Although the vapor canopy filtered
post-Flood cosmos, and also reconfirming and amplifying much of the harmful radiation from space, fermentation
God’s primeval commission to mankind, involving human as a decay process had probably been controlled and
stewardship over the earth and its inhabitants. utilized by man since soon after his Fall.
GENESIS 9:22-10:1 28

22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the | fae ue of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
nakedness of his father, and told his two Heb 2:15 27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall
brethren without. | 9:23 dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall
23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, | Ex 20:12 | be his servant.
and laid it upon both their shoulders, and (9:24 28 And Noah lived after the flood three hun-
went backward, and covered the nakedness of Pet 27:16
dred and fifty years.
their father; and their faces were backward, | fe 29 And all the days of Noah were nine hun-
1:28
and they saw not their father’s nakedness. ee ‘dred and fifty years: and he died.
24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew | Gen 27:40
what his younger son had done unto him. 9: 27 CHAPTER 10
25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant Isa 66:19 The table of nations
of servants shall he be unto his brethren. | 10:1 | [Nea these are the generations of the sons
26 And he said, Blessed be the Lorp God) '“™'*+7 of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and
9:24 done unto him. Though Noah was guilty of the age-long, with all the progeny of the three sons of Noah
sin of carelessness and drunkenness, the sin of Ham included; (2) if taken as applicable only to Canaan specifi-
was much more serious, revealing a hitherto suppressed cally, then it must also apply specifically only to Canaan’s
carnal and rebellious nature, a resentment against his “brethren,” who were Cush, Mizraim and Phut. Their
father and probably against God. Shem and Japheth, on descendants included the nations of Ethiopia, Egypt and
the other hand, sought to cover and restore their father. Libya. Not only would such a judgment be unfair (it was
9:25 Cursed be Canaan. Noah’s curse was spoken Ham who sinned, not Canaan), but it was never fulfilled,
concerning Canaan instead of Ham for possibly one or since the Canaanites were never servants of the Libyans
more of the following reasons: (1) As Ham was his or Ethiopians, and only briefly of the Egyptians; (3) as a
youngest son, so Canaan was Ham’s youngest son, and matter of fact, the descendants of Canaan, who included
Noah wished to emphasize that the prophecy extended the Phoenicians and Hittites, were prominent nations
through Ham to all his seed, even his youngest; (2) Noah through most of their history, not slave nations.
could gladly bless his two faithful sons, but could not 9:26 Shem. Noah associated Shem especially with the
bear to pronounce the prophetic curse directly on his worship of Jehovah, recognizing the dominantly spiritu-
other son, whom he also loved dearly; (3) He knew his al motivations of Shem and thus implying that God’s
grandsons well enough to recognize in the sons of Ham promised Deliverer would ultimately come from Shem.
the same rebellious attitudes that were in Ham, and he The Semitic nations have included the Hebrews, Arabs,
knew that they would actually experience the resultant Assyrians, Persians, Syrians and other strongly reli-
effects of his sin even more than would Ham himself. gious-minded peoples.
9:25 servant of servants. The phrase “servant of ser- 9:27 enlarge Japheth. The enlargement of Japheth
vants” is never used elsewhere in Scripture. If it means was not to be primarily geophraphical (Hamitic and
“slave of slaves,” then the prophecy has failed, for neither Semitic nations have been enlarged geographically as
the Hamitic nations in general nor the Canaanitic nations much as the Japhethites) but intellectual. The Japhetic
in particular have ever been such. The Hamites have peoples (Greeks, Romans, Aryans, Europeans) have
included such great empires as Sumeria, Phoenicia, Egypt, largely supplied the philosophers and scientists of
Ethiopia, etc., and quite possibly the great Asian nations mankind. The tripartite nature of man (body, mind, spir-
(China, Japan, etc.) as well. The word “servant,” however, is it) is shared by every man and every nation. However,
more often used in the sense of “steward,” so the prophecy each man (and each nation) reflects one of these as a
more likely speaks of Ham’s descendants as superlative predominant characteristic. Noah recognized that Ham,
stewards. That is, all men were stewards of God’s created Japheth and Shem were dominated, respectively, by
world in the sense of exercising dominion over its physical, intellectual and spiritual considerations, and
resources; and Ham, with his physical and materialistic so could see prophetically that these attributes would
bent, would be especially effective in subduing the world likewise be emphasized in the nations descending from
and developing its resources. Since the ground had been them. Thus, every nation would contribute its own part
“cursed,” however, this meant Ham’s lot would be unique- to the corporate life of mankind as a whole.
ly associated with the physical world, thus itself becoming 9:27 tents of Shem. Japheth was peculiarly God’s
a curse. Noah’s statement, it should be remembered, was a steward in the intellectual analysis and utilization of the
prophecy and not an imprecation, given under divine inspi- earth’s resources, and Shem was peculiarly His steward
ration and on the basis of Noah’s own insight into the with respect to the propagation of God’s will and plan
developing characters of his sons and grandsons and, for mankind, especially the transmission of His saving
therefore, of their descendants. As a prophecy, this inter- Word. Both services would require an adequate physical
pretation is fitting, since the Hamitic nations have, indeed, base from which to operate, and thus would require the
been the great explorers, cultivators, builders, navigators, stewardship of Ham in the physical world. Thus, Ham
tradesmen, inventors and warriors of mankind. was steward to Shem and Japheth in their stewardship—
9:25 unto his brethren. It is obvious that his prophe- in this sense also, he would be a servant of servants.
cy applies not only to Canaan but also to all of Ham’s 10:1 the generations. This is the third foledoth of the
descendants, for the following reasons: (1) its scope is book of Genesis (previously noted at Genesis 2:4; 5:1:
obviously intended to be symmetrical, worldwide and 6:9), presumably marking the signatures of Shem, Ham
29 GENESIS 10:2-10:8

unto them were sons born after the flood. | 10:2 divided in their lands; every one after his
2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, oe a ' tongue, after their families, in their nations.
and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and_| 49.3 6 And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim,
Meshech, and Tiras. Jer 51:27, and Phut, and Canaan.
3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and | 10:4 | 7 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah,
Riphath, and Togarmah. _ 1Chri:6,7"' and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and
4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and 10S a 9 the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. rats BM 8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a
5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles! \4 43-3 ' mighty one in the earth.

and Japheth after completing their narrative of the was derived from Togarmah. The name may also have a
Flood and the immediate post-Flood years. Shem then connection with Turkey and Turkestan.
took over the task (Genesis 11:10) and his family 10:4 Elishah. Elishah is preserved today as Hellas
records, now known as the Table of Nations, constitute (Hellenists, Hellespont), another name for Greece. The
(according to premier archaeologist William P. Albright) Iliad mentions them as the “Eilesians.”
an astonishingly accurate document. 10:4 Tarshish. Tarshish is a name frequently mentioned
10:1 after the flood. This marks the end of the first— in the Old Testament as a sea-faring people. Apparently the
and only authentic—account of the great Flood, written name somehow became later associated with the Phoeni-
down by the only eye-witnesses who could record it cians and their cities of Carthage (North Africa) and Tartes-
accurately, the men who experienced it and survived to sos (Spain), even though these were Canaanites. Perhaps
tell about it. As their descendants scattered over the the first settlers of these cities were Japhethites, later con-
earth, especially after their dispersion from Babel (Gene- quered and expanded by Phoenicians.
sis 11:9), they carried the story with them. However, 10:4 Kittim. Kittim is another name of Cyprus. The
with the changes in language and the passage of time, name “Ma-Kittim” (land of Kittim) is possibly preserved
the story assumed different forms in the different cul- as Macedonia.
tures, though always still recognizable as coming from 10:4 Dodanim. Dodanim is the same as Rodanim (I
the same source. One of the earliest of the more than Chronicles 1:7), The name is probably found today in
300 of these “Flood legends” is the one found in Baby- the names Dardanelles and Rhodes.
lon itself, the famous Gilgamesh Epic. 10:5 after his tongue. The islands and coastlands to
10:2 Gomer. The “sons of Japheth,” allowing for the which these first Europeans migrated were “divided...
gradual modifications in the form of their names over everyone after his tongue.” This notation indicates that
the millennia, can be recognized as the progenitors of the author of Genesis 10 (probably Shem) wrote it after
the Indo-European peoples. Japheth himself is called the dispersion at Babel.
“Tapetos” in the legends of the Greeks, and lyapeti is 10:6 Cush. Cush, the same as “Kish,” is usually trans-
the reputed ancestor of the Aryans. Gomer is identified lated in the Old Testament as “Ethiopia,” a land identi-
by Herodotus with Cimmeria, a name now surviving as fied in the Tell El Amarna tablets as “Kashi.” Some of
the Crimea. His descendants moved westward, with the the Cushites evidently stayed in Arabia while others
name possibly further preserved in Germany and Cam- sailed across the Red Sea into Ethiopia.
bria (Wales). 10:6 Mizraim. Mizraim is the customary name for
10:2 Magog. Magog can mean “the place of Gog,” Egypt in the Bible, which is also called “the land of
possibly now Georgia in the former U.S.S.R. Ham” (Psalm 105:23; etc.). It is barely possible that
10:2 Madai. Madai is the ancestor of the Medes. Mizraim is the same as Menes, Egypt's first king.
10:2 Javan. Javan is identified with “Ionia,” and is 10:6 Phut. According to Josephus, Phut is the same
often translated as “Greece” in the Old Testament. as Libya in the Bible.
10:2 Tubal. Tubal is a name probably preserved in 10:6 Canaan. Canaan, Ham’s youngest son, is obvi-
the modern Tobolsk and the ancient Tibareni. He is ously the progenitor of the Canaanites.
associated with Magog and Meshech in Ezekiel 38:2 and 10:7 Sabtecha. The five first-named sons of Cush
other passages, all probably ancestral to modern Russia. apparently all settled in Arabia, although Seba later
10:2 Meshech. Meshech is preserved in the names migrated into the Sudan, giving his name to the
Muskovi and Moscow. Sabeans (Isaiah 45:14).
10:2 Tiras. Tiras gave rise to the Thracians, and pos- 10:7 Dedan. Sheba and Dedan were evidently well
sibly to the Etruscans. known Arabians in the days of Abraham, since two of
10:3 Ashkenaz. Ashkenaz has long been associated his grandsons through Keturah were named after them
with the German Jews, known still as the Ashkenazi. (Genesis 25:3).
The name is also possibly preserved in the names Scan- 10:8 Nimrod. Nimrod, the youngest and most illustri-
dia and Saxon, as well as a region of Armenia once ous son of Cush, was given a name meaning “Let us
known as Sakasene. rebel!” and was apparently trained by his father for this
10:3 Riphath. Josephus associates Riphath with the purpose.
Paphlagonians. There is a possibility that the name 10:8 mighty one. As the first great emperor, Nimrod’s
Carpathia, and even Europe, come from Riphath. name is preserved in numerous legends and geographi-
10:3 Togarmah. Togarmah is probably the ancestor of cal sites in Babylonia. After his death he was evidently
the Armenians. The Jewish Targums say that Germany deified, eventually worshipped as Merodach, or Marduk.
GENESIS 10:9-10:22 30

9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lorb: eS | 17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the
wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the | Riel " Sinite,
mighty hunter before the Lorb. Mic 5:6 18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and
10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Num4:22 the Hamathite: and afterward were the fami-
Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in es lies of the Canaanites spread abroad.
the land of Shinar. | Lp sitter 19 And the border of the Canaanites was
11 Out of that land went forth Asshur, and build- Jer 46:9 from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto
ed Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, 10:15 Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and
12 And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: ee Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even
the same is a great city. 1Chr113 unto Lasha.
13 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, /*" 474 20 These are the sons of Ham, after their
and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, oe Ae families, after their tongues, in their countries,
14 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of ae é and in their nations.
whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim. ease 142,321 Unto Shem also, the father of all the chil-
15 And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, 49.29 ‘dren of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder,
and Heth, | Gen11:10 | even to him were children born.
16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and 2498137? 22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur,
the Girgasite, | ‘and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

10:9 mighty hunter. This phrase connotes a man a great empire in Asia Minor for over 800 years. When
mighty in wickedness. It is possible that his hero’s repu- the Hittite empire finally crumbled, many of its people
tation was gained in hunting and slaying the giant ani- migrated east. The Hittites are identified in Egyptian
mals that proliferated after the Flood and were consid- inscriptions as the “Kheta.” In the coneiforn inscrip-
ered dangerous to the small human population of the tions in Babylonia, this name is identified as “Khittae,”
first century. He built a great kingdom, with the capital which may have been modified eventually to “Cathay,” a
at Babel in the plain Shinar (no doubt equivalent to synonym for China. Archaeologists have noted. similari-
Sumer) in the Tigris-Euphrates valley. ties between the Monguls and Hittites.
10:10 Accad. Erech is also “Uruk,” 100 miles south- 10:17 Sinite. The other nine sons of Canaan were the
east of Babylon, the legendary home of Gilgamesh. Canaanite tribes that inhabited the land when the
Accad gave its name to the Akkadian empire, perhaps Israelites entered it. The Amorites are identified in the
the same as the Sumerian empire. Calneh is unidentified. tablets as the Amurru. The Sinites may be connected in
10:11 Asshur. Asshur, a son of Shem, had evidently ethnology with the wilderness of Sin and Mount Sinai
founded a settlement, but Nimrod went forth into in the south, and with the Assyrian god “Sin,” and even
Asshur (better rendering of “out of that land went forth with Sinim (Isaiah 49:12) which the people of secular
Asshur”), extending his empire and establishing also history called “Sinae,” or Chinese.
what would later become the Assyrian empire. 10:18 spread abroad. This statement becomes espe-
10:11 Nineveh. Nineveh, the capital city of the Assyri- cially significant if, as intimated above, the descendants
ans, was named after “Ninus,” evidently another name of Canaan include the Mongol peoples, who eventually
for Nimrod. Although both Babylonia and Assyria were spread not only throughout most of Asia but also across
later conquered by Semites, the Hamite Nimrod was the Bering Strait into North and South America, becom-
their founder and first king. Nineveh was 200 miles ing the American Indians.
north of Babylon, on the Tigris River. 10:20 in their nations. The division of the original
10:11 Rehoboth. Rehoboth and Resen have not yet population into “nations” was both “after their
been identified. tongues” and “after their families,” suggesting that
10:12 a great city. About twenty miles south of Nin- each family living at Babel was given a distinctive
eveh, Calah has been excavated. It is still called “Nimirud.” tongue at the dispersion.
These three satellite cities, with Nineveh, made up a metro- 10:21 Eber. The term “Hebrew” comes from Eber,
politan complex and is thus called a “great city.” but the descendants of Eber also include the “Habiru.”
10:14 Caphtorim. The sons of Mizraim are mostly Discoveries at Ebla, in northern Syria, seems to indicate
unidentified in secular records; perhaps most of them the founder and king of Ebla to be “Ebrim.”
migrated south and west from their father’s home in 10:21 Japheth. Japheth was evidently the oldest son
Egypt, deeper into Africa. However, the Pathrusim dwelt of Noah, Ham the youngest (Genesis 9:24).
in Pathros, or upper Egypt. The Caphtorim are identified 10:22 Elam. Elam is the ancestor of the Elamites,
in the Bible with the Philistim, or Philistines, and by sec- who later merged with the Medes (descendants of
ular writers with Crete. These people evidently migrated Madai) to form the Medo-Persian empire.
from Egypt to Crete and then later, in successive waves, 10:22 Asshur. Asshur gives his name to the Assyri-
to Philistia on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean. ans, although his settlement on the Tigris was later
10:15 Sidon. The city of Sidon, chief city of the taken over by Nimrod (Genesis. 10:11).
Phoenicians, still exists today. 10:22 Lud. According to Josephus, Lud was the
10:15 Heth. Heth is the ancestor of the Hittites, ancestor of the Lydians.
prominent in both the Bible and secular history, ruling 10:22 Aram. Aram is the father of the Aramaeans, or
31 GENESIS 10:23-11:2

23 And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, Leck thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the
and Gether, and Mash. i 2530 ~~ east.
24 And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah 49.24 | 31 These are the sons of Shem, after their
| Lk 3:35
begat Eber. families, after their tongues, in their lands,
25 And unto Eber were born two sons: the | 10:32 after their nations.
name of one was Peleg; for in his days was | = fan | 32 These are the families of the sons of
the earth divided; and*his brother’s name. Fre Noah, after their generations, in their nations:
was Joktan. Isa 11:11 and by these were the nations divided in the
26 And Joktan begat Almodad, and asae Pala earth after the flood.
and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, |
27 And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, CHAPTER 11
28 And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, | Tower of Babel
29 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all jaye the whole earth was of one language,
these were the sons of Joktan. and of one speech.
30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as | 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed

Syrians. The Aramaic language was almost a world lan- Scripture of any “hominids” or other “pre-Adamites” in
guage in the ancient world, and even some parts of the man’s ancestry. The so-called “ape-men” can all be
Old Testament were first written in Aramaic. shown to be either remains of extinct apes or of true
10:23 Uz. Uz gave his name to Job’s homeland (Job men, probably all living after the Flood.
1:1) but little is known of the other three sons of Aram. 10:32 generations. The word “generations” (Hebrew
Evidently the children of Aram had more contact with toledoth) indicates that actual genealogical records were
Shem than’his other grandsons (except through Arphax- available to Shem as he compiled the Table of Nations.
ad) since none of the others are listed. 10:32 nations divided. The seventy nations from
10:25 Peleg. Peleg means “division,” and he was Noah’s three sons are the progenitors of all other
apparently given the name by Eber because of the great nations (Genesis 9:19). These three streams of nations
event that took place just before his birth. He may also should not be interpreted as three races, however. The
have given his name to the Pelasgians. concept of race is not found in the Bible and is purely
10:25 the earth divided. The “division” that took place an evolutionist concept with no basis in either Scripture
was, most likely, the traumatic upheaval at Babel. A divi- or true science. In evolutionary terminology, a race is a
sion in Genesis 10:5,32 is mentioned, where the division sub-species in the process of evolving into a new
is “after his tongue.” Nimrod was in the same generation species, but the Bible speaks only of kinds. Where
as Eber, and this is the only place in the Table of Nations mankind is concerned, there are nations, tribes,
where the meaning of a son’s name is given, indicating tongues, peoples, and families, but these are not races.
the importance of the event it commemorated. However, 11:1 one speech. Literally, “of one lip and one set of
it is true that two different words are used (Pelag in Gen- words”—that is, one phonology and one vocabulary, the
esis 10:25, parad in Genesis 10:5,32). Although the two same language as spoken by the antediluvians. This may
words are essentially synonymous, this. might indicate a well have been the Hebrew language, or some similar
different type of division. Many Bible teachers have sug- Semitic language since the primitive records were trans-
gested, therefore, that Genesis10:25 might refer to a split mitted through Noah and Shem and since it is very
ting of the single post-Flood continent into the present unlikely that either Noah or Shem were participants in
continents of the world. They associate the modern scien- the rebellion and judgment at Babel.
tific model of sea-floor spreading and continental drifting 11:2 from the east. The phrase may mean “east-
with Genesis 10:25. It should be remembered, however, ward.” It is also possible that, as the people migrated
that the continental drift hypothesis has by no means from Ararat, they first went farther to the east, and then
been proved, and the verse seems to refer more directly turned back westward until they came to the plain of
to the division into families, countries and languages. Shinar (Sumer). This fertile valley so reminded them of
Furthermore, even if the continents have separated from Eden that they named its two rivers (Tigris and
a single primeval continent, such a split more likely Euphrates) after two of the Edenic rivers.
would have occurred in connection with the continental 11:2 land of Shinar. The reference to Shinar ties
uplifts terminating the global deluge (Psalm 104:6-9). back in to Genesis 10:10, reminding us that the leader
10:29 sons of Joktan. Thirteen sons of Joktan are of the population by this time was Nimrod, “the mighty
listed, most of whom are believed to have settled in Ara- tyrant in the face of the Lord” (Genesis 10:9).
bia. The fact that none of Peleg’s sons are listed may 11:2 dwelt there. Their decision to “dwell” here in
indicate that Shem was living near Joktan’s family. one location was in defiance of God’s command to “fill
10:31 after their nations. This concludes the the earth” (Genesis 9:1,7). God’s design was to have a
“nations” listed in Genesis 10—fourteen from Japheth, multiplicity of local governmental units (Genesis 9:5,6;
thirty from Ham, and twenty-six from Shem. Thus a Acts 17:26,27), but Nimrod purposed to establish a one-
total of seventy such primeval nations was included by government dictatorship under himself. When Shem’s
Shem in his Table of Nations. All are descendants of son Asshur settled in a separate location, Nimrod quick-
Adam, through Noah. There is no hint anywhere in ly took it over (Genesis 10:11).
GENESIS 11:3-11:9 32

from the east, that they found a plain in the. fe 6 And the Lorp said, Behold, the people is
en 14:10
land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. | ‘one, and they have all one language; and this
3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us | oe 313 they begin to do: and now nothing will be
make brick, and burn them throughly. And Ps49:11-13 | restrained from them, which they have imag-
they had brick for stone, and slime had they 11:5 |ined to do.
for morter. gente?! 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound
A And they said, Go to, let us build us a city one their language, that they may not understand
and a tower, whose top may reach unto heav- Gen 1:26 one another’s speech.
Job 5:12 8 So the Lorp scattered them abroad from
en; and let us make us a name, lest we be scat-
tered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 118 ‘thence upon the face of all the earth: and they
Gen 10:25
5 And the Lorp came down to see the city | \left off to build the city.
and the tower, which the children of men) 4 €o, 14:23 | 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel;
builded. because the Lorp did there confound the

11:3 Go to. Literally, “give’—indicating a council had would be invincible without divine intervention. No
reached a decision concerning various possible courses doubt there was a faithful remnant (Noah, Shem), but
of action and was now pronouncing its decision. they were helpless without God’s action.
11:3 for morter. The first decision was to develop a 11:7 Go to. A council in heaven (perhaps mocking
brick-making industry with kiln-baked clay bricks and Nimrod’s councils—Psalm 2:1-4) decrees the confusion
asphalt from the nearby pits as mortar. This would enable of tongues. This act is clearly supernatural, involving
them to plan and develop strong, permanent buildings. the divine creative power which Satan could neither
11:4 a tower. A second council, no doubt soon after duplicate nor reverse.
the first, reached the firm decision to stay permanently 11:7 confound their language. \n some inexplicable
in the Babel metroplex, erecting a strong capital city manner, God altered the brain/nerve/speech apparati
with a great central tower symbolizing its unity and of the Babylonian rebels to give each family unit (possi-
centralizing its culture. This tower became the proto- bly the seventy families of Genesis 10) its own distinc-
type of all the great ziggurats (stepped towers) and tive vocabulary/phonology complex. With all this, how-
pyramids of the world. ever, they all remained truly human, unchanged in
11:4 unto heaven. The words “may reach” are not in basic thought processes or moral character. Further,
the original. The tower was undoubtedly promoted as a their distinctive languages were still sufficiently alike
great religious monument, dedicated “unto heaven.” Its that they could, with time and much effort, learn to
top would be used for worship and sacrifice, and the speak each other’s languages. For some time, however,
rank and file probably felt at first that its beauty and they could no longer communicate between families
grandeur would honor God. Almost certainly the walls and, therefore, they could no longer cooperate. They
and ceiling of the shrine were emblazoned with the were thus forced to obey God’s earlier command to
painted representations of “man, and...birds, and four- scatter abroad and to fill the earth with different
footed beasts, and creeping things” (Romans 1:23), nations and governmental units.
which depicted the universal signs of the zodiac. This 11:8 scattered them abroad. The tower had been
remarkable system was probably originally formulated completed and was actively in use, but the city was still
by the antediluvian patriarchs to depict the primeval unfinished. Probably all families except that of Nimrod
prophecies of the coming Seed of the woman and God’s himself departed from Babel, leaving him the burden of
ultimate victory over Satan in a permanent record in developing his own tribe at Babel as best they could.
the stars themselves (see note on Genesis 1:14). Under These probably became the Sumerians. The others scat-
Nimrod’s subtle corruption of God’s truth, however, this tered into various regions already described in Genesis
“gospel in the stars” was soon distorted into astrology 10, some eventually developing great civilizations. This
and evolutionary pantheism, then into spiritism and account, originally written by Shem (Genesis 11:10), is
polytheism, as people gradually ceased worshipping the reflected in a somewhat distorted form in the legends of
true God of heaven and turned to “the host of heaven,” other nations, including a tablet excavated at Ur. There
the fallen angels. is no better scientific theory for the origin of the various
11:4 scattered abroad. The intent of the leaders of families of languages. All such theories seem to point to
this rebellion was flagrant rejection of God’s command. an origin in the Middle East.
11:5 came down. God was well aware of all that was 11:9 Babel. The Hebrew word babel means “mixed”
transpiring, but was long-suffering, allowing ample time or “confusion.” It was associated by the writer with
for repentance. The expression “came down” is figura- the “babble” of sounds which was the last memory
tive, indicating the rebellion had now gone too far and held by all who scattered from the city. The word “bab-
required divine intervention. ble” is an example of onomatopoeia, a word which imi-
11:6 one language. In God’s judgment, the main prob- tates an actual sound, and thus is essentially the same
lem was the unity of the people; the one most effective way in all languages. The name Babel, therefore, does not
of thwarting unity would be to prevent communication. really mean “gate of God,” as later apologists claimed,
11:6 nothing will be restrained. Nimrod, with direct but “confusion.”
access to demonic intelligence and Satanic power, 11:9 all the earth. As the people scattered, each family
33 GENESIS 11:10-11:19

language of all the earth: and from thence | 11:10 14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat
Gen 10:22-
did the Lorp scatter them abroad upon the| 35 Eber:
face of all the earth. 15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four
11:13
10 These are the generations of Shem: Shem | 1Chr1:17 | hundred and three years, and begat sons and
was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad daughters.
two years after the flood: 16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and
11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad begat Peleg:
five hundred years, and begat sons and _ 17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four
daughters. hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and
_ daughters.
12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, |
and begat Salah: 18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:
13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah 19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two
four hundred and three years, and begat sons hundred and nine years, and begat sons and
and daughters. daughters.

gradually became a tribal unit, and each had to develop 11:10 after the flood. Apparently none of Noah’s
its own distinctive culture as best it could. Each for a sons had children before the Flood, possibly because
time would have to live by hunting and gathering, resid- of the universal violence and their concentration on
ing in caves or temporary shelters. The stronger families building the ark.
would occupy the best nearby sites (for example, the Nile 11:13 four hundred and three years. It is obvious, by
valley), while others would be forced farther away. comparison of the genealogies and chronologies in Gene-
Although they were all familiar with the arts of agricul- sis 5 and 11, that the longevity of mankind began a steady
ture, animal husbandry, ceramics, metallurgy, construc- decline after the Flood. Undoubtedly the vast climatologi-
tion, navigation, etc. each family would require time, pop- cal and physiographical changes caused by the Flood
ulation growth, and discovery of sources of metals and were the main natural causes of this. The protective vapor
building materials. They all had known how to write, but canopy was gone (see notes on Genesis 1:6; 7:4), the rich
now, with a completely new speech, each tribe would soils were gone, mutations were increasing in the inbreed-
need to invent an entirely new written language, and this ing populations, and the general environment was much
would require still more time and ingenuity. Within a few more rigorous. No doubt it was also providentially
generations, however, all these attributes of “civilization” ordered that, in the post-Flood world, life-spans should set-
had surfaced all over the world, even on distant conti- tle at around seventy years of age (Psalm 90:10).
nents. As populations grew, some tribes eventually 11:14 Salah. Luke 3:36 inserts the name “Cainan”
reached into every part of the world. In some instances between those of Arphaxad and Salah. This name is also
they traveled by land bridges (Bering Strait, Malaysian found in some of the Septuagint manuscripts (though not
Strait) which existed for perhaps a millennium during the the earliest), but it is not found in either Genesis 10:24 or I
Ice Age which followed the Flood. In other cases, they Chronicles 1:18, or any of the Masoretic manuscripts. The
established colonies through sea exploration (the Phoeni- weight of evidence favors the Hebrew text with Cainan’s
cians for example). All carried essentially the same Baby- name having accidentally been later inserted by careless
lonian culture and pagan religion with them, unfortunate- scribal copying from Genesis 5:10 and/or Luke 3:37. The
ly, so that Babylon is called in the New Testament “the inclusion of essentially the same genealogy, with no sug-
mother of harlots and abominations (that is, “idolatries”) gestion of any omitted generations in Genesis 10:21-25;
of the earth” (Revelation 17:5). At the same time, they 11:10-26; I Chronicles 1:17-28; and Luke 3:34-38, including
also carried a faint remembrance of the true God and His chronological data in the second, at least places the bur-
promises, especially remembering the divine judgment of den of proof on any who (for archaeological reasons)
the great Flood in their traditions. Each retained knowl would maintain there are significant gaps involved.
edge of God and could see evidence of Him in both the 11:16 begat Peleg. If there are no genealogical gaps
creation and their own natures (John 1:9; Romans 1:20; in Genesis 11:10-17, then the numbers add to 101 years
2:13-15) so they were inexcusable in their almost univer- from the Flood to the birth of Peleg right after the Dis-
sal descent into the religious morass of evolutionary pan- persion. In view of the longevity of the times, as well as
theism, astrology, spiritism, polytheism and, finally, athe- God’s command to multiply rapidly, a quite reasonable
istic materialism. population growth model will indicate at least 1000
11:10 generations of Shem. This marks the termi- mature adults on the earth at the time of the Disper-
nation of Shem’s tablet. Apparently Terah (Genesis sion, and possibly many times this amount.
11:27) acquired the ancient records at this point, and 11:19 two hundred and nine years. There is a sud-
continued them. den drop in longevity here, from 464 years for Eber to
11:10 hundred years old. Evidently Shem, Ham and 239 years for Peleg. This is the most likely spot, there-
Japheth were born 100 years before the Flood (compare fore, for a genealogical gap in the record. However, this
Genesis 5:32 and 7:6). Shem was evidently a few years sharp decline may also be explained by the traumatic
younger than Japheth (called “the elder” in Genesis changes in living conditions caused by the confusion of
10:21). Ham was still younger. He was called Noah’s tongues and the resultant migrations and struggles. The
“younger son” in Genesis 9:24. close inbreeding since the Flood, aggravated further by
GENESIS 11:20-11:32 34

20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, and | kfa 'Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and
begat Serug: | Haran begat Lot.
21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two | uid | 28 And Haran died before his father Terah in
hundred and seven years, and begat sons and | Se :26, ‘the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
daughters. 29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the
t| 11:29
22 And Serug lived thirty years, and bega Gen 17:15
name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of
Nahor: Gen 20:12 'Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the
23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two | | ae eo father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.
hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, ta 31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot
and begat Terah: erie the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his
25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an ee | daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and
hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons! josh 24:2 ~—they went forth with them from Ur of the
and daughters. | rye US Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and
26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat. ~ they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 32 And the days of Terah were two hundred
27 Now these are the generations of Terah: and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

the Dispersion, would also contribute to an increased of Terah by another of his wives. Close marriages were
mutational load carried by the population, and this not yet genetically dangerous and so were not prohibited
would tend to further reduce the life-span. In any case, until the Mosaic law was established. Perhaps they were
even if genealogical gaps do exist (in either Genesis 5 or even desirable in those families who still worshipped the
Genesis 11) they could only involve a few generations at true God in order to maintain a pure faith.
most; in no case could they be stretched sufficiently to 11:31 the land of Canaan. Evidently Terah, as well
accommodate the evolutionist’s imagined million-year as Abram, had received God’s call to go to Canaan, but
history of man. Terah went north to Haran instead, perhaps intending
11:26 begat Abram. Abram presumably was the old- to go on to Canaan after settling his deceased son’s
est of Terah’s three sons. However, when the same type affairs in Haran. Abram also had received God’s call
of notation had been used for Noah’s three sons (Gene- while still in Mesopotamia (Acts 7:2,3), and so he and
sis 5:32), the first-named son was not the oldest, so his wife set out with Terah. However, Terah never left
Abram could possibly have been younger than one or Haran, eventually even joining its idolatrous practices
both of his brothers. (Joshua 24:2,14,15).
11:27 generations of Terah. This statement seems to 11:32 died in Haran. According to Genesis 12:4,
conclude Terah’s tablet, which thus consisted solely of Abram left Haran for Canaan when he was 75 years old,
the genealogical records from Shem to himself (Genesis which would have been 130 years before Terah’s death if
11:10-27). If there are no gaps in the genealogies, Shem indeed Abram had been born when Terah was 70 years
lived until after Terah’s death, so Terah could easily old, or soon after (Genesis 11:26). Yet Stephen, in Acts
have gotten the earlier tablets from Shem. Likewise, he 7:4, says Abram did not leave Haran until his father was
could easily have transmitted them later to Abraham, or dead. Probably Stephen was suggesting that Terah,
even to Isaac, since he lived until Isaac was thirty-five though still alive physically, had “died” as far as God’s
years old (Genesis 11:26,32; 21:5), assuming Abram was will and calling to him were concerned, using the termi-
his oldest son. nology he knew Christ had used in advising a young
11:27 Terah begat Abram. Isaac is apparently the man in a similar situation (Matthew 8:21,22). Otherwise,
author of the next foledoth, and he seems to have keyed Abram would have to have been born when Terah was at
his record back into Terah’s simply by repeating the least 130 years old—a very unlikely circumstance in view
conclusion of the latter. of the special miracle required for Abram himself to have
11:27 Haran. The names of both Nahor (named after a son when he was only 100. In any case, by the time of
his grandfather) and Haran are associated with cities in Abram’s departure, even if Terah were only 145 years of
Mesopotamia (Genesis 24:10; 28:10). Haran died when age at the time, there would have been at least 267 years
relatively young, evidently while visiting his father back since the Dispersion. This was more than adequate time
in Ur (Genesis 11:26,28,32). His son, Lot, soon became for the great civilizations of the ancient world (Egypt,
attached to his Uncle Abram. Babylonia, etc.) and for a large population to have devel-
11:28 Ur of the Chaldees. Ur was an old and prosper- oped (as much as 300 million would be a reasonably pos-
ous city in the days of Abram. Archaeological excava- sible number by this time, though it was probably much
tion has revealed the existence of a great library which less). Along with the tremendous growth of civilization
has yielded thousands of clay tablets. Contrary to out- and population, there was a corresponding rise in both
moded theories of cultural evolution, practically every- materialism and idolatrous evolutionism, so God finally
one knew how to read and write long before Abram’s called Abram again, instructing him to delay no longer
day. in leaving his kindred to establish a new, God-fearing
11:29 took them wives. Nahor married his niece, and nation through which God would accomplish His purpos-
Sarai was Abram’s half-sister (Genesis 20:12), a daughter es (Genesis 12:1-4).
35 GENESIS 12:1-13:3

CHAPTER 12 | ee Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou

God tells Abram to leave | Acts 7:3 art a fair woman to look upon:
ow the Lorp had said unto Abram, Get Heb11:8 _ 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the
thee out of thy country, and from thy 12:2 Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say,
Gen 17:5
kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a Zech 8:13 This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they
land that I will shew thee: 12:3
_will save thee alive,
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and & 23:22 _ 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it
Acts 3:25
I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and | Gal 3:8
may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul
thou shalt be a blessing: shall live because of thee.
12:4
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and Gen 11:26, 31 14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram
curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall 12-6 was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the
all families of the earth be blessed. | Gen 33:18 -woman that she was very fair.
G ‘
4 So Abram departed, as the Lorp had spo- Sr ae 15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and
ken unto him; and Lot went with him: and 42.7 commended her before Pharaoh: and the
Abram was seventy and five years old when he. a) ie) woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
Sa é
departed out of Haran. || Isa 44:3 16 And he entreated Abram well for her
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his Gal 3:16 sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he
brother’s son, and all their substance that they 12:8 asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and
Gen 4:26
had gathered, and the souls that they had got | Gen 8:20 she asses, and camels.
ten in Haran; and they went forth to go into | oo | 17 And the Lorp plagued Pharaoh and his
the land of Canaan; and into the land of Gen13:1 ‘house with great plagues because of Sarai
Gen 20:1
Canaan they came. Abram’s wife.
6 And Abram passed through the land unto 12:10 18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said,
Gen 26:1,7
the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. Gen 42:5 What is this that thou hast done unto me? why
And the Canaanite was then in the land. 42-11 _didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
7 And the Lorp appeared unto Abram, and Gen 29:17 19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I
said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and 12:12 might have taken her to me to wife: now there-
there builded he an altar unto the Lorp, who . Gen20:11,14 fore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.
12:13
appeared unto him. | Gen 20:2, 12) 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men con-
8 And he removed from thence unto a cerning him: and they sent him away, and his
mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched Gen 24:35 wife, and all that he had.
Gen 12:17
his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai
Ps 105:14
on the east: and there he builded an altar ||. CHAPTER 13

unto the Lorp, and called upon the name of Gen 3:13 Abram and Lot separate
| Gen 4:10
the Lorb. nd Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and
9 And Abram journeyed, going on still 13:1 his wife, and all that he had, and Lot
Gen 12:9,16 |
toward the south. | Gen
with him, into the south.
Abram goes to Egypt 20:1,9,14 2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in sil-
10 And there was a famine in the land: and 13:2 ver, and in gold.
| Gen 24:35
Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; | 3 And he went on his journeys from the
13:3 | south even to Bethel, unto the place where his
for the famine was grievous in the land. Gen 28:19
11 And it came to pass, when he was come | ‘tent had been at the beginning, between
near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Bethel and Hai;

12:1 out of thy country. The call of Abram marks a promise to give Abram the land of Canaan was uncondi-
critical turning point in history. Heretofore, God’s tional. Abram had already met the only condition; that
covenant with mankind (Genesis 9:8-17) applied to all of leaving his homeland to go to Canaan as God com-
men alike. With the confusion of tongues at Babel, dis- manded him.
tinct nations began to develop. Though the Noahic 12:13 my sister. Sarai was Abram’s half-sister (Genesis
covenant is everlasting, it was now necessary for this to 20:12), so this was not an outright lie. Abram’s faith was
be supplemented (not replaced) by a special relation still weak. He should have stayed in Canaan in spite of
with a particular nation through which the promised the famine. Having gone into Egypt, he should have been
Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15) would eventually open and consistent in his testimony, and so should
enter the human race to redeem lost mankind. Sarai. Instead, they compromised, following human rea-
12:7 appeared. This is the first mention of an actual son instead of God’s Word. God protected them in spite
“appearance” of God to man (that is, a theophany, a pre- of it, but they lost their testimony with the Egyptians,
incarnate appearance of Christ). Note that God’s whom they might otherwise have led back to God.
GENESIS 13:4-14:5 36

4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had | 13:5

| 14 And the Lorp said unto Abram, after that
made there at the first: and there Abram called” | Gen'124/> Tot was separated from him, Lift up now thine
on the name of the Lorp. a 36:6,7 “eyes, and look from the place where thou art
5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had | 13:7 ‘northward, and southward, and eastward, and
flocks, and herds, and tents. Gen 21:25 | westward:

6 And the land was not able to bear them, | onze | 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee
that they might dwell together: for their sub- ese cake will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
stance was great, so that they could not dwell | Mt 5:9 _ 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of
Heb 12:14 the earth: so that if a man can number the
together. |
7 And there was a strife between the herd- 13:9 ‘dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be
Gen 20:15
Gen 34:10 | numbered.
men of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of
Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Per- 13:10 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length
izzite dwelled then in the land. Gen 2:8 ‘of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it
Deut 34:3
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no | unto thee.
strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and. 122.) 18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came
between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we. ‘eae ~ and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in
be brethren. Deut 32:32. Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lorp.
Isa 1:9 |
9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate |
thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take | erred CHAPTER 14
the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if.
wih Thi Lot captured
thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to 4 yar.4 And it came to pass in the days of
the left. bee Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of
10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all Num 23:10 Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and
the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered | 13:17 Tidal king of nations;
every where, before the Lorp destroyed | Num 13:17. 2 That these made war with Bera king of
Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of 14:1 'Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah,
the Lorp, like the land of Egypt, as thou jer 48-34 Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king
comest unto Zoar. Acts 2:9 “of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is
11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jor- | 14:2 Zoar.
dan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separat- | Deut 29:23 3 All these were joined together in the vale
ed themselves the one from the other. 143 aa of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and | josh3:16. 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer,
Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and. 145 _and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
pitched his tent toward Sodom. | Deut1:4 | 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedor-
13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and | ERE laomer, and the kings that were with him, and
sinners before the LorD exceedingly. ‘smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim,

13:10 well watered. In the early centuries after the was still a freshwater remnant of the great flood, and
Flood, a great ice sheet probably covered the northern the whole region was “well watered everywhere” (Gene-
latitudes, and this in turn led to abundant rainfall in the sis 13:10). The exact location of Sodom and her four sis-
southern latitudes, a “pluvial age” corresponding to the ter cities is uncertain, although most authorities believe
“slacial age” farther north. There is much evidence of their remains are now submerged beneath the waters of
this all over the world, with remains of extensive settle- the shallow southern arm of the Dead Sea. There is also
ments and agriculture in regions (like the region where the possibility that the actual cities were located on
Sodom and Gomorrah once thrived, near the southern higher elevations overlooking five ephemeral streams
end of the Dead Sea) which are now oppressively hot, emptying into the lake, with the inhabitants working
dry and desolate. the fields below during the daytime, then living in the
14:1 king of Shinar. Shinar probably refers to Sume- cooler heights above at night.
ria, and Elam to early Persia. Ellasar was the leading 14:5 Rephaims. Some of these Canaanite tribes actu-
tribe in southern Babylonia and “nations” (Hebrew ally seem to have been demon-possessed, in the same
Gotim) was probably a tribe of northeastern Babylonia. manner as the demon-energized population before the
Chedorlaomer seems to have been the chief leader of Flood (see notes on Genesis 6:1-4). The Rephaim
this confederacy (Genesis 14:4). (“strong ones”) and the Zamzummim (“powerful ones,”
14:3 Siddim. “Siddim” meant “cultivated fields,” and probably the same as the Zuzim) along with the Emim,
the vale of Siddim at this time was extremely fertile, all seem to have been of the sons of Anak, or the
supporting the five cities of the plain. The reference to Anakim, and all seem to have been giants (Deuterono-
“the salt sea” was probably a later editorial insertion by my 2:10,20; Joshua 15:13). In Numbers 13:33, these
Moses. At the time of Abram, what is now the Dead Sea Anakim are actually said to have been “giants” (Hebrew
37 GENESIS 14:6-14:22

and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in| 14:6 Abram rescues Lot
Num 10:12
Shaveh Kiriathaim, ne 14 And when Abram heard that his brother
6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto \\um13:26 | Was taken captive, he armed his trained sey-
Elparan, which is by the wilderness. Deut 1:19 | yants, born in his own house, three hundred
7 And they returned, and came to Enmish-| 7°20? eal eistcon and pursued taew unto Dan.
pat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the coun- ay ee 15 And he divided himself against them, he
try of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites Gen1362 and his servants, by night, and smote them,
that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar. 14:13 and pursued them unto Hobah, which i
8 And there went out the king of Sodom, | oat the left hand of pimaee idan Gren
and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of - Gen39:14 | 16 And he brought back all the goods, and
Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king | 14:14 | also brought again his brother Lot, and his
of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined bat- Sees goods, and the women also, and the people.
tle with them in the vale of Siddim; i 17 And the king of Sodom went out t t
9‘ With
t Chedorlaomer
( the king of Elam,a and 'é!°Gen 15:2 him after hi s return
rs from th slaughter
from the a ite ofof CheChe
with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king ee Bs /dorlaomer, and of the kings that were with
of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four i ‘him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the
kings with five. pees 4:12, | king’s dale.
10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slime) 14 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought
pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah | 14:17 forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of
fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled $<2'*° the most high God.
to the mountain. 18:18 _ 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be
1] And they took all the goods of Sodom | 14:18 /Abram of the most high God, possessor of
and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went | PScog, Heaven and earth:
their way. Heb 5:6,10 | 20 And blessed be the most high God, which
12 And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, > 7:1 hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.
who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and | | 14:19 And he gave him tithes of all.
departed. | ete _ 21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram,
13 And there came one that had escaped, 44.99 Give me the persons, and take the goods to
and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in| Ps 44:3 thyself.
the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of eer e 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I
Eschol, and brother of Aner: and these were 44.55 have lift up mine hand unto the Lorp, the
confederate with Abram. Gen 1:1 /most high God, the possessor of heaven and
earth,
nephilim, the same word as used in Genesis 6:4). Fur- 6:20; 7:1-21. “The Lord” is called by David “a priest for
thermore, the term rephaim is also used to refer to ever after the order of Melchizedek.” The writer of
some of the spirits of the wicked dead in Hades (Job Hebrews said Melchizedek was “without father, without
26:5; Proverbs 2:18; 9:18; 21:16; Isaiah 14:9; 26:14). All mother, without descent (“genealogy”), having neither
of this suggests another irruption of demonic spirits beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto
after the Flood, possibly at the rebellion at Babel, with the Son of God; abideth a priest continually” (Hebrews
giant progeny again being produced through demon- 7:3). The usual interpretation of these words is that he
possessed parents. Their descendants inhabited Canaan. was made into a type of Christ since as a “King of
14:6 Horites. The Horites are known to archaeolo- Righteousness” (meaning of Melchizedek) and “King of
gists as the Hurrians, a leading tribe of the ancient Mid- Peace” (meaning of Salem), he appears and leaves the
dle East. record suddenly, with no mention of either ancestry or
14:7 Amalekites. The Amalekites were descended death. It seems better to take the words literally, in
from Amalek, a grandson of Esau, and later inhabited a which case they could be applicable to Christ Himself,
region west of the Dead Sea. This note was evidently appearing here to Abram in a theophany. This would
inserted by Moses in his editing of Genesis. also solve the problem of how such a godly king and
14:7 Amorites. The Amorites were probably the dom- priest as Melchizedek could be ruling a city in such an
inant tribe in Canaan at this time. ungodly land as Canaan and, why, if he did, Abram
14:10 slime pits. These “slime pits” were so extensive would have had no other contact with him. The fact
that the Dead Sea was called the Asphalt Sea by early that he was “like unto the Son of God” (Hebrews 7:3)
writers. They probably represented accumulations of accords with one of Christ’s pre-incarnate appearances;
organic debris from the Flood, collecting in the unique at His human birth, he became the incarnate Son of
basins of the great Rift Valley which traverses the region. God forever. Melchizedek was also said to be a man
14:18 Melchizedek. The identity of Melchizedek is (Hebrews 7:4), but the same is true in the case of other
controversial, especially in view of the statements made theophanies, one of which was likewise manifested to
concerning him in Psalm 110:4, and in Hebrews 5:6,10; Abram (Genesis 18:2,22; 19:1-24).
GENESIS 14:23-15:16 38

23 That I will not take from a thread even to | Trae 5:06 6 And he believed in the Lorp; and he count-
a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any ~~ ~~ ——ed it to him for righteousness.
thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I beret 413. 7 And he said unto him, I am the Lorp that
have made Abram rich: ‘brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give
15:1
24 Save only that which the young men have Gen 21:17 _ thee this land to inherit it.
eaten, and the portion of the men which went | See _ 8 And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I
with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them Ps 3:3 oA that I shall inherit it?
take their portion. 15:4 9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer
| Galas ‘of three years old, and a she goat of three
CHAPTER 15 ee. Ene years old, and a ram of three years old, and a
God promises a son to Abram | ie turtledove, and a young pigeon. tb
fter these things the word of the LORD p.40¢-3;. +~—«:10 And he took unto him all these, and divid-
came unto Abram in a vision, saying, ®om4:3 ed them in the midst, and laid each piece one
Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy: eos against another: but the birds divided he not.
exceeding great reward. 15:7 11 And when the fowls came down upon the
2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou) Neh 9:7 | carcases, Abram drove them away.
give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward. eae _ 12 And when the sun was going down, a
of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? Mg 6a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast) tki:1-17 of great darkness fell upon him.
given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house 15:12 | 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a sure-
is mine heir. | heoree ms > |Y that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land
4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and
unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; eas. they shall afflict them four hundred years;
but he that shall come forth out of thine own | Acs 60. 14 And also that nation, whom they shall
bowels shall be thine see fopthl abrbed aka peas serve, will pees a afterward shall they
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and 6.5 come out with great substance.
said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the | | aang | 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace;
stars, if thou be able to number them: and he _ Ex 33:2 ‘thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
said unto him, So shall thy seed be. ' 16 But in the fourth generation they shall

15:1 word of the Lorpb. This is the first use of “word” (premised only on his faith), it would be very costly to God,
in Scripture and, significantly, personifies the “word of requiring the death of His incarnate Son. This was pic-
the Lord.” This verse also contains the first mentions of tured by the death of one of each of the five kinds of clean
“vision,” “fear not,” “shield,” “reward,” and “I am.” In animals acceptable for sacrificial purposes, with their
effect, God comforts Abram after a most traumatic expe- remains divided into two rows. This was customary proce-
rience, urging him not to fear the words of men, since dure at the time in establishing a solemn compact, with the
the word of the Lord assured him both full protection contracting parties sealing it by passing between the two
and abundant provision. rows. Here, however, only God passed through, since it
15:1 J am thy shield. Here is the first of the great “I was a uni-lateral, unconditional commitment on His part.
am’s” of Christ, and probably this incident was that to 15:12 a deep sleep. The whole procedure in this
which He referred when He said, “Abraham rejoiced to remarkable ritual was profoundly instructive to Abram.
see my day:” and saw it John 8:56), and then claimed The long delay foreshadowed a long period which must
“Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). In fact, “I am” elapse before God’s promise would be fulfilled, during
is the very name of the self-revealing God (Exodus 3:14). which the believer would have to guard against attacks
15:6 believed. This is the first mention of “belief” or of wicked men and evil spirits. The deep sleep could only
“faith” in the Bible, as well as the first mention of symbolize death—a substitutionary death by One whom
“counted” or “imputed.” In Noah’s case, “grace” preced- the sacrifices pictured, and in whose death Abram and
ed imputed righteousness (Genesis 6:9—“just” means all believers must share before the glory can follow.
“righteous”); in Abraham’s case, it was “faith.” Both are 15:13 four hundred years. This may be intended as
essential for righteousness that satisfies God (Ephesians a round number, the more precise value being 430
2:8-10); one stresses the divine side, the other the years (Exodus 12:40). See note on Exodus 12:41.
human. This verse is quoted three times in the New Tes- 15:16 fourth generation. It is not absolutely certain
tament (Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23); in each whether the 430 year term mentioned in the Abrahamic
case it is stressed that Abraham is a type of all who are covenant begins with the coming of Abraham into Canaan
saved, the principle always being that of salvation or the descent of the children of Israel into Egypt. The for-
through faith (which is by grace) unto righteousness. mer seems indicated by Galatians 3:16,17 in which case the
15:10 in the midst. God was to confirm the covenant to “sojourning” mentioned in Exodus 12:40 and the “afflic-
Abram in a most instructive manner. Though God’s tion” of Genesis 15:13 would apply to their total experi-
promise had been free and unconditional to Abram ence in both Canaan and Egypt. If this is the case, then the
 39 GENESIS 15:17-17:1

come hither again: for the iniquity of the iia ad maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth
ma Pasar Be eee RES é Bie i hee ae dealt hardly with her,
e to pass, that, when the sun | —23.31 she fled from her face.
went down, and it was dark, behold asmoking 46.49 _ 7 And the angel of the Lorp found her by a
eet ent a burning lamp that passed Num 24:21 fountain of water in the wilderness, by the
etween those pieces. 15:21 fountain in the way to Shur.

er ; ‘
:
irre
; see
| ets,
16:1
GA ta eiel ie Sais pail geet
camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? she

have I given this land, from the river of Egypt Gal 4:24, 25 said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
unto the great river, the river Euphrates: 16:2 9 And the angel of the Lorp said unto her,
19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the &21:4 Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself
Kadmonites, 16:3 under her hands.
20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and | ey 10 And the angel of the Lorp said unto her, I
aS enas ee Hiaak bse 31.53 Will sala poe exceedingly, that it shall
n 3 e ;Amorites, an e ; Canaanites, 16:7 not be numbered for multitude j
and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. | Gen 21:17 1] And the angel of the Lorp said unto her,
Gen 22:11 Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a
CHAPTER 16 36 Mey son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because
Hagar and Ishmael ‘ the Lorp hath heard thy affliction.
ow Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no chil- ee 21-12 12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will
dren: and she had an handmaid, an pores be against every man, and every man’s hand
meal igs zene eres ch eye |A ai ie he shall dwell in the presence
arai said unto Abram,
, Behold now >| 16:11 of all his brethren :
the Lorp hath restrained me from bearing: I) Gen 16:15 13 And she called the name of the Lorp that
pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that | Ex 3:7,8 _ snake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said,
may obtain children by her. And Abram hear- pair 49 Have Lalso here looked after him that seeth me?
kened to the voice of Sarai. Job 39:5-8 14 Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-
3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her 46.13 | roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten a aus | 15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and
years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to. = “~ Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar
her husband Abram to be his wife. Cen14:7_ bare, Ishmael.
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she con- 46.45 16 And Abram was fourscore and six years
ceived: and when she saw that she had con- Gen 21:9 old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
ceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. | 0°125:!2
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be | "Se, mn CHAPTER 17
upon thee: I have given my maid into thy we God changes Abram’s name
bosom; and when she saw that she had con-| Gen 48:3 Nes when Abram was ninety years old
ceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LorD Sete as and nine, the LorD appeared to Abram,
judge between me and thee. Mt 5:48 and said unto him, I am the Almighty God;
6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy | walk before me, and be thou perfect.

actual sojourn in Egypt would be only 215 years (the time (remember that Jacob himself had twelve) and the aver-
of Abram’s entry into Canaan to the birth of Isaac was 25 age life span still about 100 years, with parents living to
years; Isaac was 60 years old at Jacob’s birth; and Jacob see their great-grandchildren grow to maturity. In con-
was 130 years old when he and his children migrated to trast, consider the notes at Exodus 6:17 and 12:41.
Egypt, a total of 215 years—see Genesis 12:4; 21:5; 25:26; 15:18 covenant with Abram. Although this is the
47:9). The “fourth generation” consisted of men whose first time God’s promises to Abram are actually called
great-srandfathers had been among the seventy Israelites a covenant, its terms merely confirm and clarify the
who entered Egypt. Even if the children of Israel actually initial promise in Genesis 12:7. Its ultimate fulfillment
stayed 400 years in Egypt, the life span in those days was is yet future, although it received a precursive and
still around 100 or more (Moses died at 120), so it would token fulfillment under Solomon (I Kings 8:65) and
have easily been possible for people of the fourth genera- possibly Jeroboam II (II Kings 14:25).
tion still to be living at the time of the exodus. 16:7 angel of the Lorp. This is the first specific refer-
There is also the problem of whether 215 years could ence to angels in Scripture (though angels are called
have been enough time for the Israelite population to “sons of God” in Genesis 6:2). Here it is “the angel of
grow from about seventy to about two million. Although Jehovah” specifically identified (Genesis 16:13) as Jeho-
this seems unlikely, it would have been possible if the vah Himself. The term “the angel of the Lord,” therefore,
average family size had been about eight children often seems to refer to Christ Himself in a theophany.
GENESIS 17:2-17:24 40

2 And I will make my covenant between me 17:2 flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that
and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. eee | soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath
3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked. | Gen 35:11 | broken my covenant.
with him, saying, | 17:3 | God changes Sarai’s name

4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with ies 15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai
thee, and thou shalt be a father of many | Wee thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai,
nations. a 447 but Sarah shall her name be.
5 Neither shall thy name any more be called. 17:7 | 16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son
Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a. sae 45 also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall
father of many nations have I made thee. | Ps 105:8-11 be a mother of nations; kings of people shall
6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, | 17:9 | be of her.
and I will make nations of thee, and kings | Ex19:5 17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and
shall come out of thee. Bae laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be
7 And I will establish my covenant between |, born unto him that is an hundred years old?
me and thee and thy seed after thee in their | and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
generations for an everlasting covenant, to be i 148) _ 18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ish-
a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. peeks ‘mael might live before thee! ;
8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed ,,.,, del? And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee
after thee, the land wherein thou art a) Gen21:4 a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac:
stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an ever [f4/23 and I will establish my covenant with him for an
lasting possession; and I will be their God. | Phil 3:5 | | everlasting covenant, and with his ve nae or
9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt 17:13 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee:
keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy) &!244 | Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him
seed after thee in their generations. | Va fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly;
10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, | Lev 7:20 ‘twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make
between me and you and thy seed after thee; 47.16 him a great nation.
Every man child among you shall be circumcised. Gen18:10 | 21 But my covenant will I establish with
11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your | 17:17 Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this
foreskin; and it shall be a token of the, ©°"'®!> — set time in the next year.
covenant betwixt me and you. ee oa oe, | 22 And he left off talking with him, and God
12 And he that is eight days old shall be cir- Gen 26:35 | went up from Abraham.
cumcised among you, every man child in your | 17:20 ' 23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and
generations, he that is born in the house, or | an gre all that were born in his house, and all that
bought with money of any stranger, which is’ ; /were bought with his money, every male
not of thy seed. [12:22 tem among the men of Abraham’s house; and cir-
13 He that is born in thy house, and he that) Gen 35:13 “cumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the self-
s bought with thy money, must needs be cir- 17:23 same day, as God had said unto him.
ace and a, eee shall be in your | Gendt “Nagae And Abraham was ninety years old and
flesh for an everlasting covenant. | roa 5 pargy nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of
14 And the uncircumcised man child whose) Rom4:11 _ his foreskin.

17:2 my covenant. God used the term “covenant” | by which the human seed is preserved and transmit-
(Hebrew berith) no less than thirteen times in Genesis ted, especially the promised Seed in the line of Abra-
17. Although He gives instructions and commandments ham, is the token of God’s covenant with His chosen
here to Abram, they are not given as conditions of nation. It was not a sign to be seen of all men, as was
God’s covenant; His promises again were unconditional. the rainbow, but a sign to be seen only by a man’s
Three times (Genesis 17:7,13,19) God calls it an “ever- parents and his wife, reminding them of their faith
lasting” covenant, and He promised again the land to commitment to the God of Abraham, and His promise
Abram’s seed as an “everlasting” possession (Genesis to them.
17:8). His name was changed from Abram (“exalted 17:16 bless her. Sarah (with a new name meaning
father”) to Abraham (“father of a multitude”). Not only “princess”) was blessed first by a miracle (probably at
would he be the father of multitudes of physical descen- the time of Genesis 18:14) that rejuvenated her body,
dants (Jews, Arabs, etc.), but the spiritual father of all enabling her to have a son long after it seemed biologi-
them that believe in the true God. cally possible. As Isaac became a type of Christ, so she
17:11 token. As the rainbow encircling the whole became a type of Mary, and is considered to be a spiritu-
earth was a token of God’s covenant with all men al mother of believers as Abraham was their spiritual
(Genesis 9:17), so circumcision, encircling the channel father (I Peter 3:6; Hebrews 11:11,12).
Al GENESIS 17:25-18:20

25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years | 17:25 9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah
Gen 16:16
old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
18:1
his foreskin. 10 And he said, I will certainly return unto
Gen 12:7
26 In the selfsame day was Abraham circum- | Gen 13:18 thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah
| Gen 14:13
cised, and Ishmael his son. _ thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in
| 18:2
27 And all the men of his house, born in the | the tent door, which was behind him.
Gen 19:1-2
house, and bought with money of the stranger, Gen 23:7 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and
| Gen 33:3-7
were circumcised with him. well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with
Josh 5:13-15
Sarah after the manner of women.
18:3
CHAPTER 18 Gen 24:31 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself,
Three angel visitors 18:5 saying, After I am waxed old shall I have plea-
fas the LorpD appeared unto him in the Judg 6:18 sure, my lord being old also?
plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent | 18:7 13 And the Lorpb said unto Abraham, Where-
Judg 13:15
door in the heat of the day; fore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a sure-
18:8
2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, | Deut 32:14
ty bear a child, which am old?
three men stood by him: and when he saw 14 Is any thing too hard for the Lorp? At
18:10
them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, | Gen 22:15 the time appointed I will return unto thee,
| Judg 13:3
and bowed himself toward the ground, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall
Rom 9:9
3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found have a son.
18:11
favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, Gen 17:17 _ 15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not;
from thy servant: 18:12 for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, 1 Pet 3:6 didst laugh.
and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under 18:14 16 And the men rose up from thence, and
Gen 18:10
the tree: Jer 32:17, 27 looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went
5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and _ | with them to bring them on the way.
18:16 | Sodom and Gomorrah
comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass Gen 18:22
Gen 19:1 |

on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. _ 17 And the Lorp said, Shall I hide from
18:17
And they said, So do, as thou hast said. Abraham that thing which I do;
Gen 19:24
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become
18:18
Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three Gen 12:2, 3 a great and mighty nation, and all the nations
measures of fine meal, knead it, and make | Gal 3:18 _of the earth shall be blessed in him?
cakes upon the hearth. 18:19 19 For I know him, that he will command his
Neh 9:7
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and children and his household after him, and they
18:20
fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it Gen 13:13
| shall keep the way of the Lorp, to do justice
unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. Gen 19:13 and judgment; that the LorpD may bring upon
8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf | Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
which he had dressed, and set it before them; _ 20 And the Lorp said, Because the cry of
and he stood by them under the tree, and they | 'Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because
did eat. their sin is very grievous;

18:1 the Lorp appeared. This remarkable theophany in Isaiah 9:6. God gave Sarah the faith to believe He
is highly instructive. The Lord Jesus in pre-incarnate form could accomplish this wonderful miracle of rejuvenating
and two of His angels all appeared in the form of three her body, partly by letting her know He could hear her
men, even eating with Abraham. The writer of Hebrews laugh even when she only laughed “within herself”
refers to this event when he says that “some have enter- (Genesis 18:12).
tained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2). Later the two 18:19 command his children. This is the first specific
angels move on to communicate with Lot in Sodom (Gen- reference in the Bible to the teaching of children, indi-
esis 18:22) while the Lord remained to talk further with cating that such instruction is the primary responsibility
Abraham. Thus both the angels and God Himself can, of the father and should take the form of command-
when necessary, assume fully human bodies. Similarly, in ments, centering first on the ways of the Lord, then on
His resurrection body, Christ “did eat before them” (Luke justice and judgment to fellow-men.
24:43) and He said that, in the resurrection, all believers 18:20 very grievous. The iniquity of the Amorites
will be “as the angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:30). was not yet full (Genesis 15:16), but these cities of the
Our immortal bodies will be fully physical bodies, but like plain had reached God’s limit, especially in view of their
the angels, not subject to the gravitational and electro- reversion to gross wickedness after the marvelous deliv-
magnetic forces which govern our present bodies. erance God gave them through Abraham and after see-
18:14 hard. “Hard” is the same word as “wonderful,” ing and hearing the testimony of Melchizedek, and even
one of the terms used to describe the coming Messiah the witness of Lot.
GENESIS 18:21-19:9 42

21 I will go down now, and see whether they 18:21 é said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.
have done altogether according to the cry of it, —x3:8 33 And the Lorp went his way, as soon as he
which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. | ‘had left communing with Abraham: and Abra-
18:22
22 And the men turned their faces from. Gen18:16 ham returned unto his place.
thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham Sea |
stood yet before the Lorp. | Be CHAPTER 19
23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wil t App Lot flees Sodom
thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Deut 1:16 Age there came two angels to Sodom at
24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous eae | even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom:
within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not |, and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them;
spare the place for the fifty righteous that are {sa 65:8 and he bowed himself with his face toward
therein? Jers ‘the ground;
25 That be far from thee to do after this 18:27 _ 2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in,
manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: | oe [I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry
and that the righteous should be as the) [k18:1 all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise
wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the | 18:30 up early, and go on your ways. And they said,
Judge of all the earth do right? Ex 32:32 Nay: but we will abide in the street all night.
26 And the Lorp said, If I find in Sodom fifty '833,,,. 3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and
righteous within the city, then I will spare all) Deut 35:13 they turned in unto him, and entered into his
the place for their sakes. | 19:1 ‘house; and he made them a feast, and did bake
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold Ge" 18:2. unleavened bread, and they did eat.
now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the | ve “Be _ 4 But before they lay down, the men of the
Lord, which am but dust and ashes: Koes city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the
28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the 49.3 house round, both old and young, all the peo-
fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for Gen 186-8 —ple from every quarter:
lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty | 19:4 _ 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto
and five, I will not destroy it. | eal ies “him, Where are the men which came in to thee
29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Prov4:16 _—this night? bring them out unto us, that we
Peradventure there shall be forty found there. 19:5 /may know them.
And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake. ree ops _ 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them,
30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the: judg 19:22 _and shut the door after him,
Lord be angry, and I will speak: péradventare | 19:8 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so
there shall thirty be found there. And he said, 1 Deut 23:17 wickedly.
will not do it, if I find thirty there. 128s iy | 8 Behold now, I have two daughters which
xX

31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken pov 9.7.8 have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring
upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradven- ‘them out unto you, and do ye to them as is
ture there shall be twenty found there. And he | ‘good in your eyes: only unto these men do
said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake. ‘nothing; for therefore came they under the
32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be. shadow of my roof.
angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Per- | | 9 And they said, Stand back. And they said
adventure ten shall be found there. And he’ ‘again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and

18:23 destroy the righteous. This is the most remark- 19:4 all the people. The enormity of Sodom’s
able passage of intercessory prayer in the Bible, also wickedness is indicated by the eagerness with which
indicating how vitally important is the presence of even not a few degenerates, but all the men of the city
a tiny godly minority in an ungodly community. This desired to commit the crime of homosexual rape,
model intercessory prayer continually appeals both to probably leading to murder, on two unknown visitors
God’s righteous character and His lovingkindness as the to their city. Lot’s desire to protect them demon-
basis for making the request. Abraham thought he knew strates his basically godly character (II Peter 2:8) even
of ten righteous people in Sodom (Lot and his family of though his carnality had led him into this compromis-
two unmarried sons, two unmarried daughters, two mar- ing association.
ried daughters and their husbands), not realizing that 19:8 do ye to them. Lot’s willingness to sacrifice his
most of Lot’s family had been caught up in the city’s daughters (the fact that they still were virgins in such a
wickedness, and so stopped his intercession at ten. place indicates that he at least had some influence over
18:25 Judge of all the earth. God is still the judge of his family) is hard to understand, but it may well be that
all the earth, not only of the chosen nation, and Abra- by this time he knew or suspected the angelic identity
ham recognized this. of the guests.
43 GENESIS 19:10-19:26

he will needs be a judge: now will we deal pan one | 17 And it came to pass, when they had
worse with thee, than with them. And they | oe brought them forth abroad, that he said,
pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and peut2g:28 | Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, nei-
a ey i break the ae 2K one ther stay thou in all the plain; escape to the
ut the men put forth their hand, and. ; mountain, lest thou be consumed.
pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to Vl 58 18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my
the door. | 1Chr2115 Lord:
11 And they smote the men that were at the 97 19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace
door of the house with blindness, both small | Meigs, in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy
and great: so that they wearied themselves to Jer 5:11,12.| mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in
find the door. Jer 43:1-3° ‘saving my life; and I cannot escape to the
ee ere nites eee gee areata
5 ; w, this ci ;
and thy daughters, and whatsoeverthou hast oy d it is a littl : bovesieasaenher
: 1 sam 19:11| and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither,
in the city, bring them out of this place: | Jer 48:6 (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
13 For we will destroy this place, because a 21 And he said unto him, See, I have accept
gach them 2 Hot he Bake the face | s ee ed thee concerning this thing also, that | will
of the ; Lorp; and the Lorp hath sent us to | 19:22 not overthrow this city,, for the which thou
destroy it. | Gen 13:10 | hast spoken.
14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his '@'*° 22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do
sons in law, which married his daughters, and | Tine 59 any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore
said, Up, get you out of this place; for the! 2pet26 the name of the city was called Zoar.
Lorp will destroy this city. But he seemed as Jude? Lot’s wife becomes a pillar of salt
i i 19:25 i
one that mocked unto his sons in law. peaooes. | 23 The sun was risen upon the earth when
15 And when the morning arose, then the | 3 3-9 | Lot entered into Zoar.
angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, | ba aT 24 Then the LorD rained upon Sodom and
and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou >pet >-6 | upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the
be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 19:26 LorD out of heaven;
16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold | Lk 17:32 _ 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the
upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, | ‘plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and
and upon the hand of his two daughters; the. that which grew upon the ground.
LorD being merciful unto him: and they 26 But his wife looked back from behind
brought him forth, and set him without the city. | ‘him, and she became a pillar of salt.

19:11 blindness. This miracle, which apparently pro- area is still very active tectonically, lying astride the
duced a blindness of mental confusion in the mob, Great Rift Valley, extending all the way from the Jordan
rather than of actual physical sight, now clearly identi- River Valley into southern Africa. Unless the judgment
fied the two “men” as supernatural messengers of God, was entirely miraculous, in its physical nature as well as
but even so, Lot’s family hesitated, and his sons-in-law its timing, the most likely explanation seems to be the
refused to follow their urgent instructions. sudden release by an earthquake and volcanic explosion
19:22 escape thither. Lot had been instructed to go of great quantities of gas, sulfur and bituminous materi-
to the mountain (Genesis 19:17), but he prevailed upon als that had accumulated from materials trapped
the angels to let him live in Zoar. He soon became beneath the valley floor during the Flood. These were
unwelcome in Zoar, however, and went to the mountain ignited by a simultaneous electrical storm, so that it
after all (Genesis 19:30). It is always better to follow appeared to Abraham, watching from afar, that “the
God’s instructions directly. smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a fur-
19:24 brimstone and fire. The precise nature of the nace” (Genesis 19:28).
physical agents used by God in the destruction of the 19:26 pillar of salt. This remarkable happening is
five cities of the plain is uncertain. “Brimstone” is usual- stated matter-of-factly, with no suggestion that it was a
ly associated with sulfur, but the word may be used for special miracle or divine judgment. Lot’s wife “looked
any inflammable substance. The word “fire” is also used back” (the phrase might even be rendered “returned
here for the first time in the Bible and could be under- back” or “lagged back”) seeking to cling to her luxurious
stood either as a divine fire (Judges 6:21; I Kings 18:38) life in Sodom (note Christ’s reference to this in Luke
or as gases and other combustibles ignited in a volcanic 17:32,33), and was destroyed in the “overthrow” (Gene-
explosion falling to earth after their eruption. The entire sis 19:25,29) of the city. There are many great deposits
region gives abundant evidence of tremendous volcanic of rock salt in the region, probably formed by massive
activity in the past, although most of this probably ante- precipitation from thermal brines upwelling from the
dated Abraham, occurring in the later stages of the earth’s deep mantle during the great Flood. Possibly the
Flood and in the early decades following the Flood. The overthrow buried her in a shower of these salt deposits
GENESIS 19:27-20:5 44

27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning | ee 8 35 And they made their father drink wine
to the place where he stood before the LorD: am ‘that night also: and the micieee abe ae ay
28 And he looked toward Sodom and Geng. _ with him; and he perceived not when she lay
Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the. Deut 78 down, nor when she arose.
plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the | Spore | 36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with
country went up as the smoke of a furnace. | 19:30 child by their father.
29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed Gen13:10 | 37 And the firstborn bare a son, and called
the cities of the plain, that God remembered '*9%°'%4 —his name Moab: the same is the father of the
Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the | 2:3 ato Moabites unto this day. ,
overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the |... 38 And the younger, she also bare a son, an
which Lot dwelt. | Prov 2331-33 Called his name Benammi: the same is the
30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt 4@b2:15 father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
in the mountain, and his two daughters with 19:33
: : | Lev 18:6 CHAPTER 20
him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he prov201
dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. | 19:37 | Abraham tricks King Abimelech
31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, | Gen 36:35 nd Abraham journeyed from thence toward
Our father is old, and there is not a man in the. | Piiege. | the south country, and dwelled between
earth to come in unto us after the manner of Ruth 1:1 'Kadesh and Shur, and so-journed in Gerar.
all the earth: | 19:38 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is
32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, P&t:!9 | my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent,
and we will lie with him, that we may preserve | 22:1
Gen 13:1 and took Sarah. , :
seed of our father. Gener 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by
33 And they made their father drink wine | 20:2 night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a
that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay a yous dead man, for the woman which thou hast
with her father; and he perceived not when) ~~~” taken; for she is a man’s wife.
she lay down, nor when it arose. | 703 24 4 But Abimelech had not come near her:
34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that) Gen 37:5 and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a right
the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I Gen 20:4 _eous nation?
lay yesternight with my father: let us make 0°" '®:23 5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and
him drink wine this night also; and go thou | ae iS53 ‘she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in
in, and lie with him, that we may preserve ps 26:6 ‘the integrity of my heart and innocency of my
seed of our Father. ' hands have I done this.

blown skyward by the explosions. There is also the possi- up to this time (Genesis 19:8), even in a licentious city
bility that she was buried in a shower of volcanic ash, like Sodom and were not motivated by physical lust, but
with her body gradually being converted into “salt” over by their concern that their family not be left without
the years following through the process of petrifaction, descendants. They should have merely trusted God con-
in a manner similar to that experienced by the inhabi- cerning this need, however. The people descended from
tants of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the famous erup- them, the Moabites and Ammonites, were perpetual ene-
tion of Mount Vesuvius. mies of the Israelites.
19:30 dwelt in a cave. There have been “cave- 20:1 Gerar. Gerar was capital of the Philistine colony
dwellers” all through history, not primitive ape-men, but on the seacoast. The Philistines were descendants of
true cultured humans forced by circumstances into such Ham through Mizraim, and apparently were originally
habitations. This home was quite a comedown for a fam- from Crete. Some centuries later, they all migrated to
ily accustomed to material luxuries. The caves of the Canaan and became a strong coastal nation, inveterate
Dead Sea region have been inhabited by many people enemies of Israel. The name Palestine came from them.
over the centuries. In fact, the famous Dead Sea Scrolls The title of their kings at this time was Abimelech, simi-
were found in such caves, left by communities of the lar to Pharaoh in Egypt.
Essene sect (Job 30:3-6). 20:2 my sister. How Abraham and Sarah could have
19:36 child by their father. This case of incest is not entered into the same type of deception for which they
specifically condemned in Scripture, presumably had long before been rebuked in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-
because the Mosaic laws against incest had not yet been 20) is hard to understand, but apparently the situation
given. Lot’s daughters knew, for example, that their took them by surprise and they got trapped into the
great uncle, Nahor, had married his niece, their own same old subterfuge before they realized it.
Aunt Milcah (Genesis 11:27-29), and that Abraham’s 20:2 Abimelech. Abimelech was evidently a title, like
wife Sarah was his half-sister (Genesis 20:12). Neverthe- Pharaoh in Egypt. Gerar was a prosperous Philistine
less, their particular act was unnatural, to say the least, settlement along the coast near the Egyptian border,
and they knew their father would not consent to it if he and Abraham must have journeyed there for business
were sober. To their credit, they had remained virgins purposes.
45 GENESIS 20:6-21:7

6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I | po hie 15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is
know that thou didst this in the integrity of Gen 31:7. before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning Ps 84:11 | 16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have
against me: therefore suffered I thee not to 20a | given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver:
touch her. 1sam7:s behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes,
7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for Job 42:8 unto all that are with thee, and with all other:
he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and 20:9 | thus she was reproved.
thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, Gen 1218 17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God

know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, galee 12 _ healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-
and ail that are thine. Gen 22:12 | servants; and they bare children.
8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the Gen 42:18 18 For the Lorp had fast closed up all the
morning, and called all his servants, and told Ae 1131 Wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of
‘ Sarah Abraham’s wife.
all these things in their ears: and the men were
20:14
sore afraid. Gen 12:1,16
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said a0Ne CHAPTER 21
unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and Gen 47:6 Isaac is born
what have I offended thee, that thou hast 20:16 7 Ape the Lorp visited Sarah as he had
brought on me and on my kingdom a great Sie Sie said, and the Lorp did unto Sarah as he
sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought Re 1213. had spoken.
not to be done. Num 21:7 2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a
10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What 20:18 son in his old age, at the set time of which God
sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? Gen 12:17 had spoken to him.
11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, oe jae _ 3 And Abraham called the name of his son
Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and Gen 50.24 that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to
they will slay me for my wife’s sake. ne him, Isaac.
12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the Gal 4:22,28 | 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac
daughter of my father, but not the daughter of
Heb 11:11 being eight days old, as God had commanded
my mother; and she became my wife. 21:3 hin:
13 And it came to pass, when God caused me Gane Walak 5 And Abraham was an hundred years old,
21:4 ‘ .

to wander from my father’s house, that I said ‘Acts7:8 when his son Isaac was born unto him.
unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt 21:5 6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to
shew unto me; at every place whither we shall Rom 4:19 laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with
come, say of me, He is my brother. 21:6 me.

14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and eet lett 7 And she said, Who would have said unto
menservants, and womenservants, and gave . on Abraham, that Sarah should have given chil-
them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah | Lk 1:37 dren suck? for I have born him a son in his
his wife. | old age.

20:7 a prophet. This is the first use of the word 21:1 as he has said. Despite their age—Abraham was
“prophet” or “prophecy” in Scripture. As the context 100 and Sarah was 90 (Genesis 17:17)—God miraculous-
indicates, its meaning is not primarily that of foretelling ly fulfilled His promise made 25 years earlier (Genesis
the future, but of being God’s spokesman, conveying 12:4,7) to give them a son. Furthermore, the promise
His words by divine inspiration to man (compare II was fulfilled at the “time appointed” He had promised
Peter 1:19-21). God exacts strong punishment on any (Genesis 18:14).
who harm His prophets (Psalm 105:15). 21:4 eight days old. The act of circumcision was not
20:11 will slay me. The fact that Abimelech did not only the sign of the Abrahamic covenant (see note on
deny Abraham’s expressed charge indicates that his Genesis 17:11) but was also a significant contribution to
fears may well have been justified. the health of both husband and wife, as modern medical
20:12 my sister. Sarah was Abraham’s half-sister. In knowledge confirms. It is also well established that as
the early centuries after the Dispersion, close marriages far as the health of the infant is concerned, the eighth
were often necessary in very small tribal populations. day is the optimum time for performing the operation.
This may have been especially desirable in godly fami- 21:7 his old age. When God heals miraculously, he
lies in order to preserve faithfulness to God’s revelation does it instantly and completely. Sarah’s body was so
and His purposes. As noted before, this situation was rejuvenated that although she was 90 years old, she was
not harmful genetically until mutations had accumulat- able both to bear a child and to nurse him. Abraham was
ed in the nation’s genetic pool. By the time of Moses, so “young” again that even at 100 years of age, he could
this had apparently become a problem, and laws against father six more sons of Keturah many years later, after
incest were established. Sarah’s death.
GENESIS 21:8-21:32 46

Hagar and Ishmael cast out | 21 8 well of water; and she went, and filled the bot-
1 Sam 1:22
8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and | tle with water, and gave the lad drink.
7A)
Abraham made a great feast the same day that 20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and
Gal 4:29
Isaac was weaned. dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21:10
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the | Gal 4:30 21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran:
Egyptian, which she had born unto Abra- | 21:12 and his mother took him a wife out of the land
Rom 9:7
ham, mocking. of Egypt.
Heb 11:18
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast Abraham and Abimelech become friends
21:13
out this bondwoman and her son: for the son Gen 21:18 22 And it came to pass at that time, that
of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my 21:14
Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his
son, even with Isaac. Gen 16:7,10 host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abra 21:16 thee in all that thou doest:
Jer 6:26
ham’s sight because of his son. 23 Now therefore swear unto me here by
21:17
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me,
EX@e7/,
grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and Deut 26:7 ‘nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but
Ps 6:8 according to the kindness that I have done
because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah
hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; 21:18 unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the
Gen 16:1-12 |
for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. Gen 25:12 land wherein thou hast sojourned.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman 21:19
24 And Abraham said, I will swear.
will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. Isa 48:15 25 And Abraham reproved Abimeiech because
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morn- | 21:20 of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants
Gen 28:15
ing, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and | had violently taken away.
212i
gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, 26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath
Gen 14:6,22
and the child, and sent her away: and she done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, nei-
21:22
departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Gen 26:26 ther yet heard I of it, but to day.
Beer-sheba. | 21:23 27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and
15 And the water was spent in the bottle, Gen 24:2 gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them
and she cast the child under one of the chrte: 21:25 made a covenant.
Gen 13:7
16 And she went, and sat her down over 28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the
21:27
against him a good way off, as it were a bow- Prov 18:16
flock by themselves.
shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of Prov 21:14 29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What
the child. And she sat over against him, and 21:30 mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast
Gen 31:44
lift up her voice, and wept. set by themselves?
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and 21:31 30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs
Josh 15:28
the angel of God called Hagar out of heaven, | shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a
and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? | witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the | 31 Wherefore he called that place Beer-
lad where he is. _sheba; because there they sware both of them.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in 32 Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba:
thine hand; for I will make him a ett then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief
nation. captain of his host, and they returned into the
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw al ‘land of the Philistines.

21:14 bottle of water. This provision, considering his 21:31 Beer-sheba. “Beer-sheba” means both “well of
sincere concern for Hagar and Ishmael, can best be the oath” and “well of the seven.” Even though it was
understood as a sure confidence that God, who had on land claimed by the Philistines, it was commonly
instructed him to send them away, would care for them. understood at the time that the man who dug a well
Hagar also needed to learn this. was its owner.
21:17 the lad. Ishmael, who was now about sixteen years 21:33 everlasting God. This is the first time this
old, and his mother were praying. He perhaps had given particular name of God is used (“Jehovah, El Olam,”
her his own bread and water to sustain her in the desert. meaning “Jehovah is the eternal God”). Abraham real-
21:17 angel of God. The “angel of God [Elohim]” had ized that though he had made a covenant with a tem-
before been called the “angel of the Lord [Jehovah]” poral king, he was really the recipient of the covenant
(Genesis 16:7). Previously, Hagar was under the Abra- promises of an eternal king. He had granted Abim-
hamic covenant while still in Abraham’s household. Now elech tentative possession of a portion of the
she was on her own and the divine being is identified by promised land, but Jehovah’s covenant promised his
His majestic name instead of His redemptive name. own seed its eternal possession.
47 GENESIS 21:33-22:12

33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beer- 21:33 Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will
1 Sam 22:6
sheba, and called there on the name of the 1 Sam 31:13 | | go yonder and worship, and come again to you,
Lorpb, the everlasting God. Ps 90:2 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt
Isa 9:6
34 And Abraham sojourned in the Phil Isa 40:28 offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he
istines’ land many days. 22:1 took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they
| Deut 8:2 ‘went both of them together.
Prov 17:3
CHAPTER 22 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father,
| 22:2
God tests Abraham _and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my
| 2 Kgs 3:27
nd it came to pass after these things, that | Jn 3:16 son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood:
God did tempt Abraham, and said unto 22:3 but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Mt 10:37
him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will pro-
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only 2227,
| Gen 8:20
vide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so
son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into Ex 29:38 they went both of them together.
the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a. Jn 1:29 9 And they came to the place which God
Rev 13:7
burnt offering upon one of the mountains | | 22:8
had told him of; and Abraham built an altar
which I will tell thee of. | Gen 18:14 there, and laid the wood in order, and bound
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morn- Mt 19:26 Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon
| Pet 1:19
ing, and saddled his ass, and took two of his Rev 5:6 the wood.
young men with him, and Isaac his son, and 22:9 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand,
clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose Heb 11:17 and took the knife to slay his son.
| Jas 2:21
up, and went unto the place of which God had 11 And the angel of the LorpD called unto
22:11
told him.
Gen 16:7
-him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abra-
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up EXe:2 ham: and he said, Here am I.
| 22:12
his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon
| Heb 11:17
5 And Abraham said unto his young men, ‘the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him:

21:34 many days. As far as the record goes, Abra- he would so understand it, but to offer him (compare
ham had never returned from “sojourning” (Genesis Romans 12:1).
21:23) in the land of the Philistines since the time he 22:3 young men. The Hebrew word for “young men”
and Sarah had moved there before Isaac was born (Gen- is the same as “lad,” referring to Isaac, in Genesis
esis 20:1) and Abimelech granted him freedom to dwell 22:5,12. Thus Isaac was not a little boy at this time and
anywhere in his land (Genesis 20:15). was undoubtedly acquainted with the Canaanite prac-
22:1 God did tempt. This is the first occurrence of tice of sacrificing their firstborn sons to their gods. He
the word tempt (Hebrew nacah). It does not mean could surely have escaped from his aged father, but he
“tempt to do evil” (James 1:13), but is usually translated was willing to obey God’s command.
“prove.” Although God knew what Abraham would do, 22:4 the place. Moriah was about thirty miles away
it must be “proved” to all (including even Abraham him- and was the place where David would later plan the
self) that he loved God more than anyone else and that Temple (II Chronicles 3:1), and where Christ Himself
his faith in God’s Word was absolute. Such action would one day be offered as the Lamb of God.
would demonstrate the validity of God’s selection of him 22:4 third day. The “third day” speaks also of the
as father of the chosen nation. period of Christ’s burial.
22:2 whom thou lovest. It is providentially significant 22:5 worship. The word for “worship” (Hebrew
that this is the first occurrence of the word “love” in the shachah) means simply “bow down”—that is, submit to
Bible, referring here to the love of a father for his son. God’s will. This is what Christ did, perfectly, on the
The New Testament makes it clear that this story of cross.
Abraham and Isaac is not only true history but is also a 22:5 come again. Note Abraham’s great faith. At a
type of the heavenly Father and His only begotten Son, time when no one had ever come back from the dead,
depicting the coming sacrifice on Mount Calvary. In a Abraham so strongly believed that God would keep His
beautiful design (no doubt Spirit-inspired), it is appro- word concerning Isaac that he believed God would raise
priate that the first use of “love” in each of the three him from the dead after he had obeyed God in slaying
synoptic Gospels (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22) him (Hebrews 11:17-19).
shows the Father calling out from heaven, “this is my 22:8 a lamb. Though Abraham was fully prepared to
beloved Son,” at the baptism of Jesus (which, of course, slay Isaac, he evidently comprehended the ultimate
also speaks of death and resurrection). In the Gospel of meaning of the divinely-ordained principle of substitu-
John, on the other hand, where the word “love” occurs tionary sacrifice, practiced ever since God shed the
more than in any other book of the Bible, its first occur- blood of the first sacrificial lamb to provide a covering
rence is at John 3:16: “God so loved the world” that He, for Adam and Eve. He knew that one day the “Lamb of
like Abraham, was willing to sacrifice His beloved Son. God” must be offered by God to “taketh away the sin of
22:2 offer him there. Note that God did not actually the world” (John 1:29) and thus to make possible the
tell Abraham to slay his son, though it was natural that fulfillment of all His eternal promises.
GENESIS 22:13-23:16 48

for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham
22:13
Gen 8:20
thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son aa came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
from me. | Gen 22:11 _ 3 And Abraham stood up from before his
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and 99.46 dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,
looked, and behold behind him a ram caught Gen 49:13 _ Alama stranger and a sojourner with you:
in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went eee ‘give me a possession of a buryingplace with
and took the ram, and offered him up for a’ ,,.,, you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
burnt offering in the stead of his son. | Gen12:12 5 And the children of Heth answered Abra-
14 And Abraham called the name ham, saying unto him,
of that e126
place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In| Gen 17:5 6 Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince
the mount of the Lorp it shall be seen. 22:18 among us: in the choice of our sepulchres
15 And the angel of the Lorp called unto ae Mees bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from
Abraham out of heaven the second time, Gal 3:8, 16 thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith | 22:19 | thy dead.
the Lorp, for because thou hast done this Gen 21:31 7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself
thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine 22:20 ‘to the people of the land, even to the children
Gen 11:29
only son: | Gen 31:53 ‘of Heth.
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in oe | 8 And he communed with them, saying, If it
multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars Gen 24:15 be your mind that I should bury my dead out
of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon 23:2 of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to
the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the. Pa roe Ephron the son of Zohar,
gate of his enemies; Josh 21:11 _ 9 That he may give me the cave of Mach-
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of 3.3 -pelah, which he hath, which is in the end of
the earth be blessed; because thou hast, Gen 10:15 his field; for as much money as it is worth he
obeyed my voice. | 23:4 , shall give it me for a possession of a burying-
19 So Abraham returned unto his young | ree place amongst you.
men, and they rose up and went together to Ps 39:12 _ 10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of
Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba. —ia 2
Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham
, | 23:6
Nahor’s genealogy ; I Gen 13:2 in the audience of the children of Heth, even of
20 And it came to pass after these things, Gen 21:22 all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,
that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Mil 23:7 | 11 Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I
cah, she hath also born children unto ia Saen 19:1 ‘thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee;
brother Nahor; 09, in the presence of the sons of my people give I
21 Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, on 25:9 it thee: bury thy dead.
and Kemuel the father of Aram, 12 And Abraham bowed down himself before
22 And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, ee “Ruth 4:11 the people of the land.
Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23:13 13 And he spake unto Ephron in the audi-
23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these ng Sane ae “ence of the people of the land, saying, But if
Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24:24 ‘thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will
24 And his concubine, whose name was | 23:15 give thee money for the field; take it of me,
Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and ™30:13 | ‘and I will bury my dead there.
Thahash, and Maachah. 23:16 14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying
| Ezra 8:25
|, Jer 32:9 unto him,
CHAPTER 23 | 15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth
Sarah dies ‘four hundred shekels of silver; what is that
nd Sarah was an hundred and seven and | betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
twenty years old: these were the years of | _ 16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron;
the life of Sarah. | ‘and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver,
2 And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is | ‘which he had named in the audience of the

22:17 as the sand. Here the number of stars (of which used the word “seed” in the singular, instead of “seeds”
only about 3000 can be seen with the naked eye) is com- in the plural. Paul claims this verse is a prophecy of the
pared to the number of sand grains. Both can now be coming of Christ (Galatians 3:16) instead of a prophecy
calculated as of the order of 1025, a remarkable anticipa- of all the children of Abraham. This argument is predi-
tion of modern science. cated on the truth of verbal inspiration, which even
22:17 thy seed. In Genesis 22:17,18, three times God makes a fine distinction between singular and plural.
49 GENESIS 23:17-24:10

sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, me that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of
current money with the merchant. soe ab the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom
17 And the field of Ephron, which was in) Cer50:13 | | dwell:
Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, 24:1 4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to
and the cave which was therein, and all the | eer my kindred, and take a wife unto my son
trees that were in the field, that were in all the Gen 24:35 | Isaac.
borders round about, were made sure 24:2 5 And the servant said unto him, Peradven-
18 Unto Abraham for a possession in the) ©°"47? | ture the woman will not be willing to follow
presence of the children of Heth, before all 3h 31.23. | Me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son
that went in at the gate of his city. Gen 26:34 | again unto the land from whence thou camest?
19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his) [28:1 6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou
wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah | 244 that thou bring not my son thither again.
before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land MAE, 7 The Lorp God of heaven, which took me
of Canaan. 245. 24:53 | from my father’s house, and from the land of
20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, 24:7 my kindred, and which spake unto me, and
were made sure unto Abraham for a posses-| Gen12:7_ | that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will
sion of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth. a tae I give this land; he shall send his angel before
Gen 22:11__| thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son
CHAPTER 24 Ex 23:20, 23 | from thence.
Abraham sends for a bride for Isaac 7610 29 8 And if the woman will not be willing to fol
fale Abraham was old, and well stricken) Gen 22:20 | low thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my
in age: and the Lorp had blessed Abra-| P&t?3:4 | oath: only bring not my son thither again.
ham in all things. 9 And the servant put his hand under the
2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him
of his house, that ruled over all that he had, concerning that matter.
Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 10 And the servant took ten camels of the
3 And I will make thee swear by the Lorp, camels of his master, and departed; for all the
the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, soods of his master were in his hand: and he

23:17 Machpelah. There is a seeming discrepancy cave, was a Hittite (Genesis 23:10), and the Hittites
between this passage and the statement of Stephen (known on the monuments as Hatti) were “sons of
(Acts 7:16) that Abraham’s purchased sepulcher was in Heth,” who was a son of Canaan (Genesis 10:15). The
Shechem. A possible explanation is that he bought the great Hittite empire was centered in what is now
latter for his later family born of Keturah (Genesis 23:1; Turkey, but had colonies in various places. This
25:1). These children then eventually lost it to the covenant between Abraham and Ephron contains a
Hivites, from whom Jacob repurchased it for an altar number of words and concepts now known to be typi-
eighty-five years after Abraham’s death (Genesis 33:20). cal of Hittite documents.
It later was given to Joseph, and he and probably his 24:4 my country. Abraham had learned the hard way
brothers were eventually buried in it (Joshua 24:32; that the heir of the promises should not leave the
Acts 7:15,16). promised land. Nevertheless, a suitable wife through
23:19 Sarah his wife. Sarah is the only woman in whom the promised seed could be born and trained
the Bible whose age at death is given (Genesis 23:1). could not be found among the people then in the land.
Isaac was thirty-seven when she died. As Abraham is Consequently, the father must send a trusted servant to
called the father of all believers, so Sarah is considered find a suitable bride for his son, far away and among a
mother of all believing women (I Peter 3:5,6), and she small remnant who still served the true God. A typologi-
died in faith (Hebrews 11:13). cal parallel with the heavenly Father sending the Holy
23:20 a possession. Although God had promised Spirit to claim a bride for His Son seems well warranted
Abraham a vast nation, the only land he ever owned in this case (note John 14:26; 16:13,14; II Corinthians
in Canaan was this burial ground. Later he, as well 11:2; Acts 15:14; etc.).
as Isaac, Jacob, Leah and Rebekah, would also be 24:7 his angel. Angels perform many services on
buried here (Genesis 25:9; 35:27,29; 49:30,31; 50:13). behalf of God’s people (Hebrews 1:14). This passage
Today there is a Muslim mosque over the alleged site indicates one such service is guiding the steps of the
of this cave. believer and preparing the way before him in answer to
23:20 sons of Heth. This entire transaction has prayer.
been illuminated by archaeology, and there is little 24:9 under the thigh. This is a euphemistic reference
doubt that it reflects accurately the customs of that to the genital organ, in symbolic reference (like that of
period (around 1900 B.C.), especially among the Hit circumcision) to the vital importance of maintaining the
tites, an early colony of which had settled in Canaan purity and integrity of the seed in whom God’s purposes
by then. Ephron, from whom Abraham purchased the were to be accomplished.
GENESIS 24:11-24:35 50
5 ity | 24:11 half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her
Soe hab went to Mesopotamia, unto the city pes
of Nahor. hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
11 And he made his camels to kneel down | Pecan 23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell
without the city by a well of water at the time 48 me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s
of the evening, even the time that women go 24:14 ts house for us to lodge in?
out to draw water. veges ~ 24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter
The test for the bride 10 of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare
12 And he said, O Lorp God of my master POV 1234 /unto Nahor.
Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed Ex 4:1-9 _ 25 She said moreover unto him, We have
this day, and shew kindness unto my master 24:15 both straw and provender enough, and room
Abraham. | ae ‘to lodge in.
13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; Gen 25:20 26 And the man bowed down his head, and
and the daughters of the men of the city come | 24:16 ‘worshipped the Lorn.
out to draw water: aa ae 27 And he said, Blessed be the Lorp God of
14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to Gen 29:17 ‘my master Abraham, who hath not left desti-
whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray 24-17 tute my master of his mercy and his truth: I
thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, 1 Kgs 17:10 being in the way, the Lorp led me to the
and I will give thy camels drink also: let the. yn house of my master’s brethren.
same be she that thou hast appointed for thy ante a _ 28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her
servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that 45, 46 'mother’s house these things.
thou hast shewed kindness unto my master. | 24:21 29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his
15 And it came to pass, before he had done 454718 ‘name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the
speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, ied man, unto the well.
who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the Gen 24:47 30 And it came to pass, when he saw the ear-
wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her 4.24 ring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and
pitcher upon her shoulder. | Gen 24:15 when he heard the words of Rebekah his sis-
16 And the damsel was very fair to look 24:26 ter, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that
upon, a virgin, neither had any man known ee! he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood
her: and she went down to the well, and filled Mean Lee by the camels at the well.
her pitcher, and came up. | Gen 24:12, 31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and * ‘the Lorp; wherefore standest thou without?
said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of “cen 29:12 for I have prepared the house, and room for
thy pitcher. Pee ‘the camels.
18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she Gen 24:50 32 And the man came into the house: and
hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her Gen 25:20 he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and
Gen 29:5
hand, and gave him drink. provender for the camels, and water to
19 And when she had done giving him drink, So ee ‘wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were
she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, 47 with him.
until they have done drinking. 24:31 33 And there was set meat before him to eat:
20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher. aa bs ‘but he said, I will not eat, until I have told
into the trough, and ran again unto the well to Oia mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
draw water, and drew for all his camels. | Gen 24:2 _ 34 And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.
21 And the man wondering at her held his 24.35 35 And the Lorp hath blessed my master
peace, to wit whether the Lorp had made his. an ve | greatly; and he is become great: and he hath
journey prosperous or not. given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and
22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done} gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and
drinking, that the man took a golden earring of camels, and asses.

24:12 I pray thee. This prayer is a model prayer bound to be rare under the circumstances. Although
for determining God’s leading. It involved requesting not mentioned specifically, his prayers presupposed
a specific evidence which would be, in itself, beauti- that she would be a godly virgin and from Abraham’s
fully consistent with the purpose of the guidance people.
being sought (a suitable young woman who was both 24:22 golden earring. Large golden earrings and
strong enough and considerate enough to volunteer intricate golden necklaces and bracelets dating well
to provide water for ten thirsty camels) and yet before Abraham’s time have been found at Ur. Ancient
would require a combination of characteristics craftsmen were highly skilled artisans.
51 GENESIS 24:36-24:66

36 And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to 24:36 said, The thing proceedeth from the Lorp: we
Gen 21:1-7
my master when she was old: and unto him Gen 25:5 cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
hath he given all that he hath. 24:37 51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her,
37 And my master made me swear, saying, | Gen 24:3 and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife,
Gen 28:1
Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the as the Lorp hath spoken.
24:40
daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I 52 And it came to pass, that, when Abra-
Gen 24:7
dwell: ham’s servant heard their words, he wor-
24:45
38 But thou shalt go unto my father’s 1 Sam 1:13 shipped the Lorp, bowing himself to the
house, and to my kindred, and take a wife 24-47 earth.
unto my son. Gen 24:23, 53 And the servant brought forth jewels
24
39 And I said unto my master, Peradventure of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment,
24:49
the woman will not follow me. Gen 32:10 and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to
40 And he said unto me, The Lorp, before Gen 47:29 her brother and to her mother precious
whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, 24:50 things.
Ps 118:23
and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a Mt 21:42
54 And they did eat and drink, he and the
wife for my son of my kindred, and of my men that were with him, and tarried all night;
24:51
father’s house: Gen 20:15 and they rose up in the morning, and he said,
41 Then shalt thou be clear from this my 24:52 Send me away unto my master.
oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if | Gen 24:26 55 And her brother and her mother said, Let
they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear 24:54 the damsel abide with us a few days, at the
Gen 28:6
from my oath. Gen 30:25 least ten; after that she shall go.
42 And I came this day unto the well, and 24:55 56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not,
said, O LorD God of my master Abraham, if Judg 19:4 seeing the Lorp hath prospered my way; send
now thou do prosper my way which I go; 24:58 me away that I may go to my master.
Ps 45:10
43 Behold, I stand by the well of water; and 57 And they said, We will call the damsel,
24:59
it shall come to pass, that when the virgin and inquire at her mouth.
Gen 35:8
cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, 58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto
Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitch- “Gsy
Gen 17:16 her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said,
er to drink; Gen 22:17 I will go.
Dan 7:10
44 And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I 59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister,
24:62
will also draw for thy camels: let the same be | Gen 16:14
and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and
the woman whom the Lorp hath appointed | Gen 25:11 his men.
out for my master’s son. 24:63 | 60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto
P5aniiO: ts)
45 And before I had done speaking in mine 27, 47, 48
her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of
heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess
24:66
pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down Mk 6:30 | the gate of those which hate them.
unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto Rebekah meets Isaac
her, Let me drink, I pray thee. 61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and
46 And she made haste, and let down her ‘they rode upon the camels, and followed the
pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went
and I will give thy camels drink also: so I his way.
drank, and she made the camels drink also. 62 And Isaac came from the way of the well
47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daugh- Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.
ter art thou? And she said, The daughter of 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the
Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto field at the eventide: and he lifted up his
him: and | put the earring upon her face, and eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were
the bracelets upon her hands. coming.
48 And I bowed down my head, and wor- 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and
shipped the Lorp, and blessed the Lorp God when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the
of my master Abraham, which had led me in camel.
the right way to take my master’s brother’s 65 For she had said unto the servant, What
daughter unto his son. man is this that walketh in the field to meet
49 And now if ye will deal kindly and truly us? And the servant had said, It is my master:
with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
I may turn to the right hand, or to the left. 66 And the servant told Isaac all things that
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and he had done.
GENESIS 24:67-25:17 52

67 And Isaac brought her into his mother | eee) 3 ‘in a good old age, an old man, and full of
Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she Gen 25:20 years; and was gathered to his people.
became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac en 29:18 9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him
was comforted after his mother’s death. | 25:1 ‘in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of
1'Chr1:32° Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is
CHAPTER 25 | 25:5 before Mamre;
| Gen 24:36
Abraham dies 10 The field which Abraham purchased of
| 25:7
hen again Abraham took a wife, and her! Gen 12:4 the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried,
name was Keturah. | 25:8 and Sarah his wife.
2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and ea ere. 11 And it came to pass after the death of
Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. | Gen 49:29, ‘Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and
3 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And 33 Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.
the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and 25:9 Ishmael’s genealogy
| Gen 23:17
Letushim, and Leummim. Gen 49:29 12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael,
4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, Gen 50:13 Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian,
and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All 25:11 Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
these were the children of Keturah. an cee 13 And these are the names of the sons of
5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. 5.45 Ishmael, by their names, according to their
6 But unto the sons of the concubines, Gen1615 generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Neba-
which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, Ve heas joth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
and sent them away from Isaac his son, 553 | 14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east Gen 17:20 15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur; Naphish, and
country. 25:17 Kedemah:
7 And these are the days of the years of Gen 25:8 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these
Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred | are their names, by their towns, and by their cas-
threescore and fifteen years. tles; twelve princes according to their nations.
8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died | 17 And these are the years of the life of

24:67 he loved her. Although the New Testament ward” (Genesis 25:6) with adequate gifts to begin their
does not specifically say that Isaac and Rebekah consti- own tribes, and this would correspond to Arabia.
tute a “type” of Christ and His Church, the numerous 25:8 good old age. Abraham died at 175 years of age
parallels are more than coincidental, and do follow natu- (Genesis 25:7), which by this time was considered a very
rally from the clear identification of Isaac himself as a great age, even though his father Terah had lived to
type of Christ (Galatians 3:16; Hebrews 11:17-19). In the 205. Human longevity had greatly declined since the
symbolic parallel, the servant dispatched by Abraham to Flood but was still significantly greater than in the mod-
seek a bride for his son becomes the Holy Spirit, sent ern world.
by the Heavenly Father to find and bring the heavenly 25:8 to his people. Since none of his people had been
Bride, the Church, to His Son (John 14:26; 16:13,14; buried in this location, this phrase clearly indicates the
Acts 15:14). After she accepts the invitation, the Spirit, belief that “his people” were still alive somewhere. In
like Abraham’s servant, guides the Bride through the fact, this place of departed spirits was later called “Abra-
wilderness to join the Bridegroom when he comes out ham’s bosom” (Luke 16:22).
to meet her at the end of the journey. There are numer- 25:9 Isaac and Ishmael. \saac and Ishmael were thus
ous detailed parallels one can discern as the passage is reconciled by this time. Perhaps it was their father’s
studied in depth. death which reunited them.
25:1 Keturah. The home and background of Keturah 25:12 generations of Ishmael. Genesis 25:12-16
are unknown. Like Hagar, she is called a concubine seems to represent the toledoth of Ishmael. This was
(Genesis 25:6; I Chronicles 1:32) to emphasize that her quite possibly a record kept by Ishmael which he gave
sons were not to inherit the promises centered in Isaac. to Isaac at the time of their reunion at Abraham’s funer-
However, God had also promised (Genesis 17:4) that al. At this time, Ishmael would have been ninety years
Abraham would be a father of many nations. When his old with his twelve sons each now established in small
body was miraculously rejuvenated at age 100 to father “nations” of their own, as “princes” of those tribes.
Isaac, he remained “young” for many more years, even- After Ishmael’s death, Isaac then added his own com-
tually begetting six more sons by Keturah. ments to the foledoth (Genesis 25:17,18) before termi-
25:2 Midian. Of Keturah’s six sons (all probably born nating his own toledoth with his signature at Genesis
early in Abraham’s thirty-five year period with her), Midi- 25:19. Ishmael died fifty-eight years before Isaac died:
an is the only one whose descendants, the Midianites, are like Abraham he was “gathered into his people” (Gene-
adequately identified. The others probably mixed with the sis 25:17), indicating that he died in faith. Ishmael’s
various descendants of Ishmael, Lot and Esau to become “nations,” though not all clearly identified historically,
the modern Arabic peoples. Abraham sent them “east- undoubtedly dwelt mainly in northern Arabia.
53 GENESIS 25:18-25:31

Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven | 25:18 one people shall be stronger than the other
years: and he gave up the ghost and died; ee ee people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
and was gathered unto his people. 25:19 24 And when her days to be delivered were
18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, Gen 21:3 fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyr- ate 25 And the first came out red, all over like an
ia: and he died in the presence of all his brethren. eae 4.15, hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
Jacob and Esau are born 29) 67 13 26 And after that came his brother out, and
19 And these are the generations of Isaac,) ©" 7°78 his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his
Abraham’s son: Abraham begat Isaac: 26:21 1.7 name was called Jacob: and Isaac was three-
20 And Isaac was forty years old when he) 1sami:19 _ score years old when she bare them.
took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel | 25-23 27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cun-
the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban a eee ning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was
the Syrian. Gan 48:19 a plain man, dwelling in tents.
21 And Isaac intreated the Lorp for his, Num20:14 28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat
wife, because she was barren: and the Lorp | ier He of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife | 35.25 Esau gives Jacob his birthright
conceived. | Gen 27:11 29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came
22 And the children struggled together with- | 25:26 from the field, and he was faint:
in her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? °°! 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray
And she went to inquire of the Lorp. 7e 8 g19thee, with that same red pottage; for I am
23 And the Lorp said unto her, Two nations | &15:15.__ faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
are in thy womb, and two manner of people 25:31 31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy
shall be separated from thy bowels; and the 21:57 | birthright.

25:19 generations of Isaac. Genesis 25:19a termi- and both were rebels against the will and revelation of
nates the long record kept by Isaac, which apparently God. Although God permits the eating of meat, the
began at Genesis 11:27 where Terah’s record left off. hunting of animals for sport is questionable at best. God
Much of the narrative of Genesis 12-22 would have been cares even when a sparrow dies (Matthew 10:29). The
told to Isaac by his father Abraham. At this point (Gene- family did not need game for meat since Isaac had great
sis 25:19b), it seems that Jacob took over the task, final- flocks and herds; neither did they need protection from
ly terminating his toledoth at Genesis 37:2. wild animals, as Esau had to be a “cunning” hunter to
25:20 Syrian. In Hebrew, “Syria” is Aram, from find any to slay. He was simply a carnal, profane, licen-
which came the Aramaic language. Aram was a son of tious playboy (Hebrews 12:16).
Shem, thus related to Isaac. 25:27 plain man. The word, “plain” (Hebrew tam)
25:22 struggled together within her. Babies have real actually means “perfect” (as used in Job 1:1,8; 2:3) or
feelings, thoughts, and personalities even before birth. “mature.” Jacob worked at home while Esau played in
This is clear Biblically (Psalm 139:14-16; Ecclesiastes the fields. Jacob took God’s promises reverently and
11:5; Luke 1:44; etc.) and is being increasingly confirmed seriously; Esau “despised his birthright” (Genesis
by modern scientific monitoring of embryonic children 25:34).
growing in the womb. 25:28 Isaac loved Esau. \n spite of God’s command-
25:23 serve the younger. This pre-natal revelation to ment (Genesis 25:23) and Jacob’s merits (Genesis
Rebekah clearly instructed her that contrary to custom, 25:27), Isaac showed strong partiality to Esau and for
the youngest of her twin sons was to be the spiritual the most carnal of reasons. He loved the venison Esau
leader of the family. His task was to transmit the divine would bring home from the hunt. But God said: “Jacob
promises to future generations. This information surely have I loved” (Malachi 1:1-3; Romans 9:10-13).
was shared with Isaac and later with Esau and Jacob. 25:31 birthright. The birthright customarily
Yet both Isaac and Esau seem to have rejected this reve- involved a double portion of the inheritance (Deut-
lation and determined to attempt to convey these privi- eronomy 21:17), but this privilege also involved the
leges to Esau. spiritual leadership of the family. Esau desired the first
25:25 Esau. The newborn infants were given names but not the second. In any case, the father was respon-
corresponding to their remarkable appearance at birth, sible to transfer the birthright to a more deserving son
Esau meaning “hairy” and Jacob “heel-catcher” (perhaps, if necessary (I Chronicles 5:1,2), and Isaac should have
by extension—“supplanter”). long since made it clear that it was to go to Jacob. The
25:26 Esau’s heel. The prophet Hosea interprets latter, appalled at the thought of a carnal profligate
Jacob’s odd name as an evidence of his strength and like Esau having the spiritual responsibilities of the
power (Hosea 12:3), overtaking his older and more out- birthright, offered to purchase it from him, perhaps
wardly impressive brother as a result of his strength initially in jest. However, Esau agreed to the absurd
before God. bargain, thus making it even more clear that he was
25:27 cunning hunter. The only hunters ‘that the unqualified.
Bible mentions are Nimrod (Genesis 10:9) and Esau,
GENESIS 25:32-26:15 54

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the | Cepek | 6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
point to die: and what profit shall this Hebdoske 7 And the men of the place asked him of his
birthright do to me? 26:1 wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he
33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and Gen 12:10 feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the
he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright €°" 29's,’ men of the place should kill me for Rebekah;
unto Jacob. | 26:2 ‘because she was fair to look upon.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage Gen12:1,7., 8 And it came to pass, when he had been
of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose. ce sl there a long time, that Abimelech king of the
up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his | 5... Philistines looked out at a window, and saw,
birthright. “Gen12:7__ and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah
oo be 5 __ his wife.
CHAPTER 26 |a _ 9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said,
Isaac lies to King Abimelech -“Gen15:15 Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how
nd there was a famine in the land, beside | Sa saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said
the first famine that was in the days of Gal 3:8 unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.
Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech | 6.5 10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou
king of the Philistines unto Gerar. | sl a hast done unto us? one of the people might
2 And the Lorp appeared unto him, and said, lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou
Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land ele es 12 | _shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
which I shall tell thee of: Gen 20:12 11 And Abimelech charged all his people,
3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with 26:8 saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife
thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and Prey > ae shall surely be put to death.
unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, Isaac becomes rich and powerful
6:10
and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Gen 20:7-10 | 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and
Abraham thy father; 26:11 received in the same year an hundredfold: and
4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the Prov6:29 the Lorp blessed him.
stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all 26:12 | 13 And the man waxed great, and went for-
these countries: and in thy seed shall all the °°" 76° ward, and grew until he became very great:
nations of the earth be blessed; sre hee | 14 For he had possession of flocks, and pos-
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, Peis , _ sessions of herds, and great store of servants:
and kept my charge, my commandments, my) Gen21:15 and the Philistines envied him.
statutes, and my laws. 15 For all the wells which his father’s servants

25:32 at the point to die. It would have taken Esau Hittites and others also antedate Moses and agree in
only a few minutes to fix himself something to eat. He many respects with the Mosaic laws, perhaps reflecting
probably meant that he would die some day and the a primeval system given by God (possibly only verbally)
birthright would be worthless to him then. He knew that disappeared after Babel except for those, like Abra-
that Isaac might well (indeed should) decide eventually ham, who retained and obeyed the truth. Note the same
to give it to Jacob. This way, he would at least get a implication in Job 23:12.
good meal out of it. Esau, literally, “despised his 26:7 my sister. Critics allege that this is merely
birthright” (Genesis 25:34). The amazing thing is that another version of the story of Abraham’s experience in
most modern Christians, like Isaac, tend to “love Esau,” Gerar (Genesis 20:1-8). This is not possible; the scribal
and regard Jacob as the culprit in this transaction. “redactors” whom these same critics think brought the
Jacob, of course, should have simply trusted God to different components of Genesis together would have
work things out according to His will and promise, been far too shrewd to deliberately create such an obvi-
rather than trying to devise his own means for getting ous barrier to its acceptance by their readers. The event
this accomplished. Jacob’s sin, however, was simply that must have taken place as described. Isaac and Rebekah
of insufficient faith and patience and since he meant it repeated the same fabrication that Abraham and Sarah
for good, could more easily be forgiven. had attempted over a century earlier for essentially the
26:2 the LorD appeared. This is apparently the first same reasons and with essentially the same results—
time in over fifty years that God had appeared to Isaac; human rebuke for their deception, but God’s protection
here He confirmed the covenant made with Abraham in spite of it.
and Isaac on Mount Moriah. It was also the first famine 26:12 hundredfold. This is the first mention of seed-
in the land of promise since Abram had gone down to sowing in the Bible. Seed-sowing in the Bible is com-
Egypt over a century earlier. Isaac, unused to such test- monly symbolic of Christian witnessing, and this aspect
ings, now needed special assurance. is paramount in the first mention of seed-sowing in the
26:5 my laws. Long before Moses, there were divine New Testament (Matthew 13:23). In both cases, it is
commandments and laws, and Abraham obeyed them. providentially significant that the good seed brought
Certain law codes found among the Babylonians, the forth a hundredfold.
55 GENESIS 26:16-27:5
had digged in the days of Abraham his father, | 26:16 _Lorp was with thee: and we said, Let there be
the Philistines had stopped them, and filled. She now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and
them with earth. Bie 0,11 _ thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;
16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from) 26:22 29 That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have
us; for thou art much mightier than we. | Ps 4:1 not touched thee, and as we have done unto
17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched i biped thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away
his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. sa 54:2 in peace: thou art now the blessed of the Lorp.
18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, 26:23 30 And he made them a feast, and they did
which they had digged in the days of Abraham ae aan eat and drink.
his father; for the Philistines had stopped them Bes} 1 31 And they rose up betimes in the morning,
after the death of Abraham: and he called their -1,2 and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them
names after the names by which his father had 7
away, and they departed from him in peace.
called them. ae 32 And it came to pass the same day, that
19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, Gen 13:3,4 | Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning
Shia ‘ well e ee water. + 26:26 he well which they had digged, and said unto
e herdmen of Gerar did strive wi Gen 21:22, im, We have found water.
Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: 7° 33 And he called it Shebah: therefore the
and he called the name of the well Esek; | er otG -name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day.
because they strove with him. [a4 ; 34 And Esau was forty years old when he took
21 And they digged another well, and strove “Gen 26:3, to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite,
for that also:and he called the name of it Sitnah. | 12-16 and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
22 And oe from thence, and digged | aca 35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac
another well; and for that they strove not: and and to Rebekah.
he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he | 723°...
said, For now the Lorp hath made room for) Gen 31:54 CHAPTER 27
us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. 26:31 Jacob steals Esau’s blessing
23 And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. | G&"}4'22 sae it came to pass, that when Isaac was
24 And the LorpD appeared unto him the . | old, and his eyes were dim, so that he
same night, and said, | am the God of Abra- ee could not see, he called Esau his eldest son,
ham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, 26-34 and said unto him, My son: and he said unto
and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for | a ais him, Behold, here am I.
my servant Abraham’s sake. es 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know
25 And he builded an altar there, and called | i not the day of my death:
upon the name of the Lorp and pitched 3 Now therefore
his tent | 5,., take, I pray thee, thy
there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well. Gen 25:25 weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out
26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, | Gen 48:10 to the field, and take me some venison;
and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol | ara Mt 3b 4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love,
the chief captain of his army. | yg and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul
27 And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore | “Gen 25:28 | may bless thee before I die.
come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have 37.4 5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to
sent me away from you? = ae Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to
28 And they said, We saw certainly that the Gcon4g9 _ hunt for venison, and to bring it.

26:25 builded an altar. According to records, this is one who believed in the true God. Instead he married
the only altar built by Isaac. God appeared to him again two pagan Hittite women whose idolatry and ungodli-
after he returned to Beersheba (“well of the covenant”) ness grieved his parents. Even more tragically, Isaac
where he had lived in his closest fellowship with God. seems to have made no attempt to prevent this and was
The well had belonged to Abraham, and it was accepted still resolved to give Esau his patriarchal blessing.
as such by the Philistines (still a relatively small body of 27:5 Rebekah heard. \saac, knowing he was wrong
settlers that had come from their own homeland in in deciding to transmit the blessing to Esau, was secre-
Crete), so Isaac knew he was now justified in staying tive about his plans. His actions would wrongly award
there. The ancient town of Beer-sheba has been partially Esau the place of both physical and spiritual preemi-
excavated, and visitors today are shown a well claimed nence in the family (Genesis 27:29). The blessing was
to be that of Abraham and Isaac. intended by God for the line of the promised Seed.
26:35 grief of mind. Here is further proof of God’s Rebekah just happened to overhear Isaac’s plans. At
wisdom in choosing Jacob. Esau disregarded both God’s this time, Jacob and Esau were probably about 75 years
primeval principle of monogamy and principle to marry old and Isaac 135.
GENESIS 27:6-27:27 56

6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, | 27:6 17 And she gave the savoury meat and the
saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto se as bread, which she had prepared, into the hand
Esau thy brother, saying, Gen 27-13, of her son Jacob.
7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury 4% 18 And he came unto his father, and said,
meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the 27:9 My father: and he said, Here am I; who art
Lorp before my death. judg 13:15 ' thou, my son?
8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice | eee 19 And Jacob said unto his father, Iam Esau
according to that which I command thee. mer thy firstborn; I have done according as thou
9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from “Geng:25 badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my
thence two good kids of the goats; and I will | ere ‘venison, that thy soul may bless me.
make them savoury meat for thy father, such | | at _ 20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it
as he loveth: “Gen 27:3, that thou hast found it so quickly, my son?
10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that. 43 And he said, Because the Lorp thy God
he may eat, and that he may bless thee before | P2731 brought it to me.
his death. | Gen 27:27 | 21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I
11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Rite 1s>) pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son,
Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, andI, 24,31. ~~ whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
am a smooth man: 27:21 | 22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father;
12 My father peradventure will feel me, andI [¢" 27:12 and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s
shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall. | 2 Se a voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. hone _ 23 And he discerned him not, because his
13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me | Prov 12:19, hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands:
be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and | 22 so he blessed him.
go fetch me them. | 27:25 24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau?
14 And he went, and fetched, and brought "274 And he said, I am.
27:27 | 25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will
them to his mother: and his mother made. Ps 65:9, 10
savoury meat, such as his father loved. | Heb 11:20 eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless
15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her | thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did
eldest son Esau, which were with her in the | eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.
house, and put them upon Jacob her younger | 26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come
son: near now, and kiss me, my son.
16 And she put the skins of the kids of the | 27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he
goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of | smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed
his neck: | ‘him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the

27:9 meat for thy father. Although Isaac professed have to lie verbally to his father, but he did fear that he
to “love” Esau’s venison (Genesis 27:4), Rebekah could might seem to be mocking his blindness by dressing,
prepare goat meat to taste exactly the same. Thus it smelling and feeling like Esau. Rebekah assured him
must have been his son’s physical exploits, shared vic- she would take the blame.
ariously by Isaac, that he really loved. 27:20 brought it to me. Jacob no doubt hoped that
27:10 bless thee. Rebekah was so resolved that Isaac Isaac would not question him at all. But Isaac did, and
should not sin against God in blessing Esau (thus bring- so there was no way of accomplishing Rebekah’s plan
ing almost certain divine retribution upon both Isaac now except by overt lying and even by taking God’s
and Esau) that she was willing to risk everything to pre- name in vain. Jacob and Rebekah were godly and sensi-
vent it. She knew that her stratagem, even if successful, tive people, and it must have grieved them greatly to
would be discovered as soon as Esau returned, with break God’s commandments like this, especially know-
possibly tragic consequences. However, she apparently ing that it could only be a matter of an hour or so
felt that God’s wrathful judgment upon her husband before it would all be exposed with all the wrath and
and her eldest son if they persisted in trifling with God’s recriminations that would follow. The whole episode
most solemn covenants and commandments in this fash- can only really be understood in light of their hope
ion, was to be feared even more. Lest Jacob should that Isaac’s sudden knowledge that his beloved wife
demur from pushing himself forward like this, Rebekah and faithful son would go to such lengths to prevent
invoked her right to filial obedience in commanding him him from blaspheming God and His will might shock
to do so (Genesis 27:8). Confronted with this forced him to his senses (as, indeed, it did). It is significant
choice between two divine commandments (obedience that God never spoke to either Rebekah or Jacob by
or truthfulness), Jacob chose the course more in line way of rebuke over this incident. In fact, God later
with God’s ultimate purpose. explicitly confirmed Isaac’s blessing to Jacob (Genesis
27:12 deceiver. “Deceiver” is better translated “mock- 28:13-15). The rebuke was solely for Esau, and the
er.” At this point, Jacob hoped that he would not actually repentance was Isaac’s, not Jacob’s.
57 GENESIS 27:28-28:1

smell of a field which the Lorp hath blessed: | 27:28 38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou
Gen 45:18
28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of Deut 7:13 but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me
heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plen- | Deut 33:13
also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice,
Zech 8:12
ty of corn and wine: _and wept.
27:29
29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow | Gen 9:25 39 And Isaac his father answered and said
down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and Gen 12:3 / unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fat-
Gen 49:8
let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: | Num 24:9 ness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven
cursed be every one that curseth thee, and Isa 45:14 from above;
blessed be he that blesseth thee. | 27:31 | 40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and
Gen 27:4,19
30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had | shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to
made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was | 27:32
pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that
Gen 27:18
yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck
27:33
his father, that Esau his brother came in from | Ps'5525 | Jacob flees from Esau
his hunting. 27:34 41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the
31 And he also had made savoury meat, and Heb 12:17 _ blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and
brought it unto his father, and said unto his | 27:35 Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning
Gen 27:12,
father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s | 19-23 for my father are at hand; then will I slay my
venison, that thy soul may bless me. | 27:36

brother Jacob.
32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who Gen 25:26 42 And these words of Esau her elder son
Gen 32:28
art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy first: _were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called
born Esau. 27:37.
Jacob her younger son, and said unto him,
Gen 27:27-29
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and 2 Sam8:14 Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee,
said, Who? where is he that hath taken veni- | 27:38 doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
son, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all Gen 27:34 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and
| Heb 12:17
before thou camest, and have blessed him? | arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
27:39
yea, and he shall be blessed. | Heb 11:20 44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy
34 And when Esau heard the words of his brother’s fury turn away:
27:40
father, he cried with a great and exceeding bit- 2 Kgs 8:20 45 Until thy brother’s anger turn away from
2 Chr 21:8
ter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, thee, and he forget that which thou hast done
| 27:41
even me also, O my father. | Gen 35:29 to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from
35 And he said, Thy brother came with sub- Gen 37:4 thence: why should I be deprived also of you
Deut 34:8
tilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. both in one day?
36 And he said, Is not he rightly named 27:43 46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of
Gen 11:31
Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two Gen 12:4 /my life because of the daughters of Heth: if
times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, 27:44 Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth,
now he hath taken away my blessing. And he Gen 31:41 'such as these which are of the daughters of
said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 27:45 | the land, what good shall my life do me?
Prov 20:21
37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, |
Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his 27:46 CHAPTER 28
Gen 26:34,35 |
brethren have I given to him for servants; and Jacob searches for a wife
28:1
with corn and wine have I sustained him: and Gen 24:3, 4 java Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him,
what shall I do now unto thee, my son? and charged him, and said unto him,
}

27:29 curseth thee. Isaac’s presumption in blessing and there was no way Isaac could change this. In fact,
Esau like this is obvious when contrasted with God’s the blessing would have gone to Jacob even if Isaac
specific instruction given before they were born that had succeeded in pronouncing it upon Esau. Man’s
Jacob should have this position (Genesis 25:23). will cannot thwart God’s purposes.
27:29 blesseth thee. Here Isaac repeats God’s own 27:39 fatness of the earth. “Thy dwelling shall be the
original promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:3), again in fla- fatness” should read, “shall be away from the fatness of
grant disregard of God’s will. the earth.”
27:33 trembled very exceedingly. Literally, “most 27:40 have the dominion. “Have the dominion” is
excessively with a great trembling.” A violent complex better rendered “shake thyself.” Whether this prophe-
of emotions overwhelmed Isaac as he suddenly realized cy concerning Esau was actually from God or simply
all that had happened. Isaac’s personal prediction, is open to question.
27:33 he shall be blessed. \saac’s anger and resent- 28:1 blessed him. At this point, Isaac repeated and
ment were overshadowed by his realization that God expanded his blessing to Jacob, indicating his full realiza-
Himself had intervened. God was going to bless Jacob tion that God’s will had been accomplished.
 GENESIS 28:2-28:22 58

Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters aia - 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set
of Canaan. nth up on the earth, and the top of it reached to
2 Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of ye 17:1-4 heaven: and behold the angels of God ascend-
Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a) Gen3511_— ing and descending on it.
wife from thence of the daughters of Laban 28:4 _ 13 And, behold, the Lorp stood above it, and
thy mother’s brother. eenlete said, I am the Lorp God of Abraham thy
3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make Gen 48:3 father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon
thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou 28:7 bes | thou liest, to thee will I give it, stm i thy ron
mayest be a multitude of people; Sane’ 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the
ee give thee the lesiie of Abraham, to 288 oh earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the
thee, and to thy seed with thee; that: thou ae west, sn Beto=the,annorth,
t, and :0 As
and ae
to
mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a“Gen36:3 the se Zee aeae -a shall a
stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. 28:10 the families of the earth be blessed.
5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to. Gen12:4,5- 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep
Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the. Gender} thee in all places whither thou goest, and will
Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and. er 4, bring thee again into this land; for I will not
en 20:30 J i
Esau’s mother. Num 12:6 — leave thee, until I have done that which I have
6 When Esau saw that Isaac had leeeed | art! spoken to thee of.
Jacob, and sent him away to Padan-aram, to. mee e 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and
take him a wife from thence; and that as he Gen263 he said, Surely the Lorp is in this place; and I
blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, 28.14 knew it not.
Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters Cen122 = 17 And he was afraid, and said, How
of Canaan; | 28:15 dreadful is this place! this is none other but
7 And ot Jacob obeyed a father and his) pencsis 8 es house of God, and this is the gate of
mother, and was gone to Padan-aram; he Psa 2AE73 eaven.
8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of 28:16 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning,
Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; tee 5 and took the stone that he had put for his pil-
9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took | Ps 139:7-12 lows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil
unto the wives which he had Mahalath the 28:17 upon the top of it.
daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister 25:14 19 And he called the name of that place
of Nebajoth, to be his wife. | ABIES 0 Bethel: but the name of that city was called
Jacob’s ladder Luz at the first.
8:19
10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and 4Gen 12:8 | 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God
went toward Haran. | Gen 48:3 | will be with me, and will keep me in this way
11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and 28:20 that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and
tarried there all night, because the sun was | Be Ae raiment to put on,
set; and he took of the stones of that place, saps _ 21 So that I come again to my father’s house
and put them for his pillows, and lay down in | ce 35: is ‘in peace; then shall the Lorp be my God:
| eut 14:
that place to sleep. 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar,

28:1 daughters of Canaan. Jacob was probably seven- first of about eight Jacob would experience. It appeared
ty-five years old, and Isaac had been inexcusably negli- in the form of a remarkable dream. Jacob was assured
gent in not attempting long before this (as Abraham had of God’s intense interest, and of his own key role in
done for him) to find suitable wives among his home God’s plan. The great ladder with ascending and
countrymen for his sons. Esau’s bigamous marriage to descending angels, bridging the gulf between earth and
two Hittite women had been one tragic consequence of heaven, symbolized Christ Himself (John 1:51; 3:13;
his negligence. Ephesians 4:8-10), as well as assuring Jacob of his own
28:9 unto Ishmael. Esau, finally realizing his troubles access to God through prayer and obedience.
were of his own doing and realizing that his father no 28:20 If God. The word “if” here should be read with
longer supported his position, was belatedly trying to help the connotation of “since.” Jacob was not bargaining
matters by marrying an Ishmaelite woman. Even Ishmael, with God, as some think, but gratefully accepting God’s
however, was outside the scope of God’s promises regard- promised blessing outlined by Him (Genesis 28:13-15).
ing the Seed. Jacob was reciprocating by vowing that the Lord would
28:9 Mahalath. There is an apparent contradiction always be his God and that he would serve Him.
between the names of Esau’s wives in Genesis 26:34 28:22 the tenth. This is the second reference to
and 28:9. The probable resolution of this problem is dis- tithing. Abraham had given tithes to Melchizedek as
cussed in the notes on Genesis 36. God’s priest (Genesis 14:20), and Jacob evidently intend-
28:12 reached to heaven. This was a theophany, the ed to do the same although it is not clear at this stage
59 GENESIS 29:1-29:26

shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt | 29:1 13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard
give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. on oe the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran
“Gen 24:11 | to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed
CHAPTER 29 | 29:4 him, and brought him to his house. And he
Jacob meets Laban, his uncle | Gen 11:31 | told Laban all these things.
hen Jacob went on his journey, and came 0°" 28:10 14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art
; a ne lancet Mapepicienthe a es Face a bone aia my fee And he abode with him
: ell i @| = e space of a month.
field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep a 37:14 15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because
lying by it; for out of that well they watered ¢e 43:27 thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore
ai flocks: ane a great stone was upon the ae serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy
well’s mouth. ; wages be?

3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: soa ee 16 And Laban had two daughters: the name
and they rolled the stone from the well’s Gen33:4 of the elder was Leah, and the name of the
mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the 29:12 | younger was Rachel.
stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place. "285 17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was
4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, Ta oS beautiful and well favoured.
sere ‘* ye? And they said, Of Haran are-we. 2 eley 18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will
e said unto them, Know ye Laban the 29. serve thee seven years for Rachel th
son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. “Gen 3028 younger daughter. ;
6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And ae a 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her
they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his 39.46 to thee, than that I should give her to another
daughter cometh with the sheep. Gen 29:25, man: abide with me.
7 And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is 26 | Jacob marries Leah
it time that the cattle should be gathered togeth- TAREE os 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel;
er: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. = Gen26:7__|/ and they seemed unto him but a few days, for
8 And they said, We cannot, until all the '5#"253 the love he had to her.
flocks be gathered together, and till they roll ae “<P 21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my
the stone from the well’s mouth; then we Hos12:12 _ wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in
water the sheep. | 29:20 unto her.
9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel cee 22 And Laban gathered together all the men
came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them. | “of the place, and made a feast.
10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Were 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that
Rachel ack grisea of ai us scare 29:23 ie tenis Beal = Boney and brought her to
rother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s Gen 24:65 im; and he went in unto her.
brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the [er 3814 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah
stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the ee 'Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
flock of Laban his mother’s brother. Moos , 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning,
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his | Gen12:18 | behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban,
voice, and wept. | What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I
12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her | serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then
father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s | | hast thou beguiled me?
son: and she ran and told her father. 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in

in history just how this could be done since the Aaronic Christ would come. Leah was less attractive than Rachel
priesthood had not yet been established. Jacob had built and had found no husband as yet, thus inhibiting her
an altar here at Bethel (meaning “the house of God”) as younger sister from marrying (Genesis 29:26), so both
his first effort in this direction. were well past the normal age for marrying (as was
29:14 my bone and my flesh. Jacob was the son of Jacob). Laban was afraid no suitable husband would
Laban’s sister (Rebekah) and of Laban’s father’s cousin ever be found for Leah, and tricked Jacob into marrying
(Isaac). Thus he and Laban did, indeed, have the same both. This would, he hoped, tie Jacob (a productive
basic genetic controls which specify the characteristics worker with a substantial future inheritance) perma-
of the individual’s flesh and bones. nently to Laban and his family. Leah also had come to
29:23 brought her to him. This cruel deception on love Jacob and although her father’s device must have
Laban’s part was not God’s retribution for Jacob’s been difficult and embarrassing for her, as well as for
deception of Isaac, as many have suggested. Leah was Rachel, she went along with the plan in obedience to
destined to be the mother of Judah, through whom her father.
GENESIS 29:27-30:15 60

our country, to give the younger before the oA and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or
firstborn. Judg 14:10,12 else I die. t
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this 39.29 2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against
also for the service which thou shalt serve Gen 30:38 | Rachel: and he said, Am I = war ay be
i :30 hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb:
bat wile Tae ving tral “Ger cid 3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her Be aap in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees
week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter Deut 21:15 that I may also have children by her. A
to wife also. Mal 13272 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter get bei wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. Gen 37:21 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he a eee 6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and
loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served _ pete ~~” hath also heard my seer) hath given me a
with him yet seven other years. Gen 49:5 son: therefore called she his name Dan.
31 And when the Lorp saw that Leah was Bete 7 And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again,
hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was Gen49:8 and bare Jacob a second son.
barren. 30:1 8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings
32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and {237 have I wrestled with my sister, and I have pre-
she called his name Reuben: for she said, Suree ,-. ~——_vailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
ly the Lorp hath looked upon my affliction; era 9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing,
now therefore my husband will love me. Gen 31:36 | she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob
i i | 30:3 i

whe oth siete ae earn a CELE, S iphe Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son.
was hated, he hath therefore given me this son ee 22:24 11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she
also: and she called his name Simeon. Gen 35:22 called his name Gad.
34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; 30:6 12 And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a sec-
and said, Now this time will my husband be ask fede ond son.
joined unto me, because I have born him three | Lam 3:59 13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the
sons: therefore was his name called Levi. 30:8 daughters will call me blessed: and she called
35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: ees his name Asher.
and she said, Now will I praise the Lorp: ies 14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat
therefore she called his name Judah; and left “Gen 35-26 | harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and
bearing. ee Jee ‘brought them unto his mother Leah. Then
= Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of
CHAPTER 30 pa 7143. thy son’s mandrakes.
Jacob’s family grows 15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter
yee when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob that thou hast taken my husband? and
no children, Rachel envied her sister; wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes

29:27 her week. Crafty Laban elicited fourteen years one of these was Judah who was destined to produce
of free and fruitful labor from Jacob because of Jacob’s the kingly tribe—including David and, eventually, Christ.
unselfish love for Rachel. After Jacob had served seven It is thus significant that this is the first occurrence of
years and then was forced to marry Leah, Laban finally the word here translated “praise,” and more commonly
gave Rachel to Jacob for another seven years of service. rendered “give thanks.”
However, Jacob had to wait only seven days (Leah’s fes- 30:3 go in unto her. In accordance with the customs
tive week) before receiving Rachel too. Note, incidental- of the time, which allowed both polygamy and concubi-
ly, that time was being measured in weeks (even in nage, Laban had provided maids for his daughters as
Syria) almost 500 years before the giving of the Sab- insurance that they would not be childless. Any children
bath commandment on Mount Sinai. This is incidental borne by Leah’s and Rachel’s personal maids would
testimony that the nations of the world had been (per- legally be recognized as theirs. Even though this kind of
haps inadvertently) commemorating the literal creation arrangement was legal, it was not in accord with God’s
week ever since the beginning. original plan for the marriage relation. The Bible tells of
29:31 hated. The word is better rendered “slighted.” many polygamous marriages which God allowed, but of
Jacob loved Rachel more than he loved Leah (Genesis none which were happy marriages.
29:30), but he loved Leah, also. 30:14 mandrakes. A mandrake is a small berrylike
29:35 I praise the Lorp. The Lord in grace not only fruit, prized in ancient times as an aphrodisiac and
gave Leah (the “slighted” wife—not “hated,” as wrongly inducer of fertility. Rachel did eventually have two sons,
rendered in Genesis 29:31) more sons than Rachel, but but it was not because of the mandrakes.
 61 GENESIS 30:16-30:38

also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie | 30:17 29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how
with thee to-night for thy son’s mandrakes. | ae sabe I have served thee, and how thy cattle was
16 And Jacob came out of the field in the & 3:7 with me.
evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and 30:18 30 For it was little which thou hadst before I
said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I lie came, and it is now increased unto a multi-
have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And| 15 ‘tude; and the Lorp hath blessed thee since my
he lay with her that night. 30:20 coming: and now when shall I provide for
17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she ‘#13 mine own house also?
conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. (30:22 wag | 31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And
18 And Leah said, God hath given me my a Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if
hire, because I have given my maiden to my (41-25 thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed
husband: and she called his name Issachar. 30:24 and keep thy flock:
19 And Leah conceived again, and bare Gen35:17 32 I will pass through all thy flock to day,
Jacob the sixth son. | 30:26 removing from thence all the speckled and
20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with $6778 spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among
a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with | Hos 12:12 ‘the sheep, and the spotted and speckled
me, because I have born him six sons: and she 30:27 among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.
called his name Zebulun. = }ea.5 33 So shall my righteousness answer for me
21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and | aie ‘in time to come, when it shall come for my
called her name Dinah. | Gen 29:15 hire before thy face: every one that is not
22 And God remembered Rachel, and God "31:7 speckled and spotted among the goats, and
ae & her, and oe - womb. ; as te age the sheep, that shall be counted
she conceived, and bare a son; an ; | stolen with me.

said, God hath taken away my reproach: | ate 34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might
24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, | 10, 12 be according to thy word.
The Lorp shall add to me another son. || 30:37
Gen 31:9-13
|| 35 And he removed that day the he goats
Jacob’s scheme succeeds that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the
25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had | she goats that were speckled and spotted, and
born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send. /every one that had some white in it, and all
me away, that I may go unto mine own place, | ‘the brown among the sheep, and gave them
and to my country. | into the hand of his sons.
26 Give me my wives and my children, for 36 And he set three days’ journey betwixt
whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou | /himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of
knowest my service which I have done thee. | Laban’s flocks.
27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I 37 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar,
have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I ‘and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled
have learned by experience that the Lorp hath’ white strakes in them, and made the white
blessed me for thy sake. appear which was in the rods.
28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and.I. _ 38 And he set the rods which he had pilled
will give it. before the flocks in the gutters in the watering

30:27 by experience. The words “by experience” himself. Jacob’s wages would be the spotted and off-
should be translated “by enchantments.” Though he color animals which the flocks might produce in the
knew God after a fashion, Laban had become a sort of future—first, however, removing all such animals in the
pagan mystic. However, God had overruled even in existing flocks so they could not be used in breeding.
this, and Laban learned that the unusual prosperity Thus, Jacob would get only the off-colored and speckled
he was experiencing was because of Jacob’s abilities animals which might be born to a flock containing only
and faithfulness. solid-colored, dominant-colored animals. These terms,
30:28 I will give it. Laban gave Jacob carte blanche apart from God’s intervention, would have enormously
to set up his own terms. Thus, Jacob by no means took favored Laban. Jacob did know from long experience as
advantage of Laban. Rather, the terms proposed by a shepherd and stock breeder, that some “heterozy-
Jacob were heavily weighted in Laban’s favor. gous” animals would be in the flock even though all
30:32 speckled and spotted cattle. Laban had appeared to be “homozygous,” so that at least a few ani-
received fourteen years of free labor from Jacob and mals would be born spotted and speckled, even from
had prospered greatly as a result. He told Jacob he Laban’s solid-colored animals. He trusted the Lord to
would pay whatever Jacob wanted, if Jacob would con- determine how many.
tinue. Jacob responded with a proposal which Laban 30:38 rods which he had pilled. These striped rods
quickly accepted, recognizing it as highly beneficial to were not for the purpose of inducing some “pre-natal
GENESIS 30:39-31:20 62

troughs when the flocks came to drink, that ae 8 If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy
they should conceive when they came to drink. Gen 24:35. Wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if
39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, | oa eo he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire;
and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, ire. then bare all the cattle ringstraked.
and spotted. paneer 9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of
40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set | 31.2 your father, and given them to me.
the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, Gen 31:36 10 And it came to pass at the time that the
and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and | sam 18:9 | cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and

them
a not unto Laban’s cattle. ee | Gen 32:9 eap eee ; -
41 And it came to pass, whensoever the | 31:5 led, and grisled.
stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the | sat 31:42, 11 And-the angel of God spake unto me ina
rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gut | ey dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
ters, that they might conceive among the rods. “Gen 30.29 + -12 And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and
42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put 34.7 see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle
them not in: so the feebler were Laban’s, and _ reer sh are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I
the stronger Jacob’ s. | Gen 3141 | have seen all that sat sae elie :
43 And the man increased exceedingly, and | 31.8 | 13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou
had much cattle, and maidservants, and’ Gen 30:32 | anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a
menservants, and camels, and asses. | 31:9 vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this
| out 31:1, Jand, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
CHAPTER 31 eae _ 14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said
God tells Jacob to move to Canaan “Gen 31:24. unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheri-
Ae he heard the words of Laban’s sons, | 34.14 tance for us in our father’s house?
saying, Jacob hath taken away all that | eo Neate | 15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for
en 3
was our father’s; and of that which was our Gen 22:1,
he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also
father’s hath he gotten all this glory. 1 | our money.
2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, 31:12 _ 16 For all the riches which God hath taken
and, behold, it was not toward him as before. gr 708” from our father, that is ours, and our chil-
3 And the Lorp said unto Jacob, Return unto _ Ex3:7 _dren’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said
the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and | ie 4, unto thee, do.
I will be with thee. | Ws ‘| 17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and
4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah | 31:13 his wives upon camels;
to the field unto his flock, | a 28:13- 18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all
5 And said unto them, I see your father’s Gen35:7_ his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of
countenance, that it is not toward me as) 31.15 his getting, which he had gotten in Padan-
before; but the God of my father hath been’ oe 29:20, aram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land
with me. 30:26-28 of Canaan.
6 And ye know that with all my power I have 3.18 19 And Laban went to shear his sheep:
served your father. | Gen 24:29 and Rachel had stolen the images that were
7 And your father hath
sl deceived
Fey me, and | 31:20
©"??? her father’s.
changed my wages ten times; but God suffered | “C2, 31.57 _ 20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban
him not to hurt me. ‘the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

influence” on the animals. With his seventy years or the dominantly solid colors, those which actually were
more of practical experience with large flocks, Jacob mating were genetically heterozygous, thus producing
knew better than that. Either the chemicals from the an abnormal proportion of spotted offspring to augment
wood or the sight of the streaked rods must have served Jacob’s flock. God thus providentially honored Jacob’s
as an aphrodisiac for the animals, inducing them to mate faith and punished Laban’s cupidity.
as they came to the troughs. Jacob only used the rods 31:15 he hath sold us. Leah and Rachel reveal here
with the stronger animals, so that the progeny would that they had long resented the way their father had
also be strong. Under usual conditions, this stratagem “sold” them to Jacob. The exorbitant price extracted
should have greatly benefited Laban’s flocks. from Jacob—fourteen years’ free labor—made them love
30:39 conceived. The word for “conceived” can mean Jacob but resent Laban. Furthermore, instead of using
“were in heat.” this payment like a dowry to provide a base for his
31:10 saw in a dream. God revealed to Jacob in this daughters’ future financial security, he had given noth-
dream that even though the cattle all seemed to be of ing to them personally.
63 GENESIS 31:21-31:44

21 So he fled with all that he had; and he 31:21 tents; but he found them not. Then went he out
Gen 15:18
rose up, and passed over the river, and set his | Num 32:1 of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.
face toward the mount Gilead. Deut 3:12 34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and
Judg 17:4, 5
Laban chases Jacob Judg 18:20 put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat
22 And it was told Laban on the third day upon them. And Laban searched all the tent,
31922)
| Gen 30:36
that Jacob was fled. but found them not.
23 And he took his brethren with him, and 31:24 35 And she said to her father, Let it not dis-
Gen 25:20
pursued after him seven days’ journey; and please my lord that I cannot rise up before
Gen 31:10
they overtook him in the mount Gilead. thee; for the custom of women is upon me.
24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a fon
Gen 33:18 And he searched, but found not the images.
dream by night, and said unto him, Take 31:28 36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with
heed that thou speak not to Jacob either Gen 29:13
Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban,
Gen 31:55
sood or bad. | Ex 4:27 What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou
25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had | 31:29 hast so hotly pursued after me?
pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his Gen 31:24, 37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff,
42
brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. ‘what hast thou found of all thy household
31:30
26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou _ stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy
Gen 31:21
done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
31:31
me, and carried away my daughters, as cap- | Gen 20:11 38 This twenty years have I been with thee;
|

tives taken with the sword? 31:32 thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast
27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, Gen 44:9
| 1 Sam 12:3 their young, and the rams of thy flock have I
and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, not eaten.
31:35
that I might have sent thee away with mirth, Gen 18:11 39 That which was torn of beasts I brought
and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? | 31:36 not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand
28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons Gen 30:2 didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or
Num 16:15
and my daughters? thou hast now done fool- stolen by night.
31:37
ishly in so doing. 40 Thus I was; in the day the drought con-
Gen 31:32
29 It is in the power of my hand to do you Josh 7:23 'sumed me, and the frost by night; and my
hurt: but the God of your father spake unto 31:38 sleep departed from mine eyes.
Gen 31:41
me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that 41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy
thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. 31:39 house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two
Ex 22:10-13
30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and
31:41
gone, because thou sore longedst after thy Gen 29:27 | thou hast changed my wages ten times.
father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen Gen 30:27- 42 Except the God of my father, the God of
32
my gods? Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with
Rachel steals Laban’s gods | me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty.
31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, | God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of
Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure | /my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
31:44
thou wouldest take by force thy daughters Laban and Jacob bargain
Gen 21:27
from me. Gen 26:26- 43 And Laban answered and said unto
31
32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, | Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and
let him not live: before our brethren discern these children are my children, and these cat-
thou what is thine with me, and take it to ‘tle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is
thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had mine: and what can I do this day unto these
stolen them. my daughters, or unto their children which
33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into | | they have born?
Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ | 44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a

31:23 pursued after him. Laban not only had repeat- crime to steal them. Rachel, however, took this risk pre-
edly tried to defraud Jacob but fully intended to take sumably because Laban had not given either her or
Jacob’s flocks and herds back by force, probably slaying Leah “any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s
Jacob in the process. However, God intervened to pre- house” (Genesis 31:14). Laban did not find them in
vent it. Jacob’s possessions (Rachel had hidden them well), but
31:32 thy gods. These “gods” were small household we do not know whether this loss ever caused any com-
images (or teraphim), used both in religious observances mercial problem for him. In any case, because of their
and also as tokens of ownership of the real estate where idolatrous associations, Jacob later buried all these
their possessor lived. As such, it was considered a capital pagan mementos at Bethel (Genesis 35:4).
GENESIS 31:45-32:12 64

covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a wit PP 2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is
ness between me and thee. | Josh 24:26 | God’s host: and he called the name of that
45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for 31-46 place Mahanaim. :
a pillar. _ Gen35:14 3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to
° , | Josh 4:5 | : th | d f S roe the
46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather ‘Esau his brother unto the land of Seir,
stones; and they took stones, and made an Say a5 country of Edom.
heap: and they did eat there upon the heap. ——Deut 4:26 4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus
47 And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but | 31:49 shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant
Jacob called it Galeed. | pe 0:17 Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban,
48 And Laban said, This heap is a witness | atte and stayed there until now: = :
between me and thee this day. Therefore was judgii10 5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, an
the name of it called Galeed; oe aie /menservants, and womenservants: and | have
49 And Mizpah; for he said, The Lorp watch jer 42:5 sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in
between me and thee, when we are absent one 31.53 thy sight.
from another. Gen 31:29 6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, say-
50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if | 31:54 ing, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he
thou shalt take other wives beside my daugh- eee cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men
ters, no man is with us; see, God is witness 3)... with him. od
betwixt me and thee. | Gen 33:4 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and dis-
51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this | 32:1 tressed: and he divided the people that was
heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast | ney with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the
betwixt me and thee; oe camels, into two bands;
52 This heap be witness, and this pillar be josh 13:26 8 And said, If Esau come to the one compa-
witness, that I will not pass over this heap to 2Sam2:8 ny, and smite it, then the other company
thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this 32:3 which is left shall escape.
heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. cen te34° 9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abra-
53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Gen27:41 ham, and God of my father Isaac, the LorD
Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. hs which saidst unto me, Return unto thy coun-
a he desea ps i of = father 33-5 oe oe to thy kindred, and I will deal well
en Jacob offered sacrifice upon the Gen 30:43 Wi ee:
mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: 32:6 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the
and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in| ©°"33' mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast
the mount. ole 5 shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I
55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, ‘ passed over this Jordan; and now I am become
and kissed his sons and his daughters, and a 331.3. two bands.
blessed them: and Laban departed, and 35. 11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of
returned unto his place. Gen 28:13. my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear
32:11 him, lest he will come and smite me, and the
CHAPTER 32 a Se mother with the children.
Jacob plans to meet Esau ats 12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee
nd Jacob went on his way, and the Gen28:14 | good, and make thy seed as the sand of the
A angels of God met him. sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

31:49 Mizpah. “Mizpah” means “watchtower.” This referring to the small visible company of faithful follow-
has been called the “Mizpah Benediction,” but Laban ers and the vastly superior invisible host of mighty
obviously did not mean it as any kind of blessing. angels.
32:1 angels of God. This is Jacob’s second 32:6 to meet thee. Esau was probably as fearful as
encounter with angels; the first, twenty years earlier, Jacob since he had not heard from Jacob in twenty years
was as he left the promised land. He encounters them and well remembered God’s prophecy of Jacob’s ruling.
again, as he returns. In both cases, whether facing the 32:9 Jacob said, O God. This prayer of Jacob's (Gene-
external dangers of the material world (typified by sis 32:9-12) is a beautiful model of effectual praying
Laban) or the internal dangers of the religious world after sincerely following God’s will. Acknowledging that
(typified by Esau), Jacob could rely on the help of all of God’s blessings were only by His grace, Jacob then
God’s invisible army of ministering spirits (Hebrews simply asks God to fulfill His Word, even though the
1:14), and the same is true for faithful men of God outward circumstances seemed almost hopeless. No
today. prayer can be truly efficacious unless it is in full harmo-
32:2 Mahanaim. “Mahanaim” means “two hosts,” ny with God's revealed Word.
65 GENESIS 32:13-33:2

13 And he lodged there that same night; and | 32:18 _ 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not
took of that which Gens2t> | sgainst, hi
2 ich came to his hand a present. a against him, he touched the hollow of his
for Esau his brother; Gen 43:11, _ thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out
sor bewise she goats, and twenty he 1 p. | of joint, as he wrestled with him.
goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, 25:18 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day
15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, Prov21:14 | breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go,
forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, pic except thou bless me.
a be ise | Lies ere: 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name?
: nd he delivered them into the hand of 32:24 | And he said,, Jacob :
his servants, every drove by themselves; and | Gen 18:3 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no
said unto his servants, Pass over before me, "°*'*?4 more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast
and put a space betwixt drove and drove. reo Totase | thou power with God and with men, and hast
17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, 7 chr410 | prevailed.
When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and) ?s67:1,6,7 _ 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, |
asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and eee pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is
Lannie goest thou? and whose are these) 1 Kgs 18:31 it that thou dost ask after my name? And he
efore thee? :
32:29 | blessed him there .
18 Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Ex 3:13 30 And Jacob called the name of the place
Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau:| !99'?:'7 | Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and
and, behold, also he is behind us. ge 613. My life is preserved.
19 And so commanded he the second, and) Ex 24:10 31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun
the third, and all that followed the droves, say- a one rose upon him, and he halted upon his
ing, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, Deut 5:24 thigh.
when ye find him. res go.” | 32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of
20 And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant | Isa 6:5 / the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hol-
Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease!" 1:18 low of the thigh, unto this day: because he
him with the present that goeth before me, 3231 touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the
' | judg 8:8,9, |”,
and afterward I will see his face; peradventure 17 | sinew that shrank.
he will accept of me. | 1 Kgs t2:25
21 So went the present over before him: and. ee F CHAPTER 33
himself lodged that night in the company. pe a Jacob and Esau meet
a sage spa sent eet | payee Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked,
e rose up that night, and took his and, behold, Esau came, and with him
two wives, and his two womenservants, and his four hundred men. And he divided the chil-
eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. dren unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto
23 And he took them, and sent them over | the two handmaids.
the brook, and sent over that he had. _ 2 And he put the handmaids and their chil-
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled | dren foremost, and Leah and her children
a man with him until the breaking of the day. ‘after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

32:18 @present. Esau feared that Jacob was coming desire for God’s purpose to be accomplished in and
to claim the promised sovereignty over him and to take through him.
his possessions from him. By his language Jacob allayed 32:28 Israel. “Israel” can mean either “one who
the first fear, and by his generous gifts the second. fights victoriously with God” or “a prevailing prince
Jacob was more concerned with God’s sovereignty and with God.” This constitutes God’s permanent testimony
God’s provision. to Jacob’s character, an opinion quite different from
32:24 wrestled a man. This “man” was actually an that of many modern Bible teachers. The “Supplanter”
angel (Hosea 12:4)—in fact, the angel, the preincar- is now the “Prevailer.” God delights in the faith of those
nate Christ. Jacob recognized that he had seen God who cling tenaciously to His promises and claim them
face to face (Genesis 32:30), and this is impossible in prevailing prayer (Luke 18:1,7).
except through Christ (John 1:18). The intensity of 32:32 the sinew which shrank. This sentence is
Jacob’s prayer as he “wrestled” in his intercession apparently an editorial insertion by Moses in Jacob’s
(the word Jabbok means “wrestler;” the river is named toledoth, noting a custom by the Israelites commemorat-
for the unique event that occurred there), was such ing the great experience of their founder. In order that
that God actually deigned to appear to him in human Jacob should know forever that it was God who had
form as an antagonist over whom he must prevail for allowed him to prevail, a muscle in the ball-and-socket
the blessing. As he had held on to Esau’s heel at joint in the thigh, was shrunk, resulting in a permanent
birth, so he now held on to God, so earnest was his limp and perpetual reminder of the experience.
GENESIS 33:3-34:5 66

3 And he passed over before them, and 33:3 as the cattle that goeth before me and the chil-
bowed himself to the ground seven times, until ae oe dren be able to endure, until I come unto my
he came near to his brother. | Prov6é:3 | lord unto Seir.
4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced | 33:4 _-15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with
him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and al pe ‘thee some of the folk that are with me. And he
| 33:5 ‘said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the
they wept.
5 And he lifted up his eyes, and Gen 48:8,9 sight of my lord.
saw the.
women and the children; and said, Who are | 33:8 | 16 So Esau returned that day on his way
those with thee? And he said, The children Gen 22:5, -« | unto! Seir. .
which God hath graciously given thy servant. _ =. 17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and
6 Then the handmaidens came near, they ~Gen27:39 | built him an house, and made booths for his
and their children, and they bowed themselves. | 33.10 cattle: therefore the name of the place is called
7 And Leah also with her children came near, Gen 19:19
een dar Succoth. atk niet
and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph Genso-4. 18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city o
near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. | 33.44 |Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan,
8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this. fen 32:13-_ when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched
drove which I met? And he said, These are to” his tent before the city.
find grace in the sight of my lord. lesen 19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where
9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; Deut 2:1 he had spread his tent, at the hand of the chil-
keep that thou hast unto thyself. | | 33:17 dren of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hun-
10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now L| ee lee dred pieces of money.
have found grace in thy sight, then receive ean | Ps CD: _ 20 And he erected there an altar, and called
present at my hand: for therefore I have seen | 33.78 it E-elohe-Israel.
thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, | | oan ie 4 |
and thou wast pleased with me. Bo a CHAPTER 34
11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is. 33: 23:17 Dinah defiled
brought to thee; because God hath dealt gra-| 3,55 jhe Dinah the daughter of Leah, which
ciously with me, and because I have enough. Josh 24:32 | she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the
And he urged him, and he took it. Ae daughters of the land.
12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and e 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the
en 30:21 8
let us go, and I will go before thee. | Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took
13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth | es +21:14 | her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
that the children are tender, and the flocks. sep 3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daugh-
and herds with young are with me: and if men jop31-1 ~~ ter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and
should overdrive them one day, all the flock 34.4 spake kindly unto the damsel.
will die. | judg 14:2,6 4 And Shechem spake unto his father
14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before | 'Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
his servant: and I will lead on softly, according | 5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah

33:11 I have enough. Esau likewise said, “I have 33:20 El-elohe-Israel. On his initial entrance into
enough” (Genesis 33:9), hesitating to accept Jacob’s Canaan, the promised land, (the family had spent some
generous gift. Quite probably, Esau’s possessions were time in Succoth, still east of the Jordan) Jacob desired
much greater than those of Jacob. He had defeated the both to own some of the land (as a token of his eventual
Horites, conquered the land of Seir, and possessed a possession of all of it) and to build an altar to his God,
large retinue and large family by this time (Genesis which he named—“The God who was the God of Israel.”
36:1-8). The acceptance of a gift was evidence of recon- 34:1 Dinah. Dinah must have been at least in her
ciliation between estranged parties, but Esau felt it was teens by this time, so that Jacob and his family must
unnecessary to accept it in Jacob’s case since both have lived in Succoth and Shechem almost ten years.
brothers were overjoyed at their restored fellowship. Her older brothers—Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah—
However, when Esau said, “I have enough,” he used the were thus at least in their twenties.
word rab, meaning “much.” Jacob said, “T have kol” 34:5 Jacob held his peace. Jacob apparently took no
(meaning “everything!”). Jacob knew his resources were part in the subsequent negotiations and plans, perhaps so
inexhaustible, so he insisted Esau receive his gift as a grieved and distressed that he went off by himself. Proba-
token of his love and concern for his welfare. bly he suddenly realized his dreadful mistake in settling
33:16 Esau returned. Despite Jacob’s joy at the so close and so long to such a callously immoral pagan
happy reunion, he knew that it would be essential in the city as Shechem. However, he compounded his mistake by
fulfilling of God’s purposes for his family and that of being so indecisive in this crisis, abdicating his responsibil-
Esau to continue their separate ways. ity to Dinah’s two hot-headed older brothers.
67 GENESIS 34:6-34:29

his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle ee 18 And their words pleased Hamor, and
in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they 43.13 Shechem Hamor’s son.
were come. 34:9 _ 19 And the young man deferred not to do
6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went ea ats the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s
out unto Jacob to commune with him. daughter: and he was more honourable than
7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field SATS ont all the house of his father.
when they heard it: and the men were grieved, ge 20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came
and they were very wroth, because he had Gen 29:18 unto the gate of their city, and communed
wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s ss with the men of their city, saying,
daughter; which thing ought not to be done. a a: 21 These men are peaceable with us; there-
8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, | Gen27:35 fore let them dwell in the land, and trade
The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your ce oats : therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough
daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. WO | sia for them; let us take their daughters to us for
9 And make ye marriages with us, and give ~Gen17.13, Wives, and let us give them our daughters.
your daughters unto us, and take our daugh- her 3 22 Only herein will the men consent unto
ters unto you. us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if
And ye shall dwell with us: and the land spl ee every male among us be circumcised, as they
shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, aon are circumcised.
and get you possessions therein. Gen 23:10 23 Shall not their cattle and their substance
11 And Shechem said unto her father and 0&t'75 and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us
unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your ees aqs consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.
<i ie what ye shall say unto me I will give. shen | 24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his
sk me never so much dowry and gift, ~“Gen17:23 son hearkened all that went out of the gate of
and I will give according as ye shall say unto Josh 5:2 his city; and every male was circumcised, all
me: but give me the damsel to wife. | 34:25 that went out of the gate of his city.
13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem | ea ¢3°° 25 And it came to pass on the third day,
and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, von when they were sore, that two of the sons of
because he had defiled Dinah their sister: Josh 7:21 | Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren,
14 And they said unto them, We cannot do took each man his sword, and came upon the
this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncir- | city boldly, and slew all the males.
cumcised; for that were a reproach unto us: | 26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his
15 But in this will we consent unto you: If son with the edge of the sword, and took
ye will be as we be, that every male of you Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out.
be circumcised; 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain,
16 Then will we give our daughters unto | -and spoiled the city, because they had defiled
you, and we will take your daughters to us, their sister.
and we will dwell with you, and we will 28 They took their sheep, and their oxen,
become one people. and their asses, and that which was in the city,
17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be and that which was in the field,
circumcised; then will we take our daughter, 29 And all their wealth, and all their little
and we will be gone. ones, and their wives took they captive,

34:19 more honourable. That is, Shechem was “hon- the men were as guilty as he in their attitudes about
ored” more than anyone else. Because of the high esteem it (these men would themselves have defiled Dinah if
in which he was held by the others and because of his they had had the opportunity, but they had to defer to
willingness to be circumcised, the other men agreed to their “honored” prince). Also, if the other men would
submit to a religious rite which they knew would be have been spared, they would have immediately
painful and questionable. responded with a vendetta against all the Israelites.
34:25 slew all the males. This act of murderous Jacob, by God’s wisdom, could surely have found a
revenge, preceded by deception and blasphemy, was better solution, but in his grief had withdrawn from
no doubt reconciled in the minds of Simeon and Levi the whole situation.
as a case of the end justifying the means. The name of 34:29 wives took they captive. Critics have alleged
Israel had been severely tarnished (Genesis 34:7), that the women were taken by the sons of Israel for
their beloved sister not only raped but bargained for their own sexual purposes. However, the text mentions
like a harlot, and the whole affair treated as a matter- they took the women and children “captive,” evidently
of-fact commercial arrangement by the city’s king. The using them as servants thereafter. Jacob already had a
crime could not be ignored, but the brothers could significant retinue of servants, and the new captives
not take vengeance on Shechem only since the rest of probably joined them.
GENESIS 34:30-35:23 68

and spoiled even all that was in the house. 3430, he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him.
30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye Gen 49:5-7 10 And God said unto him, Thy name is
have troubled me to make me to stink among a he ,, Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more
: r 16:19 | ori
the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaan- ut Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he
ites and the Perizzites: and I being few in num- “2, 12., | called his name Israel.
ber, they shall gather themselves together Gen 28:19 11 And God said unto him, I am God
against me, and slay me; and I shall be 35:2 Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and
destroyed, I and my house. heeasens a company of nations shall be of thee, and
31 And they said, Should he deal with our 323 ..,.,, kings shall come out of thy loins;
sister as with an harlot? ae , | 12 And the land which I gave Abraham and
Josh 24:23 Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed
CHAPTER 35 | judg 8:24 after thee will I give the land.
OS 2: 3 *
Jacob renamed Israel 13 And God went up from him in the place
| 35:5 Pra
nd God said unto Jacob, Arise, g0 up to| — 15:16 where he talked with him.
Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an | Pieler : 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place
altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when “” |where he talked with him, even a pillar of
thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. 7a 162 stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon,
2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and | Judg1:23 | and he poured oil ae reeves
ith him, Put the strange | 35:7 15 And Jacob called the name of the place
en ee ay eam BOE rete re ies ei Gen 28:19 | where God spake with him, Bethel.
change your garments: | se Bc Rachel dies
3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I Peng 16 And they journeyed from Osc an
will make there an altar unto God, who! Gen17:5 _| there was but a little way to come to Ephrath:
answered me in the day of my distress, and) 2K9s17:34 | and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
was with me in the way which I went. | ey. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in
4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange hard labour, that the midwife said unto her,
gods which were in their hand, and all their ear- eats aaa | Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid ‘ets 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in
them under the oak which was by Shechem. judg 6:21 departing, (for she died) that she called his name
5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God !#¢9 13:20 | Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.
was upon the cities that were round about a as 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the
them, and they did not pursue after the sons) —17:15 | way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
of Jacob. | 35:16 20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that
ich is i Ruth 4:11 i i f hel’ is day.
ee eee ee ee

ple that were with him. ol 419. 21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent
7 And he built there an altar, and called the | ee) beyond the tower of Edar.
place El-beth-el: because there God appeared Gen 48:7 22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in
unto him, when he fled from the face of his , 35:20 ‘that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bil-
brother. 1Sam 10:2 | hah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it.
8 But Deborah Rebekah’s nurse died, and | ape) § Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: 7Qh
Chr 56-1 23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s first-
and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth. 35.53 born, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and
9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when | Gen 29:32-35 | Issachar, and Zebulun:

35:1 go up to Bethel. \t is strange that during all they could meet God at Bethel. Like many modern
the ten years or so that Jacob had been back in believers, they tried to retain some of the accou-
Canaan, he had never yet gone back to nearby Bethel trements of ungodliness from which they had been
to build his altar as he had promised God he would do delivered.
when he was leaving Canaan (Genesis 28:20-22). He 35:8 Allon-bachuth. Allon-bachuth means “The
may have been spiritually uncomfortable with how Oak of Weeping.” Deborah was Rebekah’s nurse and
content he allowed his family to become in their com- accompanied her when she left her home to marry
promising and worldly prosperity at Shechem. Isaac. Deborah no doubt stayed with Rebekah until
35:2 the strange gods. His family and servants Rebekah’s death. Deborah had known and loved
still had some of the pagan images and charms they Jacob ever since he was born, and evidently had gone
had brought from Syria, not to mention the spoils to live with him on one of his trips home from
of Shechem. These spoils had to be buried before Shechem to Hebron to visit his aged father Isaac.
69 GENESIS 35:24-36:21

24 The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: | 35:24 _ 8 Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is
Gen 30:22-
25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s hand- 34 | Edom.
maid; Dan, and Naphtali: 35:25 _ 9 And these are the generations of Esau the
26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid; = 46:23- | father of the Edomites in mount Seir:
Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, 10 These are the names of Esau’s sons; Elip-
| 35:26

which were born to him in Padan-aram. Gen 30:9-13 haz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel
Isaac dies the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.
) 35:27.
27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father Josh 14:13 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman,
unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is | 35.28 Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. _ Gen 50:26 _ 12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz
28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred 35:29 Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek:
Gen 25:8, 17
and fourscore years. | Gen 49:33 these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.
29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, 13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath,
36:1
and was gathered unto his people, being old Gen 32:3-7 and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were
and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob) ' S135 _the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.
buried him. 362 gaq._‘14 And these were the sons of Aholibamah,
(363 the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon,
CHAPTER 36 Gen 25:13 | Esau’s wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and
Esau’s genealogy | 364 Jaalam, and Korah.
ow these are the generations of Esau, Raa: 15 These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the
who is Edom | sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke
2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of “365 36:18 Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,
Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, | ,.., 16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke
and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the Gen13:6 = Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Elip-
daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 36:8 haz in the land of Edom; these were the sons
3 And Bashemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister aa en of Adah.
of Nebajoth. | Gen 32:3 | 17 And these are the sons of Reuel Esau’s
4 And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and | 36.9 'son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke
Bashemath bare Reuel; _ Gen 36:43 Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes
5 And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, *""" that came of Reuel in the land of Edom;
6:10
and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which | 1 Chr 1:35 these are the sons of Bashemath Esau’s
were born unto him in the land of Canaan. | wife.
36:11
6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and | 1 Chr 1:36 | 18 And these are the sons of Aholibamah
his daughters, and all the persons of his 36:18 Esau’s wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke
1 Chr 1:35
house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all Korah: these were the dukes that came of
his substance, which he had got in the land of a Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.
on 9
Canaan; and went into the country from the 19 These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom,
face of his brother Jacob. ca 14:6 and these are their dukes.
7 For their riches were more than that they Bate 22 | 20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite,
1:38-
might dwell together; and the land wherein bees who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal,
they were strangers could not bear them. _and Zibeon, and Anah,
because of their cattle. 21 And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these

36:1 generations of Esau. This toledoth of Esau was ly. Another explanation may be that Esau actually had
probably acquired by Jacob when he and Esau came six wives. A final possibility may be the names in one
together for their father’s burial. He appended it to his case are those in the native tongues of the women and
own toledoth just before he affixed his closing signature in the other case are their Hebrew names.
at Genesis 37:2. 36:15 dukes. These “dukes,” or chieftains, had all
36:3 sister of Nebajoth. The names of Esau’s wives risen to prominence by the time of Isaac’s death. Since
seem to conflict with those at Genesis 26:34 and Genesis Esau had married forty years before Jacob, he had one
28:9. However, it was not uncommon for a person to be more generation of descendants than Jacob. Fourteen
known by one name early in life and another later in life such dukes are listed in Genesis 36:15-19.
(Abram:Abraham, Sarai:Sarah, Jacob:Israel). Possibly 36:20 sons of Seir. The Mount Seir region, later
women were called by new names after marriage. There- known as Edom (meaning “red,” another name for
fore, probably Adah, Aholibamah and Bashemath (in this Esau), was originally settled by Horites, or Hurrians.
record) were the same women as Bashemath and Judith The descendants of Esau had partially conquered these
(Genesis 26:34) and Mahalath (Genesis 28:9), respective- settlers by this time.
GENESIS 36:22-37:5 70

are the dukes of the Horites, the children of | ppetek | 36 And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah
Seir in the land of Edom. reigned in his stead.
22 And the children of Lotan were Hori and % Asc _ 37 And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth
Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna. 36:25 by the river reigned in his stead.
23 And the children of Shobal were these; | Gen 36:2,5, 38 And Saul died, and Baal-hanan the son of
Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, | Laker Achbor reigned in his stead.
and Onam. _ 39 And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died,
| 36:27
24 And these are the children of Zibeon; 1 Chr 1:38, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name
both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that 4? of his city was Pau; and his wife’s name was
found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed 36:29, 30 -Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daugh-
:20
the asses of Zibeon his father. pec © ter of Mezahab.
25 And the children of Anah were these; “Cen17, | 40 And these are the names of the dukes
Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of 16 that came of Esau, according to their families,
Anah. eens pe: after their places, by their names; duke Tim-
26 And these are the children of Dishon; 3.3, nah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth,
Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. 1chr1:46 41 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
27 The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, —36:37 42 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
and Zaavan, and Akan. 1Chr1:48- “43 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the
28 The children of Dishan are these: Uz, | 36:40 dukes of Edom, according to their habitations
1 Chr 1:51
and Aran. in the land of their possession: he is Esau the
29 These are the dukes that came of the Ee ‘father of the Edomites.
Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Gen284 |
Zibeon, duke Anah, 37:2 CHAPTER 37
30 Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: 22° $2) Joseph angers his brothers
these are the dukes that came of Hori, ee 26 nd Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his
Gen 41:46
their dukes in the land of Seir. father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
37:3
The kings of Edom Gen'37:23; 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph,
31 And these are the kings that reigned in) 32 being seventeen years old, was feeding the
the land of Edom, before there reigned any °°"4'7 —flock with his brethren; and the lad was with
king over the children of Israel. wees ne ‘the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zil-
32 And Bela the son of Beor reigned in 11,18-24 pah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought
Edom: and the name of his city was Dinhabah. | 37-5 unto his father their evil report.
33 And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Gen40.5 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his
Gen 41:1
Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. | Num 12:6 children, because he was the son of his old
34 And Jobab died, and Husham of the land an 2:1 age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
of Temani reigned in his stead. 4 And when his brethren saw that their father
35 And Husham died, and Hadad the son of | loved him more than all his brethren, they hated
Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, | him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
reigned in his stead: and the name of his city | 5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it
was Avith. ‘his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

36:31 the land of Edom. The rest of Genesis 36 37:2 generations of Jacob. This is the last time the
seems to have been inserted by Moses at the time of the formula, “these are the generations of...,” is used in Gen-
exodus since he knew the Israelites would be encoun- esis. This verse probably represents the signature of
tering the Edomites when they left the wilderness. Jacob at the conclusion of the section (beginning at Gen-
Moses knew that the Israelites would eventually have a esis 25;19b). The information in the rest of Genesis must
king (Deuteronomy 17:14-20), even though they did not have come originally from Joseph and the other sons of
have one even in his day. Jacob. Possibly Moses recognized this formula and
37:1 Jacob dwelt in the land. This is the termina- affixed a similar formula at its conclusion in Exodus 1:1.
tion of the long record of Jacob which began at Gene- 37:2 feeding the flock. Literally, “was shepherd over
sis 25:19 and ends with Genesis 37:2: “These are the the flock.” Though he was slightly younger than the
generations of Jacob.” He had evidently continued the four brothers with him, he was very capable and had
account up to the burial of his father Isaac (Genesis been placed in charge by his father. In this capacity, he
35:28-29). His brother Esau joined with him in the was expected to make full reports, and these necessarily
burial service, and evidently gave Jacob his own included a record of the poor work of his brothers. Evi-
records at this time. Jacob incorporated these “gener- dently the six sons of Leah had been assigned other
ations of Esau” (Genesis 36) into his own record duties in another place. Benjamin, his younger brother,
before he closed it. was still a child, at home with his father.
71 GENESIS 37:6-37:33

6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, 37:6 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him,
Gen 44:18
this dream which I have dreamed: and cast him into some pit, and we will say,
37:7
7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in Gen 42:6, 9 Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we
the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also Gen 43:26 shall see what will become of his dreams.
stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood 37:8 21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him
Ex 2:14
round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. Deut 33:16
out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou. 22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no
37:9
indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed Gen 41:25 blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the
Gen 43:28
have dominion over us? And they hated him wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he
yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 37:10 ‘might rid him out of their hands, to deliver
Gen 27:29
9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and Isa 60:14 him to his father again.
told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have | Phil 2:10 23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was
dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun 37:11 come unto his brethren, that they stripped
Ps 106:16
and the moon and the eleven stars made Isa 11:13 Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many
obeisance to me. Mt 27:18 colours that was on him;
Acts 7:9
10 And he told it to his father, and to his 24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit:
37:12
brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said Gen 33:18
and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
unto him, What is this dream that thou hast | 25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they
37:14
dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy Gen 29:6 ‘lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a
brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves 37:17 company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with
to thee to the earth? 2 Kgs 6:13 their camels bearing spicery and balm and
11 And his brethren envied him; but his) 37:20 ‘myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
Prov 1:11
father observed the saying. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What
37:21
Joseph is sold Gen 42:22
profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal
12 And his brethren went to feed their 37:24
his blood?
father’s flock in Shechem. Jer 38:6 _ 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeel-
13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy 37:25 ‘ites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he
Gen 25:16- is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren
brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come,
18
and I will send thee unto them. And he said to” Gen 31:23 were content.
Gen 37:28 28 Then there passed by Midianites mer-
him, Here am I. Jer 8:22
14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see | Jer 46:11 chantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph
whether it be well with thy brethren, and well 37:27 out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeel-
with the flocks; and bring me word again. So Ex 21:16 ‘ites for twenty pieces of silver: and they
Neh 5:8
he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he brought Joseph into Egypt.
37:28
came to Shechem. Lev 27:5
29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and,
15 And a certain man found him, and, Judg 8:22 behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent
Acts 7:9
behold, he was wandering in the field: and the | his clothes.
37:29
man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and
Gen 44:13
16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I Num 14:6 said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
pray thee, where they feed their flocks.
| 37:30

31 And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed

Gen 42:13 a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in
17 And the man said, They are departed Gen 37:3
hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Prov 28:13 the blood;
Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, 37:32 32 And they sent the coat of many colours,
and found them in Dothan. Lk 15:30 -and they brought it to their father; and said,
18 And when they saw him afar off, even 37:33 This have we found: know now whether it be
Gen 37:20
before he came near unto them, they con- Gen 44:28
thy son’s coat or no.
spired against him to slay him. 33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s
19 And they said one to another, Behold, coat; an evil beast hath devoured him;
this dreamer cometh. Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

37:28 Midianites. These traders are called both Midi- associated closely in many ways. The result was the
anites (here and in Genesis 37:36) and Ishmeelites interchangeable use of their names.
(here and in Genesis 37:25). These two tribes were both 37:28 twenty pieces of silver. Twenty pieces of silver
descended from Abraham (he was father of both Ish- was the going price of a slave. In the time of Zechariah
mael through Hagar and Midian through Keturah), (and of Christ), it was thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah
both lived in the same region, and undoubtedly both 11:12-13; Matthew 26:14-15).
 GENESIS 37:34-38:25 72

34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sack- | Pe oee 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold
cloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son | 3 thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to
many days. | ee Sam 12:17| shear his sheep.
35 And all his sons and all his daughters s 77:2 _ 14 And she put her widow’s garments off
rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be 37:36 ‘from her, and covered her with a vail, and
comforted; and he said, For I will go down into | res fe wrapped herself, and sat in an open place,
the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his Ae which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw
father wept for him. | Josh 12:15 ‘that Shelah was grown, and she was not given
36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt. bane ‘unto him to wife.
unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and) AS “15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to
captain of the guard. "Gen 24:3. be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
Gen 34:2. | 16 And he turned unto her by the way, and
CHAPTER 38 Pes ‘said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto
Tamar deceives Judah | et 46-12 thee; (for he knew not that she was his daugh-
nd it came to pass at that time, that Judah Num 26:19 ter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give
went down from his brethren, and turned in | 38:6 me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. | ‘'? | 17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from
2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a cer- 387 the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a
tain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and Gen 13:13 _ pledge, till thou send it?
he took her, and went in unto her. | Gen 1213-18 And he said, What pledge shall I give
3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he Bs ‘thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy
called his name Er. “tev18:16 bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand.
A And she conceived again, and bare a son; Lei And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and
and she called his name Onan. - mt22:24 she conceived by him.
5 And she yet again conceived, and bare a. 38-10 _ 19 And she arose, and went away, and laid
son; and called his name Shelah: and he was. a :27 by her vail from her, and put on the garments
at Chezib, when she bare him. ‘of her widowhood.
6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, | sh 113. 20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his
whose name was Tamar. 38:12 friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge
7 And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Gen 31:19 | from the woman’s hand: but he found her not.
the sight of the Lorn; and the Lorp slew him. °\!>534” 21 Then he asked the men of that place, say-
8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy 2 Sam ‘ing, Where is the harlot, that was openly by
brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up | tesa) the way side? And they said, There was no har-
seed to thy brother. iow a loti in this place.
9 And Onan knew that the seed should not. 7 22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I can-
be his; and it came to pass, when he went in “Gen 24:65 not find her; and also the men of the place
unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on 38.46 said, that there was no harlot in this place.
the ground, lest that he should give seed to 4 $009 1M _ 23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest
his brother. | Bae -we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and
10 And the thing which he did displeased the | 38:17 thou hast not found her.
Lorb: wherefore he slew him also. Gen 38:20,25 | 24 And it came to pass about three months
11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in. | 38:18 after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy
eee a ae at a eae ne till rae ane | bei in law hath played the harlot; and also,
elah my son be grown: for he said, Lest per- ehold, she is with child by whoredom. And
adventure he die also, as his brethren did. And | oes 32, 33 Lida said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. | 3g.74 25 When she was brought forth, she sent to
12 And in process of time the daughter of | | Lev 20:10 her father in law, saying, By the man, whose
Shuah Judah’s wife died; and Judah was com- | fecies Ea these are, am I with child: and she said, Dis-
forted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to | cern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet,
Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. | ‘and bracelets, and staff.

37:36 Potiphar. Archaeological research shows that | of view, quite justified) intrigue, is the first of four
Potiphar, \ike Pharaoh, was a title in Egypt rather than | women (the others are Rahab, Ruth and Bathshebah)
a personal name. listed in the kingly genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew
38:6 Tamar. Tamar, who had a son by Judah through | 1:3). Tamar had twin sons, the youngest of which,
a rather involved and unsavory (though, from her point | Phares, was the one in the royal line.
73 GENESIS 38:26-40:1

26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, 38:26 can I do this great wickedness, and sin
1 Sam 24:17
She hath been more righteous than I; because Ezek 16:52 against God?
that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he. 10 And it came to pass, as she spake to
38:27
| Num 26:20
knew her again no more. Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto
Ruth 4:12
27 And it came to pass in the time of her tra- 1 Chr 2:4 her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
| Mt 1:3
vail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. 11 And it came to pass about this time, that
Lk 3:33
28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, Joseph went into the house to do his business;
39:1
that the one put out his hand: and the midwife and there was none of the men of the house
Ps 105:17
took and bound upon his hand a scarlet. Acts 7:9 there within.
thread, saying, This came out first, 39:2 12 And she caught him by his garment, say-
29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his Gen 28:15
| 1 Sam 3:19 ing, Lie with me: and he left his garment in
hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and her hand, and fled, and got him out.
39:3
she said, How hast thou broken forth? this Josh 1:8 13 And it came to pass, when she saw that
breach be upon thee: therefore his name was 1 Sam 18:14
‘he had left his garment in her hand, and was
1 Chr 22:13
called Pharez. | 39:4
fled forth,
30 And afterward came out his brother, that. Prov 14:35 14 That she called unto the men of her
had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his Prov 17:2 house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he
| Prov 27:18
name was called Zerah. hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock
39:5
Deut 28:3-6
us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I
CHAPTER 39 cried with a loud voice:
39:6
Joseph purchased by Potiphar EXe22 15 And it came to pass, when he heard
1 Sam 16:12
nd Joseph was brought down to Egypt; that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he
A and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, cap-
Lk 16:10
Acts 7:20 left his garment with me, and fled, and got
tain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him > 39:7 him out.
of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had Ps 119:37
16 And she laid up his garment by her, until
Prov 5:3
brought him down thither. Prov 7:13 his lord came home.
Ezek 23:5
2 And the LorpD was with Joseph, and he was 17 And she spake unto him according to
a prosperous man; and he was in the house of 39:8 these words, saying, The Hebrew servant,
| Gen 39:5
his master the Egyptian. Prov 1:10 which thou hast brought unto us, came in
3 And his master saw that the LorD was with Prov 6:23,24 unto me to mock me:
him, and that the LorpD made all that he did to 39:9 18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my
2 Sam12:13
prosper in his hand. Ps 51:4
voice and cried, that he left his garment with
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he 39:10
me, and fled out.
served him: and he made him overseer over his | 1 Cor 6:18 19 And it came to pass, when his master heard
1 Cor 15:33
house, and all that he had he put into his hand. | 1 Thess 5:22
the words of his wife, which she spake unto him,
5 And it came to pass from the time that he 2 Tim 2:22 saying, After this manner did thy servant to me;
had made him overseer in his house, and over 39:12 that his wrath was kindled.
Prov 7:13
all that he had, that the Lorp blessed the 20 And Joseph’s master took him, and put him
Eccles 7:26
Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the Ezek 16:30 into the prison, a place where the king’s prison-
blessing of the LorD was upon all that he had 39:14 ers were bound: and he was there in the prison.
in the house, and in the field. Isa 54:17 21 But the LorD was with Joseph, and
6 And he left all that he had in Joseph’s 39:17 shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the
Ex 20:16
hand; and he knew not aught he had, save the Ps 37:14
sight of the keeper of the prison.
bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a Ps 55:3 22 And the keeper of the prison committed
goodly person, and well favoured. 3939 _to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in
Prov 6:34
Joseph resists temptation Prov 18:17
the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he
7 And it came to pass after these things, that was the doer of it.
39:20
his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; Ps 105:18 _ 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to
and she said, Lie with me. 39:21 any thing that was under his hand; because
8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s Acts 7:9 the LorD was with him, and that which he did,
wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is 39:22 the LorpD made it to prosper
Gen 41:40
with me in the house, and he hath committed |
| 39:23 CHAPTER 40
all that he hath to my hand; Gen 39:3
9 There is none greater in this house than I; Ps1:3 Dreams of the butler and the baker
neither hath he kept back any thing from me | 40:1 nd it came to pass after these things, that
Neh 1:11
but thee, because thou art his wife: how then the butler of the king of Egypt and his
GENESIS 40:2-41:7 74

baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. | 40:2 _ 16 When the chief baker saw that the inter-
Prov 16:14
2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his | Prov 19:12 pretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also
officers, against the chief of the butlers, and 40:3
/was in my dream, and, behold, I had three
against the chief of the bakers. Gen 39:20 white baskets on my head:
3 And he put them in ward in the house of 40:4 17 And in the uppermost basket there was
Gen 37:36
the captain of the guard, into the prison, the | Gen 39:1
of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and
place where Joseph was bound. the birds did eat them out of the basket upon
40:5
4 And the captain of the guard charged | Gen 20:3 'my head.
Gen 37:5-10
Joseph with them, and he served them: and | 18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the
Gen 41:1-7
they continued a season in ward. | 40:6 interpretation thereof: The three baskets are
5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, Gen 41:8 three days:
each man his dream in one night, each man | 40:8 | 19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift
according to the interpretation of his dream, Gen 41:15 up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee
Job 33:15
the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, Dan 2:28 on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from
which were bound in the prison. 40:9 ‘off thee.
6 And Joseph came in unto them in the Gen 37:5 20 And it came to pass the third day, which
Judg 7:13
morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast
40:12
they were sad. Judg 7:14
unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head
7 And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were | Dan 2:36 | of the chief butler and of the chief baker
with him in the ward of his lord’s house, say- ‘among his servants.
| 40:13
Gen 40:19
ing, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? 21 And he restored the chief butler unto his
8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed 40:14 butlership again; and he gave the cup into
Josh 2:12
a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And 1 Sam _Pharaoh’s hand:
Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations 20:13, 14 22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph
belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. 40:15 had interpreted to them.
Gen 37:28
9 And the chief butler told his dream to. Gen 39:1 23 Yet did not the chief butler remember
Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, 40:16 Joseph, but forgat him.
| Gen 40:1, 2 |
a vine was before me;
10 And in the vine were three branches: and. 40:18 CHAPTER 41
it was as though it budded, and her blossoms. Gen 40:12
| Pharaoh dreams
Gen 41:13
shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought aie it came to pass at the end of two full
40:19
| Gen 41:13
forth ripe grapes: years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and,
11 And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I Deut 21:22 behold, he stood by the river.
took the grapes, and pressed them into 2 And, behold, there came up out of the river
Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into |seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and
Pharaoh’s hand. they fed in a meadow.
Jer $2:31-34
12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the 3 And, behold, seven other kine came up
40:22
interpretation of it: The three branches are Gen 40:19
after them out of the river, ill favoured and
three days: leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon
40:23
13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift | Gen 41:9 ' the brink of the river.
up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: | 41:2 | 4 And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine
and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his | Job 8:11 did eat up the seven well favoured and fat
Isa 19:7
hand, after the former manner when thou wast | kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
his butler. 41:3Gen 41:20, 5 And he slept and dreamed the second time:
14 But think on me when it shall be well N cass

_and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon

with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, |41:4 one stalk, rank and good.
1 Kgs 3:15
unto me, and make mention of me unto. _ 6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted
Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 41:6
| Ezek 17:10 with the east wind sprung up after them.
15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land | Ezek 19:12 7 And the seven thin ears devoured the
of the Hebrews: and here also have I done noth- | seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke,
ing that they should put me into the dungeon. ‘and, behold, it was a dream.

40:8 interpretations belong to God. Joseph’s own butler and baker, then eventually of Pharaoh himself. In
dreams, the meaning of which were revealed by God all these, Joseph realized that God had given both the
(Genesis 37:5-10), had prepared him for his crucial min- dream and the interpretation in order to accomplish His
istry in Egypt. First, he interpreted the dreams of the own purposes.
75 GENESIS 41:8-41:38

8 And it came to pass in the morning that his _ 23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin,
Ex 7:11
spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for Dan 2:1-3 and blasted with the east wind, sprung up
all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise Dan 4:5
after them:
Mt 2:1
men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his 24 And the thin ears devoured the seven
41:9
dream; but there was none that could interpret Gen 40:14, good ears: and I told this unto the magicians;
them unto Pharaoh. 23 ' but there was none that could declare it to me.
9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, 41:10 25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The
Gen 40:2
saying, | do remember my faults this day: 'dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed
41:11
10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and | Pharaoh what he is about to do.
Gen 40:5-8
put me in ward in the captain of the guard’s 26 The seven good kine are seven years; and
41:12
house, both me and the chief baker: | Gen 40:12- ‘the seven good ears are seven years: the
11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I 19
dream is one.
and he; we dreamed each man according to 41:13 27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine
Gen 40:22
the interpretation of his dream. that came up after them are seven years; and
41:14
12 And there was there with us a young. Ex 10:16
the seven empty ears blasted with the east
man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the Ps 105:16- wind shall be seven years of famine.
DD
guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to 28 This is the thing which I have spoken
41:15
us our dreams; to each man according to his -unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he
Gen 41:8
dream he did interpret. Dan 2:25 sheweth unto Pharaoh.
13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to 41:16 29 Behold, there come seven years of great
Gen 40:8
us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
Num 12:6
and him he hanged. Dan 2:28-30 30 And there shall arise after them seven
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, Acts 3:12
years of famine; and all the plenty shall be for-
and they brought him hastily out of the dun- 41:18 gotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine
Gen 41:28
geon: and he shaved himself, and changed his shall consume the land;
41:26
raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh Gen 40:12, 31 And the plenty shall not be known in the
Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams 18 land by reason of that famine following; for it
15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have 41:27 _ shall be very grievous.
Gen 41:30,
dreamed a dream, and there is none that can 54
32 And for that the dream was doubled
interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that 2 Sam 24:13 unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is
2 Kgs 8:1
thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. established by God, and God will shortly
41:29
16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It bring it to pass.
Gen 41:47
is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a
41:30
answer of peace. Gen 41:54 man discreet and wise, and set him over the
17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my Gen 47:13 land of Egypt.
dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the 41:32 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint
Gen 37:9
river: Job 33:14
officers over the land, and take up the fifth part
18 And, behold, there came up out of the Isa 14:24 of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
Isa 46:10
river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; 35 And let them gather all the food of those
41:33
and they fed in a meadow: good years that come, and lay up corn under
Gen 41:39
19 And, behold, seven other kine came up Dan 4:27 the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food
after them, poor and very ill favoured and lean- 41:34 in the cities.
Ex 18:19 36 And that food shall be for store to the
fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of
Deut 1:13
Egypt for badness: 2 Chr 34:12 land against the seven years of famine, which
20 And the lean and the ill favoured kine did 41:36 shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land per-
Gen 47:13 ish not through the famine.
eat up the first seven fat kine:
21 And when they had eaten them up, it 41:37 Joseph rewarded
Prov 25:11
could not be known that they had eaten them; Acts 7:10
37 And the thing was good in the eyes of
but they were still ill favoured, as at the begin- Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
41:38
ning. So I awoke. Job 32:8 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can
Dan 4:8, 18
22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, we find such a one as this is, a man in whom
Dan 5:11,14
seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: the Spirit of God is?

41:38 such a one. In a pagan, idolatrous court, again about the true God of creation (Genesis 41:16,
where many nature-gods were worshipped, Joseph 25,28,32). As a result, Pharaoh acknowledged God
was not embarrassed or hesitant to speak again and (Genesis 41:39).
 GENESIS 41:39-42:13 76

39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Foras- ies ae aes ‘the dearth was in all lands; but in all the
much as God hath shewed thee all this, there | land of Egypt there was bread.
is none so discreet and wise as thou art: epee 42 55 And when all the land of Egypt was fam-
40 Thou shalt be over my house, and accord-| ?s105:21__ ished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread:
ing unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: 0349 and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go
only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 4).4 _unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I) &sth10:3 | 56 And the famine was over all the face of
have set thee over all the land of Egypt. | eee ‘the earth: and Joseph opened all the store-
42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his “41:42 ‘houses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the
hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and _ Esth 3:10 famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and puta, th 68 | 57 And all countries came into Egypt to
gold chain about his neck; Se Joseph for to buy corn; because that the
43 And he made him to ride in the second) famine was so sore in all lands.
chariot which he had; and they cried before | p.i05.21
him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler 41:45 | CHAPTER 42
over all the land of Egypt. Ezek 30:17 Joseph’s brothers come to buy food
44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am) 41:46 aN when Jacob saw that there was corn
Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up ©"?74 J Nin Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why
his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. Le do ye look one upon another?
45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaph- yor , 2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there
nath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath judg6:s is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy
the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And | ied 2) ae for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. | | 3 And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to
46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he | oon .29 | buy corn in Egypt.
stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And 41:51 | 4 But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent
Joseph went out from the presence of Gen4s8:5 not with his brethren; for he said, Lest perad-
Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of 9e4*33!7 venture mischief befall him.
Egypt. pate: 4 5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn
Years of prosperity; years of famine Gen 49:22 | among those that came: for the famine was in
47 And in the seven plenteous years the 41-54 ‘the land of Canaan.
earth brought forth by handfuls. Acts7:11_ 6 And Joseph was the governor over the
48 And he gathered up all the food of the 41:55 land, and he it was that sold to all the people
seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, | a of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and
and laid up the food in the cities: the food of 4 Ae, 50:29 | bowed down themselves before him with their
the field, which was round about every city, Ps105:16 | faces to the earth.
laid he up in the same. | 42:1 7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew
49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of “714 them, but made himself strange unto them,
the sea, very much, until he left numbering; be ea and spake roughly unto them; and he said
= 5 sa without ee ; | ee -unto them, Whence come ye? And they said,
nd unto Joseph were born two sons. bee 41:57 From the land of Canaan to buy food.
before the years of famine came, which Asen- 42-6 8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they
ath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On _Ps105:16-21 knew not him.
bare unto him. | 42:9 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which
51 And Joseph called the name of the first ue he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye
born Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made _are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye
me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. Gen 27:29 | are come.
52 And the name of the second called he| Gen 37:8 _ 10 And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but
Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruit: | ae _to buy food are thy servants come.
ful in the land of my affliction. | | ie ae _ 11 We are all one man’s sons; we are true
53 And the seven years of plenteousness, 31-34 men, thy servants are no spies.
that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. “42:13 _ 12 And he said unto them, Nay, but to see
54 And the seven years of dearth began | aS mk Sa the nakedness of the land ye are come.
to come, according as Joseph had said: and _ 13 And they said, Thy servants are twelve

42:6 bowed down themselves. When his brothers | of his dream, as he had reported it to them some twen-
bowed before Joseph, they were fulfilling the prophecy | ty-one or more years earlier (Genesis 37:5-10).
77 GENESIS 42:14-43:2

brethren, the sons of one man in the land of 42:14 is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and
Gen 42:9
Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day their heart failed them, and they were afraid,
with our father, and one is not. Gen 42:34
| 42:15

saying one to another, What is this that God

Joseph sends for Benjamin 42:17
hath done unto us?
14 And Joseph said unto them, That is it that | Gen 40:4 29 And they came unto Jacob their father
I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies: | 42:18 unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that
15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Gen 20:11 befell unto them; saying,
Lev 25:43
Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except 30 The man, who is the lord of the land,
42:20
your youngest brother come hither. Gen 42:34 spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of
16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your. Gen 43:15
the country.
brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that 42:21 31 And we said unto him, We are true men;
Gen 37:23-
your words may be proved, whether there be 28 we are no spies:
any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh Gen 41:9 | 32 We be twelve brethren, sons of our father;
Num 32:23 |
surely ye are spies. one is not, and the youngest is this day with
42:22
17 And he put them all together into ward Gen 9:6
our father in the land of Canaan.
three days. Gen 37:21 33 And the man, the lord of the country, said
Lk 23:41
18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, _unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true
This do, and live; for I fear God: neeGen 43:14, “men; leave one of your brethren here with me,
19 If ye be true men, let one of your brethren 23, 30 and take food for the famine of your house-
Gen 45:14
be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, holds, and be gone:
carry corn for the famine of your houses: 42:25
34 And bring your youngest brother unto
Gen 44:1
20 But bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but
42:27
me; so shall your words be verified, and ye Gen 43:21 that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your
shall not die. And they did so. Ex 4:24 brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.
21 And they said one to another, We are ver- | 42:28 35 And it came to pass as they emptied their
Gen 27:33
ily guilty concerning our brother, in that we. Isa 45:7 sacks, that, behold, every man’s bundle of
saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought Lam 3:37 money was in his sack: and when both they
us, and we would not hear; therefore is this 42:30 _and their father saw the bundles of money,
Gen 42:7
distress come upon us. | they were afraid.
42:31
22 And Reuben answered them, saying, 36 And Jacob their father said unto them, Me
Gen 42:11
Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not,
42:32
against the child; and ye would not hear? Gen 42:13 and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin
therefore, behold, also his blood is required. 42:33 | away: all these things are against me.
23 And they knew not that Joseph under- Gen 42:19 | 37 And Reuben spake unto his father, say-
stood them; for he spake unto them by an 42:34 ing, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to
Gen 42:20
interpreter. thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will
42:37
24 And he turned himself about from them, bring him to thee again.
| Gen 44:32
and wept; and returned to them again, and 38 And he said, My son shall not go down
42:38
communed with them, and took from them 1 Kgs 2:6 with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left
Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. 43:1 ‘alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the
25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their Gen 41:5, 6, | which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray
Ta

sacks with corn, and to restore every man’s Gen 42:5 hairs with sorrow to the grave.
money into his sack, and to give them provi- 43:2
sion for the way: and thus did he unto them. Gen 43:15 CHAPTER 43
26 And they laded their asses with the corn, | Joseph’s brothers return with Benjamin
and departed thence. nd the famine was sore in the land.
27 And as one of them opened his sack to 2 And it came to pass, when they had
give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his eaten up the corn which they had brought
money; for, behold, it was in his sack’s mouth. out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go
28 And he said unto his brethren, My money again, buy us a little food.

42:24 Simeon. Joseph longed to be reconciled to him (Genesis 42:21-22), Joseph took Simeon hostage
his family but first had to learn their attitude to him, while he sent the other brothers back for Benjamin,
their father and his younger brother Benjamin. There- since Simeon had taken a lead part in their action
fore, he subjected them to a number of tests. After against Joseph. This was calculated to further stir their
hearing them express regret for what they had done to consciences.
GENESIS 43:3-43:30 78

3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The | ee Pit 17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the
man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye Gen 44:23 _man brought the men into Joseph’s house.
shall not see my face, except your brother be 43.5 18 And the men were afraid, because they
with you. | Gen 44:26
'were brought into Joseph’s house; and they
A If thou wilt send our brother with us, we 43:7 said, Because of the money that was returned
will go down and buy thee food: esas. in our sacks at the first time are we brought
5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not 438 ‘in; that he may seek occasion against us, and
go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not) Gen 42:2 fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and
see my face, except your brother be with you. | our asses.
Gen 4e-76
6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill, 19 : 19 And they came near to the steward of
with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet | 43-9 Joseph’s house, and they communed with him
a brother? = 42:37 at the door of the house,
: . en 44:32
7 And they said, The man asked us straitly of | Heb 7:22 20 And said, O sir, we came indeed down at
our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your 43.14 the first time to buy food:
father yet alive? have ye another brother? and Gen 32:13 21 And it came to pass, when we came to the
we told him according to the tenor of these ea eee inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold,
words: could we certainly know that he would | 43.2 every man’s money was in the mouth of his
say, Bring your brother down? Gen 42:35 sack, our money in full weight: and we have
8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send | 43:13 | brought it again in our hand.
the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that Si pets 22 And other money have we brought down
we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, | Poel in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who
and also our little ones. Gen 39:21 put our money in our sacks.
9 I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt Gen 42:38 23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not:
iy ony Oye : : Ps 106:46
thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, — your God, and the God of your father, hath
and set him before thee, then let me bear the Gen 31-54 | given you treasure in your sacks: I had your
blame for ever: Gen 44:1 |money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.
10 For except we had lingered, surely now | 43:18 _ 24 And the man brought the men into
we had returned this second time. oe oEe Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they
11 And their father Israel said unto them, If 43:21 washed their feet; and he gave their asses
| provender.
it must be so now, do this; take of the best Gen 42:27,
fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry os, one _ 25 And they made ready the present against
down the man a present, a little balm, and a lit- ey Joseph came at noon:
| should eat bread there. for they heard that they
tle honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and | Gen 42:25
almonds: | 43:23
26 And when Joseph came home, they
12 And take double money in your hand; Gen 42:24 ‘brought him the present which was in their
and the money that was brought again in the 43:24 hand into the house, and bowed themselves to
mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your 20" 584, him to the earth.
hand; peradventure it was an oversight: | Lk 7:44 27 And he asked them of their welfare, and
13 Take also your brother, and arise, go 43:26 said, Is your father well, the old man of whom
again unto the man: uel See
ye spake? Is he yet alive?
14 And God Almighty give you mercy before | 43: a 28 And they answered, Thy servant our father
| Gen 43:7
the man, that he may send away your other Gen 45:3 is in good health, he is yet alive. And they
brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my & 18:7 bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
children, I am bereaved. BR a 29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his
15 And the men took that present, and they | : brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said,
took double money in their hand, and Ben- Re 6:25 Is this your younger brother, of whom ye
jamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, Ps 67:1 spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious
and stood before Joseph. | 43:30 unto thee, my son.
16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with an ae Ss | 30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels
them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring | ee iess did yearn upon his brother: and he sought
these men home, and slay, and make ready; for | where to weep; and he entered into his cham-
these men shall dine with me at noon. ber, and wept there.

43:9 surety for him. Judah was only the fourth of if necessary substituting his life for Benjamin’s life (Gen-
Jacob’s sons, but at this crisis he begins to assume the esis 44:32-33), reveals a sacrificial character that is
family leadership. His offer to be “surety” for Benjamin, Christ-like.
79 GENESIS 43:31-44:25

31 And he washed his face, and went out, 43:31 unto your words; he with whom it is found
; A _ | Gen 43:25
and refrained himself, and said, Seton bread. Gen 45.1 shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
32 And they set on for him by himself, and) 'sa42:14 1] Then they speedily took down every man
for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, 43:32 his sack to the ground, and opened every man
which did eat with him, by themselves: (°%50°*4 his sack.
because the Egyptians might not eat bread. 43:33 _ 12 And he searched, and began at the eldest,
with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination Gen 44:12 and left at the youngest: and the cup was
unto the Egyptians. | 44:1 found in Benjamin’s sack.
33 And they sat before him, the firstborn Cen oe 13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded
according to his birthright, and the youngest | aa : every man his ass, and returned to the city.
according to his youth: and the men marvelled prov 17:13 14 And Judah and his brethren came to
one at another. 44:5 Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they
34 And he took and sent messes unto them Gen 30:27 fell before him on the ground.
from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five | iene _ 15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is
times so much as any of theirs. And they 14 this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a
drank, and were merry with him. 44:8 man as I can certainly divine?
elle 16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto
CHAPTER 44 as my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we
The cup in Benjamin’s sack Gen 31:32 | clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniqui-
nd he commanded the steward of his sages ty of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s ser-
house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with | 44:12
vants, both we, and he also with whom the cup
;

food, as much as they can carry, and put) Gen 44:2 is found.
every man’s money in his sack’s mouth. 44:13 17 And he said, God forbid that I should do
2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the Gen 37:29, 509: but the man in whose hand the cup is
sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn | ee found, he shall be my servant; and as for you,
money. And he did according to the word that | 44.44 get you up in peace unto your father.
Joseph had spoken. Gen 43:26 | 18 Then Judah came near unto him, and
3 As soon as the morning was light, the men | 44:15 said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee,
were sent away, they and their asses. ra ps speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not
4 And when they were gone out of the city, bee thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou
and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his stew-| Gen 42:21 | art even as Pharaoh.
ard, Up, follow after the men; and when thou, ©¢" 43:89 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have
Num 32:23
dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore Ea 9:10 ye a father, or a brother?
have ye rewarded evil for good? 44:18 20 And we said unto my lord, We have a
5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, Ge" 37:7,8 | father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a
and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done a ae ‘little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone
evil in so doing. Gen 42-13. _ is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.
6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto 16 21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring
them these same words. - _ Gen 43:7 him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes

7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith | oe 42:20, | upon him.
my lord these words? God forbid that thy ser- 34 22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot
vants should do according to this thing: Wen) 42-4 leave his father: for if he should leave his
Judah offers to substitute | ised 47.33 _ father, his father would die.
8 Behold, the money, which we found in our pd _ 23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except
sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee’ Gen42:20 your youngest brother come down with you,
out of the land of Canaan: how then should we | 44-25 | ye shall see my face no more.
steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold? Gen 43:2 24 And it came to pass when we came up
9 With whomsoever of thy servants it a unto thy servant my father, we told him the
found, both let him die, and we also will be my words of my lord.
lord’s bondmen. 25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us
10 And he said, Now also let it be according a little food.

43:33 the men marvelled. No wonder they marveled. | through eleven together). Putting it another way, there
The probability that eleven men could be “accidentally” | are almost forty million different ways in which eleven
arranged in order of age is only one chance out of | men could be seated.
39,917,000 (calculated by multiplying the numbers one
GENESIS 44:26-45:13 80

i ij 44:26
3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am
26 And we said, We cannot go down: : if ou r | GatBians
youngest brother be with us, then will we go. ‘Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his
down: for we may not see the man’s face, AEFI SS6 ‘brethren could not answer him; for they were
except our youngest brother be with us. | 44:28 troubled at his presence.
27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Gen 37:33 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come
Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: 44:29 near to me, I pray you. And they came near.
28 And the one went out from me, and 1) ©"4238 —And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom
said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him | pe agit \yve sold into Egypt.
not since: sae 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry
29 And if ye take this also from me, and mis- See as with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for
chief befall him, ye shall bring down my ray | 4s., God did send me before you to preserve life.
hairs with sorrow to the grave. | Gen 42:24 | 6 For these two years hath the famine been
Gen 43:30
30 Now therefore when I come to thy ser- ‘in the land: and yet there are five years, in the
45:3 which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
vant my father, and the lad be not with us; see- Gen 50:17-
ing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life; 19 7 And God sent me before you to preserve
31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth eae ‘you a posterity in the earth, and to save your
that the lad is not with us, that he will die: | akg lives by a great deliverance.
and thy servants shall bring down the gray | Gen 37:28 8 So now it was not you that sent me hither,
hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to | 45:45:5 /but God: and he hath made me a father to
the grave. Gen 50:20 Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler
32 For thy servant became surety for the lad 45:6 throughout all the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:29,
unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto) 35 9 Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say
thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father Gen 47:18, | unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath
for ever. | nd ‘made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto
33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant Be 4139_| me, tarry not:
abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; Judg 17:10 10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of
and let the lad go up with his brethren. eeeere Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me,
34 For how shall I go up to my father, and) Jn19:11 thou, and thy children, and thy children’s chil-
the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see | 45:9 dren, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all
the evil that shall come on my father. | Acts7:14 | that thou hast:
45:10 11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there
CHAPTER 45 oho9” are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy house-
“Tam Joseph your brother” 45:11 hold, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.
hen Joseph could not refrain himself Gen45:8 | 12 And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes
before all them that stood by him; and he °°"47'!? —of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth
cried, Cause every man to go out from me. io. y ‘that speaketh unto you.
And there stood no man with him, while | Joseph sends for his father
Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. 13 And ye shall tell my father of all my glory
2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye
the house of Pharaoh heard. shall haste and bring down my father hither.

45:1 could not refrain himself. This scene is surely centuries since. “And I will pour upon the house of
one of the most dramatic confrontation and reunion David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit
scenes in all literature, but it is far more than literature. of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon
This was the event which established the miracle nation me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for
of Israel. This was the founding of that unique people Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in
through whom would be given to the world the Scrip- bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his
tures and of whom one day the Saviour would come. firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10). It is largely because of this
Had this scene not occurred, the children of Israel would striking parallel that many have taken Joseph to be a
soon have scattered and merged with the other peoples type of Christ even though the New Testament writers
of the Middle East. It had been a long time in prepara- do not speak explicitly of such a comparison.
tion, but God had a long-range goal. 45:8 but God. This event is not only a stirring tes-
45:1 known unto his brethren. There is a great simi- timonial to the forgiving grace of Joseph, who was far
larity here to another dramatic confrontation that will more concerned with reconciliation than vengeance,
come at the end of this age when the Lord Jesus Christ but also of the truth of Romans 8:28, “all things
returns to meet His brethren of the house of Israel, work together for good to them that love God.” For
those who rejected Him and even urged His crucifixion, He “worketh all things after the counsel of His own
and who have continued to deny Him through all the will” (Ephesians 1:11).