More About the Bible: Part 4

Yet To Be #187

Genesis

Author: Moses

Written: between 1446 and 1406 BC

Details:

• first book of the Hebrew Bible called bereshit or in the beginning and the first book of the Christian Bible.
• Genesis is the Greek word meaning origin or beginning.
• First book of the Torah or the Law
• Primeval history
• Ancestral history

First Line sets the tone of the entire book, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.

The Primeval history consists of relationships. The first relationship presented and most important, is the relationship between God and the Son as mapped out in the name of God or Elohim. The root El translated from Hebrew into English for God, the first name of God as seen in Genesis 1:1. Elohim is the plural for God. The Hebrews of the Old Testament had only one God who was Yahweh. They believed in monotheism which is the worship of one God. As Elohim is plural and Eloah is singular, this is the first evidence that the Son was with God the Father in eternity past before the creation.
And God said, “let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26) In the beginning, before time began, He was not alone but, is speaking with someone else.
Then there is the relationship between God and man and the relationship between man and beasts and then man and woman as seen in the creation story. (Chapters 1- 11)
The ancestral history details the rise of the nation of Israel as God’s chosen people and God’s covenant to Abraham (the patriarch) and his descendants. (Chapters 12-50)

Overview

• Creation and the fall, (so-called original sin, casting out of the Garden, first promise of God, first murder and first murderer, the story of Cain and Abel) 1:1-5:32

• Noah and his descendants, (the Ark, the Deluge, tower of Babel, dividing of language) 6:1-11:26
• Abram (Abraham) and his descendants, (command to leave the Ur of the Chaldees, Covenant of God with Abram, Melchizedek the King of Salem and high priest of El Elyon is introduced, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s Wife, the birth of Moab and Ammon, Ishmael of Haggai, Abraham’s last test, the sacrifice of Isaac and Abraham’s belief in the promise of God and belief in resurrection is introduced) 11:27-25:18
• Story of Isaac, Jacob, and Esau, (stolen birthright, Jacob, Leah, and Rachel, birth of Edom, the twelve sons of Jacob, brotherly jealousy, coat of many colors)25:19-36:43
• Story of Joseph, (coat of many colors destroyed, Joseph sold into slavery, Joseph becomes governor, reunion of all the brothers and forgiveness, Jacob journeys to Egypt, the families all go down to Egypt and Joseph’s death) 37:1-50:26