1 Dickson Teacher’s Bible Genesis

Dickson
Teacher ’s Bible
eacher’s

GENESIS

Roger E. Dickson

2016
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Genesis
WRITER
Moses is given credit for being guided by the Holy Spirit to write this first book
of the Bible (Lk 24:44; Jn 7:19-23). He was born in Egypt (Ex 2:1,2) to the Hebrew
slave parents of Amram and Jochebed (Ex 6:20). His brother was Aaron and his
sister was Miriam. Soon fter his birth, he was placed in a basket in the Nile River by
his mother in order to save his life from Pharaoh’s efforts to kill the Hebrews’ new-
born male babies. He was found by Pharaoh’s daughter, and subsequently adopted
and brought up in Pharaoh’s house (Ex 2:3-10). As he grew up, he was instructed in
the wisdom and culture of the Egyptians (At 7:22).
After killing an Egyptian in defense of a fellow Hebrew, Moses fled to Midian.
He spent forty years in Midian (Ex 2:15; 7:30), where he married Zipporah, the
daughter of Jethro, priest of Midian (Ex 2:21; 18:2). When he was eighty years old,
God called him on Mount Sinai in order to give him a mandate to lead the children
of Israel out of Egyptian bondage and to the promised land of Canaan (Ex 12:29-51;
14:1-31).
Once the Hebrews were safely out of Egypt and at the foot of Mount Sinai,
Moses received the ten commandment law from God on the mountain (Ex 20:1-20;
21). Afterward, he led Israel through forty years of wilderness wanderings. During
this time he was directed by God to write the Pentateuch, the books of Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy (See Ps 90).
After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, and at the time Israel was
about to go into the land of promise, God informed Moses that he would not be
allowed to enter the land. He was not allowed because of an act of disobedience in
the wilderness (See Nm 20:10-13; 27:12-14). Before Israel crossed the Jordan into
the promised land, Moses died at the age of 120, and was buried by God somewhere
in the land of Moab (Dt 34:5-8; see Jd 9).

BOOK
The Jews entitled this book according to the first word of the book. In this case,
the book was named, “In the beginning.” It was later called the “Book of the Cre-
ation of the World” by those who were influenced by the writings of the Talmud.
The name “Genesis” comes from the Septuagint in the translation of the Greek
word geneseos in Genesis 2:4, “This is the book of the geneseos of heaven and
earth” (See 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:1,9; 37:2). Genesis means
“origin,” “source,” “generations” or “beginnings.”
Genesis was written somewhere between 1400 and 1440 B.C. The book was
part of what the Jews called the Torah. The Greek translation of the Hebrew Old
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Testament, the Septuagint, referred to the first five books of the Bible as the
Pentateuch.
Genesis covers at least 2,500 years of the major events of human history. The
book was not meant to be chronicles of all human history. It was written to be a
record of specific events and personalities that played a special role in God’s eternal
plan to redeem man. Genesis reveals the beginning of human history, and then it
gives us a historical background of origins and the initial work of God to preserve a
culture of people, the children of Israel, for the eventual revelation of the Son of
God. The book concludes with the dwelling of the children of Israel in Egypt.

The Generations Of The Creation vegetation and light (1:9-13), (4) Creation of heav-
(1:1 - 2:3) enly bodies (1:14-19), (5) Creation of birds and
Outline: (1) Creation of light (1:3-5), (2) Cre- fish (1:20-23), (6) Creation of animals and man
ation of the firmament (1:6-8), (3) Creation of land, (1:24-31), Rest on the seventh day (2:1-3)

C HAPTER 1
CREATION OF LIGHT (2:7,19; Ps 33:15; Is 44:9,10) and asah
Though we do not understand how (made) (8:6; Ex 5:16; Dt 4:16) refer to
creation can take place, we are informed the reconstruction of that which is already
in Hebrews 11:3 that creation took place created. Heavens and earth: Heavens
by bringing something into existence that refer to the galaxies of all suns, moons
previously did not exist. The integrity and stars. Earth refers to that on which
of Jesus stands on the fact of His confir- man resides (2:1; 14:19,22; Jr 23:24).
mation that He was part of the Godhead Was: This should not be understood to
who created man and woman (1:26; see mean “had become.” Reference is to a
Mt 19:4; Cl 1:16). state of being or existence. Without form
1:1-3 In the beginning: The incar- and void: The earth was created a waste-
nate Word was in the beginning when all land of soil mixed with water (See Is
things were created because He was the 34:11; Jr 4:23 where the words are used
one who did the creating (Jn 1:1; Cl 1:16; in reference to desolation.) Let there be
see Ps 104; Pv 3:19). God: This is the ... and there was ...: What else would
strong and Almighty One, the eternal ex- we expect from God (See Ps 33:9). Since
istence of the One who is to be feared. God is defined by what He can do in cre-
The word here is from Elohim, which is ation, then certainly He has no need to
plural and used approximately 2,000 rely on some supposed evolutionary pro-
times in the Old Testament. Created: cess to bring the present forms of life into
The word here is bara that is used exclu- existence.
sively by God in calling something into 1:4 It was good: The sovereign Cre-
existence out of nothing. Yatzar (formed) ator is magnified at least six times in the
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creation account with the statement, “It retained in the “fountains of the deep”
was good.” The creating Elohim (God) (7:11). The consequence was a green-
spoke the word, and it came into exist- house effect that caused the global
ence. The galaxies were spoken into ex- warmth of a tropical environment for the
istence by Him who only is eternal. This development of lush vegetation over the
sober fact of history thus becomes the face of the earth. Because of this global
foundation of our belief that we are the warmth, we must assume that the nature
result of a creative God of all things. In of the environment of the world before
our interpretation of these things we must the flood of Noah’s day, the time when
keep in mind that Moses did not com- the waters above the expanse (“firma-
mence here with a book on science. ment”) were brought down to the surface
However, when he speaks of those things of the earth through forty days of rain,
that are scientific, there is no contradic- was much different than the first days
tion between true science and the specu- after the creation.
lations of men who have allowed them-
selves to be misguided by the false pos- CREATION OF LAND,
tulations of false science. That men VEGETATION AND LIGHT
somehow evolved from slime to the sub- 1:9-19 Lights: Light was created
lime is totally foreign to the Genesis ac- on the first day. However, the heavenly
count of beginnings. bodies that generate light were created
1:5 Day: It must be pointed out that on day four. Light does not depend on
the word yom (day) with a numeral ad- the existence of a material substance such
jective signifies a 24-hour day. Of the as the sun. On this fourth day God cre-
1,284 times this word is used in the Old ated the lights (sun, moon, stars) in or-
Testament there are only a few excep- der to divide day and night for the sake
tions when it does not signify a 24-hour of man.
day when the numerical abjective is not
used. The plural form yamin always re- CREATION OF BIRDS & FISH
fers to a 24-hour day (See Ex 20:11). If 1:20-23 Creatures that have life:
God is who the Bible describes Him to The Hebrew text reads “souls that have
be, then certainly He has the power to life.” It is not that they have souls as
create and the power to create in a single man, but that the birds are living crea-
moment. tures. Fly: The realm of their flight de-
fines the firmament. This is the sky
CREATION OF THE FIRMAMENT which existed before the flood. It existed
1:6-8 Expanse: The KJV used the between the canopy of water above the
word “firmament.” The expanse stood sky and the earth below. In our world
between the canopy of waters that was today, the canopy of waters above the sky
above the earth and the waters of the earth no longer exists because it was brought
that had been separated from the soil, but down to the earth during the flood of
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Noah’s day. The sky still exists wherein (1:26). The nature of God is beyond the
the birds fly, but there is no canopy of definitions of the words of our dictionary,
waters between the sky and outer space. which words are defined by human rela-
Great creatures: From this statement we tionships, experiences and physical ap-
must assume that all life that was cre- pearances. Throughout the Bible, there-
ated for the sea came into existence. This fore, the Holy Spirit used many anthro-
would include sea life that no longer ex- pomorphisms (physical features of man)
ists, but has been preserved in fossils to explain metaphorically the actions and
throughout the world. God created more being of God. It is stated that God “sees”
life in the sea than the life that now ex- and “breathes.” But God is spirit (Jn
ists. From His work of creation, all di- 4:24), and thus is not confined to human
nosaurs were created, both those that actions and appearances. Creation in the
walked on the land and those that lived image of God does not refer to a physi-
in the sea. The fossils of dinosaurs is cal appearance. Reference is to the spiri-
evidence of the tremendous work of God tual image of God that dwells within ev-
in creation. ery person through the God-created spirit
of man. Being in the image of God re-
CREATION OF ANIMALS & MAN fers to the spiritual inclinations of man
1:24-31 Image of God: Man is thus that make him a spiritual being who seeks
created after the spiritual image of God to worship a higher power than himself.

C HAPTER 1
REST ON THE SEVENTH DAY set it apart as a day of rest. Men were to
2:1-3 Rested: God “rested” on the work six days and rest on the seventh (Ex
seventh day (2:2). But God does not be- 20:11; see 23:12; Dt 5:12-14). Many
come tired as man. The meaning is that physical things were sanctified through-
He ceased (rested) from His work of cre- out the Old Testament. In the sanctifica-
ation. This must be kept in mind when tion, they were not meant to be objects
understanding the concept that we are of worship, but were set apart for spiri-
created after the image of God. Refer- tual purposes.
ence is not to a physical image, but a
spiritual image, otherwise, the Son of Generations Of The Heavens
God would not have experienced the in- And The Earth
carnation (Jn 1:14). We are created after (2:4 - 4:26)
the image of the Creator who is spirit. Outline: (1) Beginning of mankind (2:4-25), (2)
Because we are so created, all men have Beginning of sin (3:1-7), (3) Beginning of the
a natural yearning to that which is be- seedline promise (3:8-24), (4) Beginning of the
yond the spiritual (See comments At families of mankind (4:1-15), (5) Beginning of
17:22-31). Sanctified it: It is not that the fall of man (4:16-26)
He made it a day of worship. He simply
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BEGINNING OF MANKIND that God is working in this event before

2:4-25 History: The word “genera- the fall of man. Since the record is not
tions” in the context of Genesis refers to written as either myth or legend, then we
what is begotten or generated. In this must accept it as the revelation of God
book it is the generations of key people concerning our beginnings. It is reason-
through whom the seedline promise of able to believe that if God exists, and He
redemption would come. Since it is the does, then certainly He would reveal to
purpose of the writer to give an account us how we and all creation came into ex-
of origins, the book is conveniently di- istence. We must also assume, that if
vided into sections by an introduction that there is a God, then the very nature of
alerts us to the beginning of a new sec- God is that He can create. Creation,
tion by mentioning the beginning of a therefore, is the proof that there is a God.
new posterity. Eleven times the writer Every phenomenon of the creation is a
introduces a section with the statement, witness to the fact that God exists and
“These are the generations ...” (See 5:1; that He has the power to create. Lord
6:9; 10:1; 11:10,27; 25:12,19; 36:1; God: In contrast to the names that were
37:2). Beginning with this section, man given to pagan gods, this new name in
is the offspring who came from the cre- reference to the Eternal Creator is Jeho-
ation of the heavens and the earth, since vah Elohim. Jehovah, which is translated
from the dust of the earth the body of from various forms of the original He-
man was formed. Beginning with 2:4, brew word, has long since lost its cor-
Moses does not present a second account rect pronunciation. The original word
of creation, but focuses on the created used here could have been from either
heavens and earth giving birth to the hu- Jahveh, Yahweh or Yeheveh. It is com-
man race. For this reason, chapter 2 is monly translated “Jehovah.” But because
not chronological in reference to chapter of the variation in spelling, many trans-
1. It is topical in presenting the fall of lations have simply translated with the
man in chapter 3. We must not, there- word “LORD,” with the letters in all capi-
fore, read any contradictions between the tals. When Moses asked who sent him
narratives of chapters 1 and 2. The cre- to Israel in Egypt, God told him to iden-
ation of chapter 1 climaxed with the cre- tify Him to Israel as, “I AM THAT I AM”
ation of man. Chapter 2 prepares the (Ex 3:14). Only with man would God
reader with added details in the creation carry a true name among so many idola-
of man in preparation for the fall of man trous gods that have been created after
into sin in chapter 3. The Lord God the imagination of man.
made: We must not make the error of 2:5,6 Rain: These statements must
assuming that the record of the early be- be understood in reference to a different
ginnings of all things is either myth or environment than that which we experi-
legend. Though a speaking snake is ence today. There was an “expanse” (fir-
somewhat unusual, we must remember mament) created between the waters of
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the earth and the canopy of waters above was more than the garden wherein God
the earth (1:6). The canopy of waters located man. Tree of life: Eating from
above the earth produced a greenhouse this tree would somehow give eternal life
effect that created a warm temperature to man (See Gn 3:22-24). Tree of the
throughout the world, and thus lush veg- knowledge of good and evil: Eating from
etation grew over all the surface of the this tree would bring the curse of death,
earth before the flood of Noah’s day. It both spiritually and physically (vs 17; see
is probable that rain did not occur before comments Rm 5:12; 1 Co 15:20-22). It
the flood of Noah’s day, and thus some would be spiritual death in that man
had a difficult time believing the proph- would be separated from his Creator, who
ecy of Noah that a great destruction by only is eternal. It would be physical death
water was coming. In this context we in that man would not have an opportu-
learn that vegetation throughout the nity to eat of the tree of life, for man was
world was watered by a mist that came driven from the garden after eating of the
up from the earth. The lush global veg- tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
etation made it possible for animal life 2:10-14 Pishon ... Gihon ... Tigris
throughout the world to exist in great ... Euphrates: The names of these rivers
abundance. are given in order to identify the loca-
2:7 Breath of Life: This was not a tion of the part of Eden in which man
time when man supposedly changed from dwelt. The Tigris would be identified as
being an evolved animal to being a homo the Hiddekel. We do not know the loca-
sapien. Man was created instantly. He tion of the Pishon and Gihon. But ac-
immediately became a “living soul,” and cording to our present understanding of
thus is different from the nature of ani- where both the Tigris and Euphrates are
mals. Man is similar to animals only in located, we would assume that the Gen-
the sense that he was created with a body esis writer wants us to understand that
that could exist in the same physical en- the area about which he is discussing is
vironment as animals. Animals were somewhere in the upper Mesopotamian
commanded into existence by the infi- area.
nite power of Deity, whereas the body of 2:15-17 With every opportunity for
man was made from that which was al- good, there comes an opportunity for sin.
ready created (dust). Man was brought Since man was created a free-moral agent
to life by the personal act of God breath- with the ability to choose, he could be
ing life into him. Thus man is not an truly free only if he was placed in an en-
advanced form of any animal. vironment wherein he could make
2:8,9 Garden: See Dn 13:10; 1 Kg choices. Thus the garden of Eden offered
21:2; Is 51:3. Eastward in Eden: The man the opportunity to choose between
garden was in the eastward part of Eden. good and evil. Some might question why
It was the “garden of Eden” only in that God placed the opportunity for sin in the
it was in Eden, the paradise of God. Eden presence of Adam and Eve. The answer
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is in the fact that God is love. God says ship. The fact that man is not as animals
to man that He loves him. But only a is thus illustrated in the fact that Adam
truly free-moral agent can sincerely re- found no true companionship among the
spond with the statement, “I love you, animals. For companionship that was
too.” Neither robots, nor free-moral equal with man, God had to create a
agents who do not have the opportunity helper who was suitable for him. And in
to rebel, can respond to a loving God with order for man to find true companion-
a sincere statement as, “I love you, too.” ship in woman, she had to be created with
The tree of the knowledge of good and the same nature and intellect as man.
evil had to exist within the environment True companionship could never have
of man in order for man to be identified existed if woman were in any way cre-
as a true moral being with the ability to ated inferior to man. Names: Adam was
choose sin. given authority to name the animals.
2:18-25 Suitable helper: The Adam did not evolve from animals, but
woman was to be a helper in answer to was given dominion over all animals. His
the loneliness of man, and thus a partner superiority over animals was manifested
and companion in life. Man had a social in the fact that his spiritual and intellec-
need that could not be satisfied by any tual nature after the image of God al-
animal. For this reason God created lowed him the ability to give names to
woman to fill his need for companion- the animals.

C HAPTER 3
BEGINNING OF SIN of the flesh (“the tree was good for
3:1-5 You will not surely die: This food”), lust of the eyes (“pleasant to the
is the first recorded lie of human history, eyes”), and pride of life (“desired to
and thus Satan identifies his deceiving make one wise”) (1 Jn 2:16). The temp-
nature (Jn 8:44). By appealing to the tation resulted in her action to commit
command of God that man be dominant the sin (Js 1:15). The free moral agents
over all the animals, Satan tempts man were placed in an environment wherein
with being a god who is dominant over they could be tempted because there was
all things. “Your eyes will then be an opportunity to sin. Eve leaves her
opened” is Satan’s temptation that they submission to her husband and made the
would attain a higher degree of percep- fatal choice without the initial advice of
tion or awareness that is typical of the her head (1 Tm 2:14). However, Adam
gods that men create after their own is guilty because he yielded to the ex-
imagination (See 21:19; Is 35:5). It was ample of his wife to sin (Rm 5:12; 1 Cor
not that they would be gods, but that they 15:21,22). He did not take the moral ini-
would have a greater awareness of their tiative to do that which was right. As a
relationship with God. result of their sin, their eyes were opened
3:6,7 Satan appealed to Eve’s lust to understand that they were no longer
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innocent, but were standing naked before animals were in some way cursed as a
one another (See Ex 32:25; Ez 16:22; Rv result of the sin. But the curse of the ser-
3:17). Their one act of sin introduced pent was humiliating, for he was given
sin into the world. As the representative the lowest status of life among all crea-
for humanity, Adam brought sin into the tures (See Ps 72:9; Is 49:23; Mc 7:17).
world (Rm 5:12). All men personally sin 3:15 Paul’s reference to the crush-
and are separated from God because of ing of Satan surely refers to this first
the sin of each person (Rm 3:9,10,23; prophecy of the future work of Jesus to
6:23). Sin has passed to all men because rectify what was here lost in the garden
all men personally sin against God. in Eden (Rm 16:20). From the time of
this first sin, the curse was that there
BEGINNING OF would be hostility (enmity) between the
THE SEEDLINE PROMISE offspring of Satan (see Mt 13:38,39; Jn
3:8-10 Because of guilt, Adam and 8:44), and the eventual offspring of
Eve hid themselves from a visual presen- woman, the Redeemer. Nevertheless, the
tation of God. God called to Adam, not Seed of woman (Jesus) would eventually
because He did not know where Adam crush the head of Satan by His death on
was, but to bring forth a confession of the cross, thus freeing man from the con-
what he had done. Adam’s fear when trol that Satan has over man through sin.
God approached manifested that separa- In crushing the head of Satan on the cross,
tion had now come between God and man Jesus would bruise His heal by His own
as a result of sin (Is 59:1,2). death. However, His heal would only be
3:11-13 Adam had known the com- bruised because He would be raised from
mand not to eat of the tree (2:15-17), and the dead. The Bible student must keep
thus he was without excuse. However, in mind that beginning with the seed of
he would not take ownership of his own woman in this context, to the time of the
sin. He shifted the responsibility to his cross of Jesus, Satan launched an attack
wife. And in stating that it was God who to destroy the seed of woman that would
created the woman, he was seeking to eventually lead to the Seed who would
shift responsibility back to God. Then give His life for the sins of all men (See
Eve also sought to shift responsibility to comments Gl 3:16). Satan would make
the serpent, making it seem that the ser- every effort to destroy that which would
pent played her for a fool. The fact is eventually lead to his own destruction
that the soul that sins will spiritually die (Mt 25:41). The seedline war of Satan
(Ez 18:20). against the seed of women would become
3:14 The extent of the sin is here so intense that at one time in human his-
revealed by the intensity of the punish- tory, almost all humanity was wiped from
ments that were issued by God. The fact the face of the earth in the days of Noah.
that the serpent’s curse was more than Neverthless, the seedline from Eve would
the rest of the animals assumes that all prevail. From the seed of woman would
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eventually come the Seed of woman into would continue until he physically died.
the world for the salvation of man. 3:20,21 There was hope of a poster-
3:16 Eve, as the mother of woman- ity through Eve (“life”), since she,
hood, brought upon herself and her pos- through childbearing, would be the one
terity quite the opposite of what she through whom humanity would be pre-
sought in verse 6. Her disobedience served. The coats of skins meant that
brought sorrow in childbearing. For her some animal had to die in order to rec-
presumptuous act without following the tify the nakedness of man. And from this
headship of her husband, her desire time on we would assume that animals
would always be to the man who would were commissioned to die in sacrifices
rule over her. for the sins of men until the final death
3:17,18 Man had been given the re- for all sin on the cross of calvary (Rm
sponsibility to work the soil (2:5), but 3:25; compare Hb 10:1-4).
now after the curse, the work would no 3:22-24 Has become like one of Us:
longer be a joy. By cursing the earth, the It was not that man became in nature and
fruit of the soil would come forth only as character as God the Father, Son and
a result of the intense labor of man. Holy Spirit. It was only that man learned
Thorns and thistles would be his enemy the guilt and consequence of rebellion
in receiving the fruit of his labors. against divine law that only God can es-
3:19 Though not immediate at the tablish. Unless men have the opportu-
time of the sin, physical death would be nity to live perpetually in rebellion
the second greatest problem of mankind against God, his opportunity for eternal
after his spiritual separation from God life on earth had to be taken from him.
by sin. For his sin, Adam immediately He was thus driven from Eden in order
suffered the guilt of his sin, for he was to be responsible for his own existence
spiritually separated from God (Is 59:1,2; through the cultivation of the ground.
Rm 5:12). For his sin, he would also Angelic beings (cherubim) were set in
suffer the consequence of physical death, place in order to guarantee that no man
since he would be driven from the tree would have the opportunity of partaking
of life (3:22; 1 Co 15:20-22). Because of the tree of life. All men, therefore,
he could not eat of the tree of life, the must now physically die because they
natural processes of his body growing old cannot eat of the tree of life (Hb 9:27).

C HAPTER 4
BEGINNING OF she affirmed the continuation of human-
THE FAMILIES OF MANKIND ity, regardless of the sin in Eden. Cain
4:1,2 We do not know if Eve be- and Abel were quite different in their tem-
lieved that she fulfilled the promise of peraments. Cain liked farming. Abel
3:15 by giving birth to her firstborn, Cain. liked shepherding the animals.
It was with the “help of the Lord” that 4:3-5 Both sons were religious, and
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thus brought forth to the Lord the fruit 14), here indicate that Adam and Eve
of their labors. It was not that firstlings were bearing other children before and
of the flock were superior to the offering at the time of this tragedy. We do not
of the fields. Abel’s sacrifice was more know how long it was after their birth
excellent in that it had been commanded when Cain killed Abel. But judging from
by the Lord, which command is not here the age of Adam and Eve, it could have
stated in the text, but assumed from the been hundreds of years. During this time
statement of Hebrews 11:4. The offer- Adam and Eve gave birth to many sons
ings thus manifested the character of the and daughters, who also gave birth to
two sons. Abel’s was out of faith because countless children who were populating
he did what God commanded, whereas the earth. We must not assume by the
Cain’s was out of selfish ambition and time of this act of murder, therefore, that
rebellion, which is subsequently mani- only Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel existed
fested in what follows in the text. on the face of the earth. Because the
4:6-8 Cain’s countenance had fallen narrative mentions only these personali-
in his anger because he knew that he had ties does not mean that they only lived
not acted according to the will of God. on the earth at the time the events took
His knowledge of his sin assumes his place.
knowledge of what God had originally 4:13-15 When faced with account-
commanded concerning acceptable sac- ability, hate will always turn to fear and
rifices. Sin was in the heart of Cain, and self-pity. God’s mercy is shown in the
thus he could not keep the door of sin fact that their sudden death did not take
shut. He allowed it to open, and in doing place as a result of Cain’s murderous act.
so, the opportunity presented itself to act Cain’s punishment was merciful in the
in a murderous manner toward his fact that he was not immediately struck
brother. His action was deliberate and dead. It was serious, however, in the fact
without provocation. It was murder in that he was allowed to live out his pun-
the first degree. ishment as an aimless wanderer among
4:9-12 The brotherhood of civiliza- humanity. The “land of Nod” was not a
tion can exist only in the fact that we are specific location, but a general area east
our brother’s keeper. By his murderous of Eden where Cain wandered among
act of terrorism against his brother, Cain other descendants of Adam and Eve.
denied the very foundation upon which
civilized men can cohabit in the world. BEGINNING OF
His privileges of bringing forth fruit from THE FALL OF MAN
the ground are thus taken away. He 4:16-24 By implication, the wife of
would become a fugitive from society Cain was a near relative with the other
and a vagabond in restlessly wandering “sons and daughters” of Adam and Eve
from place to place. The word “fugitive,” (5:4). From this genealogy the wicked-
and the phrase “whoever finds me” (vs ness of men developed upon the face of
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the earth. Through polygamous mar- Adam had either laid with his wife, or
riages men began to multiply rapidly. the third time she conceived. It simply
They learned skills for the development means that he had sexual intercourse with
of society. However, an apostasy from his wife again in order to conceive a son
God developed as the center of reference to carry on the righteousness that was
for moral behavior in society turned from characteristic of Abel. The name “Seth”
the laws of God to men. Man started means “appointed” or “placed.” Since
doing that which pleased the lust of the Abel was the child who was appointed
flesh, lust of the eyes and what mani- to bring into the world a posterity of faith
fested pride in life. This moral degrada- among men, Seth was to be his succes-
tion is illustrated in the act of Lamech sor. The posterity of Cain was evil. But
who killed simply because someone the posterity of Seth was that faith in God
wounded him (vs 23). Though mankind would continue among men throughout
reached heights in achieving great things, the history of the world.
he sunk into the depths of sin. Economic
development never assumes moral alle- The Generations Of Adam
giance to the will of God. (5:1 - 6:8)
4:25,26 The word “again” does not Outline: (1) Righteous descendants from Seth (5:1-
indicate that this was only the third time 32), (2) Moral degradation of humanity (6:1-8)

C HAPTER 5
RIGHTEOUS DESCENDANTS lective in the sense that every person of
FROM SETH the ancestry is not necessarily mentioned.
5:1-32 The first two verses of this The words “father” and “son” apply to
chapter are a review of 1:27,28. After any ancestor of a particular lineage, and
the history of the genealogy of Cain, thus at times a person of a genealogy is
wherein men digressed into habitual sin, left out. For this reason, the genealogies
the Genesis writer wants us to understand are not meant to be strict chronologies
that God originally intended that men live of an ancestry, but to give the general lin-
after the spiritual image of God. This eage of the individual’s descendants.
image would move man to focus on the Since the genealogical records of
spiritual, not the physical. Moses in this Genesis 5 and 11, in comparison with
context brings to the forefront the behav- Matthew 1 and Luke 3, leave out some
ior of Enoch who walked with God (24) generations, we would assume that we
as opposed to those who rebelled against cannot use the genealogies as chronolo-
God. gies to determine the time of creation in
There are interpretative principles reference to the birth of Jesus. We would
that must be kept in mind when studying assume that since generations were left
the genealogies of the Old and New Tes- out of the genealogies, that the creation
taments. The genealogies are usually se- took place further in the past than the
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years that are listed in the chronologies of the world was very different than what
of Genesis. How many years in the past we experience today. It is believed by
cannot be determined by the years of the most biblical scientists that the earth was
generations that are listed in the Genesis encompassed by a water vapor that pro-
chronologies. tected man from the damaging ultra vio-
What is revealed in a comparison be- let rays of the sun, thus giving the earth a
tween the genealogy of Cain and Seth is universal warm climate.
that the descendants of Cain moved their One of the negative aspects of the
ancestors into wickedness, whereas the longevity of mankind was that the wick-
genealogy of Seth eventually descended edness of particularly evil men had a long
to Enoch who walked with God and Noah lasting impact on society. As a result,
who was righteous before God (29). It every imagination of man became con-
was through righteous Noah that God tinually evil (6:5). This is the lesson that
would begin the existence of man anew Moses wants us to understand as we
after the flood with a genealogy of men move into the narrative concerning the
of faith. flood of Noah’s era. Moses wants us to
The length of the lives of those men- understand the lesson of the digression
tioned in this chapter have often been of mankind into wickedness in order that
questioned. However, we must keep in we guard ourselves from such in our own
mind that before the flood of Noah’s day, societies.
the atmosphere and physical environment

C HAPTER 6
MORAL DEGRADATION 6:1-4 We cannot interpret that the
OF HUMANITY “sons of God” were fallen heavenly be-
Studies in the general rate of popula- ings who were incarnate in order to cor-
tion growth, figuring in wars and fam- rupt humanity by marrying women of this
ines, indicate that the present population world. We must keep in mind that an-
of the world began about 3,000 to 4,000 gels are without sexual orientation (Mt
B.C. We would place the time of the 22:30). As in Psalm 73:15 (“the genera-
beginning of the population of the world tion of your children”) and Deuteronomy
from Noah to at least 5,000 to 6,000 years 32:5 (“his children”), the reference is to
ago. Some have suggested a time from the spiritual “sons of the living God” (Hs
7,000 to 8,000 years ago according to 1:10). These were those who were obe-
present population growth figures. This dient to God. They joined themselves to
would place the creation of the world fur- those who were not of faith (the daugh-
ther back in history to possibly beyond ters of men), and thus allowed themselves
8,000 years ago, depending on the to be led away into degradation. My
amount of time we would calculate that Spirit will not always contend: God thus
transpired between Adam and Noah. established a deadline that would end His
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contending (strife) with those who would because of his obedient faith.
totally corrupt the world, knowing that a
seedline of faith had to be preserved for Generations Of Noah
the coming Seed of woman (Gl 3:16). (6:9 - 9:28)
Nephilim: The word “giants” in some Outline: (1) Noah commissioned to build ark
translations is from the Hebrew word (6:9-22), (2) God’s judgment by the global flood
nephilim. Reference is not to men of stat- (7:1-24), (3) Noah’s deliverance from the flood
ure, but to those who are either “fallen (8:1-19), (4) Noah coming out of the ark (8:20,22),
ones” or those who fall upon others. (5) God’s covenant with humanity (9:1-17), (6)
They were a vicious and dominant people The sin and curse of Ham and Canaan (9:18-29)
who subjugated civilizations by populat-
ing the earth through the “daughters of NOAH COMMISSIONED
men,” and thus bringing wickedness upon TO BUILD ARK
the earth. The result of their wicked cul- This section of Scripture is written
ture led to the digression of mankind. to give an account of what God did in
6:5-8 Humanity had reached the human history to preserve mankind in
point of no return. Degradation was the view of what had happened to society as
norm of social behavior, and thus, soci- a whole. His preservation of humanity
ety was beyond repentance and in a state came through His salvation of Noah and
of self-destruction. God’s “repentance” his generations. Since man had moved
(“sorrow”) was not as men who would into a behavior of self-destruction (vs 5),
repent of evil deeds. God does not re- God changed His preserving relationship
pent as men (Nm 23:19; 1 Sm 15:29). of love to an appointed time of destruc-
When man turns from the path that God tion. Because of his righteousness, Noah
intended that he should go down, then was chosen, not only to preserve man-
God changes His relationship with man. kind, the creation of God, but also to pre-
As repentance means to change one’s serve the seedline through which the Sav-
course of behavior, so God changes His ior of the world would redeem those as
course from a loving protector of man to Noah who continued to walk by faith.
a God of rebuke and judgment. In this 6:9,10 Noah was just in that he lived
context God sorrowed over the creation according to the standard of God’s law.
of man because He now had to change He was blameless in his uncompromis-
His relationship with man to one of de- ing loyalty to God. As with Enoch (5:24),
struction in the flood that was to come. he enjoyed a close fellowship with God
The result of God’s love, the creation of because of his obedience to the will of
man, must now reap the consequences of God.
His judgment. The purpose for which 6:11,12 In contrast to the character
man was creaetd, that is, to populate and behavior of Noah who had a genu-
heaven, had now failed in humanity. ine faith and obedient behavior, the rest
However, Noah found favor with God of society had given up moral guidance.
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Society lived in a state of violence of one feet long (about 139 meters), 75 feet wide
man against another. It was thus a state (about 23 meters), and 45 feet high (about
of social self-destruction. As God 14 meters). For ventilation and light,
“looked on” this situation (compare there was a window that may have en-
30:1,9; 50:15), action had to be taken, compassed the top edge of the ark. A
lest righteous Noah be consumed in the door was on the side of the ark, though
degradation of mankind, and the foreor- no information is given concerning the
dained plan of God to save the righteous relationship of the door to the three lev-
be cancelled by the total destruction of els of the ark.
humanity. 6:17,18 The interpretation of the
6:13 The “end of all flesh” had come. words that are used to describe the flood
This judgment in time would typify the clearly indicate that the flood was a glo-
judgment of God on the Jewish State in bal catastrophe. It was to be such in or-
A.D. 70 (Jd 14,15) and the final judg- der to guarantee the total annihilation of
ment at the end of time (See 2 Pt 3). We humanity, except for Noah and his im-
must not conclude that this was to be a mediate family. A covenant is thus es-
local flood in the region of Noah’s dwell- tablished with Noah as a promise of God
ing. Phrases as “all flesh” strongly indi- that he would not be destroyed (9:9-17).
cate that this flood would be universal, This is the first time the word “covenant”
for man had universally become corrupt is used in Scripture. It here means a
and violent. If it were only a local flood, promise that God extends to Noah and
then the corrupt and violent nature of a his family that is based on the condition
neighboring society would eventually that Noah build the ark.
overtake Noah’s generations, and thus 6:19-22 The word “kind” in the clas-
another man as Noah would have to be sification of animals has no equivalent
called to preserve again a generation of in modern science (See 1:21,24,25). It
faith. If it were only a local flood, then would be erroneous to associate the
certainly God would have instructed “kinds” of the account here with the
Noah to simply migrate to another area. modern scientific classification of spe-
6:14-16 It is not known for sure what cies, since it would not be reasonable that
gopher wood was, but some translators ancient civilizations would use modern
assume it was acacia wood. With asphalt definitions to identify animals. “Male
(tarmac) as a sealant, the boxlike shape and female” of every kind were to be
of the ark would be perfect as a floating taken for the purpose of starting the re-
barn. It would be the ideal floating habi- populating of the animal kingdom after
tat for every kind of animal with genes the flood. Because of his faith, Noah
that would populate the world with ev- moved with fear to be obedient to every-
ery species now known to man. With thing that God had commanded (Hb
eighteen inches being the assumed length 11:7). And while carrying out what he
of a cubit, the ark would have been 450 had been commanded to do, he preached
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to his generation in order that God’s op- of his almost one hundred years in
portunity for salvation be extended to preaching while the ark was under con-
others (2 Pt 2:5). Noah built in hope that struction, he had not one convert other
possibly others would join him in the ark than his wife, sons and their wives (Com-
in order to be preserved from the impend- pare 1 Pt 3:18-22).
ing flood judgment to come. Regardless

C HAPTER 7
GOD’S JUDGMENT it started to rain. The first drop of rain
BY THE GLOBAL FLOOD marked the time for the waters to be upon
7:1 We must keep in mind that the the face of the earth, and thus change the
coming of the Lord to speak again to history of mankind and the surface of the
Noah to enter the ark is about one hun- world.
dred years after the initial commandment 7:11,12 The subterranean waters of
to build the ark. Throughout this time, the earth were unleashed upon the face
Noah preached the righteousness of God of the earth. The watery canopy above
while building on the ark (1 Pt 3:18-20; the firmament was brought down upon
compare Jd 14,15). We often wonder the earth in a torrential rain. This cata-
what mocking he had to endure as he clysmic activity produced tectonic activ-
spoke of a global flood that would come ity that changed the entire face of the
and destroy the face of the earth. His earth. Because few statements are made
faith is exemplified in the fact that he about what geologically happened, some
preached something that had never be- assume that the flood was a local wash-
fore happened in the history of the world. out. But we must remember that the
7:2-5 It was now time to enter the Bible was not written as a textbook on
ark, and thus God reminded Noah con- geology. Because of the present geologi-
cerning the animals that were to be taken cal phenomena we see throughout the
into the ark. The “clean” animals were world today, we can conclude that the
to come in by sevens in order to repro- global geological upheaval that took
duce after the flood in greater numbers. place during the the flood was truly cata-
These were the animals that were to be strophic. The world that existed was
used for animal sacrifices. Of the un- overthrown by water (2 Pt 3:5,6).
clean animals, only pairs were to be 7:13-16 To emphasize the preserva-
taken. Noah was given seven days to tion that existed inside the ark, Genesis
complete the task of bringing the animals again records the entrance of all those
into the ark. who would be saved from the global de-
7:6-10 In order to expedite the work struction that would take place outside
of bringing all the animals into the ark, the ark. Emphasis is on the fact that the
God brought the animals to Noah and his Lord shut them in, and thus those who
three sons. At the end of the seven days, would be preserved were sealed in by the
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Lord. Those who were destroyed were shut assume many things in reference to how
out by the Lord. the Genesis flood changed the physical
7:17-20 The increasing of the wa- and biological environment of the world.
ters meant that the event was cataclys- Some of the changes that took place
mic for forty days and nights. The wa- would be the formation of the frozen
ters “prevailed” exceedingly upon the north and south poles after the flood,
earth in that they worked to change the since before the flood the watery canopy
appearance of the face of the earth. The above the firmament would have pro-
word “prevailed” signifies that the wa- duced a greenhouse effect that brought
ters took control over the soil, and thus warmth throughout the world. The world
moved the soil to and fro in order to re- before the flood was lush with vegeta-
surface the earth. In order to affirm that tion and animal life. During the flood,
the waters prevailed upon and over all all animals and vegetation were com-
the earth, we are informed that the wa- pacted into enormous subterranean pock-
ters rose to over twenty-two feet (about ets that were compressed into the coal
6.8 meters) above the highest mountain. beds and oil cavities of the present earth.
7:21-24 In order to emphasize the After the flood, the phenomenon of rain
universality of the flood, the Holy Spirit appeared, for the subterranean waters of
uses the word “all” in reference to both the earth no longer came up from the
animals and mankind. Every animal and ground as a mist to water the earth as in
every man of all the earth was destroyed the days of the garden of Eden. After the
by the global waters. The resurfacing of flood humanity would have to suffer the
the earth carried on for 150 days. It was results of direct sunlight, and thus the be-
during this time that the face of the earth ginning of the rainbow phenomenon of
was changed to be as it is today. It is light being separated into colors through
significant to understand what the Holy falling water droplets. The age of men
Spirit said of this event in 2 Peter 3:5,6. thus decreased in this new environment
“For this they willfully forget, that by the where the direct sunlight of the sun
word of God the heavens were of old and brought its damaging ultra violet rays into
the earth standing out of the water and direct contact with the flesh of men. The
in the water, through which the world that standards of measurement of modern-day
then existed was destroyed, being over- methods of dating fossils would certainly
flowed with water.” In the context of 2 be out of alignment in comparing the age
Peter 3, Peter compares the heavens and of fossilized plants and animals that lived
earth of old with the “heavens and the after the flood with the fossils of plants
earth that are now” (2 Pt 3:7). Though and animals that lived before the flood
we do not know all the details, we do or died during the flood. This is espe-
know that we now live in a different cially critical in reference to the Carbon
physical world than the world that ex- 14 method of dating. Carbon 14 (C-14)
isted before the flood. Therefore, we can is produced in the atmosphere by the
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bombardment of the atmosphere by sun- mal life. Therefore, according to the

light. This C-14 is then ingested into liv- present known degeneration of C-14, any
ing plant and animal life. When the ani- plant or animal that died before the flood
mal or plant dies, no more C-14 is in- would be measured much older than any
gested. Scientists thus measure the plant or animal that lived after the flood
amount of C-14 in the fossils of plants because the plant and animal that died
and animals, comparing their results with before the flood would have ingested less
the known degeneration of C-14 over a C-14. These and many other things must
period of time in the present. The prob- be considered when comparing our
lem in measuring all fossils, however, is present world with the world that existed
in the fact that before the flood of Noah’s before the flood. We live in a different
day there would be less C-14 in the at- world than that which existed before the
mosphere because the atmosphere was days of the flood. Peter said that that
shielded from direct sunlight by the wa- world was overthrown by the water of a
tery canopy. This means that less C-14 great flood.
would be ingested into all plant and ani-

C HAPTER 8
NOAH’S DELIVERANCE leaf (8:10,11). After another seven days
FROM THE FLOOD a dove was released and did not return
In 6:13,14 & 7:6 God gave the com- (8:12). Noah waited for 36 more days.
mand to build the ark. Noah was 600 In the 1st day, 1st month, of Noah’s 601st
years old. In 7:7-10 Noah was given year, the waters receded from the face of
seven days to gather the animals into the the earth to form the present oceans.
ark. After the seven days, and in the 17th After another 57 days the earth was
day, 2nd month of Noah’s year (600), the settled into its present form and Noah left
rains began (7:10,11). After 40 days, the the ark on the 27th day, 2nd month, and
rain stopped (7:12,17). The flood was 601st year of Noah (8:14). From the be-
upon the earth for 150 days (7:24; 8:3). ginning of the flood to its end was one
After 150 days from the beginning of the year and 10 days. Throughout this time,
rainfall, the ark rested on Ararat in the the waters went to and fro on the surface
17th day, 7th month of Noah (8:4). In 73 of the earth.
days the water receded, and in the 1st day, 8:1-5 Everyone in the ark was re-
of the 10th month of Noah’s 101st year, membered with a heart of compassion by
the tops of the mountains appeared. Af- the One who cleansed the earth of hu-
ter 40 more days, a raven was released man corruption. It seems that the “wind”
that flew back and forth great distances now becomes a part of the physical envi-
from the ark (8:7). Noah then sent out a ronment in which humanity would live.
dove (8:8,9). After seven days a second Oceans are now formed as the waters
dove was released and returned with a receded from the face of the earth. In
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the process, great canyons and valleys turn, he waited another 57 days. The
were formed by water moving the un- change in the Hebrew word harevu (dry)
settled and muddy soil of the earth. This in verse 13 to another word, yavesah
process took place over a period of about (dry) in verse 14 emphasizes a more com-
183 days from the time the rain stopped plete drying of the face of the earth.
and the tops of the mountains appeared.
During this time the hydrodynamic force NOAH COMING
of the water molded a new surface on the OUT OF THE ARK
earth as enormous pressures moved great 8:20-22 Some of the clean animals
segments of the yet unsettled soil when that were taken into the ark were sacri-
the waters moved into forming oceans. ficed (See 7:2-9). God “smelled a sweet
One can only imagine the enormous aroma” in that He received the contrite
forces that produced continual tsunamic act of a righteous soul. The imagina-
movement of the waters that reshaped the tion of man’s heart is evil: It was not
face of the earth. The hydrodynamic re- that God had made man evil, or cursed
surfacing of the earth is now observed in him with a sinful nature, or any original
the present geological formations of our sin had come from the sin of Adam. From
world. youth, the time when one can make a free-
8:6-19 Noah sent out a raven and moral decision to obey God, one is in-
two doves in order to determine if land clined by his sinful environment to
had yet appeared. Raven: The raven choose rebellion. The emphasis is on
went to and from the ark until the day what one chooses to do, not on the na-
that the waters had dried. It was not un- ture of the one who makes the choices.
til the third mission of a dove that did It is in this context, however, that God
not return, however, that he knew the wa- will never again destroy the world by
ters were gathering into their present lo- water, though an impending destruction
cations. After the last dove did not re- by fire is yet in the future (2 Pt 3:10-13).

C HAPTER 9
GOD’S COVENANT fear of man in the animals for their self-
WITH HUMANITY preservation.
9:1-4 Noah and his sons were to re- 9:6,7 Man was given the right of
plenish the earth with humankind. In capital punishment in order to protect
reference to food, mankind was now society from those who give up their right
given permission to eat meat as he ate of to cohabit in society, as well as to instill
the plants of the earth. The limitation is fear in the hearts of those who would take
not to eat meat in which blood remained, the life of others. This right is given in
for blood was the substance of life. Man the midst of the command to produce life
was now made dominant over every ani- in order to populate the world.
mal. For this reason, God instilled the 9:8-12 God made a covenant, not
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only with Noah, but with his descendants, Japheth were discrete enough to guard
which would include all mankind, and themselves from the opportunity to look
also all the animal life of the world. The on their father’s nakedness. But Ham,
covenant (promise) was that He would whether by accident or intention, discov-
never again destroy the earth with flood ered the nakedness of Noah, and thus
waters. Canaan bore the burden of his curse.
9:13-17 The rainbow appeared to all 9:24-29 Noah was not so drunk that
men since environmental conditions were he did not realize that his nakedness had
made for weather development to exist been witnessed by Ham. As a result of
throughout the world. The falling rain seeing his father’s nakedness, Ham, the
that produces a rainbow was a sign that father of Canaan, was left without a bless-
never again would rain remain in the at- ing, but Canaan was specifically cursed
mosphere to the extent that forty days of to be the servant of his brethren. The
rain could occur. The rainbow, therefore, character of Canaan is revealed in the
signaled the fact that God would not al- nature of his descendants. They became
low a flood to happen as it did in the days an immoral and base people who even-
of Noah. The rainbow was a reminder to tually became a curse to the Israelites.
God not to cause another flood. The Canaanites and their gods became
the symbol of moral degradation and re-
THE SIN & CURSE bellion against God. God blessed Shem
OF HAM & CANAAN and his descendants who established a
9:18-23 Noah was a farmer as moral lineage throughout history. The
Adam’s son Cain. This is the first time blessing of Japheth resulted in their be-
wine is mentioned in the Bible, and in coming a superior people in the political
the context it is referred to in a negative world that was expressed by their descen-
sense in that Noah became drunk. Since dants in the Persians, Greeks, Romans
this new fruit of the vine was probably and other dominant civilizations of the
unknown to Noah and his family, in his ancient world.
innocence his consumption of too much
led to some unfortunate consequences. Generations Of The Sons Of Noah
In his senseless condition he remained (10:1 - 11:9)
naked and exposed for the opportunity Outline: (1) The sons of Japheth (10:1-5), (2)
of Canaan to be cursed (See Lv 18:5-19; The sons of Ham (10:6-20), (3) The sons of Shem
20:17-21; 1 Sm 20:30). Both Shem and (10:21-32), (4) The tower of Babel (11:1-9)

C HAPTER 110
0
THE SONS OF JAPHETH many places are unknown. The sons of
10:1-5 From the names that are given Japheth were determined by nationalis-
in this chapter, some of the places of the tic and linguistic boundaries. These de-
settlement of the fathers is known, though scendants occupied the regions that
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stretched from modern-day Turkey, the 10:13,14 Mizraim is the Hebrew

islands of the Mediterranean, and into name for Egypt. West of Egypt is Ludim,
southern Europe. The descendants of or Libyia. Pathrusim were the people of
Gomer have been identified in the records Pathros in upper Egypt and Casluhim is
of Assyria as the Cimmerians. Magog is the Philistines, and Caphtorim the people
a term that probably referred to all of Crete.
northerners, particularly those of eastern 10:15-20 The Canaanites were
Turkey (See Ez 38:2; 39:1,6). Madai known as Phoenicians by the Greeks.
would be the Median nation. Javan Their principal cities were the coastal
would be the Ionian Greeks. Tubal would cities of Sidon and Tyre that still exist in
be the Aegean Island inhabitants or the Lebanon. They were the dominant group
Etruscans. Ashkenaz would be the resi- of Palestine from as far north as Sidon to
dents of the Caucasian mountains near as far south as Gaza and into parts of
the Black and Caspian Sea (See Jr 51:27). Egypt. From Heth came the Hittites who
Riphath possibly lived in Anatolia or became established in Palestine and who
Turkey. Togarmah possibly lived near built the city of Hebron (23). From Heth
Carchemish. Elishah lived in Cyprus, came the Jebusites who dwelt in the area
Tarshish in the southern coast of Spain, of Jerusalem (2 Sm 5:6-10). The
Kittim in Cyprus, and Dodanim possibly Amorites dwelt in the highlands of Pal-
resided on Rhodes of the Aegean Sea. estine and the territory east of the Jordan
For the Israelites, the listing of all these River.
peoples made the written word of God a
textbook on the origin of people through- THE SONS OF SHEM
out the world. 10:21-32 The children of Eber came
to be referred to as the Hebrew people.
THE SONS OF HAM They were a Semitic-speaking nomadic
10:6-12 The Cushites established Kish people who settled around the Arabian
in the Mesopotamian valley. They later Desert. The Elamites dwelt east of the
became the Kassites, some of whom pos- Mesopotamian valley, whereas Asshur
sibly migrated to southern Arabia. They became the people of Assyria. The de-
then moved into Abyssinia of east Africa scendants of Arphaxad possibly settled
(Ethiopia). Nimrod became the honored northeast of the Assyrians. The descen-
leader of the Cushites. He built a great city dants of Aram became the Syrian people.
and kingdom that was composed of the city Their language, Aramaic, became the in-
states of Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh. ternational language of communication
In contrast to a shepherd who has the people during the Assyrian, Babylonian and Per-
at heart, Nimrod was a “hunter.” Refer- sian empires. The sons of Uz established
ence is probably here to the meaning that a city state east of the Jordan in the Ara-
he subdued people, rather than being a bian Desert where Job lived (Jb 1:1). The
hunter of animals. descendants of Sheba established the area
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south of Egypt from which the queen of 13).

Sheba came to visit Solomon (1 Kg 10:1-

C HAPTER 1111
THE TOWER OF BABEL use the gift of God in rebellion against
11:1,2 Immediately after the flood, His will.
the descendants of Noah were bound to- 11:7-9 The best way to stop mis-
gether by a common language. The guided men was to confuse their speech.
building of the tower of Babel took place Being unable to communicate instruc-
before the migration of the people who tions and dreams to one another, the in-
are described in chapter 10. With their habitants immediately gave up their com-
common language, they migrated to mon goal and set out across the world in
Shinar, that is the Mesopotamian valley, obedience to the original plan of God to
through which runs the Tigris and Euph- populate the world. From that time the
rates rivers. city was called “Babel,” a word that
11:3,4 Their decision was against the means “confusion.” The reason God
will of God to multiply and repopulate wanted man to scatter throughout the
the entire world. Lest they be dispersed world was to prevent another total deg-
throughout the world, they sought to radation of the human race. If pockets
make a common name for themselves of humanity lived separate from one an-
with the building of a tower to reach as other, their separation would spiritually
far as possible into the sky. This tower insulate their evils from one another.
could possibly have been as the Babylo-
nian ziggurats that were built similar to Generations Of Shem
the pyramids of Egypt. They were made (11:10-25)
of burned brick, some structures reach- Outline: (1) The genealogy of Shem (11:10-25)
ing as high as 300 feet (about 90 meters).
These were often constructed in the THE GENEALOGY OF SHEM
middle of cities with a pagan god hon- This section of Genesis is Moses’ ac-
ored on the top. count of the origin of the semitic nations
11:5,6 God was evidently left out of that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would
the plan to build the tower and city. What eventually encounter in their wanderings
is revealed in verse 6 is the ability that through Canaan.
was instilled within man upon his cre- 11:10-25 This genealogy seems to
ation. If men have a common language begin where the genealogy of chapter 5
and goal, they have the ability to work concluded. As Noah was the tenth listed
together in order to accomplish that person from Adam, Terah is here listed
which they imagine. This is the nature as the tenth descendant from Shem,
of man that God created after His image though we understand that the genealogy
(1:26). The problem was that men here is not here listed in order to give every
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descendant in the chronology of each humanity was once again turning from
generation. Unlike the lineage of Shem God, and thus God turned to building a
that is given in 10:21-32, this lineage is posterity of faith through Abraham, and
traced through Arphaxad. The other sons eventually through a nation that would
of Shem are ignored in order to bring the come from his descendants.
genealogy to Abram. The purpose for
this genealogy, therefore, is to bring the Generations Of Terah
seedline directly from Noah to the father (11:26 - 25:11)
of our faith, Abram (Abraham). We are Outline: (1) Generations of Terah (11:26-32), (2)
thus reminded that all genealogies before Wanderings of Abraham (12:1 – 25:11)
the birth of the Seed (Gl 3:16) were meant
to bring our attention to the fulfillment GENERATIONS OF TERAH
of God’s promise that from the seed of 11:26-32 Ur of the Chaldees was a
woman (3:15), Satan’s head would be wealthy city state of the ancient world.
crushed by the Seed. Chapter 12 intro- The city was destroyed around 2100 B.C.
duces us to God’s effort to preserve the After its destruction, those people in the
seedline promise to bring the Christ into area who migrated to the west were
the world. Satan almost had his victory known as the Amorites. The migration
in the destruction of all humanity. How- of Terah’s family was initially to go to
ever, God preserved a posterity of man Canaan, but the family came to Haran and
through Noah. In the building of Babel, settled there where Terah eventually died.

C HAPTER 112
2
WANDERINGS OF ABRAHAM Terah to set out with the entire extended
12:1-3 Abraham was first called by family to move to Canaan. In their jour-
God while he lived in Ur of the Chaldees ney they first came to Sichem, or
(At 7:3; Hb 11:8). His call was to leave Shechem (Gn 33:18,19; Js 24:1) or
his home and extended family in order Sychar (Jn 4:5). Because the Canaanites
to go to a country that God would show were already in the land, it seems that
him. This he did only after the entire clan God needed to reaffirm to Abraham that
migrated to Haran. From Abraham God this was the actual land that He would
promised that He would (1) make of him give to his descendants.
a great nation, (2) give him a great name, 12:8,9 Abraham came to Hai, or “the
(3) give him a land, and (4) from his seed, ruins.” Archaeological discoveries have
bless all the earth. indicated that this city was actually in ru-
12:4-7 Abraham did not argue with ins about 500 years before Abraham’s ar-
God when the commission was given, rival. It was a fortress city that had origi-
and thus he set out to an unknown land. nally been built by the Egyptians around
Since he was called in Ur, it could be as- 2900 B.C. but was destroyed around 2500
sumed that his call was what prompted B.C. It was here that Abraham built an-
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other altar and worshiped God. Sarah was his half sister. She was the
12:10-20 Because of the severity of daughter of one of the wives of Terah,
the drought in Canaan, Abraham took his but not of Abraham’s mother (20:12). It
extended family into the delta regions of was a half truth, but a deceptive state-
Egypt in order to find pasture land for ment. As a result of this lie, the house of
his herds and food for his family. Be- Pharaoh was plagued. So instead of
cause of the beauty of Sarah, Abraham Abraham being a blessing to the house
conceived a plan to spare his own life in of Pharaoh, he was a curse on this occa-
view of the lust of the Egyptians for beau- sion. Pharaoh subsequently reprimanded
tiful women. He thus instructed Sarah Abraham and expelled him from Egypt
to lie about her being his wife. Actually, for his deception.

C HAPTER 113
3
13:1-4 The Negev is the south, which the cities of the plain were corrupt with
is the country of the Edomites south of sin. He made a good decision for the
Palestine (12:9). Very rich: Abraham herds, but a bad one for his family. The
was very rich with livestock, gold and inhabitants of Sodom were even at this
silver (17:12,13,23). He returned to his time exceedingly wicked. Since his fam-
camping area between Bethel and Hai. ily would initially dwell among the herds
We assume that the famine of the land in the plain, it seems that Lot felt that he
had now come to an end, and thus he and would be untouched by the wickedness
all who were with him, and their live- of the cities. Lot was a country herds-
stock, could again reside in the land of man. Unfortunately, the unrighteousness
Canaan. of the cities eventually reached the coun-
13:5-9 The land was still recovering try. When we meet Lot again, he is liv-
from the drought, and thus unable to sup- ing in the city of Sodom in a culture of
port the tremendous herds of both Abra- wickedness.
ham and Lot. Strife between the herds- 13:14-18 After the departure of Lot,
men: Because they were brethren, Abra- the Lord again renewed His promise to
ham desired that there be no strife be- Abraham to give him the land of the
tween the two families. He thus gave his Canaanites. He also renewed His prom-
nephew, Lot, the choice as to which area ise that his descendants would be as the
he would take his herds. dust of the earth. It was at this time that
13:10-13 Though the plain of Jor- Abraham moved to the area of Hebron
dan was adequate for the herds of Lot, that was at the time known as Mamre.

C HAPTER 114
4
14:1-7 The alliance of the four kings Hittites to the north was too strong for
from the Mesopotamian area and the the defenses of the five kings of the south.

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The kings of the south surrendered, and of his goods.

for twelve years served the foreigners. 14:17-20 Upon his return from the
Horites: The word “Horites” was prob- slaughter of the kings, Abraham was met
ably a term that referred to the Edomites by the king of Sodom at the valley of
(36:20; Dt 2:12,22) in whose land there Shaveh, which could possibly have been
were rich deposits of copper ore in the the Kidron valley near Jerusalem.
southern part of the Arabah. It was un- Melchizedek: Melchizedek, king of Sa-
doubtedly this treasure for which the lem (Jerusalem), also met Abraham and
northern kings were looking. his men. This Gentile priest and king of
14:8-12 The battle in the valley of Salem blessed Abraham, to whom Abra-
Siddim went bad for the defending kings. ham also gave a tithe of the goods that
They were routed in complete chaos, he had taken from the kings (See com-
many of the people were taken as slaves, ments Hb 7).
among whom was Lot. 14:21-24 Though the king of Sodom
14:13-16 When Abraham heard: In was being generous in not requesting the
hearing of the capture of Lot and his fam- return of the goods that he had lost to the
ily, the peaceful patriarch Abraham be- invading kings, Abraham reminded him
came the leader of an army of 318 sol- that he had made an oath to God that he
diers to fight against an alliance of kings. would not keep anything that belonged
After a journey of about 125 kilometers to the king of Sodom. Abraham knew
north to the area of Dan, through the that if he did not do this, this wicked king
cover of night, Abraham was strategically would later assert that it was he who
able to defeat the northern invaders and made Abraham rich.
save Lot, his people, and the remainder

C HAPTER 115
5
15:1-6 Shield ... reward: God was ham had adopted Eliezer for this purpose.
aware of Abraham’s anxiety concerning Stars: God reassured Abraham that
his lack of children to carry out the ful- Eliezer was not the man or plan, but that
fillment of the promises of Genesis 12:1- there would be an heir from the fruit of
3 (13:14-17). God thus promised Abra- his loins. His descendants would be as
ham protection. It is a reward for one to the stars of the heaven in number. Be-
have the God of heaven as his God, which cause of his faith, therefore, Abraham be-
God is always gracious to aid in times of lieved in the promise. His faith in the
trial (1 Co 10:13). No offspring: Under promise cancelled his previous doubt,
the Hurrian law of the time, if a man and and thus, his faith brought him righteous
wife had no children to carry on their before God (See comments Rm 4 & Gl
heritage or inherit their possessions, they 3).
could adopt a servant to be the heir of all 15:7-11 Covenants were common
that they had. It is possible that Abra- between individuals and nations at the
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time of Abraham. In this context, God 15:17-21 The covenant included the
prepared Abraham for the establishment promise of the land wherein those listed
of a covenant with Him. In the making in verses 19-21 would dwell at the time
of a covenant, the promises of the cov- this covenant was to be fulfilled. It is
enant are first declared, and then sacri- significant to understand that the reason
fices are made to seal the agreement. The for a possession of land to be included in
Lord here directs Abraham to prepare for the promises of the covenant was that
the sealing of the covenant that He is God’s chosen culture of humanity (the
making with him. nation of Israel) was to be separated from
15:12-16 God informed Abraham the corrupting cultures of the world that
that the fulfillment of the land promise were bent on rebellion against God. In
would not happen immediately. His de- order to preserve Israel until the fulfill-
scendants would first go into Egypt, and ment of the promises, specifically the
there become servants to the Egyptians. promise of the blessing (Christ) who
They would be residents in Egypt for 400 would bless all nations, Israel was to
years as they grew into a great nation. dwell in the land. Once the Christ came,
Iniquity of the Amorites: Herein is re- the promises were fulfilled, and thus Is-
vealed God’s foreknowledge of the dis- rael had no right to claim the land, for
integration of a society into one that was there was no more need for them to dwell
similar to the degraded societies of in the land to keep themselves separated
Sodom and Gomorrah. Societies mor- from the nations of the world. The na-
ally digress to the point of no return, to ture of the new covenant about which
the point that every imagination is only Jeremiah wrote (Jr 31:31-34) was that all
evil continually (6:5). It is at this point nations would be included in a covenant
of no moral return that God brings the with God through obedience to the gos-
judgment of destruction. This text thus pel. The world is now the “land” for
reveals why God gave the command that those who are in a covenant relationship
when Israel would enter the promised with God. But there is now no special
land many years later that they were to section of land for Christians to dwell,
destroy all the inhabitants of the land, lest as Palestine was given to Israel only un-
the sin of the culture infect the children til the coming of the Messiah.
of Israel.
C HAPTER 116
6
16:1-6 Since she was an old woman bear children, then she could select and
at this time, Sarah had given up hope that present to her husband a servant girl who
the promise of an heir would come would be a surrogate mother for an heir
through her childbearing. She thus pro- to the husband. Thus Sarah, with
posed to Abraham a custom of their time. Abraham’s consent, sought to work out
The custom was that if a wife could not the fulfillment of the promise through
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their own ingenuity (See comments Rm Return to your mistress: If she followed
9:6-13; compare Gl 4:21-31). Despise the command of the Lord to return, then
her mistress: When one seeks to legally from her son to be, Ishmael, there would
fulfill the promises of God, only social come forth a great nation. Wild man:
chaos results. Hagar became arrogant to- Ishmael would not fit into the peaceful
ward Sarah and Sarah became bitter and social structure of Abraham’s family. In
abusive toward Hagar. Dealt harshly: fact, he would not socially adapt to the
The same law that said a wife could give social structures of “every man.” It is
her servant to her husband, also said that not said that he would be a social out-
the wife could not send the pregnant ser- cast, but because of his nature, he would
vant away. Sarah’s plan, therefore, was produce a nomadic culture of people who
to deal harshly with Hagar in order to would be indigenous to themselves in the
encourage Hagar under her own volition deserts of the south.
to flee from her presence. 16:15,17 To Hagar’s credit, she was
16:7-14 Submit: Hagar’s problem brave enough to return to the house of
was her arrogance, and thus her lack of Abraham and submit to her mistress, Sa-
submission to Sarah. There probably rah. Abraham was eighty-six years old
would have been no problem in the rela- when Ishmael was born, but he had no
tionship between Sarah and Hagar if children when he was ninety-nine (17:1).
Hagar had not become arrogant when she Thus Ishmael was thirteen years old when
found herself with a child from Abraham. the events of chapter 17 begin.

C HAPTER 117
7
17:1-8 Walk before Me: As ex- nations, therefore, he would no longer be
amples for walking with God, Abraham called Abram, but Abraham. Through-
could refer to the lives of Enoch (5:24) out their generations: The time limita-
and Noah (6:9). Blameless: As in the tion for the covenant was until the gen-
past, Abraham was exhorted to be totally erations of Israel ended, which they did
dedicated to El Shaddai, the Almighty in Christ (Gl 3:26-29). We thus have a
God of heaven. Fell on his face: This definition of the “everlasting covenant.”
would be the natural reaction from one It was “everlasting” only until its fulfill-
who realized that God was directly ad- ment. Once it was fulfilled, then the cov-
dressing him. Worship is something that enant was terminated. In this case, the
is not commanded, but the natural re- word “everlasting” does not mean “with-
sponse of one who feels the strong pres- out end.” It refers to the time of exist-
ence of God. Abraham: In this renewal ence until the intended point of comple-
of the covenant, there would be a name tion. Everlasting possession: Israel’s
change, for Abraham would be the father possession of the land would exist only
of not only many people, but many na- until it had fulfilled its purpose for pre-
tions and kings. As the father of many serving a segment of society (Israel) for
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the coming of the Messiah. As with the God. In this event, therefore, both Abra-
completion of the covenant, so is the ham and Sarah would understand the
completion of Israel’s right to the land. grace of God as God worked directly in
Since the old covenant has now given order to make it possible for Sarah to have
way to the new (Hb 8), then the prom- a child. The child would be given
ises connected with the old covenant have through grace, not through the works of
also given way to the promises of the new man. Ishmael: Because Abraham was
covenant. thinking in human terms, he suggested
17:9-14 The rite of circumcision was that Ishmael would be the heir of the
to be the token (sign) of the covenant. promise. Isaac: The name Isaac means
Those who were circumcised shared in “laughter,” and thus Abraham would
this covenant. Even the servants of have a perpetual reminder of his doubt
Abraham’s house were to partake of the concerning the work of God to fulfill His
promises of the covenant, and thus they promises. Ishmael ... a great nation:
had to be circumcised. If one refused cir- Though Abraham at first suggested that
cumcision, then he was cut off from the Ishmael be the heir of the promises, God
promises of the covenant. reassured him that the promises would
17:15-22 Sarah’s earthly father had be fulfilled through his own son. Though
given her the name “Sarai,” meaning, Ishmael would not have a part in the cov-
“princess.” Now that she was soon to enant promises, he would be the father
bring forth a son of the covenanted of twelve princes and a great nation.
people, and thus be the mother of nations 17:23-27 Circumcised ... the very
and kings, her heavenly Father changed same day: When one realizes the com-
the spelling of her name to Sarah. Abra- mand of God, there is no time for delay.
ham ... laughed: He questioned the pos- It is a time to act, which Abraham did in
sibility of childbirth simply because in circumcising everyone of his household.
human ability, such would be impossible Every servant and those who had been
for both he and Sarah since they were bought with money were also circum-
old. But this was the point. The promise cised. They were all circumcised, and
was to be the work of God, not man (See thus brought into the covenant relation-
comments Rm 9:6-13). It would have ship that God established with Abraham.
been impossible with man, but not with

C HAPTER 118
8
18:1-8 Bowed himself: Abraham 18:9-15 There was something
immediately recognized that these were unique about one of the messengers, for
divine messengers. It is the Lord who in verse 13 he was designated as Lord
appears to him. So in true middle east- (Yahweh). Both Abraham and Sarah
ern hospitality, Abraham washed their sensed that they were in the presence of
feet and prepared a feast. the Lord. Where is Sarah: It was the
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custom of the day, and for security rea- the dwelling of the righteous, as Sodom
sons, that the women did not show them- had become for Lot, then we assume that
selves to the visitors. Since it was the the world has fulfilled the purpose for its
work of the host to provide the food, it existence to produce candidates for eter-
was not the man’s custom to eat with the nal dwelling.
visitors. Sarah laughed: As her hus- 18:20,21 It was not that the Lord
band in the previous encounter with the through His omniscience did not know
Lord in chapter 17, Sarah laughed on the of the moral condition of the city. The
basis that she was thinking in human very fact that He showed up for its de-
terms of the impossibility of old women struction manifested that He already
bearing children. But with God, nothing knew of the wickedness of the people. It
is impossible. When men come to the was that the “in time” gravity of their
point of human impossibility, God’s judgment was to be immediate destruc-
grace is manifested (Rm 9:6-13). tion that He came with a personal visit.
18:16-19 Now that the Lord had ful- Both Abraham and Lot recognized the
filled the first reason for His appearance presence of the Lord in the three visitors.
to Abraham—to reaffirm that he would But because of their total degradation into
have a son—it was now time to accom- sin, the residents of Sodom and Gomor-
plish the second reason for coming, to rah were blinded by their own sin to per-
deliver Lot from the cities that He was ceive the presence of the Lord.
about to destroy. Because He had cho- 18:22-33 Abraham reasoned from
sen Abraham and his descendants from his lack of knowledge of the true moral
the people of the world in order to bring condition of Sodom and Gomorrah. He
the Messiah into the world, the Lord re- assumed that there were at least ten righ-
vealed the destruction of the cities to teous souls in the cities. And he assumed
Abraham. Abraham’s posterity would be that the Lord would not destroy the in-
righteous because he and his family con- nocent ten for the sake of punishing the
formed to the standards of God’s will. ungodly. Since He would have spared
Because Abraham was the father of this the cities for the sake of ten, then we must
faith, he earned the right to the knowl- assume that Lot’s family was fewer than
edge of what the Lord was about to do. ten, for Abraham gave up pleading after
The destruction of the cities of the plain the Lord agreed that He would not de-
also became an illustration of what God stroy the cities for the sake of ten. Thus
would do in the end to all those who the power of ten righteous people can stay
would rebel against His will (See 2 Pt the destructive hand of God. God will
2:6; Jd 7). The “in time” judgment of spare the unrighteous for the sake of the
God on the cities of the plain illustrates righteous. But when the unrighteous no
what God will do at the end of time. longer provide a safe dwelling for the
When the world becomes unbearable for righteous, then God brings judgment.

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C HAPTER 119
9
19:1-3 Angels: Two of the visitors who would make themselves a judge of
are now referred to as angels. As was their behavior. Break the door: Things
the custom, Lot was in the evening at the were at this time out of Lot’s control, and
gate of the city. Through Lot’s persis- thus ,it was time for Deity to intervene.
tence, the men were taken into his house, Blindness of the wicked caused confu-
though the men originally intended to sion, and so the pronouncement of judg-
stay in the streets to “see” the wicked- ment was confirmed upon the city.
ness of the city. It was only after Lot 19:12-22 This was no time for argu-
strongly urged them that they finally ment, and thus, Lot obeyed the voice of
came into his house for protection. Lot the angels. Sons-in-law: Lot’s pleas
assumed that they did not know the evil were rejected by those who had been
of the city, and thus he knew that they caught up in the wickedness of the city.
would be abused in the streets since they So after pleading with his relatives
were strangers. Sodom and Gomorrah throughout the night, the angels com-
were not only immoral, but they were manded Lot to take only his wife and two
cities of crime and violence. daughters and flee as fast as possible from
19:4-11 This was truly a morally Sodom. But Lot still did not realize the
anarchistic society. Both young and old urgency of the matter, for the angels had
surrounded the house of Lot. The young to drag him forcefully from the city. Es-
had been taught the moral degradation cape to the mountain: A tremendous
of the fathers, and thus there was no hope destructive force was about to be un-
for moral regeneration. Relations with leashed on the cities of the plain. The
them: The plea of the bestial residents force was going to be so violent that Lot
was to engage in homosexual relations and his family were told to flee even to
with the strangers. And thus for human the mountains. When a society digresses
posterity, Sodomy is defined as those who to the moral lows that are characteristic
would engage themselves in all sorts of with Sodom and Gomorrah, it is time to
illicit sexual promiscuity. I have two take one’s family and flee. If one does
daughters: We would assume by now not, then even his own family will fall
that Lot realized that his visitors were victim to the culture of wickedness that
from God, and thus the offer of his daugh- has engulfed the society. It is better to
ters was the least evil since having the live in the mountains than in the wicked-
messengers of God violated in his com- ness of Sodom. This city: Zoar was a
pany would reap eternal consequences. small village. Fearing that some evil
Though Lot resided in the city, he was might befall him in the mountains, Lot
still considered an immigrant by the resi- requested that he take his family to this
dents. Their scorn of his suggestion is insignificant place of refuge. And for this
based on their low regard for immigrants reason, the residents of Zoar should be
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grateful that they were spared the im- sake of Abraham that Lot was delivered
pending destruction because of the pres- from the destruction.
ence of a man on whom God had mercy. 19:30-35 It seems that Lot may have
In this destruction, not only were Sodom passed up Zoar, deciding that it was bet-
and Gomorrah destroyed, but also other ter to dwell in the mountains with his two
cities of the valley of Siddim including daughters than in the wickedness of the
Zeboim and Admah (10:19 14:2,8; Dt village. He came to his senses that even
29:23; Hs 11:8). Zoar was plagued with wickedness, and
19:23-26 Fire from the Lord: We thus with the remainder of his family, he
do not question the fact that God can do went to the mountains for the sake of his
this same thing in the future (See com- daughters. We will lie with him: The
ments 2 Pt 3:10-13). This judgment of daughters were not unaffected by the
fire is certainly a small illustration of the wickedness of Sodom. Here they com-
power of God to destroy those who per- mit incest with their father for the sake
sist in their wickedness (See 2 Th 1:6-9). of preserving their father’s posterity. We
His wife looked back: There may be must not assume that their sin was right
more to this than his wife taking a last for the sake of the good they wanted to
look over her shoulder to home, friends accomplish. It could be that the daugh-
and sons-in-law. It may be that she con- ters believed that they alone escaped, and
templated returning to Sodom, and sub- thus there would be no male to carry on
sequently, did turn to go back. Whatever the lineage of their father. Lot was a vic-
the case, it was enough to reap the judg- tim of their scheme in that he was drunk
ment of God that was poured out on the when the incest took place. The two
wicked cities. God placed a memorial daughters had devised the scheme with-
before all who would afterward venture out discussion with their father, for surely
to the area and wonder at the pillar of he would have objected. So in his sense-
salt that stood as a reminder to all con- less state of mind, both daughters went
cerning the fierce destruction of the Lord in to their father, and both conceived from
upon those who would live rebellious the seed of Lot.
lives. We assume that the pillar was of 19:36-38 The narrative of the actions
salt in order to be weathered away in time of the daughters of Lot is recorded for
as the memory of the cities of the plain the historical posterity of Israel. From
would if it were not for these inspired the birth of Moab came the Moabites, and
words of Moses. from the birth of Benammi came the Am-
19:27-29 From Mamre where Abra- monites. Both nations were thus consid-
ham resided, to Sodom and Gomorrah, ered close relatives to the Israelites since
was a great distance. Abraham witnessed Lot was the nephew of Abraham. Many
the smoke rise from the cities, not know- years later when Naomi took men from
ing if Lot had been delivered from the the Moabites as husbands for Orpah and
destruction. Sent Lot out: It was for the Ruth, Orpah and Ruth did not marry men
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outside the lineage of the Terah family (See Rt 1:1-5).

C HAPTER 20
20:1-7 She is my sister: It seems of his homeland were different in mar-
that Abraham was always apprehensive riage, for he had married one of his
when journeying into the land of pagan father’s daughters through another wife
powers. Since such environments were other than his mother. Knowing that he
filled with immorality of every sort, we was in pagan territory as a sojourner, he
would not question his fears. As with had agreed with Sarah that wherever they
the Pharaoh of Egypt in 12:14-20, so went, Sarah would resort to saying that
again here he asks Sarah, his half sister, she was his sister, when actually she was
to state that she is only his sister. It was only his stepsister.
a half truth, but still a deception. God 20:14-18 To Abimelech’s credit, he
came to Abimelech: God came to did what a righteous man would do. He
Abimelech in this case, not to Abraham. restored Sarah to Abraham, as well as
Abimelech had done the deed in igno- gave him a thousand pieces of silver. He
rance, saying that he and his nation were then offered to Abraham the hospitality
righteous. Through some providential of dwelling anywhere in his land. Sarah
manner God kept Abimelech from touch- was rebuked in the sense that Abimelech
ing Sarah, or else he would have reaped said that she should never be ashamed to
the judgment of God. Prophet: Abra- state that Abraham was her husband. God
ham was a prophet in that God in these healed Abimelech: Abimelech’s wife
times spoke through the fathers of ex- and female servants could not have chil-
tended families in order to reveal His will dren during the time Sarah and Abraham
(Hb 1:1). were living the deception in his house.
20:8-13 Abraham was a migrant in Thus Sarah and Abraham dwelt for some
the land of strangers, both in Canaan and time in Abimelech’s presence before the
in the land of Abimelech. The customs truth was known.

C HAPTER 21
21:1-7 Sarah conceived: In the con- was not at work in the conception and
ception of the child in the womb of Sa- birth. It was truly a miracle of God that
rah, the fulfillment of God’s promise was Isaac was born to continue the posterity
realized (See 17:15-17; 18:9-15). What of Abraham, and thus continue the
was impossible for man, in that an old seedline of the coming Savior of the world.
woman as Sarah, who was beyond the 21:8-14 Feast: A Near East custom
years of conceiving a child, was possible was to have a feast in celebration of a
for God. Both Abraham and Sarah had newborn child. The feast here took place
laughed at the impossible, but through the when the child was weaned, which could
birth, no one could ever conclude that God have been up to three years after the birth.
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It was Ishmael, not Hagar, who was the ting up Canaan for the possession of
occasion for discord in the family. The Abraham’s descendants that would take
older son Ishmael was mocking the small place about four hundred years from the
child Isaac. Distressful: The matter was time these events happened in Abraham’s
now stressful to Abraham, though origi- life. These nations would serve as buffer
nally the conflict was between Sarah and cultures from the truly pagan and poly-
Hagar (16:4-6). In this case, God stated theistic cultures that existed in Abraham’s
that Abraham should listen to his wife, time and would continue to the day when
Sarah. He must reassure her that God Israel would enter Canaan. The buffer
also had great plans for Ishmael, for from nations would all come from Abraham’s
Ishmael would come a great nation. The seed, though they would not be of the
custom was that the son of the servant seed through Isaac who would bring the
woman was to be cared for by the father Redeemer into the world. The concept
of the child. He was to do this even of buffer nations around Israel who
though the true wife eventually gave birth would settle in Palestine reveals the fact
to a son. In this case, however, the cus- that God planned to reserve Israel as a
tom was set aside. It was to be set aside nation as long as possible in the midst of
in order to make it perfectly clear that an idolatrous world.
the posterity of Abraham would be con- 21:22-24 Swear to me: It seems that
tinued through Isaac, not Ishmael. Abimelech still remembered how he had
21:15-21 When the water was gone, been previously deceived by Abraham
Hagar expected death to occur soon. It (20:1-18). Kindness: Since he had been
is not known if she knew of the promise kind to Abraham in the past, he was ask-
that was made to Abraham that through ing the favor in return.
Ishmael a great nation would come. If 21:25-34 After Abraham swore to
she were not knowledgeable of this in- an agreement with Abimelech, he re-
formation, at least on this occasion she buked him for the behavior of his ser-
was told by God that she and the child vants concerning a water well that had
would not die, for a great nation would been stolen from Abraham’s servants. An
come from Ishmael. Wilderness of interesting principle of godly behavior is
Paran: This was the area south of here illustrated. Abraham’s servants had
Canaan. One cannot miss the placement labored to dig the well. When it was fin-
of buffeting nations that would develop ished, Abimelech’s servants stole it from
around the land of Palestine. The two them. They stole the labor of others who
sons of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, grew dug the well without compensating them
into the two nations of Moab and Ammon for it. It was thus an act of theft. Made a
on the east side of the Jordan, east of covenant: This is the first mention of
Palestine. Now Ishmael would develop covenants in the Old Testament that men
a buffer nation to the south of Canaan. It commonly made with one another in an-
seems that God was providentially set- cient times. What transpired in the mak-
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ing of a covenant was that the conditions though it was customary that both par-
for the covenant were first made by both ties provide the offering. Beersheba:
parties (vs 23). Each party then swore The place where the covenant was made
by the covenant (vs 24). Then the sacri- was named Beersheba, which meant ei-
fice of animals was made in order to seal ther “well of swearing” or “well of
the covenant (vs 28). In the sacrifice of seven.” (The Hebrew word for “swear”
the animals, everyone involved in mak- and “seven” are the same.) This loca-
ing the covenant ate of the sacrificed ani- tion would eventually become the south-
mals in a great feast. Such was the cus- ern extremity of the promised land that
tom of Abraham’s culture in making cov- would be given to Abraham’s descen-
enants. In this case, Abraham wanted to dants four hundred years from the time
provide the animals for the sacrifice, of this event.

C HAPTER 22
22:1,2 Tested: It is not that God here rience of a bodily resurrection, he trusted
proceeds to tempt Abraham to sin, as is that God would resurrect the body he
indicated by some translations. The He- would put to death. “He concluded that
brew word nissah means to either test or God was able to raise him up, even from
put on trial. The purpose of what fol- the dead, from which he also figuratively
lows is a test of Abraham’s faith. God received him back” (Hb 11:19). Where
does not tempt men to sin (Js 1:13). is the lamb: It is at this time that Isaac is
22:3-8 Verse 2 indicates that it was wondering concerning what animal they
possibly in the evening hours that God would use for the sacrifice. Abraham’s
issued the command to Abraham to sac- response was, “God will provide.”
rifice Isaac, for Abraham had to rise in Abraham’s faith, therefore, went to the
the morning. Rose up early: There was limit of trusting that God in the final
no debate with God from a loving father minute would provide the sacrifice. And
who made the command. There seems so He did for us in Jesus.
to have been no sleepless nights, for he 22:9-12 One wonders what was go-
rose up early in order to carry out the in- ing through the mind of Abraham as he
structions of the command. We should built the altar upon which he would of-
not assume that Sarah was informed of fer his son in obedience to God. One
the matter, for Abraham told no one what wonders what was going through the
was transpiring. He simply prepared for mind of Isaac as his father bound his
the journey and for the sacrifice, and then hands and laid him upon the altar. There
headed for the God-appointed location. seems to have been no struggle, only a
After three days of journey, Abraham saw faithful son who relinquished to the faith
at a distance, Moriah, the appointed place of his father. Took the knife: We would
of the sacrifice. We will come again: suppose that both the father and son had
Though Abraham had no previous expe- now tensed up as Abraham raised his
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hand to inflict the mortal blow. God al- this thing: In what he had done, Abra-
lowed the test to go as far as an extended ham was truly justified by works (Js
arm ready to thrust a knife into the heart 2:21). If he had not done the work, there
of a firstborn son. And then the words would have been no evidence of his faith.
came, “Do not lay your hand upon the He thus showed his faith by his works
lad.” Your son, your only son: It is in (Js 2:18). And because of his manifested
this statement that we now understand the faith he earned the right to be the father
reason for the command to offer the son. of many nations and the one through
It was truly a test of Abraham’s faith. He whom all nations of the world would be
would become the father of faith to all blessed. In the test we would suppose
those who would in the future put their that Satan was rejoicing in the darkest
faith in an only begotten Son. Our Fa- chambers of hell because God was ask-
ther placed His Son on a cross and did ing Abraham to terminate the seedline of
not stay the hand of the executioner. As Abraham. But such was not the case, for
Moses inscribes these words for the pos- the promises remained. “In your seed
terity of Israel, he wanted all Israel will all the nations of the earth be
throughout history never to forget this blessed” (Gn 12:3).
event. There was coming a time when 22:20-24 Rebekah: This genealogy
an only Son would be sacrificed for the is given in order to bring Rebekah, the
sins of all humanity. And a loving Fa- future wife of Isaac (ch 24), into the lin-
ther would allow it to happen. eage of Abraham for the continuation of
22:13-19 Because you have done the seedline of Abraham.

C HAPTER 23
23:1-20 It was a noble gesture for respect for his wife, he purchased the
the children of Heth to offer free of burial site. He thus took possession of
charge any burial place within their ter- the only part of the promised land that
ritory for Sarah’s burial. But in his in- he would ever possess. So when a price
tegrity, Abraham would not allow his re- was agreed upon, through the mediation
spect for Sarah to be taken from him by of the children of Heth, a cave was pur-
the free offering of others. Abraham paid chased from Ephron, the son of Zohar.
for what he needed. In his last show of Abraham did not take handouts.
C HAPTER 24
24:1-9 It was a Near East custom would not find a woman among the
that the father had the responsibility of Canaanites for Isaac. As was the cus-
finding a wife for his son. Since the tom, Eliezer had to place his hand under
daughters of the Canaanites did not share his master’s thigh in making the oath.
either Abraham’s heritage or faith, he Abraham then sent his servant back to
made Eliezer swear with an oath that he the land of his relatives.
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24:10-28 Eliezer’s task was guided hearsed the events concerning his en-
by the hand of God. Abraham first said counter with Rebekah was to explain to
that he would be directed by an angel. everyone that what had just transpired
With a great deal of Abraham’s posses- was not his own invention. He identi-
sions, Eliezer went to the city of Nahor, fied his master, Abraham, from whom he
a city named after Abraham’s grandfa- came. Then he identified that the encoun-
ther (11:22-26). He came to a well where ter with Rebekah could be nothing less
women drew water for their livestock, than the work of God. The events that
and then prayed that God do the rest. It happened, therefore, were given as proof
seems that the answer to the prayer was that Rebekah was truly the one who
already in progress before he closed the would become the wife of Isaac.
prayer, for Rebekah, Abraham’s niece, 24:52-60 The events that were tak-
was already making her way to the well. ing place were happening too fast for the
The servant nature of Rebekah was then relatives. Though they knew that it was
revealed in that she drew water for the work of God, their sending away of
Eliezer and all his camels. When Eliezer Rebekah was very difficult. They thus
heard that Rebekah was of the house of requested that she stay ten more days.
Nahor, his response was worship to the But Eliezer felt that since the Lord had
Lord for bringing to pass all that had tran- prospered him this far in his quest for a
spired. He realized that his encounter wife for Isaac, he must not delay in re-
with Rebekah was the work of God and turning to Abraham. The relatives, there-
not a mere coincidence. It is significant fore, left the decision to Rebekah. We
that Eliezer carried out this mission must admire this young woman for her
through prayer and perception of the bravery, for she immediately agreed to
work of God in answer to his prayers. leave her family in order to go with a
He asked that God lead him to the right stranger to a new country to which she
woman. Because of his faith in God that had never been. It takes brave women as
he would be led to the right person, he this to carry out the mission of God.
remained alert to the work of God in his 24:61-67 Rebekah journeyed from
life, and thus perceived that when the the far north, the land of Nahor. At the
mission was accomplished it was the same time, Isaac came from the far south,
work of God. the Negev. It was only right that the two
24:29-51 Rebekah’s report to the meet somewhere in the middle of the
house of Laban created great excitement promised land with an encounter that
concerning the visitor. While over- would perpetuate the promises of God
whelming Eliezer with hospitality, that the land be given to the descendants
Eliezer had to first inform everyone why of Abraham through Isaac.
he was sent. The reason Eliezer re-

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C HAPTER 25
25:1-6 God’s promise to Abraham 25:7-11 Both Isaac and Ishmael
that he would be the father of many na- joined in the burial of their father with
tions was continued through Keturah Rebekah in the cave of Machpelah.
(17:4). Through Keturah he had six sons, Gathered to his people: This is a com-
seven grandchildren and three great mon phrase that is used in reference to
grandchildren. Since Abraham was well the death of patriarchs (25:17; 35:29;
over one hundred years old at the time 49:29; Nm 20:24; 27:13). The phrase
he married Keturah, it is certain that as possibly implied that the patriarch joined
God aided him and Sarah to give birth to those of his people who had already died
Isaac, He also aided in making it possible (Compare 15:15; Mt 22:31-33; Hb 11:13-
for his physically old body to implant his 16).
seed in Keturah’s womb in order for her
to give birth to six sons. Zimran: Prob- Generations Of Ishmael
ably settled in the interior of Arabia. (25:12-18)
Jokshan: Probably settled in southern Outline: (1) The sons of Ishmael (25:12-18)
Arabia. Medan and Midia: This is east
of the Elamitic gulf in Arabia. Ishbak: THE SONS OF ISHMAEL
Possibly in the land of the Edomites. 25:12-18 There were two reasons for
Shuah: Possibly northern Idumea (Jb recording this genealogy of Ishmael.
2:11). Sheba: This is probably the fa- First, God wanted the Israelites to know
ther of the Sabeans (Jb 1:15; 6:19). that He had fulfilled His promise to
Deban: This could be those mentioned Hagar, that through Ishmael many nations
in Jeremiah 25:23. Asshurim: A war- would come (16:12; 21:18). Second, God
like tribe south of Hejas. Letuahim: wanted a written record available to Is-
Those of Hejas. Leummim: Tribal rael in order to remind her that the na-
groups that extended to Babylon and the tions that came from Ishmael were the
Mesopotamian valley. The other sons descendants of Isaac’s half brother. By
also produced tribal groups that encircled the time of the deliverance of Israel from
the land of Palestine. With the other de- Egyptian captivity, Palestine was en-
scendants of Esau and Ishmael, Palestine circled with the nations that had come
was buffered with those who came from from the seed of Abraham. Since the Is-
the seed of Abraham. All these descen- raelites received preferential treatment by
dants of Abraham produced nations in God, there arose a jealousy between Is-
preparation for the giving of the land of rael and the surrounding seed of Abra-
Canaan to the children of Israel after their ham through Hagar and Keturah, which
deliverance from Egyptian captivity jealousy has caused strife even to this
about four hundred years from the time day.
of Abraham.
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Generations Of Isaac herited the legal rights of the family. In

(25:19 - 35:29) this case, Esau was the firstborn son, and
Outline: (1) Birth of Esau and Jacob (25:19-34), thus had the legal rights to the heritage
(2)Isaac’s encounter with Abimelech (26:1-33), of Isaac. But such was not to be in refer-
(3) The marriages of Esau (26:34,35), (4) Isaac’s ence to the heritage through whom God
blessing of Jacob (27:1-40), (5) Jacob’s flight from would establish the nation of Israel.
Esau (27:41 – 28:22), (6) Jacob’s marriage to 25:27-34 The gentle Isaac loved his
Leah and Rachel (29:1-30), (7) Birth of Jacob’s strong son, Esau, and the strong Rebekah
sons (29:31 – 30:24), (8) Jacob’s struggles with loved the less aggressive son, Jacob.
Laban (30:25-43), (9) Jacob’s flight from Laban Opposites do attract. Rebekah loved
(31:1-42), (10) Jacob’s covenant with Laban Jacob: In the development of the nations
(31:43-55), (11) Jacob’s reunion with Esau (32:1 that came from these two sons, it seems
– 33:20), (12) The rape of Dinah (34:1-31), (13) that the love of the mother won out over
Birth of Benjamin and death of Rachel and Isaac the preference of the father in determin-
(35:1-26) ing the chosen people of Israel (See com-
ments Rm 9:10-13). Perfect man: This
BIRTH OF ESAU & JACOB Hebrew word that is translated “perfect”
25:19-26 Padan-aram: This was the (tam) is also translated “perfect” in ref-
homeland of Rebekah north of Palestine erence to Noah in Genesis 6:9. He was
that stretched to the upper Mesopotamian perfect, not in the sense of being sinless,
valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. but in his perfect focus on the one true
She was barren: A comparison between and living God. Birthright: The fact that
verses 20 & 26 seem to indicate that she Esau did not appreciate the significance
was barren for twenty years. Struggled of the birthright that was due the first-
together: From the womb, these two dif- born is manifested in the fact that he
ferent nations that were within Rebekah counted the birthright of less value than
would be different in character, and thus a dish of porridge. He traded a nation
struggle with one another throughout with God’s blessing for a bowl of soup.
their existence. It could be that the order The Hebrew writer said he was a “pro-
of their birth was what later produced the fane” person for doing such. His atti-
tension between the two sons. Esau: tude thus disqualified him from being the
The name means “hairy.” Jacob: This father of a nation through whom God
name means “heel catcher.” It was the would bring the Savior into the world.
custom of the day that the firstborn in-
C HAPTER 26
ISAAC’S ENCOUNTER the Isaac clan to move to the coastal Medi-
WITH ABIMELECH terranean Sea area that was within the ter-
26:1-5 It seems that history is here ritory of Abimelech, the pagan king with
repeating itself. Another famine forced whom Abraham had an uneasy relation-
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ship. In order to reassure Isaac, God re- of Isaac intimidated Abimelech. God had
hearsed the promise that he had made to blessed Isaac so much that he had actu-
Abraham, saying that his seed would be a ally become stronger in wealth and man-
blessing to all nations. The conditions of power than Abimelech.
the covenant for these promises was il- 26:17-25 Isaac continued to dig
lustrated by the life of Abraham, who wells. But the Philistines filled them in
obeyed all that God had instructed him. order to move him out of their territory.
Abraham’s obedience thus became an ex- Instead of struggling over the matter,
hortation to Isaac that the condition for Isaac simply moved on. However, in
receiving the promises of the covenant was naming the wells, he left a reminder for
that he also must be obedient to all that he all to remember his digging of the wells
was instructed by God to do. and the strife that was caused by those
26:6-11 She is my sister: The cus- who stole them from him. Esek: “Quar-
toms of the culture from which Rebekah rel.” Sitnah: “Feud.” Rehoboth:
came would indeed make Rebekah the “Room.” Do not fear: Isaac and his fam-
“sister” of Isaac. Any one of the family ily had now been forced to move to
lineage of those from Ur of the Chaldees, Beersheba (21:30,31) where God encour-
of which Nahor, Terah and Abraham aged him to stay and fear no more.
originated, would be considered close 26:26-33 Abimelech took the initia-
relatives. In this case, and according to tive to establish a covenant with Isaac,
our terminology today, Rebekah would knowing that Isaac was much stronger
have been Isaac’s cousin. But according than he. In the manner of establishing
to their custom, a cousin would be con- covenants, promises were made and a
sidered a sister, and thus the marriage feast was given in order to celebrate the
would be a sister/wife relationship. covenant.
Abimelech understood nothing of this,
and thus the claim that Rebekah was a THE MARRIAGES OF ESAU
sister, knowing that the pronouncement 26:34,35: The tragedy of a polyga-
would be misunderstood, was a lie. He mous marriage with a pagan woman is
was afraid: The reason for the decep- here illustrated with the marriage of Esau
tion was that Isaac, a foreigner, felt very to Judith and Bashemath. He rejected
insecure in the land of the Philistines at the moral standards of his fathers and fol-
this time. He knew that the pagan kings lowed after the low moral standards of
could claim any woman in the king’s ter- the pagan nations. It seems that Esau had
ritory to be his wife. And if the woman at this time drifted away from being righ-
was married, even the subjects of the teous before God, for his family now
pagan king could easily kill the husband brought grief to God’s chosen Isaac and
in order to make the wife available for Rebekah. Marriage to an unbeliever is
marriage. the signal that the believer is not taking
26:12-16 Go from us: The wealth his or her faith seriously.
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C HAPTER 27
ISAAC’S BLESSING OF JACOB blessing was oral, it was as binding as a
27:1-4 In his sickness, Isaac believed written contract. Lord over: Not only
that he was going to die, though he lived did Isaac give a blessing that Esau inherit
until he was 180 years old (35:28). His his possession, he also blessed him that
sickness here reminded him of the brev- he be the lord over the heritage of Esau.
ity of life, and thus he needed to take care In the blessing, Isaac stated that if one
of his inheritance matters. Since Esau would rise up against the heritage of
was his firstborn, it was legally his right Jacob, he would be cursed.
to receive a special blessing (inheritance) 27:30-40 Isaac trembled exceed-
from the father of the family. But this ingly: Once Isaac knew that he had been
blessing of Esau ignored the prophecy tricked, he knew that the blessing could
that the elder (Esau) would serve the not be passed to another. The pronounce-
younger (Jacob) (25:23). It also ignored ment of the blessing was final, and Esau
the fact that Esau had already sold his realized the same (Hb 12:17). Esau’s
birthright to Jacob (25:29-34). demise took place some time before when
27:5-17 Rebekah remembered both he had already sold his birthright to Jacob
the prophecy and the selling of the birth- (25:29-34; see Hb 12:15,16). He took
right. Because of the deceit that now took away my birthright: This was not the
place in the family, it seems that an un- case, for Esau sold the birthright for a
derstanding of the plan of God through bowl of soup. However, because he was
Jacob had broken down in the communi- of an unrepentant nature, he blamed his
cation between Rebekah and Isaac, and brother Jacob for his troubles. Unrepen-
surely between Jacob and Esau. So in tant people never take ownership of their
the scheme of things in reference to the sin, concluding that the fault for their
blessing, Rebekah took things into her problems always lies with someone else.
own hands in order that the son she loved Blessing ... for me: The blessing for Esau
(Jacob) would receive the family bless- was a prophecy of the behavior of the
ing (25:28). We assume that in His fore- nation that would come from him. They
knowledge God knew that all this would would live by the sword. Esau was given
take place. the role of living in a servant position in
27:18-29 By the direction of his relation to the heritage of his brother, but
mother, the patriarch lied to his father in was given the right to cast off eventually
saying that he was the firstborn and that the lordship of Jacob’s heritage.
the Lord had helped him to quickly ac-
quire the game. He also lied when he JACOB’S FLIGHT FROM ESAU
claimed to be Esau his brother. Blessed: 27:41-46 Esau hated Jacob: Esau’s
Among the patriarchs, the blessing was bitterness turned to hatred. His hatred
a last will and testament. Though the then turned into a scheme to murder his
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brother. This again was at a time when daughters brought grief into the Isaac fam-
Rebekah’s ingenuity came into play as ily. Isaac thus agreed with the plan, and
she sought to save Jacob by devising a Jacob was sent from the fury of his brother
plan that he take a wife from their rela- Esau. Few days: Though she believed
tives in Haran, from the house of Laban the trip to Haran would be brief, little did
her brother. Her strategy was to convince Rebekah know that it would be about
Isaac that Jacob should not, as Esau, take twenty years before Jacob would return.
a wife from the daughters of Heth, which
C HAPTER 28
28:1-9 It seems that Isaac was not to be miraculous in the sense that Jacob
aware of the scheme of Rebekah to sepa- did not expect such to happen. Ladder:
rate Jacob from Esau, since Esau planned The symbolism is that a connection was
to murder Jacob. Because of Isaac’s made between heaven and earth. Angels:
blessing of Jacob on his departure, it was These were the messengers between man
now believed by all that Jacob would be and God. The purpose of the event was
the one through whom the posterity of to reassure Jacob that through him the
Abraham would be continued. Esau ... promises made to Abraham would be
took Mahalath: Esau had a hard time continued (12:1-3).
pleasing his father. He did not under- 28:18-22 Jacob responded in three
stand that it was his behavior that was ways to the vision. Stone: He set up the
contrary to the behavior of godly men. stone he used for a pillow and anointed
His association with ungodly men and it with oil to memorialize the location.
women made it impossible for him to live Bethel: He changed the name from Luz
according to the faith of Isaac. to Bethel. Vow: He made a commitment
28:10-17 Jacob’s trip to Haran would to return to God a tenth of those bless-
be almost 500 kilometers from ings that would come his way by the
Beersheba. The event of the night proved blessing of God.
C HAPTER 29
JACOB’S MARRIAGE watering. When Rachel arrived, the stone
TO LEAH & RACHEL could be moved away and the livestock
29:1-8 People of the east: These could be watered.
were probably the people of the upper 29:9-14 Rachel was the cousin of
Mesopotamian region that included Jacob. It seems that what took several
Haran. Jacob’s first encounter with the people to do—roll the stone from the
people of the region was at a common well’s mouth—Jacob was motivated to
well where the flocks were watered. do by himself in his response at seeing
Once everyone had arrived at the well, Rachel. Kissed Rachel: Jacob was an
the stone was then rolled away for the emotional person, and thus out of his ex-
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citement, he kissed the one who would of the problem in this situation was with
eventually become his wife. Her father’s Jacob who did not inquire concerning the
relative: Jacob identified himself as legalities of marriage in the land in which
Rachel’s cousin. Jacob was the nephew he was a stranger. He was culturally far
of Laban, and thus the term “brother” removed from the homeland culture from
refers to him as a kinsman. Because which his grandfather Abraham had
Jacob was a kinsman to the family of come. He could have prevented the mis-
Terah, there was a warm welcome for him understanding on this occasion if he had
in Laban’s family. However, there seems first inquired concerning marriage legali-
to be less religious significance to this ties among the people with whom he
encounter than what happened when dwelt. Laban, however, was short of
Eliezer came for Rebekah (See 24:32- honesty in the matter. He did, according
49). to the laws of the land, marry off his el-
29:15-30 Wages: Jacob had evi- dest, and possibly unattractive daughter,
dently been working for Laban during the plus gain another seven years of work
month that he was staying with him. He from Jacob.
did not stay with Laban for free. He
worked for his food and shelter (See com- BIRTH OF JACOB’S SONS
ments At 20:34,35). What will your 29:31-35 Leah was unloved: This
wages be: We could assume that Laban would certainly be a sad situation in
had noticed that Jacob was very inter- which Laban had placed his daughter.
ested in Rachel. Since she was the Jacob did not hate her, as some transla-
youngest, this placed him in an advanta- tions have portrayed the meaning. Since
geous position when Jacob said he would his affection was first toward Rachel,
work for seven years for her hand. Leah: Leah would certainly have developed a
It was the custom that the eldest first be very low self-esteem as a wife and per-
married, and then the younger daughters. son. Because of her faith, however, Leah
However, it was through the deceptive found comfort in the fact that the Lord
thinking of Laban that Leah would first had opened her womb for the bearing of
be given to Jacob instead of Rachel. It children, while Rachel remained barren.
was not until the morning after the wed- The meanings of the names of the sons
ding, however, that Jacob discovered the she bore possibly signified her feelings.
deception. We will give you this one also Reuben: “Behold, a son.” She was given
for the service that you will serve: the honor of bearing the firstborn. Sim-
Though Jacob was greatly irritated at the eon: The Lord “has heard.” God an-
deception, he agreed to work another swered her prayers for children. Levi:
seven years for Rachel. After Leah was “Attachment.” She felt bonded to Jacob.
given her week with Jacob, Rachel was Judah: “Praise.” She was grateful to
then given to him in advance of the seven God for being the one who would bear
years of work he was to do for her. Part children, since the bearing of four sons
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took place over a period of possibly four came Reuben, the firstborn. Levi would
years. Rachel would have been barren eventually give birth to the tribe of priests
during this time. The irony of the sons is within the nation of Israel. Through
that though Leah was unloved, from her Judah would come the Messiah.

C HAPTER 30
30:1-8 Give me children: Despera- God listened to her pleas, and thus she
tion is in this statement of Rachel. Jacob finally bore a son, Joseph (“addition”).
certainly could not make such happen,
but he felt Rachel’s frustration. Both JACOB’S STRUGGLES
agreed, therefore, to resort to the custom WITH LABAN
to which Abraham and Sarah resorted 30:25-36 The Lord has blessed me:
with Hagar (16:2). A handmaid, Bilhah, Laban was certainly a selfish man. He
was thus brought forward in order that had deceived Jacob in order to gain seven
children be produced for Rachel through extra years of work out of him, and now
the handmaid. As a result of the union he was asking Jacob to stay with him
between Jacob and Bilhah, Dan (“judge”) because he had been blessed by Jacob’s
was born. Through Bilhah Rachel had presence. Name me your wages: It
legal claim to the children, and thus seems that Jacob is now given the op-
Bilhah bore another son, Naphtali (“wres- portunity to extract from Laban more
tling”). than what Laban would be willing to
30:9-13 The competition for chil- give. So Jacob took the offer in order to
dren continued through Leah who also gain the best animals from the flocks of
gave her handmaid, Zilpah, to Jacob. Laban. My honesty will testify: Jacob
From Zilpah came Gad (“good fortune”) wanted to cull out of Laban’s flocks the
and Asher (“happy”). speckled, spotted and brown sheep and
30:14-21 Mandrakes: According to the spotted and speckled goats, which
the superstitious beliefs of the time it was animals were considered the inferior
believed that the berries of this plant breed of the flocks. He would use these
would induce fertility. Regardless of the off-colored sheep and goats to develop
mandrakes, Rachel remained barren, but his own flocks. By making this separa-
Leah bore a fifth son, Issachar (“hire”). tion in the flocks it would later be easy
She also bore a sixth son whom she to determine which animals belonged to
named Zebulun (“dwelling”). She then Laban and which animals belonged to
bore the only daughter of Jacob, Dinah Jacob. However, the very day that Laban
(“judgment”). made the deal, he secretly culled out of
30:22-24 The superstitious belief in his flocks the colored goats and sheep that
the mandrakes proved worthless in ref- Jacob had said he wanted. This was cer-
erence to making Rachel fruitful. How- tainly a violation of the agreement, but
ever, after many years as Jacob’s wife, manifested the devious nature of Laban
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in his business dealings. breeding with the males that had pecu-
30:37-43 What Jacob seems to have liar coloring. When the goats and sheep
done here appears on the surface to be a gave birth, he separated the peculiar col-
superstitious practice that would encour- ored ones in order that they alone be
age the fertility of those animals which raised for breeding among themselves.
he had agreed to take. However, he later He kept the spotted and speckled animals
told his wives that the practice of selec- for his own and left the other animals for
tive breeding came by the instructions of Laban’s flock. The result of the breed-
God (31:10-12). What he was doing in ing was that Jacob’s livestock increased
the breeding process was limiting the exceedingly.

C HAPTER 31
JACOB’S FLIGHT FROM LABAN crease for his return to Palestine. Both
31:1-16 Jacob’s success generated Rachel and Leah agreed that their father
jealousy in the heart of Laban’s sons, and had been unfair in his dealings with
where there is jealousy, malicious actions Jacob, so they agreed with Jacob to leave
usually follow. Jealousy always leaves secretly. Foreigners ... money: It seems
a trail of heartache. Jacob thus sensed that both Rachel and Leah harbored some
that it was time to leave. Return to the resentment toward their father since he
land: In order to reassure Jacob, the Lord had treated them as foreigners and used
first instructed Jacob to return to the their inheritance for his own means. Be-
house of Isaac and Rebekah. God then cause their own relationship with their
promised Jacob that He would be with father was now strained, they agreed with
him. Changed my wages: It seems that Jacob that it was now time to migrate as
the pagan culture of Laban and his sons a family. The lesson from Laban’s life is
justified the dishonest dealings by which that he lost his daughters, his grandchil-
he treated Jacob. In the eyes of Laban dren, and the greater part of his posses-
and his sons, therefore, what they did was sions. He also lost his best shepherd,
not dishonest, but the manner by which Jacob, because of his unrighteous deal-
one would deal in business with others. ings with Jacob. He thus suffered the
But according to the ethics and morals curse of God because he dealt unrigh-
of God, his actions were sinful. So Jacob teously with the one whom God had cho-
explained to Rachel and Leah that it was sen and blessed to continue the promises
time to depart from the presence of such made to Abraham.
influence. The flock of your father: 31:17-24 A plan was devised by
Jacob reassured Rachel and Leah that the which Jacob would take his wives, chil-
work was of God, not his own invention. dren and possessions and flee from the
And thus it was God’s will that Jacob presence of Laban. The idols: These
prosper for a greater purpose, that pur- were essentially the deeds of ownership
pose being that Jacob’s possessions in- of the property of Laban. Whoever pos-
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sessed them had legal rights to the inher- monthly period of womanhood, and thus
itance of Laban. Dream by night: If should not be moved from her saddle.
Laban’s intentions were to harm Jacob, 31:36-42 Jacob was angry: Now
surely this would have been a nightmare. the man of God was stirred with righteous
In order to strike fear in the heart of indignation. The accusation that he was
Laban, God warned him not even to a thief greatly angered Jacob. As a re-
speak harshly with the heir of Abraham sult, he proceeded to upbraid Laban for
and the one through whose seedline the his unrighteous behavior throughout their
promises would be fulfilled. relationship with one another, which up-
31:25-36 In this suspense filled en- braiding Laban rightly deserved.
counter, Laban had no sense of con-
science about his own unrighteous behav- JACOB’S COVENANT
ior. He accused Jacob of stealing away WITH LABAN
his family, of being discourteous in flee- 31:43-55 Let us make a covenant:
ing, of ignoring his supposed generosity, It seems that Jacob’s rebuke of Laban
and of being denied the right to send his produced some repentance in the heart
daughters away with a feast. The irony of the accuser. It was true that all that
of his speech is in the fact that he was Jacob had was the result of his stay with
guilty of all that he accused Jacob. But Laban. But Jacob was not Laban’s slave,
such is the character of ungodly behav- and thus he had justly worked according
ior and ethics that are molded by ungodly to Laban’s conditions to produce all that
values. Stolen my gods: Laban even he had. Everything that Jacob possessed
accused Jacob of being a thief in refer- was legally his. Now Laban initiated the
ence to the idols that Rachel had con- making of a covenant. The normal pro-
cealed in her goods. Since Jacob was cedure for establishing covenants be-
unaware of this, such an accusation was tween men was carried out in that a me-
false. Jacob answered: In Jacob’s an- morial was erected out of stone, oaths
swer to Laban’s accusations, he did not were made, and a feast was conducted
defend himself. When slandered by those by eating the meat of a sacrificed ani-
who are slanderous in their character, de- mal. Laban named the heap of stones
fense is often futile since the slander Jegar-sahadutha, after the Aramaic lan-
comes from an evil heart. Evil hearts guage, but Jacob named it Galeed (“the
usually never correctly interpret the re- heap of witness”) after the Hebrew lan-
sponse of those they slander simply be- guage. It was also called Mizpah which
cause their thinking is twisted by jealous means “watchtower.” The monument
motives. Manner of women: Rachel had was an agreement that Laban would not
hidden the idols in the saddle of her camel. increase his territory south of the monu-
When it came time to search all that be- ment and Jacob would not increase his
longed to her, she excused herself from north of the monument in order that they
the search, saying that she was in her not infringe on one another’s pasture
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lands. Mistreat my daughters: Laban’s polygamous marriages, and thus, he ex-

final request was that Jacob treat his horted Jacob not to increase his problems
daughters well and that he take no more by taking other wives, especially wives
wives. It seems that Laban realized the from the Canaanites in whose land he
unfortunate consequences that came with would dwell.

C HAPTER 32
JACOB’S REUNION WITH ESAU not flee, knowing that with his flocks,
32:1-8 After the encounter with wives and children he could not outrun
Laban, Jacob turned his face toward an- 400 men. He thus, with a humble heart,
other great struggle with a relative, the placed his trust in God who had commis-
struggle to deal with his brother Esau who sioned him to return to his family. God’s
many years before had sought to murder response was the renewal of the promise
him. The anxiety that Jacob felt concern- that He would make his descendants as
ing his brother’s attempt to murder him the sand of the sea.
helps us understand why it was easy for 32:13-21 Jacob made every effort
Jacob to stay so long with the house of to appease what he thought was the wrath
Laban. He was in no hurry, therefore, to of his brother. Appease: This is the first
return to his father and mother simply use of this word in the Bible. It is a word
because he believed throughout the years used in reference to the one who is seek-
that Esau was going to do him harm. ing the forgiveness of another in order
Mahanaim: The name means “two that a relationship be established between
camps.” There was the camp of his fam- two parties. In this case, Jacob, the one
ily, and there was the invisible camp of who was seeking forgiveness, sought to
the angels who surrounded him for his appease the supposed wrath of his brother
protection. He was thus to have no fear in order that a relationship once gain be
because God was near with His protect- established between the two. In our re-
ing angels. Find favor: Jacob knew that lationship with God, we, through our obe-
he must now give account to his brother dience, seek to appease the judgment of
for the sins of the past. His offering here God upon our sins.
was a means by which to seek forgive- 32:22-32 A man wrestled with him:
ness and to show a heart of repentance. The man here is identified as God who
Greatly afraid: Because of his guilt that wrestled with Jacob’s soul. The socket
he felt over the things he had done in the of his thigh: During the wrestling, Jacob
past to Esau, he interpreted the band of dislocated his hip. Bless me: Jacob con-
400 men to be an army to inflict punish- tinued the wrestling, realizing that he
ment on him for the sins of the past. needed a blessing from the One with
32:9-12 It seems that Jacob was at whom he wrestled. Israel: Jacob would
this time taking a stand against what he not let the man go. As a result of the
considered an impending danger. He did wrestling match, Jacob’s name was
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changed to Israel, meaning, “the one who dream, his physical impairment in the hip
strives with God,” or “the one who pre- was a reminder that the struggle was real.
vails with God.” Peniel: As we, Jacob From the day of this struggle the descen-
did not know exactly with whom or what dants of Israel refrained from eating the
he was struggling. He did know that in sciatic muscle of animals. Now as he
some way it was a messenger from God, passed over: The point is that before one
and thus the wrestling was with God. He can face his enemies, he must first face
named the place “Peniel,” or “Penuel.” God and reconcile his differences with
Peniel means “face-to-face with God.” God. One must struggle in repentance,
Sinew of the hip: In case Jacob might and thus be on the side of God before he
have thought the wrestling was only a can be victorious over his enemies.
C HAPTER 33
33:1-11 Regardless of the wrestling his former years, Jacob had dealt deceit-
with God and the subsequent blessing, fully with his brother Esau. He had
Jacob still harbored anxiety concerning caught Esau in a time of weakness in or-
the imminent encounter with his brother. der to secure his birthright. He had de-
He thus separated his household into ceived Isaac in order to receive the bless-
groups, making ready for the clash. Esau ing of the firstborn. Filled with guilt and
... embraced him: One can only imag- repentance, he had to face his brother. He
ine what was going through Jacob’s mind expected nothing short of justice and ret-
as his brother ran toward him and em- ribution. But instead, as God would do,
braced him. The tremendous release of Esau ran toward Jacob with embraces and
tension resulted in both men weeping tears and forgiveness (See Lk 15:11-32).
before one another. This company: It was as Jacob said, like seeing the face
Reference is to the offering of the flocks of God who is a God of love and grace.
that Jacob would give to Esau in order to 33:12-20 Since Jacob, his family and
gain his favor. He sought to buy Esau’s flocks, could not keep up with the pace
favor. But Esau said he had enough of of Esau’s men, he asked to be allowed to
his own. It was like trying to buy the part from Esau in order to go on to Suc-
grace of God. God has enough. It is not coth and then to Shechem (See 12:6). It
for sale. It is free. As one sees the face was here that he set up an altar, Elelohe-
of God: This is surely one of the great- Israel, meaning, “God, the God of Israel.”
est illustrations of the grace of God. In
C HAPTER 34
THE RAPE OF DINAH environment wherein she would be
34:1-7 Dinah’s error was in her ac- raped. Shechem, the son of a local prince,
tion to go out and mingle among pagan took advantage of the teenager, and thus
people, and thus put herself in a social set the stage for more evil to come. Get
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me this young girl: Because of his arro- Canaanites would be doomed before the
gant request to his father, Hamor, it is seedline heritage of Abraham could be
apparent that Shechem did not have any developed into the nation of Israel. This
moral judgment. When Jacob heard the was thus a temptation of Satan through
news of the rape, he said nothing until Shechem and Hamor to destroy the pos-
the family of sons could be brought to- terity of Abraham.
gether in a family council. 34:25-31 They slew all the males:
34:8-12 The defilement of Dinah, The plan was a genocide against the
and Shechem’s desire to marry her called house of Hamor. The front men were
for a meeting of the two families. Though Simeon and Levi and the follow-up was
the meeting was polite, the brothers of carried out by the other brothers. Jacob
Dinah were seething for revenge. For his knew nothing of the plan, and thus when
son, Hamor argued that Jacob and his he heard of what happened, he was
sons would be given the privilege of in- greatly grieved. His fear now was that
termarriage with his family, plus trade in the other families of the Canaanites and
the land and ownership of property. This Perizzites would form a league and come
offer indicated that at this time Jacob and against his family. But the sons justified
his family were still traveling guests in their actions, not on a religious basis, but
the land, though they had been in the area on the basis of the honor of their sister,
for at least ten years. that she should not be dealt with as a har-
34:13-24 You be circumcised: A lot. The error of the two brothers, Simeon
scheme had already been devised by the and Levi, was that they used violence to
brothers. The brothers had no intention correct a problem, assuming that another
of allowing the marriage to transpire. evil would correct an evil. In their own
The plan was to have the men of Hamor posterity in the years to come, they would
in a physically incapacitated condition af- receive from their father, Jacob, their own
ter their circumcision in order to strike a punishment (See 49:5-7). As interpret-
mortal blow. Will not their ... substance ers of what transpired among the descen-
... be ours: Hamor and Shechem’s argu- dants of Abraham, we must not conclude
ment to the men of the city seemed to that God approves of any sin in the lives
indicate that they were attempting to graft of individuals or group of individuals. He
the family of Jacob into the culture of only uses the sin of people to turn the
the land. The proposition may have been work of Satan against himself. The pos-
a good economic plan, but more than eco- terity of the faith of Abraham would
nomics were involved. If Jacob and his eventually lead to the unveiling of the
family compromised their religious be- mystery of salvation through the Jews
liefs by making a covenant with the pa- (Ep 3:3-5). God would turn the sin of
gans of the land of Canaan, then the plan people around in order to carry out this
of God to keep Israel distinct from the eventual end. But we must not conclude
pagan beliefs and behavior of the that God was approving the sin in the
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lives of Abraham’s descendants. He used His eternal plan.

the sin of the descendants to carry out

C HAPTER 35
BIRTH OF BENJAMIN & DEATH Jacob’s faith that he trusted in the prom-
OF RACHEL & JACOB ises of God, and thus walked according
35:1-7 Bethel: It was here that God to the covenant of the promises.
first appeared to Jacob on his flight from 35:16-20 Before her death in child-
Esau. Put away the foreign gods: It birth, Rachel named the son Benoni (“son
seems that the influence of the Canaanites of my sorrow”). But Jacob later named
was creeping into the behavior of the chil- the son Benjamin (“son of the right
dren of Israel. Jacob thus took a stand hand”). Rachel was subsequently bur-
for his family to cleanse themselves from ied on the way to Bethlehem where many
all influences of the pagan religions centuries later One would be born who
around them. The symbols of idolatry would sit at the right hand of God (See
were buried by Jacob under an oak that Ep 1:20-23; Hb 8:1). It could have been
was by Shechem. Terror of God: In- that the change of the name was by the
stead of the surrounding cities forming inspiration of God in preparation for the
an alliance to attack Jacob and his fam- future. Whatever the case, the Son of
ily, they were filled with the fear of God. Man was born in Bethlehem (Mc 5:2) and
We must assume that these idolatrous now sits at the right hand of God.
peoples assumed that the God of Jacob 35:21-26 Reuben ... lay with Bilhah:
was strong in allowing two men, Simeon This sin of incest against a wife of Jacob
and Levi, to overpower all the men of was a flagrant violation of the immedi-
Hamor. Word spread fast among the ate household of Jacob. It seems that this
people of Palestine, and thus, Jacob’s eldest son of Jacob was showing con-
fears of their attack were unfounded. tempt for the patriarchal authority of
Even in their superstitious beliefs, the Jacob. Though he did nothing about this
Canaanites came to the correct conclu- at the time, Jacob later excluded Reuben
sion that God was protecting His people. as a leader in the covenant (49:3,4). The
35:8-15 God again reaffirmed the sons of Jacob were: This list of Jacob’s
promises that were made to Abraham. sons is according to their mothers (Leah
From Abraham came many nations and and Rachel), with the sons of the
kings (17:5,6). And now from Jacob also handmaids (Bilhah and Zilpah) placed
many nations and kings would come. second. The list mentions that they were
God also renewed the land promise. born in Padan-aram, without mentioning
Bethel: The name means “house of Benjamin who was born in Canaan.
God.” Jacob established a memorial of Jacob came to Isaac: Many years be-
the place where God made these prom- fore these events, Isaac thought he was
ises. The monument was a witness to going to die (27:1,2). But he lived until
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Jacob returned from the house of Laban two brothers were able to bury their fa-
to be reunited with Esau, and thus, the ther, Isaac, in peace.

C HAPTER 36
Generations Of Esau Amalek, the descendants of whom be-
(36:1 - 37:1) came the enemies of the children of Is-
Outline: (1) The descendants of Esau (36:1 – 43) rael when they immediately came out of
Egyptian captivity on their way to Mt.
THE DESCENDANTS OF ESAU Sinai.
36:1-8 Wives: It was common in 36:15-19 Chiefs: Some translations
Near East culture for people to change have used the word “duke” to translate
their names. In this context it is possible the Hebrew word alluf. The word
that Bashemath in 26:34 is the same as “prince” has also been used. However,
Adah (vs 2), and that Mahalath in 28:9 is the fathers mentioned here established
the same as Bashemath (vs 3). Judith of extended families, each family being led
26:34 is probably different from by a patriarch or chief.
Aholibamah in this text (vs 2). Judith, 36:20-30 The Horites were already
the daughter of Beeri (26:34), was either in the land before the arrival of Esau.
childless or died. Aholibamah possibly What seems to have happened is that the
took her place. Her father, Anah, and descendants of Esau intermarried with
grandfather, Zibeon, are listed with the the Horites. By the time this informa-
Seirites (vs 20). Other texts, however, tion is written by Moses after the Egyp-
mention her as the “daughter of Anah, tian exodus, it seems that this intermar-
son of Zibeon,” which is probably the riage had already been completed, and
correct reading. Hivite: This would bet- thus the Edomites were a mixture of the
ter be understood as Horite (vs 20). Esau descendants from Esau with the Horites.
is Edom: Twice in the text this state- 36:31-43 Before any king reigned
ment is made, thus emphasizing the fact there over the children of Israel: This
that in genealogy, God seems to want Is- statement has been used to affirm that the
rael to understand that the descendants Pentateuch was not written by Moses, but
of Esau became the Edomites, which by someone who lived during the days
people fought against the children of Is- there were kings in Israel, which would
rael when they came out of Egyptian cap- have been after the kingship of Saul, the
tivity. Edom was judged for the perse- first king of Israel. The argument as-
cution of this brother, and thus, God even- sumes, however, that there were no kings
tually destroyed the nation of Edom from reigning in Edom at the time of Moses.
history. There is no archaeological evidence to
36:9-14 This text carries on with the prove there were no kings in Edom at the
descendants of Esau through Eliphaz (vs time of Moses. Consider also the fact
12). From his second wife he had that there would have been no reason for
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God to tarry in writing the Pentateuch Generations Of Jacob

books until after the reign of Saul, whose (37:1 - 50:26)
reign was in the 11th century B.C. It is Outline: (1) Joseph and his brothers (37:1-28),
not reasonable to conclude that God (2) Joseph goes to Egypt (37:29-36), (3) Rela-
would leave Israel without the Pentateuch tionship between Judah and Tamar (38:1-30), (4)
from the time of the exodus from Egypt Joseph and Potiphar’s wife (39:1-23), (5) Joseph
(1445 B.C.) to the time after the kings in prison (40:1-23), (6) Pharaoh’s dreams (41:1-
were established in Israel, the time of 57), (7) First visit of Joseph’s brothers (42:1-38),
Saul and following. The fact that verse (8) Second visit of Joseph’s brothers (43:1-34),
31 mentions the “kings of Israel” would (9) Benjamin brought to Joseph (44:1-34), (10)
be explained in the fact that through in- Joseph reveals himself (45:1-15), (11) Jacob’s
spiration Moses inscribed these words. move to Egypt (45:16 – 46:27), (12) Jacob’s fam-
God knew that Israel would eventually ily settles in Goshen (46:28 – 47:12), (13) Joseph’s
want a king, and thus He gave instruc- administration of Egypt (47:13-26), (14) Last days
tions for the reign of this king. By inspi- of Jacob (47:27 – 50:14), (15) Last years of Jo-
ration of Moses, God here mentions the seph (50:15-26)
kings that would come before they ex-
isted.
C HAPTER 37
JOSEPH & HIS BROTHERS erence to the other sons. In Joseph’s case,
37:1-4 The book of Genesis now the problem seems to have been exem-
turns from the life of Jacob to focus on plified when Jacob gave him the special
the circumstances surrounding the life of gift of the coat of many colors, or orna-
Joseph. The important lesson of Joseph’s ments. Another lesson is in the fact that
life is that God can use the unrighteous if Jacob would have spent as much time
behavior of those who surround a righ- with all his sons as he did with Joseph,
teous man in order to work out something they too would have had the faith of Jo-
for the good of His cause. In the case of seph that kept him close to God through-
Joseph we must understand the greater out his ordeals.
picture, that God was working in order 37:5-8 The first dream of Joseph was
to take the descendants of Jacob into correctly understood by the brothers, that
Egypt where He would build them into a they would give obeisance to Joseph.
great nation of people. Israel loved Jo- The truth of the dream was that he would
seph more: The beginning of the prob- eventually reign over them.
lems in Joseph’s life started with a fa- 37:9-11 The second dream reempha-
ther who favored one child over another. sized the meaning of the first dream,
Jacob had suffered the same in the fam- though portrayed by the sun, moon and
ily of his father Isaac (25:28), and now stars of heaven. The first dream gener-
he is doing the same with Joseph in ref- ated hate in the heart of the brothers, and
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this second dream stirred a rebuke even eling merchants were taking their prod-
from Jacob and envy in the hearts of the ucts on to Egypt, which products were
brothers. God knew that the brothers used for the embalming work and medi-
would have hateful reactions to the cine of Egypt. Midianites: This was
dreams, and thus, we must conclude that another name for the Ishmaelites, who
God was setting the stage for what He were descendants of Abraham through
knew the brothers would do in selling Ishmael who lived in most of the area of
Joseph to Midianite traders who would Arabia (See also Jg 8:22,24). Twenty
take him to Egypt. The lesson is that God pieces of silver: These were pieces of
also works through unfortunate circum- metal that were weighed in a balance
stances in order to accomplish His will (Compare Lv 27:3-7). The common price
in our lives. of a slave during the time of Moses was
37:12-17 Shechem: It was in this thirty pieces of silver (See Ex 21:32; Zc
city that Simeon and Levi slew all the 11:12, compare Mt 26:15).
men of the city. Jacob is somewhat wor-
ried about his sons being in this area, and JOSEPH GOES TO EGYPT
thus sent Joseph to see how they were 37:29-36 Reuben was grieved con-
faring. By the time of Joseph’s arrival, cerning the sale of Joseph. The deceit of
however, they had moved on to Dothan. the other brothers was continued by a lie
37:18-22 They conspired: The con- to the father. Sackcloth: This was a
spiracy of all the brothers, except for the rough goat’s hair material that was worn
eldest, Reuben, was murder. With this in times of grief or repentance. His fa-
act of aggression, they believed they ther wept: The brothers witnessed the
would terminate the possible fulfillment tremendous impact of the loss of Joseph
of Joseph’s dreams, that he would reign on the father. They sought to comfort
over them and they would be obedient to him, but failed to do the one thing that
his commands. However, Reuben sought would have comforted the father, that is,
to save Joseph, and thus talked the other tell the truth. If they told the truth, they
brothers into casting Joseph into a pit, or possibly thought that their father would
cistern, from where he would later se- send them to Egypt to reclaim Joseph.
cretly restore him to his father. Unfortu- Whatever the case, their hearts were
nately, the other brothers sold Joseph hardened both against Joseph and in their
when Reuben was not present. relationship with their father.
37:23-28 Ishmaelites: These trav-
C HAPTER 38
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN Joseph’s venture into Egypt. It is given
JUDAH & TAMAR here by Moses in order to list an impor-
38:1-11 This interlude of genealogi- tant link in the family genealogy of Is-
cal information happened at the time of rael through Judah. Another reason for
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the inclusion of this affair was to give mon harlot, but in evidence that would
Israel a history of how immoral and idola- later positively identify Judah as the one
trous fornication brought immorality and with whom she would conceive. Har-
idolatry into Israel. This event begins by lot: The word here is different than the
Judah going out among the Canaanites, word translated “harlot” in verses 15 &
where he married a Canaanite woman. 24 where the word means a professional
Go in to your brother’s wife: The levi- street harlot. Here reference is to one
rate marriage law was widely practiced who gives herself to sexual rites in honor
in Near East cultures. The purpose of of a pagan god.
the practice was to preserve the heritage 38:24-26 Let her be burned: Judah
of a brother who died without sons to was infuriated that Tamar had violated
carry on his posterity. If an older brother his instructions. It seems that he was
died, then it was the duty of the next liv- furious with her in that she had also
ing brother to go into the widow, the dead played the part of a harlot, thus mocking
brother’s wife, and bear children by the the family in such actions. Burned: See
widow for the sake of continuing the pos- Lv 20:10. More righteous than I: As it
terity of the dead brother. The children turned out, the problem of Shelah con-
of the dead brother’s wife would have tinuing the heritage of Er was not with
all legal rights to the deceased’s property, Tamar, but with Judah. Though Tamar
and subsequently carry on the family lin- had given herself to the affair with Judah
eage of the dead brother (See Lv 21:9; in order to accomplish a legally justified
Dt 22:5-24; see Ruth 1:11-13; 4:5-11). objective, she still was not innocent in
In this case, Onan refused to carry out the matter. However, Judah had to bear
the levirate responsibility, and thus suf- the greater responsibility because he had
fered the judgment of God. refused to carry out his legal duty in pro-
38:12-23 It seems that Tamar sought viding Shelah for Tamar. Both had be-
for Shelah to be given to her as a hus- haved wrongly, but Judah had to bear the
band in order to carry on the heritage of greater responsibility.
Er. But she was denied Shelah. So she 38:27-30 Perez: The name means
schemed a plan to entice Judah into bear- “to make a breach” or “to forge through.”
ing children through her for the sake of The purpose for the record of the inci-
Er. Signet and cord: Both of these car- dent between Judah and Tamar is re-
ried the name or insignia of its owner. vealed in the fact that through Perez came
Because her purpose for enticing Judah Boaz, and then David, and eventually the
to lie with her was not for money, but to Christ (1 Ch 2:3-15; Mt 1:3-16; Lk 3:23-
continue the heritage of Er, Tamar was 33).
not interested in the payment of a com-

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C HAPTER 39
JOSEPH & POTIPHAR’S WIFE that his wife was telling the truth. In-
39:1-6 The promise of God to Abra- stead of death, therefore, Joseph was sent
ham that he would be a blessing to oth- to prison. Since Potiphar was a royal
ers was here continued through Joseph. officer, Joseph was put in a special prison
Potiphar’s house was greatly blessed be- that was a better environment than the
cause of the presence of Joseph. prisons for the common slaves.
Throughout the following story of Joseph 39:21-23 Committed to Joseph’s
in Egypt, the work of God in the life of hand all the prisoners: This is the sec-
the righteous is clearly evident. Because ond time God providentially moved Jo-
of his great faith, Joseph remained posi- seph into a situation where he could be
tive in life, and thus did not mourn over prepared for the eventual supervision of
his predicament or environment. He did all Egypt under Pharaoh, and thus the ful-
not blame God for his situation. There fillment of the dreams of his youth. He
is no self-pity in his character. Left all first had the opportunity to prepare for
... in Joseph’s hand: When those of the leadership in Potiphar’s house. He is now
world witness the honesty and integrity given the opportunity to learn even while
of the righteous, they will entrust the righ- in prison. He evidently manifested in his
teous with great responsibility. Advance- behavior great leadership abilities, which
ment in the world comes through the in- abilities were used by those he encoun-
tegrity of righteous behavior, not decep- tered. It could have been that it was this
tive schemes. leadership that Joseph’s brothers saw in
39:7-18 Lie with me: Potiphar’s him even at the age of seventeen, leader-
wife was without morals and marital ship abilities that intimidated them, for
commitment to her husband. She did not they knew the dreams of Joseph that they
care for the consequences of her wicked would eventually give obeisance to him.
actions, and thus propositioned a righ- They knew that if Joseph continued to
teous man for her own satisfaction. Left grow in his leadership abilities, they
his garment: Not only was the woman would indeed eventually bow down to
immoral, but she was a liar. The garment him. The lesson is that leadership abil-
thus became the evidence that Joseph was ity often intimidates those who would
in her presence, but was not evidence that presume to be leaders. Those who are
he had made any advances toward her. thus insecure or arrogant, often reject the
39:19,20 Put him in prison: The leadership ability that is manifested in
fact that Joseph was not immediately great leaders. One should not be jealous
killed for the supposed immoral advance of those to whom God has given abilities
on Potiphar’s wife seems to indicate that to lead.
Potiphar was not completely convinced

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C HAPTER 40
JOSEPH IN PRISON dream would eventually come to Pha-
40:1-23 These dreams were sent raoh. We would assume that God was
from God in order to give Joseph an op- delaying the rise of Joseph to prominent
portunity to be delivered out of prison power in Egypt until certain events tran-
and seated before the Pharaoh of Egypt. spired in Palestine with Jacob and his
They were dreams given in order to ful- sons. We must always keep in mind in
fill Joseph’s previous prophetic dreams. our interpretation of these events that
Joseph’s deliverance did not immediately God was working everything together for
happen because the cupbearer, in his ex- the purpose of bringing the household of
citement in being delivered from prison, Jacob into Egypt, and keeping the house-
forgot Joseph. However, Joseph was hold there for four hundred years until
eventually delivered from prison after He would take them back to the land of
two years. Each dream came to pass ac- Palestine in fulfillment of the promise to
cording to the interpretation that was Abraham. All that He did was for the
given by Joseph, and thus the stage was purpose of preserving the seedline of
set for Joseph to be released from prison Abraham in order to bring the Messiah
once God again made the opportunity for and Savior into the world.
the interpretation of a dream, which

C HAPTER 41
PHARAOH’S DREAMS prison, the butler remembered the one
41:1-8 Pharaoh’s dreams of the cows who gave interpretations from God. Both
and ears (a reference to some type of of Pharaoh’s dreams referred to the fu-
grain) could have been interpreted by ture condition of the crops and condition
Pharaoh’s advisors if they were inspired. of Egypt. There would be seven years of
However, even in their simplicity the in- abundant harvest and seven years of fam-
terpretation of the dreams was too great ine. What would occur would be a
for Pharaoh’s presumptuous men. To drought many kilometers to the south of
their credit, however, it was obvious that Egypt toward the source of the Nile
they knew the interpretation was gener- River. The farms of Egypt were watered
ally not favorable. Mixed with seven by the overflowing waters of the Nile,
years of plenty, there would be seven the longest river in the world. There was
years of famine. The Egyptians consid- always little rain in Egypt, and thus all
ered Pharaoh to be the sun god, but here crops in Egypt depended on the overflow-
he could not even interpret his own ing waters of the Nile. When a drought
dreams. occurred in the regions where the Nile
41:9-32 God will give Pharaoh an received its water from countless tribu-
answer: Two years after his release from taries to the south, then the river would
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not overflow by the time it reached Egyp- ness”) was so named because God had
tian soil. exalted Joseph to a greater position than
41:33-43 With the interpretation what he could have had if he had stayed
came also advice from Joseph. This with his family in Palestine. The name
would be only natural from one who had could also have been given in view of
the skills of leadership in organizing the fact that Joseph was placed in a posi-
people. Joseph organized people in tion where he was able to save many lives
Potiphar’s house and in prison. Pharaoh through his skillful planning during the
knew that the interpretation was true. He time of the Egyptian famine. On: This
thus took off his ring of authority and was the city of the sun god that was later
gave it to Joseph. This gave Joseph the called Heliopolis. Famine was over all
authority to act on behalf of Pharaoh in ... the earth: These years of famine did
organizing the harvest of the good years not only strike the nation of Egypt, but
in preparation for the coming famine every nation in the region of Egypt. In
years. The second chariot: In order to view of what happened with the family
inaugurate Joseph to his position before of Jacob, we would conclude that God is
the people, a public display of Joseph’s the one who caused the famine. God
position was indicated through the fact meant to take the children of Israel into
that he was publicly paraded before the Egypt for four hundred years while the
people in the chariot behind Pharaoh’s. wickedness of the Canaanites increased.
Thus Pharaoh made Joseph the ruler over Since there was already some inner mar-
all Egypt. The stage was now set for the riage with the Canaanites going on in the
fulfillment of Joseph’s own dreams that lives of Jacob’s family, God’s plan was
he had when he was a boy in Palestine, to extract the family from Canaan in or-
that his brothers would bow before him. der to preserve the posterity of Abraham.
41:44-57 Since Joseph was seven- In Egypt, they would be separated from
teen when he entered Egypt, and at the the Egyptians in the land of Goshen, and
time of this event he was thirty, he had thus the purity of Abraham’s seed through
been in Egypt for thirteen years, at least Jacob would be guarded from the evil in-
two of which he was in prison. Asenath: fluence of the immoral and idolatrous
Through his wife, Asenath, he had two culture of Canaan. Since it was the work
sons. Manasseh (“forgetting”) was so of God to get the household of Jacob to
named in that by this time Joseph had Egypt, we would conclude that God
forgotten the sad events that brought him works through many events in order to
to Egypt. Ephraim (“double fruitful- carry out His purpose.

C HAPTER 42
FIRST VISIT From what Jacob said in the statement
OF JOSEPH’S BROTHERS of verse 1, it seems that he thought his
42:1-5 There is grain in Egypt: sons should have come up with this idea.
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It may be that the sons still remembered that they had imprisoned Joseph, and now
that Egypt was where they sent their they were imprisoned in the country to
brother Joseph many years before, and which they had sold their brother.
thus they wanted to stay away from the Simeon: We do not know exactly why
land. They are no doubt still suffering Simeon was chosen other than the fact
from guilt for what they did with Joseph that it may have been Simeon who had
and their lie to their father concerning years before instigated the plan to have
Joseph’s supposed death. Joseph sold to Midianite traders.
42:6-24 Bowed themselves down 42:25-34 Joseph may have had their
before him: And so the dream of the money placed in their sacks of grain as a
young man Joseph was fulfilled. Spoke benevolent gesture, but the brothers in-
roughly ... spies: Because of the charac- terpreted it as an act of God’s judgment
ter of Joseph, it is hard to think that he on them. Since Simeon was held as a
was seeking vengeance by his conduct. hostage in an Egyptian prison, they had
Because he had to make an effort to speak to return to Egypt. But they did not know
roughly indicates that he was not this type how to deal with the returned money.
of person. It seems from his first encoun- 42:35-38 You have bereaved me: In
ter with his brothers that it was his intent Jacob’s response to all that had transpired
to see his father. He could have made concerning their trip to Egypt, he accused
the accusation that they were spies in them for being responsible for the loss
order to keep one of them in custody to of Joseph and the imprisonment of
force their return to Egypt. His blood is Simeon. And now they were threatening
now required of us: The brothers had the life of Benjamin. Though Reuben had
for years lived with the guilt of what they offered his two sons as hostages, Jacob’s
had done to their brother Joseph. Reuben distrust of his sons still would not allow
now states that it was time to reap the him to release Benjamin into their care.
whirlwind of justice. He reminded them

C HAPTER 43
SECOND VISIT Benjamin to go. The famine must have
OF JOSEPH’S BROTHERS been so severe that Jacob knew that it
43:1-14 The brothers did not imme- was now a life and death situation in Pal-
diately return to Egypt after their first estine. Best fruits: They had a water
return to Jacob, their father. So Simeon supply from wells by which they could
had to languish in prison until the need produce a garden of fruits. But if they
for more food demanded that they return did not secure the grain from Egypt,
to Egypt. Judah: It is now Judah who surely all their livestock would perish,
makes a plea to Jacob that Benjamin must and eventually, they themselves would be
be sent with them to Egypt. After much in danger of starvation.
persuasion, Jacob finally agrees to allow 43:15-25 Joseph sensed that the at-
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titudes of the brothers had changed, for nally seeing his brother after so many
certainly they came with contrite atti- years. Abomination to the Egyptians:
tudes in reference to what they had to do. The Egyptians were a proud people. In
These men will dine with me: The broth- this setting, therefore, the Hebrews, who
ers were certainly mystified by the ac- were considered a lower class of people
tions of Joseph. Because they could not because they were shepherds, were not
comprehend what was happening, they allowed to sit with Egyptians. It is also
were afraid. Once the brothers explained believed that as shepherds, the Hebrews
that their money had been placed in their ate some animals that the Egyptians con-
sacks on the previous journey, the stew- sidered sacred. The men looked in as-
ard of Joseph reassured them that he had tonishment at one another: What else
placed the money in the sacks. This could we expect from such an encoun-
surely confounded the anxious brothers ter. Their minds are filled with questions
as they waited in anticipation for a meet- and confusion, for they did not under-
ing with Joseph at noon. stand their presence at this meal with
43:26-34 Is this your younger someone who had previously treated
brother: Being informed that this was them so harshly. Benjamin’s serving:
Benjamin from Rachel his own mother, In order to show preference, Joseph gave
Joseph was overcome with emotion. He more to his full brother, Benjamin, the
hurried out from the presence of the son of his mother, Rachel (See 1 Sm 1:5).
brothers in order to weep for joy in fi-

C HAPTER 44
BENJAMIN BROUGHT They had delayed in returning to Egypt
TO JOSEPH after the first visit, thus giving the im-
44:1-13 The sack of the youngest: pression that they had abandoned Simeon
It seems that Joseph is working a scheme in prison. But he also concluded that his
that is based on his understanding of how father was unwilling to come to Egypt.
his brothers behaved many years before, With this maneuver, therefore, Joseph
that they were dishonest in their dealings. would be trying to teach them a lesson,
And thus his plan is to force them to bring as well as bring his father into Egypt. In
their father to him in Egypt. Feelings for all things that Joseph did with his broth-
revenge would be unlikely since Joseph ers throughout these events, we must not
had long forgotten his Palestinian fam- forget that Joseph now believed that it
ily by the time of the birth of his chil- was God who wanted him to be sold into
dren. He realized that if he had not been Egypt.
sold into Egypt he would not be where 44:14-17 The brothers were cer-
he was. Of course, it is probable that tainly devastated by the discovery of the
Joseph was teaching his brothers a les- cup in Benjamin’s sack. In their bitter
son that would change their lives forever. agony, they offered themselves as slaves.
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Joseph extended mercy by saying that return to his father. Judah then confessed
they could leave, but Benjamin had to to Joseph the whole truth concerning their
stay. God has found out: God always sin in reference to the other son of Jacob
knows our sins. We lead ourselves to with which they had dealt wickedly
believe that at the time we reap the con- twenty-two years before. Judah thus
sequences of our sins it is only then that made an emotional appeal to the heart of
He discovers our sin. one he thought was an unmerciful Egyp-
44:18-34 Judah came near: It was tian ruler. Judah continued his appeal to
now time for confession and pleading for the point of offering himself as a slave to
mercy. Judah related what transpired in the one he had many years before sold
getting the father to allow Benjamin to into slavery. He was willing to give him-
come to Egypt. His pleas to the Egyp- self into slavery for the sake of another.
tian ruler who now had control over their He had indeed changed throughout the
destinies was that the father of Benjamin years, and thus stood before Joseph a re-
would surely die if the young son did not pentant man.

C HAPTER 45
JOSEPH REVEALS HIMSELF of Israel. It is apparent that at some point
45:1-15 Joseph said: At this time in the past God revealed to Joseph what
Joseph spoke to them in their Canaanite his mission in Egypt was. God sent me
language, which in itself would have before you to preserve for you a rem-
shocked the brothers (See 43:23). I am nant: It seems that God had revealed to
Joseph: The drama of the play was over. Joseph the purpose for which Abraham,
Joseph was convinced by Judah’s plea Isaac and Jacob had been called out of
that his brothers were no longer the heart- the nations of the world (12:1-3). A rem-
less men who had sold him into slavery. nant of humanity was to be preserved for
They were changed men who had a deep a reason yet to be revealed centuries later,
concern for one another and their father. which reason was still a mystery. But at
Through great tears of compassion, there- least Joseph knew that his presence in
fore, he revealed himself to his astonished Egypt was not just the result of the heart-
brothers who were shocked beyond less actions of his brothers who sold him
speech. They were stunned in silence. many years before (50:20). God was tak-
The scene brings tears to our eyes as the ing the work of Satan and turning it
brother who had been gone for over against him in order to bring about a
twenty years had now revealed himself greater purpose, the preservation of the
to his family. God sent me before you to nation of Israel that would be born in the
preserve life: And now we know how land of Egypt. He kissed all his broth-
and why God turned Satan’s work ers: The drama of the reconciliation re-
through the brothers to sell Joseph into mains a lesson for all. The brothers had
His purpose of preserving the posterity to first face their sin of the past
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(42:21,22). They had to endure the pun- the Pharaoh (See 43:32). Wagons of
ishment of their guilt (42:28). Their in- goods were provided in order that the en-
ability to deal with their own guilt had to tire family of Jacob be brought from Pal-
move them to plead for mercy (44:27- estine into the land of Goshen, the most
32). And finally, they had to manifest in fertile pasture land of Egypt. Jacob their
their lives that they were truly sorry for father revived: The initial news of Jo-
the sin of selling their brother into sla- seph was at first shocking and unbeliev-
very (44:33,34). able for Jacob. But once the truth started
to be comprehended, he revived. In the
JACOB’S MOVE TO EGYPT report, the repentant brothers revealed the
45:16-28 Because Pharaoh esteemed truth of their sin which they had com-
Joseph greatly, he issued a royal dictate mitted many years before when they sold
that everything possible be done in order their brother into slavery. But once it was
to bring Joseph’s family into the best of understood that the work was of God, re-
the land of Egypt. Since the Egyptians pentance and forgiveness changed this
considered anyone from the Canaanite family forever, and thus laid the founda-
area to be an abomination, this was cer- tion upon which a nation could be built.
tainly a benevolent gesture on the part of
C HAPTER 46
46:1-7 Make of you a great nation: enty-five people of Jacob’s family moved
In this revelation to Jacob everyone was to Egypt. Stephen refers to the Greek Sep-
reassured that the years of drama that tuagint which included the five grandsons
were brought on by the selling of Joseph, of Joseph, thus making the seventy-five
Joseph’s promotion in Egypt, and the people from whom the entire nation of
famine were all in the plan of God to pre- Israel would be born in the land of Egypt.
serve a remnant and build a nation. Af-
ter over 400 years they would leave Egypt JACOB’S FAMILY
(15:13,14). SETTLES IN GOSHEN
46:8-27 See 36:1-43. The geneal- 46:28-34 Now let me die: Jacob had
ogy of this section lists the descendants now realized the fulfillment of God’s
of Jacob according to mothers. The num- promise that from him a great nation
ber of descendants is listed according to would be born. While in Canaan he
children, grandchildren and great grand- surely saw that the influence of the
children. The total of sixty-six omits Canaanite immorality and idolatry would
Jacob, Joseph and his two sons, thus the soon creep into his descendants, and thus
final total is seventy people. The wives they would vanish from history as they
are not included in the total, but one assimilated into the cultures around them.
daughter and granddaughter are included. But in Egypt, things would be different.
In Acts 7:14 Stephen mentions that sev- Land of Goshen: Judah now assumed
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61 Dickson Teacher’s Bible Genesis

his role of leadership by taking the lead nation to the Egyptians. The Egyptians
to resettle the house of Jacob in Egypt. had shepherds, but they were not allowed
Joseph led in determining the place of into the heart of Egypt. They took care
settlement. Goshen was the delta region of Pharaoh’s livestock in the area of
of the Nile River. It was the best pasture Goshen. Jacob’s family was given the
lands of the entire nation (See 45:10; eastern border area of Goshen that would
47:11,12). Shepherds: In the sight of border with the Canaanite territory of
Egyptians, shepherds were of the low Palestine.
class of people, and thus were an abomi-
C HAPTER 47
47:1-12 Joseph was able to allow of the land of Egypt. Land of Rameses:
Jacob and his family to enter Egypt, but In this region, in the northeastern part of
permission to reside in the land had to Goshen, a city would eventually be built
come from Pharaoh. Joseph thus fol- that would be named after Ramses II (See
lowed customary procedures in order to Ex 1:11).
receive the permission of Pharaoh for the
permanent dwelling of his father’s house- JOSEPH’S ADMINISTRATION
hold in Egypt. If you know of any ca- OF EGYPT
pable men: This is Pharaoh’s invitation 47:13-26 The seven years of abun-
that the Israelites become a part of the dance established the economic founda-
Egyptian economy. Since the Egyptians tion upon which Pharaoh possessed the
considered shepherds a lower class of land of Egypt. Previous to the famine,
society, and Goshen the land for pastures, there existed in the economy the right of
then there would be no threat to the Egyp- private land ownership, with the priests
tian economy or culture from the Semitic being granted land directly from Pharaoh.
shepherds of Israel. How old are you: As the famine progressed, however, pri-
It is interesting that Pharaoh asked this vate land was turned over to Pharaoh in
question of Jacob. Since Joseph had said order to purchase grain, and thus, the
that he was as “a father to Pharaoh,” we former landowners became tenants of the
might assume that Pharaoh was younger land. The famine, therefore, brought the
than Joseph. But the age of Jacob cer- house of Pharaoh into control of all the
tainly intrigued Pharaoh. All of land of Egypt. Throughout the famine,
Pharaoh’s fathers died according to the it is significant to note that the people
“three score and ten” the common life did not expect Pharaoh to just hand out
span of men. But here in his presence free the grain for the survival of the
was a man who was 130 years old, a people. The Egyptian people had enough
young age in reference to Jacob’s forefa- integrity to sell what they had in order to
thers. This certainly puzzled the young buy the grain. There was no dependency
Pharaoh who was considered a god-king thinking in the minds of the people that
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62 Dickson Teacher’s Bible Genesis

the “government” should take care of protected them in the land.

them. For this reason, the Egyptian cul-
ture was one of the great cultures of the LAST DAYS OF JACOB
ancient world. One fifth: This twenty 47:27-31 God blessed Jacob with
percent tax is less than many countries seventeen more years of life in order that
today. It set a new law of tax that pro- he might see the great growth of his
vided for the function of Pharaoh’s house, household as God began to fulfill His
as well as provide an opportunity for promise that from him would come a
people to function in a free-market great nation. I will lie with my fathers:
economy. What they earned from their Jacob now made Joseph promise that he
free-market work was theirs, except for would be buried in the land that was
the twenty percent tax that was to be paid promised to his fathers (28:13-15;
to the government of Pharaoh. The taxes 35:11,12). Once the promise was made
to Pharaoh supported a government that by Joseph, then Jacob could die in peace.

C HAPTER 48
48:1-22 Your two sons ... are mine: was due Esau. Because he had been
God had appeared to Jacob in Bethel brought to Egypt in the company of his
(Luz, 28:10-22). Now the covenant son, Joseph, Jacob had witnessed the re-
promises were to be continued through- demptive work of God. His younger
out his posterity. In order to do this, Jacob brother will be greater: In his blindness,
had to first claim the two sons of Joseph Jacob knew by the direction of God that
as part of this posterity. In doing so, he Manasseh was the firstborn. However,
elevated the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim the descendants of Ephraim would be
and Manasseh, to the level of his eleven greater. In blessing Ephraim, Jacob made
other sons. Redeemed me: This is the Ephraim the representative of the cov-
first time that the word “redeem” is used enant. Land of your fathers: Though
in the Bible. Its meaning is seated in the Jacob was only a sojourner in the land of
custom laws where kinsmen were obli- Canaan, he trusted in God’s promises to
gated to buy back the mortgaged prop- the extent that now he had claimed it as
erty of a relative who had lost it through the land of the fathers, Abraham and
unfortunate circumstances. The word Isaac, those to whom the land was prom-
also signifies that a relative was obligated ised. One portion above your brothers:
to buy back a relative who had given him- Joseph’s portion of the promised land
self as a slave in order to repay his debt would be located near Shechem, which
(See Lv 25:25-55). Jacob had seen the land Jacob had taken in a battle with the
work of God to redeem him from his own Amorites. This conflict is not recorded
mischief in deceiving both Esau for his in Scripture. It was here that Jacob was
birthright and Isaac for the blessing that buried (Jn 4:5,6; see Ja 24:32).

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C HAPTER 49
49:1-28 These final prophetic utter- would be sea merchants. Issachar:
ances of Jacob were given in poetic He- Since the descendants of Issachar did not
brew parallelisms that are seated in rich drive out the Canaanites from Palestine
metaphors. Their fulfillment would come when Israel returned to the land, they
about only in the descendants of each par- eventually became the slaves of the
ticular son. Reuben: Though the first- Canaanites (Jg 1:30). Dan: Though the
born of Jacob, Reuben should have re- name Dan means “judge,” his descen-
tained his legal leadership of the sons. dants would be known for their treach-
However, through an act of immoral in- ery and deception against Israel’s en-
cest he defiled his father’s bed (35:22). emies. Gad: Though raiders would over-
He had forfeited his honored position come these descendants, they would
through an act of immorality. Simeon eventually be victorious. Naphtali: In
and Levi: As a team, they had massa- his freedom, the posterity of Naphtali
cred the men of Shechem (34:25-29). would be poetic in their communication
Neither of these two sons would have a with others. Joseph: Though he at first
designated tribal territory, but would be suffered tragedy in his life, God would
scattered among the other tribes (Ja 19:1- continue to care for this son of Jacob, and
9; 21:1-42). Judah: Because he had thus, he would be greatly blessed because
shown his leadership maturity, Judah of his suffering. Benjamin: As a raven-
would eventually be the dominant mili- ous wolf, the descendants of Benjamin
tary and political leader of the nation of were known for their swordsmen and left-
Israel. Until Shiloh comes: Royalty handed stone slingers (Jg 20:15,16). As
would come from Judah (See 1 Sm 16:1- illustrated with King Saul, a Benjaminite,
13; 2 Sm 2:1-4; 5:1-5). It is not clear they would defeat their enemies (See 1
what the specific meaning of the word Sm 14:46).
“Shiloh” is, either “rest” or “rest giver,” 49:29-33 Cave ... in the field of
but both Christian and Jewish scholars Machpelah: Jacob’s desire was to be
have affirmed that this verse is a pro- buried in the cave that Abraham pur-
phetic reference to the Messiah. Chris- chased (23:1-20). The desire to be bur-
tians have affirmed that the prophecy was ied with his ancestors in Canaan was
fulfilled in Jesus Christ, but Jews are still meant to remind his sons that Canaan
awaiting the coming of their messiah. would eventually be their land as a pos-
Zebulun: The descendants of Zebulun session.

C HAPTER 50
50:1-14 Jacob was embalmed for tal organs were removed from the body,
burial after the tradition of the Egyptians. but were buried in a jar with the body.
Embalming originated in Egypt. The vi- The cavity of the body was filled with
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64 Dickson Teacher’s Bible Genesis

preserving salt. Myrrh and spices were they sold Joseph into slavery. They still
added for scent. The body was tightly could not feel that God could use their
wrapped with layers of cloth and encased evil for the purpose of His good. As the
as a mummy in a stone or wooden cof- moral leadership of those in power sets
fin, depending on either the wealth or roy- the standard by which the people deter-
alty of the person. As an embalmed mine their morality, at least at the end of
mummy, Jacob’s body was thus pre- their lives, the sons of Jacob set a high
served for the long journey to the cave in standard of a contrite heart for their pos-
the field of Machpelah near Shechem. terity to follow.
Permission was granted from Pharaoh for 50:22-26 God will surely ... bring
Joseph to take his father for burial. The you out of this land: In reminding his
uniqueness of the event was magnified brothers that Egypt was not their home-
in the fact that a delegation of Egyptians land, but the promised land of Canaan,
also went on this journey with the fam- he asked them for an oath that his body
ily. During the seven days of mourning, also be carried out of Egypt to the land
the Canaanites also witnessed the mourn- of their fathers. Joseph was thus em-
ing of the Egyptians, for they viewed the balmed and placed in a coffin, in prepa-
burial delegation as an Egyptian burial. ration for the time over 400 years later
when the great nation of Israel would
LAST YEARS OF JOSEPH walk for freedom from Egyptian captiv-
50:15-21 The guilt of what Joseph’s ity. In his statement, Joseph was renew-
brothers had done to him in selling him ing the promise that was made to Abra-
into slavery still lingered in their minds. ham, that God would give them a land
Such is the nature of sin. Though for- for a possession of their own. However,
giveness can be granted, one’s own guilt they had to be providentually kept in the
will stay with him until his grave. Sin land of Goshen until the wickedness of
builds a library of guilt in the mind of the Canaanites was full, and thus the land
the transgressor. Fell down before his was ready to be cleansed of the wicked-
face: See 37:5-8. Am I in God’s place: ness of the Canaanites.
The brothers’ motives were evil when

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