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Please read the Introductory Notes to this commentary.
For a glossary of unfamiliar terms,
CLICK HERE. For assistance in
pronouncing Hebrew terms,
a pronunciation guide is located
HERE.
The First Book of Moses,
Commonly Called
Genesis
GENESIS, the book of the origin or production of all things, consists of two parts: the first, comprehended in the first through eleventh chapters, gives a general history; the second, contained in the subsequent chapters, gives a special history.[1]
The two parts are essentially connected; the one, which sets out with an account of the descent of the human race from a single pair, the introduction of sin into the world, and the announcement of the scheme of divine mercy for repairing the ruins of the fall, was necessary to pave the way for relating the other, namely, the call of Abraham, and the selection of his posterity for carrying out the gracious purpose of God.
An evident unity of method, therefore, pervades this book, and the information contained in it was of the greatest importance to the Hebrew people, as without it they could not have understood the frequent references made in their law to the purposes and promises of God regarding themselves.
The arguments that have been already adduced as establishing the Mosaic origin of the Pentateuch prove of course that Moses was the author of Genesis. The few passages on which the rationalists grounded their assertions that it was the composition of a later age have been successfully shown to warrant no such conclusion; the use of Egyptian words and the minute acquaintance with Egyptian life and manners, displayed in the history of Joseph, harmonize with the education of Moses, and whether he received his information by immediate revelation, from tradition, or from written documents, it comes to us as the authentic work of an author who wrote as he was inspired by Rauch HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) (2 Peter 1:21)
Outline
Beginnings of Early Mankind (Creation to ca. 2100 BCE)
I. Parashah B'resheet (In the Beginning, Genesis 1:1-6:8)
A. Creation (1:1-31)
B. Shabbat Instituted (2:1-4)
C. Adam and Havah (2:5-25)
1. Creation of Man (2:5-7)
2. Garden of Eden (2:8-17) [Mesopotamia]
3. Creation of Woman (2:18-22)
4. The Institution of Marriage (2:23-25)
D. The Fall of Humanity (3:1-13)
1. Temptation to Sin (3:1-5)
2. Sin Produces Shame (3:6-7)
3. Sin Produces Fear (3:8-10)
4. Sin Produces Blame (3:22-13)
E. The Sentence Proclaimed (3:14-24)
1. Sentence on the Tempter and Promise of Redemption (3:14-15)
2. Sentence on the Woman (3:16)
3. Sentence on the Man (3:17-19)
4. Woman Named (3:20)
5. Shame Hidden (3:21)
6. Banashment from the Garden (3:22-24)
H. First Three Sons of Adam and Havah (4:1-26)
1. Cain and Able Born (4:1-2a)
2. Brothers Bring Offerings (2b-7)
3. The First Murder (4:8-9)
4. Cain’s Punishment (4:10-16)
5. Descendants of Cain (4:17-22) [Nod, East of Eden]
6. Lamech Confesses Killing (4:23-24)
7. Seth Born (4:25-26)
I. Adam’s Decendants to Noach (5:1-32)
1. Record of Mankind (5:1-2)
2. Seth (5:3-5) [year 130 After Creation]
3. Enosh (5:6-8) [235 AC]
4. Kenan 5:9-11) [324 AC]
5. Mahalel (5:12-14) [396 AC]
6. Jared (5:15-17) [460 AC]
7. Enoch (5:18-20) [622 AC]
8. Methuselah (5:21-24) [687 AC]
9. Lamech (5:25-27) [874 AC]
10. Noach (5:28-31) [1056 AC]
11. Shem, Ham, and Japeth (5:32) [1556 AC]
J. The Corruption of Mankind (6:1-8)
1. Intermarriage Brings Decay (6:1-2)
2. Mankind Given a Grace Period (6:3)
3. Wicked Are Considered Heroes (6:4)
4. God Grieved by Mankind (6:5-8)
II. Parashah Noach (Gen. 6:9-11:32)
A. The Deluge (6:9-7:23)
1. Noah Found Righteous (6:9-10)
2. Instructions for the Ark (6:11-16)
3. Plan for Saving Noah (6:17-21)
4. Noah Builds the Ark (6:22)
5. HaShem’s Final Instructions (7:1-5)
6. Final Week’s Preparations (7:6-10)
7. Floodwaters Begin (7:11-12) [ca 3000-2500 BCE]
8. Noah’s Family Enters the Ark (7:13-16)
9. Destruction Beneath the Waters (7:17-23)
B. The Flood Subsides (8:1-8:19) [Mountains of Ararat]
1. Waters Recede in 150 Days (8:1-8:4)
2. Mountains Seen on 224th Day (8:5)
3. Raven Sent Out on 264th Day (8:6-7)
4. Dove Sent Out on 271st Day (8:8-9)
5. Branch Brought on 278th Day (8:10-11)
6. Dove Departs on 285th Day (8:12)
7. Surface Dry on 314th Day (8:13)
C. Departure from the Ark (8:14-20)
1. Noah Called After 370 Days (8:14-19)
2. Noah Offers a Sacrifice (8:20)
D. The Noachic Covenant (8:21-9:17)
1. HaShem’s Vow (8:21-22)
2. Mankind’s Regeneration (9:1-2)
3. Dietary Instructions (9:3-4)
4. Law of Life for Life (9:5-7)
5. HaShem’s Covenant (9:8-11)
6. Rainbow as the Sign of the Covenant (9:12-17)
E. Human Condition Remains Sinful (9:18-29)
1. Noah’s Sons (9:18-19)
2. Ham’s Disrespect (9:20-23)
3. Curse on Ham’s Desendants (9:24-27)
4. Noah’s Death (9:28-29)
F. The Beginning of Nations (10:1- 32)
1. Nations from Noah’s Sons (10:1-)
2. Descendants of Japeth (10:2-5)
3. Descendants of Ham (10:6-20)
4. Descendants of Shem (10:21-31)
5. People Dispersed (10:32)
G. Dispersion of the Human Family (11:1-9)
1. Commonness of Mankind (11:1-2)
2. Plan to Build a City (11:3-4)
3. Attitude Displeases God (11:5-7)
4. Language Confused (11:8-9) [Babel, ca 2400 BCE]
H. Descendants from Shem to Avram (11:10-32)
1. Shem (11:10a)
2. Arphaxad (11:10b-11) [1659 AC]
3. Shelah (11:12-13) [1694 AC]
4. Eber (11:14-15) [1724 AC]
5. Peleg (11:16-17) [1758 AC]
6. Reu (11:18-19) [1799 AC]
7. Serug (11:20-21) [1820 AC]
8. Nahor (11:22-23) [1850 AC]
9. Terah (11:24-25) [1970 AC]
10. Avram, Nahor, and Haran (11:26-32) [1949-2009 AC]
a. Terah (11:27a)
b. Lot Born; Haran Dies (11:27b-28) [Ur of the Chaldeans]
c. Avram and Nahor Take Wives (11:29-30)
d. Terah Moves Family to Haran (11:31-32) [Ur to Haran]
Period of the Patriarchs (ca. 2100-1525 BCE)
III. Parashah Lekh L'kha (Get yourself out) (Gen. 12:1-17:27)
A. HaShem Calls Avram (12:1-9)
1. HaShem’s Promise to Avram (12:2-3)
2. Avram Leaves for Canaan (12:4-5) [to Canaan, ca 2091 BCE]
3. Land Promised to Descendants (12:6-7) [Shechem]
4. Worship Near Beid-El (12:8-9) [Between Beit-El and Ai]
B. Avram Dishonors Himself in Egypt (12:10-20)
1. Avram Leaves for Egypt (12:10)
2. Avram Plans Deception (12:11-13)
3. Sarai Taken by Pharaoh (12:14-16)
4. HaShem Delivers Sarai (12:17-20)
C. Avram and Lot (13:1-18)
1. Avram and Lot Leave Egypt (3:1-2)
2. Return to Beit-El (13:3-4)
3. Trouble Between Herdsmen (13:5-7)
4. Avram Proposes Separation (13:8-9)
5. Lot Chooses Land Near Sodom (13:10-13)
6. HaShem’s Promise to Avram Repeated (13:14-17
7. Avram Settles in Hebron (13:18)
D. War of the Kings (14:1-24)
1. War Among the Easterm Kings (14:1-3) [East of the Jordan River]
2. History of the Conflict (14:4-7)
3. Defeat of the Dead Sea Kings (14:8-10) [Valley of Siddim]
4. Lot Taken Captive (4:11-12) [Sodom]
5. Avram Rescues Lot (14:13-17) [At Dan]
6. Melchizedek Blesses Avram (14:18-20) [Near Jerusalem]
7. Avram Refuses Reward (14:21-24) [Valley of Shaveh]
E. HaShem’s Covenant With Avram (15:1-21)
1. Avram’s Concern About an Heir (15:1-3)
2. HaShem Promises Avram Children (15:4-6)
3. Avram Asks for a Sign (15:7-8)
4. Preparation for the Covenant (15:9-11)
5. Prediction of Slavery (15:12-16)
6. HaShem’s Land Covenant (15:17-21)
F. Conception and Birth of Ishmael (16:1-16)
1. Sarai Suggests a Second Wife (16:1-2) [Hebron ca 2081 BCE]
2. Avram Takes Hagar as Wife (16:3-4a)
3. Discord Between Wives (16:4b-6)
4. The Angel of ADONAI Talks With Hagar (16:7-12) [Near Beer-sheba]
5. Hagar Names the Angel (6:13-14)
6. Ishmael is Born (6:15-16) [ca 2080 BCE]
G. Names and Circumcision as Signs of the Covenant (17:1-27)
1. Confirmation of the Covenant (17:1-2) [ca 2067 BCE]
2. Avram’s Name Changed (17:3-7)
3. Land Covenant Renewed (17:8)
4. Circumcision as a Sign (17:9-14)
5. Sarai’s Name Changed (17:15-16)
6. Abraham Amazed (17:17)
7. Blessings for Ishmael (17:18-22)
8. Males Circumcised (17:23-27)
IV. Parashah Vayera (He appeared) (Gen. 18:1-22:24)
A. Birth of Yitzchak Promised (ADONAI Visits at Mamre)
1. Avraham’s Hospitality (18:1-8) [Mamre (Hebron)]
2. Yitzchak Promised (18:9-10)
3. Sarah’s Response (18:11-15)
B. Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (18:16-19:28)
1. HaShem Tells About Sodom (18:16-21) [Mamre (Hebron)]
2. Abraham Intercedes (18:22-33)
3. Lot’s Hospitality Toward Angels (19:1-3) [Sodom]
4. Sodomites Demand Angels (19:4-11)
5. Lot Warned of Destruction (19:12-14)
6. Lot Led from Sodom (19:15-17)
7. Lot Seeks Refuge in Zoar (19:18-23) [Zoar]
8. Sodom Destroyed (19:24-26)
9. Abraham Views the Destruction (19:27-28)
C. The Scheme of Lot’s Daughters (19:30-38)
1. Lot Settles in a Cave (19:30)
2. Daughters’ Incest (19:31-38)
D. Abraham Deceives Abimelech (20:1-18) [Gerar]
1. Abraham Lies to Abimelech (20:1-2)
2. HaShem Appears in a Dread (20:3-7)
3. Abraham Offers a Defense (20:8-13)
4. Abimelech Shows Forgiveness (20:14-16)
5. Prayer for Abimelech (20:17-18)
E. Birth of Yitzchak (21:1-7) [ca 2066 BCE]
1. Yitzchak is Born (21:1-5)
2. Sarah’s Joy (21:6-7)
F. Expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael (21:8-21) [ca 2063 BCE, Beer-Sheba]
1. Ishmael and Hagar Sent Away (21:8-14)
2. HaShem Provides Water (21:15-19)
3. Ishmael Grows to Manhood (21:20-21)
G. Avraham and Abilech Settle Their Dispute (21:22-34) [Beer-Sheba]
1. The Treaty Decided (21:22-26)
2. The Dispute Resolved (21:27-34)
H. The Binding of Yitzchak
1. Avraham told to Sacrifice Yitzchak (22:1-2) [Beer-Sheba]
2. Abraham Responds (22:3-8) [Moriah]
3. HaShem Provides a Ram (22:9-14)
4. Promise of Blessings (22:15-19) [Beer-Sheba]
I. News From Nahor (22:20-24)
V. Parashah Hayyei-Sarah (Sarah’s Life) 23:1-25:18
A. Sarah’s Death and Burial (23:1-20) [ca 2029 BCE]
1. Abraham Mourns Sarah’s Death (23:1-2)
2. Cave Purchased for a Tomb (23:3-18)
3. Sarah Buried (23:19-20)
B. A Wife for Yitzchak
1. Avraham Instructs his Servant (24:1-9)
2. Servant Prays for Guidance (24:1-14) [Nahor]
3. Servant Meets Revkah (24:15-21)
4. Revkah is Daughter of a Relative (24:22-27)
5. Lavan Offers Hospitality (24:28-32)
6. Servant Describes His Mission (24:33-41)
7. Servant Relates His Prayer (24:42-48)
8. Hethuel Agrees to the Marriage (24:49-51)
9. Revkah Goes with the Servant (24:52-61)
10. Yitzchak Marries Revkah (24:62-67) [Beer Lahai Roi]
C. Abram Marries Keturah (25:1-6)
D. Death of Avraham (25:7-10) [ca 1991 BCE]
E. Ishmael’s Descendants (25:12-18)
VI. Parashah Tol'dot (History) (25:19-28:9)
A. Esau and Ya'akov (25:19-34)
1. Concern About Descendants (25:19-21)
2. Prophecy Regarding Children (25:22-23)
3. Esau and Ya'akov Born and Grow Up (25:24-28)
4. Esau Sells the Birthright (25:29-34)
B. Yitzchak in Gerar (26:1-33)
1. Covenant Reaffirmed (26:1-5)
2. Yitzchak Lies About Revkah (26:6-11)
3. HaShem Blesses Yitzchak (26:12-14)
4. Quarrels Over Wells (26:15-22)
5. HaShem Reassures Yitzchak (26:23-25)
6. Abimelech Covenants With Yitzchak (26:26-33)
C. Trouble Between Ya'akov and Esau (26:34-27:41)
1. Easu Marries Heathen Wives (26:34-35)
2. Yitzchak Prepares a Blessing (27:1-4)
3. Revkah and Ya'akov Conspire (27:5-17)
3. Ya'akov Deceives Yitzchak (27:18-25)
4. Yitzchak Blesses Ya'akov (27:26-29)
5. Esau Learns of the Deception (27:30-36a)
6. Esau Enraged (27:36b-41)
D. Ya'akov Prepares to Leave for Haran (27:42-28:9)
1. Revkah Plans Ya'akov’s Exile (27:42-45)
2. Yitzhak Blesses the Mission (27:46-28:5)
3. Esau Takes a Wife for Spite (28:6-9)
VII. Parashah Vayteze (He went out) (28:10-32:3)
A. Ya'akov’s Dream (28:10-17)
B. Ya'akov Erects a Standing Stone (28:18-22) [Beit-El]
Ya'akov’s Dream
Ya'akov Meets Rachel
Lavan’s Treachery
The Sons of Ya'akov
Ya'akov Prospers
Ya'akov Leaves Secretly for Kanaan
Lavan Pursues Ya'akov
The Covenant of Mizpah
Ya'akov Fears Esau
Ya'akov Wrestles with HaShem
Ya'akov’s New Name
Ya'akov Meets Esau
Ya'akov Settles in Shechem
The Treachery of Ya'akov’s Sons
Ya'akov Moves to Beth-El
Ya'akov Renamed Yisra'el
The Land Covenant
The Sons of Yisra'el
Esau Moves to Edom
Edomites: Descendants of Esau
Yosef the Dreamer
The Plot Against Yosef
Yehudah and Tamar
Yosef Succeeds in Egypt
Yosef and the Wife of Potifer
Yosef Falsely Imprisoned
Yosef Interprets a Dream
Pharaoh’s Dream
Yosef Interprets the Dream
Yosef Made Ruler Over Egypt
The Sons of Yosef
Yosef’s Brothers Come to Egypt
Shimon Held Hostage
The Return to Egypt
Yosef Sees Benyamin
The Brothers Brought Back
Yosef Deals Kindly With His Brothers
Ya'akov (Yisra'el) Moves to Egypt
Those Who Came to Egypt Named
Yisra'el Settles in Goshen
Results of the Famine
The Last Days of Yisra'el
Yisra'el’s Prophecy Concerning His Sons
The Death of Yisra'el
Yisra'el Buried at Machpelah
Death of Yosef
_______________
1. It might also be said that the entire Bible is the special history of God’s dealings with one man, his ancestors, and his physical and spiritual descendants. [RETURN]
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