Exposition of Genesis 1 -11 Gen 1 1

Exposition of Genesis 1 -11 Gen 1: 1 -23

Background on the Book of Genesis

Title, Date, and Purpose of Genesis • Hebrew Title: tyviar. EB. , “In the beginning” • Genesis covers events from creation to the death of Joseph (c. 1805 BC). • Moses wrote this book to provide Israel with an account of the beginnings of the universe, as well as her own beginning as a nation. – The book includes such important “beginnings” as marriage, languages, nations, sin, and worship.

The Overall Structure of Genesis • Key Word: tdol. AT, “The generations of. . . ” – – – – – the Heavens and the Earth (2: 4 – 4: 26) Adam (5: 1 – 6: 8) Noah (6: 9 – 9: 27) Sons of Noah (10: 1 – 11: 10) Shem (11: 10 -26) Terah (11: 27 – 25: 11) Ishmael (25: 12 -18) Isaac (25: 19 – 35: 29) Esau (36: 1 – 37: 1) Jacob (37: 2 – 50: 14)

The Role and Structure of Gen 1 -11 • Genesis 1 – 11 provides the background for the initiation of God’s plan of redemption with the Abrahamic Covenant and is organized around 4 key events: – Creation (Gen 1 – 2) – Fall of Man and its Aftermath (Gen 3 – 4) – Noah and the Flood (Gen 5 – 9) – Nations (Gen 10 – 11)

The Role and Structure of Gen 1 -11 • Genesis 1 – 11 provides the background for the initiation of God’s plan of redemption with the Abrahamic Covenant and is organized around 4 key events: – Creation (Gen 1 – 2) – Fall of Man and its Aftermath (Gen 3 – 4) – Noah and the Flood (Gen 5 – 9) – Nations (Gen 10 – 11)

“In the Beginning. . . ” Gen 1: 1 -2 • There was a time when the universe did not exist (Psa 90: 2; Jn 17: 5, 24; Eph 1: 4; 1 Pet 1: 20). If v. 2 speaks of the earth as already in existence, then v. 1 must refer to its creation! The two verses are tightly connected and are part of Day 1, not just a heading. The Hebrew verb ar"B' is used “only of God's activity and is thus a purely theological term. This distinctive use of the word is especially appropriate to the concept of creation by divine flat” (TWOT).

Hebrew Text of Gen 1: 1 -3 #r ~y. Im; V'h; tae ~yhil{a/ ar"B' tyviar. EB. 1 x: Wrw> ~Aht. yn. EP. -l[; %v, xow> Whbow" Whto ht'y>h' #r 2 ~y. IM'h; yn. EP. -l[; tp, x, r: m. ~yhil{a/ r. Aa-yhiy>w: r. Aa yhiy> ~yhil{a/ rm, a. YOw: 3

Repeated Words in Gen 1: 3 – 2: 3

Forming and Filling – Gen 1: 3 -23 • Days 1 – 3: Forming by Separation – Day 1: light from darkness – Day 2: waters below from waters above – Day 3: dry land from seas; vegetation • “And God saw that it was good” (Gen 1: 12). • Days 4 – 6: Filling for Habitation – Day 4: lights in the expanse for signs, seasons, days, and years – Day 5: water creatures and birds – Day 6: land animals and man • “And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen 1: 31).

Creation Part II Gen 1: 24 – 2: 3