The Number Seven

As Henry Morris records in his book The Genesis Record, Genesis was not put together in a haphazard way. In fact, God has put His numerical DNA not only on Genesis, but also on the entire Bible and the man who discovered it was Ivan Panin. He was born in Russia on December 12, 1855. As a young man he participated in plots against the Czar and his government and at an early age was exiled from Russia. After some years in Germany spent in study, he came to the United States and entered Harvard University from which he graduated in 1882. Being an agnostic, he traveled extensively and debated Christians on the truthfulness of the Scriptures. But, like Josh McDowell, he was saved in the process and as he himself expressed it, he “was brought out of the darkness into His marvelous light.”

The original texts of the Bible are Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Not only was Ivan Panin fluent in precisely those three languages, but he was also a mathematical genius. He was the right man at the right time. In 1890 he discovered the unique mathematical symmetry, or multiples of the number 7, underlying the Greek text in the Renewed Covenant. Later, he found that the Hebrew and Aramaic texts of the TaNaKh had a similar structure. This numerical symmetry could not have been designed by man and does not appear in any other Greek or Hebrew books, but is found only in the Bible.

All three of these languages have a numbering system that corresponds to their alphabet. In other words, the letters of these alphabets are also used for numbers. For example: alpha has a numerical value of 1, beta has a numerical value of 2, gamma has a numerical value of 3, and so on. And what Ivan Panin discovered was that when you plugged in the numerical equivalents for each letter, the LORD’s numerical DNA produced multiples of seven with astounding frequency. He spent the next fifty-two years of his life making the calculations by hand. He stayed with a verse just long enough to verify its numerical DNA, and then went on to the next. He found that the sixty-six books of the Bible formed one complete mathematical unit and he did it all without computers. Mr. Panin died at Aldershot, Canada near Ontario, on October 30, 1942 at the age of eighty-seven. His original documents are in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.

Just what did he discover? The Bible begins: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (1:1). In the Hebrew it is exactly 7 words. The 7 words have exactly 28 (4 X 7) letters. There are 3 nouns (God, heavens and earth). Taking the letters of these nouns and substituting their numerical equivalents and adding them up, you get a combined total of 777 (111 X 7)! There is one Hebrew verb, created. Its total numerical value is 203 (29 X 7). The first three words contain the subject with exactly 14 (2 X 7) letters. The Hebrew words for the two objects (heavens and earth) each have 7 letters. The value for the first, middle, and last letters in the sentence is 133 (19 X 7). The value of the first and last letters of the first and last words of the verse is 497 (71 X 7). The value of the first and last letters of each of the words in between is 896 (128 X 7), and so on and so on. In this verse alone there are 30 variations of the number 7 and Panin listed only 11 of them here. The chance of this happening accidentally is 1 in 33,000,000,000,000, or 33 trillion.

The Bible has objective proof of its truthfulness in each verse. A mere human author, let alone forty-five authors could not have done all this over two thousand years. While it is true that salvation comes by faith alone (see the commentary on Hebrews, to see link click Cn – The Faith of Enoch), our faith is not a blind faith. It is an intelligent and reasoned faith based on sound mathematical and scientific facts, as we shall see in this study of Genesis.

As an aside, the number seven recurs throughout the Scriptures and Jewish tradition. Here are just a few examples:

1. God rested on the seventh day of creation.

2. God ordained Shabbat as a day of rest during a week of seven days.

3. There are seven universal laws given to mankind (sheva mitzvot bnei noah).

4. The seven species of produce with which the land of Isra’el is blessed are known as shivat ha’minim: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranate, olives, and dates (Deuteronomy 8:8).

5. There are seven ordained holidays in the Jewish calendar: Pesach, Hag Ha’Matzah, Rasheet, Shavu’ot, Rosh Ha’Shanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.

6. The seventh month of Tishri was to be holy (the Jewish New Year of Rosh Ha’Shanah occurs in the seventh month).

7. On Yom Kippur, the High Priest sprinkled the blood in the Temple seven times.

8. There are seven weeks in the counting of the omer (the period of 49 days between the day after the Passover and Shavu’ot) before Shavu’ot.

9. In Isra’el, there are seven day of Passover and Shukkot.

10. Every seventh year there is a Shabbat rest for the land (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Cy – The Year of Release). 

11. After seven cycles of the Year of Release, there is a Year of Jubilee called Yovel.

12. The Menorah in the Tabernacle and the Temple had seven branches.

13. The were seven gates to the Temple.

14. At a Jewish wedding, seven blessings are recited and the bride circles the groom seven times under the chuppah (wedding canopy). Weddings are followed by seven days of celebration.

15. Jewish tradition calls for a seven-day mourning period that starts immediately after the funeral. This period is known as shivah, literally, seven.

16. Each Shabbat, seven people are called to the Torah reading (aliyot).

17. Joshua led the Jewish people around the walls of Jericho seven times before the walls fell.

The Anticipation of Eternity

Genesis is important not only as the history or the origin of mankind, but also as a prophecy of the future of mankind. The book of Revelation should be taken no less seriously than Genesis. Paradise was lost in Genesis and is regained in Revelation.

The beginning of Genesis describes a perfect world, made for man and placed under his authority. Had Adam and Eve not sinned they would have continued to rule and enjoy that perfect world. But they did sin. Since God cannot be defeated in His ultimate purpose, even though sin and the curse have come in as intruders for a time, we can be sure that all that the LORD intended in the garden of Eden will eventually come to pass. Therefore, the earth will be restored to its original perfection and will continue on into eternity. Sin and the curse will be no more and death will be eliminated.

It is helpful, therefore, to compare the people and events in Genesis to those in Revelation. We can learn much about the original world by studying Revelation, and we can learn much about the final world by studying Genesis. In a very real way they are fundamentally the same.

The First World (Genesis), but in the far eschatological future, an Eternal World (Revelation)

A new beginning (Gen 1:1 to 2:3), but in the far eschatological future there will be a new creation (Rev 21:1 to 22:5).

Division of light and darkness (Gen 1:4),  but in the far eschatological future there will be no more night (Rev 21:25).

Division of land and sea (Gen 1:10), but in the far eschatological future  there will be no more sea (Rev 21:1).

Rule of the sun and the moon (Gen 1:16), but in the far eschatological future there will be no need of the sun or the moon (Rev 21:23).

Mankind in a prepared Garden (Gen 2:8-9), but in the far eschatological future mankind will be prepared in a City (Rev 21:2).

A fiver flowing out of Eden (Gen2:10), but in the far eschatological future will be a river flowing from God’s throne (Rev22:1).

Gold in the land (Gen 2:12), but in the far eschatological future there will be Gold in the City (Rev 21:21).

Tree of life in the midst of the Garden (Gen 2:9), in the far eschatological future there will be a Tree of life throughout the City (Rev 22:2).

Pearls and the onyx stone were there (Gen 2:12), but in far eschatological future there will be all kinds of precious stones (Rev 21:19).

God walked in the Garden (Gen 3:8), but in the far eschatological future God will live in the City (Rev 21:3).

Walk with God broken (Gen 3:8-10), but in the eschatological future, our walk with God will be resumed (Rev 21:25-22:14).

Many other comparisons can be made. Each shows that the specific characteristics of the first world were suited for man in his state of innocence, while the matching characteristics of the eternal world will be designed for humanity in a state of perfection. The most striking contrast that can be made is between the cursed world in Genesis and the eternal world in Revelation.

The Cursed World, but in the far eschatological Eternal World

Sin entering human experience (Gen 3:1-8), but in the far eschatological future there will be no more sin (Rev 21:8 and 27).

The triumph of the Serpent (Gen 3:13), but in the far eschatological future there will be the triumph of the Lamb (Rev 20:10; 22:3).

The ground was cursed (Gen 3:17), but in the far eschatological future there will be no more curse (Rev 22:3).

Daily sorrow (Gen 3:17), but in the far eschatological future there will be no more sorrow (Rev 21:4).

Thorns and thistles (Gen 3:18), but in the far eschatological future there will be no more pain (Rev 21:4).

Sweat on the face (Gen 3:19), but in the far eschatological future our tears will be wiped away (Rev 21:4)

Eating plants of the field (Gen 3:18), but in the far eschatological future we will receive crops of fruit each month (Rev 22:2).

Death entered the world (Gen 3:19), but in the far eschatological future there will be no more death (Rev 21:4)

Evil all the time (Gen 6:5), but in the far eschatological future nothing will be impure (Rev 21:27).

Garments of animal skins (Gen 3:21), but in the far eschatological future we will be dressed in fine linen, white and clean (Rev 19:14).

Satan opposing (Gen 3:15), but in the far eschatological future Satan will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur (Rev 20:10).

Kept from the Tree of Life (Gen 3:24), but in the far eschatological future, we will have access to the Tree of Life (Rev 22:14).

Banished from the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:23), but in the far eschatological future we will have free entry in the New Jerusalem (Rev 22:14).

Redeemer promised (Gen 3:15), but in the far eschatological future, our redemption will be accomplished (Rev 5:9-10).

The Rainbow of Noah (Gen 9:16), but in the far eschatological future we will see the Rainbow of Christ (Rev 10:1).

Paradise lost (Gen 3:23), but in the far eschatological future Paradise will be regained (Rev 21:25 to 22:14).

For these and many other reasons, it is clear that a proper understanding of Genesis is critical to a proper understanding of the eternal purposes of God.³

NEXT PAGE: Ae – The Number Seven

The Book of Genesis from a Messianic Jewish Perspective

To my mother, Wilma Jean Mack, my beginning.
Through all the trials and tribulations of this life she has remained faithful.
From her Quaker roots, she taught me the way of “friendly persuasion.”
Thee I love, more than the meadow so green and still,
More than the mulberries on the hill,
More than the buds of the May apple tree,
I love thee.

Genesis is the book of beginnings and probably the most important book ever written. It provides a dramatic account of the origins of mankind and his universe, the intrusion of sin into the world, the catastrophic effects of its curse on the race and the beginnings of the LORD’s plan to bless the nations through His seed. Most of the books of the Bible draw on the contents of Genesis in one way or another. Apart from this, however, Genesis’ subject matter, and the straightforward way in which it is written, has captivated the minds of people for ages. However, as with biblical truth in general, this book has been a stumbling block for many who have approached it with preconceived ideas or anti-supernatural biases. But for those who recognize it as the Word of God, whom they seek to serve, Genesis is a source of comfort and enlightenment.¹

The Titles of Genesis

The Hebrew title of the book is called bereisheet and comes from the first word in the Hebrew text that means in the beginning. It is a common occurrence that the names of the books in the Hebrew Bible are based on the first or second word. This is one example. This is the modern Hebrew name for the book. In ancient times, the original name for the book was sepher maasch bereisheet, which means the book of creation, or the book of the act of creation. It has since been shortened to simply bereisheet.

The Greek title of the book is called geneseos and emphasizes origin and source. It is the name given to the Greek translation of the TaNaKh. Before the birth of Jesus, for centuries, the number of Jews living away from Palestine had been increasing. They lived all over the Roman Empire. One of the consequences of this was that many had forgotten the language of their ancestors. For this reason, it was necessary to translate the Hebrew Scriptures into languages they understood, Aramaic in the east and Greek in the west. After Alexander the Great’s conquests, Greek had become the common language of a great part of the Mediterranean. Egyptians, Jews, and even Romans used Greek to communicate with each other. Therefore, it was natural that when the Jews of Alexandria began losing their Hebrew they would translate the Scriptures to Greek. This translation is called the Septuagint, or the Seventy, because there were seventy Jewish scholars who translated it.²

The Author of Genesis

Both Scripture and tradition agree that Moses was the human author of Genesis. ADONAI, working through Moses, inspired him to write the first five books of the Bible. But interestingly enough, he is named as the author of Genesis. He sat down and wrote the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. He was the human originator and source of these books. However, as far as Genesis is concerned he was a compiler and an editor, because he was not an eyewitness of the events of Genesis because he had not been born yet. He was an eyewitness to almost everything in Exodus, and all of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Moshe made use of oral, as well as, written traditions and the inspiration of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, to edit and compile eleven family documents.

Genesis has always been considered part of the Torah (the first five books of the TaNaKh), and Moses has always been considered the human author of the Torah (Exodus 17:14; Leviticus 1:1-2; Numbers 33:2; Deuteronomy 1:1; Joshua 1:7; First Kings 2:3; Second Kings 14:6; Ezra 6:18, Nehemiah 13:1; Daniel 9:11-13; Malachi 4:4; Matthew 8:4; Mark 12:26; Luke 16:29; John 7:19; Acts 26:22; Romans 10:19; First Corinthians 9:9; Second Corinthians 3:15). Therefore, there is a long list from the TaNaKh and the B’rit Chadashah declaring that Moshe is the human author of the Torah, of which Genesis is a part.

The Motifs of Genesis

The entire book turns on the motifs of blessing and cursing. The LORD chose the nation through whom He would bless all nations. The promised blessing would give the nation of Israel the patriarchs and the land. But the cursing would alienate, deprive, and disinherit Israel from the patriarchs and the land. In the TaNaKh the verb to curse means to impose a ban, a barrier, a paralysis on movement or other capabilities. This power can only belong to God. The curse involves separation from the place of blessing or even from those who are blessed. This is seen in the first eleven chapters of Genesis. On the other hand the verb to bless means to enrich. Here, too, ADONAI is the source and, as used in Genesis, the promise of blessing primarily deals with the children of Abraham in the land of Canaan. The promised blessing included the patriarchs being blessed with children and the land being blessed with crops. The contrast between blessing and cursing reflects man’s obedience by faith, or his disobedience by unbelief. The LORD’s approval of faith or disapproval of unbelief leaves nothing to the imagination.

The Structure of Genesis

I. The Origin of the World and the Nation in General (1:1 to 11:9)

A The Creation (1:1 to 2:25)

B The Fall (3:1 to 5:32)

C The Flood (6:1 to 9:29)

D The Nations (10:1 to 11:9)

The topic is the beginning of the human race.

The style is historical.

The geography focuses on the Fertile Crescent from Eden to Horan.

The time line is two thousand years or more.

II. The Origin of One Nation, the Jewish Nation of Israel (11:10 to 50:26)

A Abraham (11:10 to 25:18)

B Isaac (25:19 to 26:35)

C Jacob (27:1 to 36:43)

D Joseph (37:1 to 50:26)

The topic is the beginning of the Jewish people.

The style is biographical history.

The geography focuses on three places: Canaan, Horan and Egypt.

The time line is 193 years.

An initial section marks the structure of Genesis (1:1 to 2:3), and then Moshe edited and compiled eleven family documents. The major structural word for Genesis is toldot, which means the written account of, or this is what became of these men and their descendants. The noun is often translated generations, histories or descendants. Toldot comes from the Hebrew word yalad, which means to bear or to generate. It makes a starting point from which to move from one genealogy, from one family document, to another. This structural word allows Moses to move the story line along.

But when a toldot begins, the story line that follows may not always be about the person mentioned. For example, when it says: The written account of Isaac, what follows is primarily about Jacob, not Isaac. In other words, what became of Isaac was Jacob. Or when it says: The written account of Jacob, what follows is primarily about Joseph, not Jacob. But it does tell us what became of Jacob. What became of Jacob was Joseph. So, each family document explains what became of a particular generation. The toldot also shows a narrowing of that generation to the chosen seed (3:15), and contains within each section the dual motifs of blessing and cursing.

The Principles of Interpretation for Genesis

The writers of the B’rit Chadashah, and Yeshua Himself, accepted the book of Genesis as literal history, not figurative language. Some might feel that Galatians 4:24, which says: These things may be taken figuratively (referring to the story of Hagar and Sarah), warrants looking at Genesis figuratively. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Rabbi Sha’ul, who wrote Galatians, simply uses the spiritual principles by which God dealt with Abraham, his wives and sons, to illustrate eternal principles by which He deals with all men. He does make a figurative application, but not a figurative interpretation. Abraham and Isaac, Sarah and Hagar, were real people to Paul, as the context clearly demonstrates. These events described in Genesis really happened to real people, and it is because of this very fact that Rabbi Sha’ul can make some spiritual applications in the New Covenant.

While not rejecting the historical facts of Genesis, other people overuse types. The characters and experiences of Abraham and others are taken as “types” of experiences in the life of Messiah, or the people of Isra’el, or the Church. They mean well, but they go far beyond what is actually written and practice speculation.

There is no question, however, that some portions of Genesis are treated as types in the B’rit Chadashah. The first Adam is taken as a contrasting type of the second Adam (Romans 5:12-19; First Corinthians 15:21-22 and 45-47). The Ark is pictured as a type of salvation in Christ (First Peter 3:20-21). Abraham and Isaac are discussed as a type of the Father offering up His one and only Son (Hebrews 11:17-19). Abraham is a type of salvation by faith unto righteousness (Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23). And sometimes, as is the case with Joseph, it is merely very interesting to see all parallels between his life and the life of Christ. But without confirmation from the New Covenant, Joseph cannot be identified as a type.

In addition, it must never be forgotten that types are to be considered only illustrations or applications, and not doctrinal interpretations (except when done so by the writers of the B’rit Chadashah). We must remember that whatever value the use of types may have, the application is based on the real live person in history. Therefore, in this devotional commentary, the emphasis will be placed primarily on the actual events that took place in history and the application of those events to our daily lives.

Genesis is the book of beginnings.

NEXT PAGE: Ad – The Anticipation of Eternity

Back to Genesis Contents Table

The Outline of the Book of Genesis

The basis for this commentary and outline is taken from the Genesis Tape Series by Arnold Fruchtenbaum and Ariel Ministries in San Antonio, Texas.

The book of Genesis, from a Jewish Perspective (Ac)

    A. The Anticipation of History (Ad)

    B. The Number Seven (Ae)

I. The Creation of the World – 1:1 to 2:3 (Af)

    A. In the Beginning God Created the Heavens and the Earth – 1:1 (Ag)

    B. The Supposed Gap Theory (Ah)

    C. Now the Earth was Formless and Empty – 1:2 (Ai)

    D. God Called the Light Day and the Darkness Night – 1:3-5 (Aj)

    E. So God Made the Expanse Between the Waters – 1:6-8 (Ak)

    F. God Called the Dry Ground Land and the Waters He Called Seas – 1:9-13 (Al)

    G. Let There Be Lights in the Sky to Separate Day from Night – 1:14-19 (Am)

    H. Let the Water Teem with Living Creatures – 1:20-23 (An)

    I. Let Us Make Man in Our Image, In Our Likeness – 1:24-31 (Ao)

    J. The Dispensations of God (Ap)

    K. By the Seventh Day God Had Finished His Work – 2:1-3 (Aq)

II. The Written Account of the Heavens and the Earth – 2:4 to 4:26 (Ar)

    A. This is the Account of the Heavens and the Earth – 2:4 (As)

    B. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden – 2:5-25 (At)

1. God Formed the Man from the Dust of the Ground – 2:5-7 (Au)

2. God Planted a Garden in the East, in Eden – 2:8-14 (Av)

3. You Must Not Eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil – 2:15-17 (Aw)

4. Then LORD God Made a Woman from the Rib of Adam – 2:18-25 (Ax)

    C. The Fall of Man – 3:1-24 (Ay)

1. Now the Serpent Was More Crafty Than Any of the Animals – 3:1-5 (Az)

2. The Woman Saw the Fruit of the Tree and Ate It – 3:6 (Ba)

3. The Dispensation of Conscience – 3:6 to 8:14 (Bb)

4. Man Sewed Fig Leaves Together and Made Coverings – 3:7-8 (Bc)

5. The Serpent Deceived Me and I Ate – 3:9-13 (Bd)

6. He Will Crush Your Head, and You Will Strike His Heel – 3:14-15 (Be)

7. Your Desire Will Be For Your Husband and He Shall Rule Over You – 3:16 (Bf)

8. Cursed is the Ground, Through Painful Toil You Will Eat of It – 3:17-19 (Bg)

9. The LORD God Made Garments of Skin for Adam and Eve – 3:20-24 (Bh)

    D. Cain and Abel – 4:1-26 (Bi)

1. Your Brother’s Blood Cries Out to Me from the Ground – 4:1-15 (Bj)

2. The Line of Cain – 4:16-24 (Bk)

3. The Line of Seth – 4:25-26 (Bl)

III. The Written Account of the Generations of Adam – 5:1 to 6:8 (Bm)

    A. When God Created Man, He Made Him in the Likeness of God – 5:1-2 (Bn)

    B. The Genealogy from Adam to Noah – 5:3-32 (Bo)

1. When Adam Had Lived 130 Years He Had a Son and Named Him Seth – 5:3-5 (Bp)

2. When Seth Had Lived 105 Years, He Became the Father of Enosh – 5:6-8 (Bq)

3. Enosh – 5:9-11 (Br)

4. Kenan – 5:12-14 (Bs)

5. Mahalalel – 5:15-17 (Bt)

6. Jared – 5:18-20 (Bu)

7. Enoch Walked with God for 300 years – 5:21-24 (Bv)

8. Methuselah – 5:25-27 (Bw)

9. Lamech – 5:28-31 (Bx)

10. Noah – 5:32 (By)

    C. The Nephilim Were on the Earth in Those Days – 6:1-8 (Bz)

1. The Sons of God Married the Daughters of Men – 6:1-4 (Ca)

2. But Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the LORD– 6:5-8 (Cb)

IV. The Written Account of the Generations of Noah – 6:9 to 9:29 (Cc)

    A. Noah Was a Righteous Man and He Walked With God – 6:9-12 (Cd)

    B. The Ark is a Type of Christ – 6:13-22 (Ce)

    C. God said: Go Into the Ark Because I Have Found You Righteous – 7:1-5 (Cf)

    D. Noah and His Sons Entered the Ark – 7:6-9 (Cg)

    E. The Chronology of the Flood (Ch)

    F. The Rain Fell on the Earth Forty Days and Nights – 7:10-16 (Ci)

    G. The Water Rose and the Ark Floated on the Water – 7:17-24 (Cj)

    H. The Science of a Young Earth (Ck)

1. Accelerated Decay (Cl)

2. Carbon 14 Dating (Cm)

3. Helium Diffusion (Cn)

4. Radiohalos (Co)

5. Fission Tracts (Cp)

    I. The Flood Waters Receded and the Ark Rested on Mt Ararat – 8:1-14 (Cq)

1. But God Remembered Noah – 8:1-5 (Cr)

2. By Noah’s 601^stYear, the Water Had Dried Up from the Earth – 8:6-14 (Cs)

3. The Dispensation of Civil Government – 8:14 to 11:32 (Ct)

    J. Then God said to Noah, Come Out of the Ark – 8:15-19 (Cu)

1. Bring Out Every Living Creature so They Can Multiply – 8:15-17 (Cv)

2. One Kind After Another, All the Animals Came out of the Ark – 8:18-19 (Cw)

    K. Then Noah Sacrificed Burnt Offerings to the LORD– 8:20-22 (Cx)

    L. The Covenant With Noah – 9:1-17 (Cy)

1. Whoever Sheds Human Blood, Their Blood Will Be Shed – 9:1-7 (Cz)

2. Never Again Will There Be a Flood to Destroy the Earth – 9:8-17 (Da)

    M. The Sons of Noah Came Out of the Ark – 9:18-19 (Db)

    N. Cursed Be Canaan the Lowest of Slaves – 9:20-27 (Dc)

    O. The Death of Noah – 9:28-29 (Dd)

V. The Written Account of the Sons of Noah – 10:1 to 11:9 (De)

    A. The Table of Nations – 10:1-32 (Df)

1. This is the Account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Sons of Noah – 10:1 (Dg)

2. The Line of Japheth – 10:2-5 (Dh)

3. The Line of Ham – 10:6-20 (Di)

4. The Line of Shem – 10:21-31 (Dj)

5. These are the Clans of Noah’s Sons Who Spread Out Over the Earth – 10:32 (Dk)

    B. The Tower of Babel – 11:1-9 (Dl)

1. Let Us Build a City and Make a Name For Ourselves – 11:1-4 (Dm)

2. Let Us Go Down and Confuse Their Language – 11:5-9 (Dn)

VI. The Written Account of the Generations of Shem – 11:10-26 (Do)

VII. The Written Account of the Generations of  Terah – 11:27 to 25:11 (Dp)

    A. Terah Became the Father of Abram, Nahor and Haran – 11:27-32 (Dq)

    B. The Purpose of the First Eleven Chapters of Genesis – 1:1 to 11:32 (Dr)

    C. The Dispensation of Promise – Genesis 12:1 to Exodus 18:27 (Ds)

    D. I Will Bless Those Who Bless You – 12:1-3 (Dt)

    E. Abram Left Haran, He Took His Wife Sari – 12:4-9 (Du)

    F. There was a Famine in the Land – 12:10-20 (Dv)

    G. Abram and Lot Separate – 13:1-18 (Dw)

1. Abram Lived in the Land of Canaan, While Lot Lived in Sodom – 13:1-13 (Dx)

2. Go, Walk Through the Land, for I am giving it to You – 13:14-17 (Dy)

3. So Abram Went to Live Near the Trees of Mamre at Hebron – 13:18 (Dz)

     H. Abram Goes to War With the Kings of the East – 14:1-24 (Ea)

1. The Four Kings Carried Off Abram’s Nephew Lot – 14:1-12 (Eb)

2. When Abram Heard Lot Was Taken, He Went in Pursuit – 14:13-16 (Ec)

3. Melchizedek: King of Salem and a Priest of God Most High – 14:17-24 (Ed)

     I. God’s Covenant With Abram – 15:1-21 (Ee)

1. Abram Believed the LORD and He Credited It to Him – 15:1-6 (Ef)

2. I AM the LORD, Who Brought You Out of Ur of the Chaldeans – 15:7-21 (Eg)

    J. Hagar and the Birth of Ishmael – 16:1-16 (Eh)

1. Sarai Took Hagar and Gave Her to Abram to be His Wife – 16:1-6 (Ei)

2. Hagar and the Angel of the LORD– 16:7-14 (Ej)

3. So Hagar Bore Abram a Son and Abram Named Him Ishmael – 16:15-16 (Ek)

    K. God’s Covenant of Circumcision with Abraham – 17:1-27 (El)

1. Your Name Will Be Abraham, You Are a Father of Nations – 17:1-8 (Em)

2. Every Male Who Is Eight Days Old Must be Circumcised – 17:9-14 (En)

3. Sarah Will Bear You a Son, and You Will Call Him Isaac – 17:15-22 (Eo)

4. Abraham and Ishmael Were Both Circumcised – 17:23-27 (Ep)

    L. The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – 18:1 to 19:38 (Eq)

1. Angels Unawares – 18:1-15 (Er)

a. Abraham’s Three Visitors – 18:1-8 (Es)

b. I Will Return Next Year and Sarah Will Have a Son – 18:9-15 (Et)

2. Abraham Pleads for Sodom – 18:16-33 (Eu)

a. The Outcry Against Sodom and Gomorrah is Great – 18:16-21 (Ev)

b. Abraham Intercedes – 18:22-33 (Ew)

3. Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed – 19:1-29 (Ex)

a. Two Angels Arrived at Sodom in the Evening – 19:1-11 (Ey)

b. The Two Men said to Lot: Don’t Look Back – 19:12-22 (Ez)

c. It Rained Down Sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah – 19:23-29 (Fa)

4. Let’s Get Our Father to Drink Wine and then Lie With Him – 19:30-38 (Fb)

    M. Abraham and Abimelech – 20:1-18 (Fc)

1. Abraham Said of His Wife: She is My Sister – 20:1-2 (Fd)

2. The God Came to Abimelech in a Dream – 20:3-8 (Fe)

3. Abimelech Returned Sarah to Abraham – 20:9-15 (Ff)

4. I am Giving Your Brother a Thousand Shekels of Silver – 20:16 (Fg)

5. Then God Healed Abimelech and His Wife and Slave Girls – 20:17-18 (Fh)

    N. The Birth of Isaac – 21:1-7 (Fi)

    O. Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away – 21:8-21 (Fj)

    P. The Treaty at Beersheba – 21:22-34 (Fk)

    Q. Abraham Tested – 22:1-19 (Fl)

1. Take Your Only Son Isaac, and Sacrifice Him – 22:1-8 (Fm)

2. Abraham Built an Altar and Laid Him on Top of the Wood – 22:9-10 (Fn)

3. Abraham Called that place The LORD Will Provide – 22:11-14 (Fo)

4. The Abrahamic Covenant – 22:15-18 (Fp)

5. Then Abraham Returned to Beersheba – 22:19 (Fq)

    R. Bethuel Became the Father of Rebekah – 22:20-24 (Fr)

    S. The Burial of Sarah – 23:1-20 (Fs)

1. Sarah Died and Abraham Went to Weep Over Her – 23:1-2 (Ft)

2. Sell Me Some Property So I Can Bury My Dead – 23:3-18 (Fu)

3. Abraham Buried His Wife Sarah in the Cave 23:19-20 (Fv)

    T. Isaac and Rebecca – 24:1-67 (Fw)

1. Go to My Country and Get a Wife for My Son Isaac – 24:1-9 (Fx)

2. God of My Master Abraham, Give Me Success Today – 24:10-14 (Fy)

3. Before He had Finished Praying Rebekah Came Out – 24:15-27 (Fz)

4. Abraham’s Servant Meets Laban – 24:28-49 (Ga)

a. Now Rebekah Had a Brother Named Laban – 24:28-33 (Gb)

b. The LORD Will Send His Angel With You – 34-49 (Gc)

5. They Sent Rebekah on Her Way, Along Abraham’s Servant – 24:50-60 (Gd)

6. So Isaac Married Rebekah and He Loved Her – 24:61-67 (Ge)

    U. Abraham Took Another Wife Whose Name Was Keturah – 25:1-6 (Gf)

    V. The Death of Abraham – 25:7-11 (Gg)

VIII. The Written Account of the Generations of Ishmael – 25:11-18 (Gh)

    A. The Twelve Sons of Ishmael – 25:12-18 (Gi)

    B. The Death of Ishmael – 25:17 (Gj)

    C. The Territory of Ishmael – 25:18 (Gk)

IX. The Written Account of the Generations of Isaac – 25:19 to 35:29 (Gl)

    A. Two Nations, One Womb – 25:19-26 (Gm)

    B. Then Jacob Gave Esau Some Stew and Esau Despised His Birthright – 25:27-34 (Gn)

    C. Isaac Went to Abimelech King of the Philistines in Gerar – 26:1-5 (Go)

    D. Abimelech Saw Isaac Caressing Rebekah – 26:6-11 (Gp)

    E. Isaac Reopened the Wells of His Father Abraham – 26:12-22 (Gq)

    F. Isaac Went Up to Beersheba and the LORDAppeared to Him – 26:23-25 (Gr)

    G. Abimelech Came to Isaac: Let Us Make a Treaty With You – 26:26-33 (Gs)

    H. The Wives of Esau – 26:34-35 (Gt)

    I. The Blessing of Jacob – 27:1-40 (Gu)

1. Prepare Tasty Food so that I May Give You My Blessing – 27:1-4 (Gv)

2. Rebekah Took Esau’s Clothes and Put Them on Jacob – 27:5-17 (Gw)

3. Jacob said: The Voice is Jacob’s, but the Hands are Esau’s – 27:18-29 (Gx)

4. After Isaac Finished Blessing Jacob, Esau Came In – 27:30-40 (Gy)

    J. Jacob’s Flight to Haran – 27:41 – 28:22 (Gz)

1. Esau Wants to Kill You, Flee to My Brother Laban in Haran – 27:41-45 (Ha)

2. Isaac Sent Jacob to Laban, the Brother of Rebekah – 27:46 to 28:5 (Hb)

3. Esau Married the Daughter of Ishmael – 28:6-9 (Hc)

4. Jacob Saw the Angels of God Ascending and Descending – 28:10-22 (Hd)

    K. Jacob in Haran – 29:1 to 30:43 (He)

1. When Jacob Saw Rachel, He Kissed Her and Began to Weep Aloud – 29:1-14 (Hf)

2. Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel – 29:15-30 (Hg)

3. Jacob’s Children – 29:31 to 30:24 (Hh)

a. The LORD Saw That Leah Was Not Loved – 29:31-35 (Hi)

b. Bilhah Bore Jacob a Son and Rachel Named Him Dan – 30:1-8 (Hj)

c. Zilpah Bore Jacob a Son and Leah Named Him Asher – 30:9-13 (Hk)

d. God Listened to Leah, and She Bore Issachar and Zebulun – 30:14-21 (Hl)

e. God Remembered Rachel and Opened Her Womb – 30:22-24 (Hm)

4. Jacob’s Agreement with Laban – 30:25-36 (Hn)

5. Jacob’s Flocks Increase – 30:37-43 (Ho)

    L. Jacob’s Flight from Haran – 31:1-55 (Hp)

1. Jacob Flees from Laban – 31:1-21 (Hq)

2. Laban Pursues Jacob – 31:22-42 (Hr)

3. So Jacob Took a Stone and Set It Up as a Pillar – 31:43-55 (Hs)

    M. Jacob and Esau – 32:1 to 33:17 (Ht)

1. Jacob Went On His Way, and the Angels of God Met Him – 32:1-2 (Hu)

2. Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau – 32:3-23 (Hv)

3. Jacob Wrestles with God – 32:24-32 (Hw)

4. Jacob Saw Esau Coming with His Four Hundred Men – 33:1-17 (Hx)

    N. The Results of Disobedience – 33:18 to 34:31 (Hy)

1. Jacob’s Disobedience at Shechem – 33:18-20 (Hz)

2. Dinah is Raped by Shechem – 34:1-31 (Ia)

a. The Rape of Dinah – 34:1-7 (Ib)

b. Dinah Was Defiled and Jacob’s Sons Replied Deceitfully – 34:8-17 (Ic)

c. The Circumcision at Shechem – 34:18-24 (Id)

d. The Slaughter at Shechem by Simeon and Levi – 34:25-29 (Ie)

e. Jacob’s Rebuke of Simeon and Levi – 34:30-31 (If)

    O. Jacob’s Spiritual Renewal at Bethel – 35:1-15 (Ig)

1. Jacob’s Journey to Bethel – 35:1-8 (Ih)

2. God Appeared to Jacob Again at Bethel – 35:9-15 (Ii)

    P. The Birth of Benjamin and the Death of Rachel – 35:16-20 (Ij)

    Q. Reuben Slept with His Father’s Concubine Bilhah – 35:21-22a (Ik)

    R. Jacob Had Twelve Sons – 35:22b-26 (Il)

    S. Isaac Died and His Sons Esau and Jacob Buried Him – 35:27-29 (Im)

X. The Written Account of the Generations of Esau – 36:1 to 37:1 (In)

    A. The Wives and Sons of Esau – 36:1-8 (Io)

    B. Esau’s Sons and Grandsons – 36:9-14 (Ip)

    C. The Clans of the Descendants of Esau – 36:15-19 (Iq)

    D. The Sons of Seir the Horite – 36:20-30 (Ir)

    E. The Kings of Edom – 36:31-39 (Is)

    F. The Chiefs of Esau – 36:40-43a (It)

    G. The Division of the Two Brothers – 36:43b (Iu)

    H. The Prophecy of Edom (Iv)

XI. The Written Account of the Generations of Jacob – 37:1 to 50:26 (Iw)

    A. Joseph Sold into Slavery by His Brothers– 37:1-36 (Ix)

1. Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors – 37:1-4 (Iy)

2. Joseph’s Dreams – 37:5-11 (Iz)

3. Joseph in the Pit – 37:12-24 (Ja)

4. Joseph’s Brothers Sold Him for Twenty Shekels of Silver – 37:25-36 (Jb)

    B. Judah and Tamar – 38:1-30 (Jc)

1. Judah said to Tamar: Live as a Widow Until My Son Grows Up – 38:1-11 (Jd)

2. Judah Recognized His Seal and Staff – 38:12-26 (Je)

3. Tamar Gave Birth to Twin Boys: Perez and Zerah – 38:27-28 (Jf)

    C. Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife – 39:1-18 (Jg)

1. The LORD was with Joseph and He Prospered – 39:1-6a (Jh)

2. Potiphar’s Wife said: Come to Bed with Me! But Joseph Ran – 39:6b-18 (Ji)

    D. Joseph in Prison – 39:19 to 40:23 (Jj)

1. While Joseph was in Prison the LORD was with Him – 39:19-23 (Jk)

2. The Cupbearer and the Baker – 40:1-23 (Jl)

a. Tell Me Your Dreams – 40:1-8 (Jm)

b. So the Chief Cupbearer Told Joseph His Dream – 40:9-15 (Jn)

c. Then the Chief Baker said to Joseph: I Too Had a Dream – 40:16-19 (Jo)

d. The Chief Cupbearer did not Remember Joseph – 40:20-23 (Jp)

    E. Joseph Before Pharaoh – 41:1-57 (Jq)

1. Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams – 41:1-8 (Jr)

2. The Report of the Cupbearer – 41:9-13 (Js)

3. Seven Fat Cows and Seven Lean Cows – 41:14-24 (Jt)

4. Seven Years of Abundance then Seven Years of Famine – 41:25-36 (Ju)

5. Joseph as Prime Minister – 41:37-46a (Jv)

6. The Seven Years of Abundance Came to an End in Egypt – 41:46b-57 (Jw)

    F. Joseph and His Brothers – 42:1 to 45:28 (Jx)

1. The First Journey to Egypt – 42:1-38 (Jy)

a. Joseph Learned that there was Grain in Egypt – 42:1-5 (Jz)

b. When Joseph’s Brothers Arrived, They Bowed Down – 42:6-25 (Ka)

c. Joseph is No More, Now You Want to Take Benjamin – 42:26-38 (Kb)

2. The Second Journey to Egypt – 43:1 to 45:28 (Kc)

a. Send Benjamin with Me and I will Guarantee His Safety – 43:1-14 (Kd)

b. The Brothers Presented Themselves to Joseph – 43:15-34 (Ke)

c. The Cup was Found in Benjamin’s Sack – 44:1-17 (Kf)

d. Judah said: Let the Boy Return to My Father – 44:18-34 (Kg)

e. Joseph Made Himself Known to his Brothers – 44:1-15 (Kh)

f. Return to Canaan and Bring Your Father Back to Me – 45:16-20 (Ki)

g. My Son Joseph is Still Alive, I Will Go See Him – 45:21-28 (Kj)

    G. Jacob Moves His Family to Egypt – 46:1 to 47:12 (Kk)

1. So Israel Took All His Offspring with Him to Egypt – 46:1-7 (Kl)

2. Jacob’s Genealogy – 46:8-27 (Km)

3. Jacob Arrived in Egypt – 46:28-34 (Kn)

4. Then Jacob Blessed Pharaoh and Went Out From His Presence – 47:1-10 (Ko)

5. Jacob Settled in Goshen – 47:11-12 (Kp)

    H. Joseph and the Famine – 47:13-26 (Kq)

1. Joseph Collected All the Money in Egypt for the Grain – 47:13-14 (Kr)

2. Joseph Gave Them Food for Their Livestock– 47:15-17 (Ks)

3. All the Land of Egypt Became Pharaoh’s for Grain – 47:18-22 (Kt)

4. The Egyptians Became Tenant Farmers on the Land – 47:23-26 (Ku)

    I. Carry Me Out of Egypt  – 47:27-31 (Kv)

    J. The Blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh – 47:28 to 48:22 (Kw)

1. Jacob Adopted Joseph’s Two Sons Ephraim and Manasseh – 48:1-7 (Kx)

2. Isra’el Blessed Ephraim, Though He Was the Younger – 48:8-20 (Ky)

3. Isra’el said: I am About to Die, but God Will Be With You – 48:21-22 (Kz)

    K. The Prophecy of Jacob’s Sons – 49:1-28 (La)

1. Then Jacob Called for His Sons to Gather Around Him – 49:1 (Lb)

2. Sons of Jacob, Listen to Your Father – 49:2 (Lc)

3. The Blessing and Cursing of Jacob’s Sons – 49:3-27 (Ld)

a. Reuben – 49:3-4 (Le)

b. Simeon and Levi – 49:5-7 (Lf)

c. Judah – 49:8-12 (Lg)

d. Zebulun – 49:13 (Lh)

e. Issachar – 49:14-15 (Li)

f. Dan – 49:19 (Lj)

g. Gad – 49:19 (Lk)

h. Asher – 49:20 (Ll)

i. Naphtali – 49:21 (Lm)

j. Joseph – 49:22-26 (Ln)

k. Benjamin – 49:27 (Lo)

4. This is What Isra’el said as He Blessed The Twelve Tribes – 49:28 (Lp)

    L. The Death and Burial of Jacob – 49:50:14 (Lq)

1. Jacob Was Gathered to His People – 49:29 to 50:3 (Lr)

2. So Joseph Went Up to Bury His Father – 50:4-14 (Ls)

    M. Joseph Reassures His Brothers – 50:15-21 (Lt)

    N. The Death of Joseph – 50:22-26 (Lu)

    O. I Do Not Permit a Woman to Teach or Have Authority Over a Man (Lv)

    P. The Witness of the Stars (Lw)

1. Virgo – The Virgin (Lx)

2. Libra – The Price Which Covers (Ly)

3. Scorpio – The Attack of the Enemy (Lz)

4. Sagittarius – The Archer (Ma)

5. Capricorn – The Goat (Mb)

6. Aquarius – The Pouring Out of the Water (Mc)

7. Pisces – The Conflict With the Enemy (Md)

8. Aries – The Ram (Me)

9. Taurus – The Bull (Mf)

10. Gemini – The Two Fold Ministry of the Prince (Mg)

11. Cancer – All Conflict is Over (Mh)

12. Leo – The Lion (Mi)

Glossary (Mj)

End Notes (Mk)

Bibliography (Ml)

 

next page (Ac)

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Genesis, Where Life and the Bible Meet . . .

1. Look at the Outline (Ab) and the Introduction (Ac) before starting on the commentary itself.

2. The DIG and REFLECT questions are in bold green, and will help to give you a deeper understanding of the book and make it more personal to you. Go slowly and give yourself time to answer these questions. They really strike at the heart of the commentary. What are the DIG questions for? To dig into the Scripture “story,” to find out what’s going on, to figure out the main idea, the plot, the argument, the spiritual principle, and so on. What are the REFLECT questions for? To apply the “story” in the Scripture to your own life, to take personal inventory and to decide what you are going to do about it! All DIG and REFLECT questions are taken from the Serendipity Bible.

3. I would strongly suggest that you look up the references that are given in each section. Many times this will greatly enhance the background, and hence, your understanding of the Scriptures that you are reading about on that particular day. Take your time, read only as much as you can digest.

There are times when I refer you to either another file in Genesis, or a file in another book of the Bible, to give you more detail on a particular person, topic, concept or theology. An example might be something like the Great Sanhedrin (see my commentary on The Life of Christ, to see link click Lg – The Great Sanhedrin). If you feel you already know enough about the Great Sanhedrin, you can skip the reference and continue reading. But, if it interests you, or if you don’t know what the Great Sanhedrin is, you can go to that file and read it first before continuing. It’s your choice.

4. All Scripture is in bold print. The 1985 NIV is used unless indicated otherwise, but sometimes the purpose of the bold print is merely for emphasizing a certain point. When bold maroon is used, it is for special emphasis. The words of Jesus are in bold red.

5. When bold teal is used, it is quoted from one of the two Jewish commentaries listed in the bibliography. This will give you the moderate Orthodox Jewish interpretation. It is useful for word studies, but its Christology is obviously entirely wrong. Where rabbinical interpretation is cited, I will add, “The rabbis teach. . . or the sages teach . . .” in front of the passage. Although it is not a Christian interpretation, I think it is interesting to see how the rabbis interpret these passages.

6. Read the Scriptures for that day first, then skim the DIG or REFLECT questions, read the commentary and reflect on it; answer the DIG or REFLECT questions, then read your Bible again. Hopefully, it will have greater meaning and understanding for you the second time you read it. Then live it.

7. If you come to a Jewish word or phrase you do not understand, see the Glossary at the end of the book (see Mj – Glossary).

8. To download a pdf file, click on the red rectangle on the top of any page.

9. You can download anything you want from this commentary to use for personal devotionals or Bible study, but nothing can be sold © 2008 all rights are reserved by Jay David Mack, M.Div

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