Transcript
genesis WHO WROTE THIS BOOK?
WHY WAS THIS BOOK WRITTEN?
Some scholars debate about abo ut who wrote Genesis, though many believe Moses is the author autho r.
Genesis tells us how God created the universe univer se and human beings. It also covers the special promises God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT GOD IN THIS BOOK?
God created all things. He loves people, peo ple, but he will punish sin. God promises to save people who trust him.
WHO ARE THE KEY PEOPLE IN THIS BOOK?
Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, and Joseph
WHERE DID THIS HAPPEN?
Genesis 1 – 11 happened ha ppened in Mesopotamia. M esopotamia. Genesis 12 – 36 took place in Canaan, which whic h is also called the promised land. The rest of Genesis took place in Egypt. (See the map at the back of this Bible to find Mount Sinai.)
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STORIES IN THIS BOOK?
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen 1:1). PhotoDisc
God creates the universe
Genesis 1
God creates Adam and Eve
Genesis 2
Adam and Eve sin
Genesis 3
Noah builds an ark
Genesis 6
God sends a flood to punish sin
Genesis 7 – 8
God gives promises to Abraham
Genesis 12
Abraham prays for a city
Genesis 18
Jacob steals Esau’s blessing
Genesis 27
Jacob’s name is changed
Genesis 32
Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery
Genesis 37
Joseph becomes a ruler
Genesis 39 – 41
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1:1 God was the only one in the beginning. Although everything everyt hing else has a beginning, God has always been around. The Bible describes him as everlasting or eternal. That means he has no beginning, and he has no end.
1:3 – 31 There was an order to creation. On the first three days, God formed creation with light, water and sky, land and vegetation. On the final three days, God filled creation with light givers, fish and birds, and animals and humans.
1:5 Creation took six days. Each day could have been 24 hours, just like we unders tand a day to be — or the word day could have represented a very long period of time.
1:21,24 – 25 God created all kinds of animals and plants. God created plants plant s and animals with distinct looks and patterns for each family and species. That’s That ’s why the Bible says he created them t hem “according to their kinds.”
1:24 God created dinosaurs. Although Genesis doesn’t mention dinosaurs specifically, they were probably created on the six th day. Several places in the Bible describe descr ibe creatures that may be dinosaurs, such as a monster (Psalm (Psalm 74:13), dragon (Revela dragon (Revelation tion 12:3) 12:3) or behemoth (Job 40:15 – 19).
GENESIS 1:1
THE BEGINNING
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In the begin beginning ning God creat created ed the heavens heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth ea rth was formless form less and empty, empty, darkness was over the surface surface of the deep, and the Spirit Spirit of God was hover hovering ing over the waters. waters.
And God said, sa id, “Let there be light,” l ight,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and a nd he sepa sepa rat5 ed the light from the darkness. darkness. God cal c alled led the light “day,” and the darkness darkness he called “night.” And there was eve e vening, ning, and there was morning morning — the f irst day. 6 And God said, sa id, “Let there be b e a vault between between the waters waters 7 to sepa separate water water from water.” water.” So God made the vault vau lt and sepa separated rated the water water under under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called ca lled the vault vau lt “sky.” “sky.” And there ther e was evening, eve ning, and there was morning morn ing — the second second day. 9 And God said, sa id, “Let the t he water water under under the sky be gathered gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” appear.” And it was so. 10 God called cal led the dry dr y ground “land,” “l and,” and the gathered waters waters he called calle d “seas.” And God saw that it it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let “L et the land la nd produce produce vege vegetation: tation: seed-bearing seed-bear ing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit fru it with seed in it, accord according ing to their vari various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land pro produced duced vege vegetation: tation: plants bearing bear ing seed accord according ing to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it accord according ing to their kinds. And 13 God saw that it was good. And there was evening, evening, and there was morning morning — the third day. 14 And God said, “Let “L et there be lights in the vault vau lt of the sky to sepa sepa rate the day from the night, and let them serve ser ve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be b e lights in i n the vault vau lt of the sky sk y to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights — the greater greater light to govern govern the day and the lesser lesser light to govern govern the night. He also made the 17 stars. God set them in the t he vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern govern the day and the night, and to sepa sepa rate light from darkness. darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there t here was wa s eve e vening, ning, and there was morn mor ning — the fourth day. 20 And God said, “Let the t he water wa ter teem with living living creatures, tures , and let birds fly f ly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God creat created ed the great creatures crea tures of the sea and every every living living thing with which the water wa ter teems and that moves about in it, accord ac cording ing to their kinds, and every every winged bird accord according ing to its kind. And God saw that it was w as good. goo d. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful fruitful and increase increase in number number and fill fi ll the water water in the seas, and let the birds increase increase on the 23 earth.” And there was eve e vening, ning, and there was morning — the fifth fi fth day. 24 And God said, “Let “L et the land produce produce living living creatures creatures according cording to their kinds: the livestock, livestock, the creatures creatures that
GENESIS 2:3
move along the ground, and the wild ani animals, each 25 accord according ing to its kind.” And it was so. God made the t he wild wi ld ani an imals accord according ing to their kinds, the livestock livestock accord ac cording ing to their kinds, and all the creatures crea tures that move along the ground accord according ing to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind mankind in our image, image, in our likeness, likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild ani animals, a and over all the creatures that t hat move along the ground.” 27
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28
God blessed them and said s aid to them, t hem, “Be fruit fru it-ful and increase increase in number; number; fill fil l the earth and subdue subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every every living living creature creature that moves on the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I give g ive you every every seed-bearing seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every ev ery tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all al l the beasts of the earth eart h and all al l the birds in the sky and all the creatures creatures that move along the ground — every everything thing that th at has the breath of life in it — I give every every green g reen plant for food.” And it it was so. 31 God saw all al l that he had made, and a nd it was very good. And there was evening, evening, and there was morning — the sixth six th day.
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Thus the heavens heavens and the earth were complet completed ed in all their vast array. array.
By the seventh seventh day God had finished finished the work he had been doing; doing; so on the seventh seventh day he rested rested from all 3 his work. Then God blessed the seventh seventh day and made it holy, because because on it he rested rested from all the work of creat creating ing that he had done.
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Probable reading of the original origin al Hebrew text (see (see Syriac); Masoretic Text the earth
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1:27 Humans are special. People are different from everything every thing else God made made because they are made in his image. That means we share some of God’s characteristics, characteris tics, such as intelligence, love and creativity. creativit y. Since each person is made in God’s image, everyone is important to God.
1:28 God told humans to take care of the earth. When God told people to “fill the earth and subdue it,” he meant to care for all of creation and use its it s resources wisely.
2:2 – 3 God rested on the seventh day. God did not need to rest because he was tired. He rested bec ause he was finished creating the world and everything every thing in it. God also rested so we would know it’s important to take a break from work one day each week and worship him.
Parallel Days Genesis 1 Day 1: Light
Day 4: Sun and moon
Day 2: Water and sky
Day 5: Fish and birds
Day 3: Plant life
Day 6: Animals and people
Beautiful! God’s power, wisdom and sense of order are revealed in the parallels between days 1–3 and 4–6.
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GENESIS 2:4
2:7
ADAM AND EVE
God made the first man out of dust. Both animals and people were created out of the ground with God’s breath of life.
2:8,10 – 14 The location of Eden Eden was probably in the country we know today as Iraq. The location loc ation of the rivers tells us that Eden also could have been an area through Egypt and Ethiopia.
2:9 The tree of life This tree was in the middle of the Garden of Eden. It had special fruit. Anyone who ate it would live forever. God gave Adam and Eve access to the tree of life because he wanted them to have eternal life.
© annat zisovich/Shutterstock
2:17 Good and evil God warned Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve already knew right from fr om wrong. But they hadn’t seen hadn’t seen evil. God was testing if they would obey.
2:18,20 Adam needed a helper. All of God’s other creatures had been created in pairs, but Adam was alone. Eve would provide friendship and help for Adam, and together they would carry on the human race.
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This is the t he account account of the heavens heavens and the earth when they were creat created, ed, when the L��� God made the earth and the heavens. heavens. 5
Now no shrub sh rub had yet y et appeared appeared on the earth a and no plant had yet sprung up, for the L��� God had not sent rain on the earth ea rth and a nd there was no one to work the ground, 6 b but streams came up from the earth and watered watered the whole sur su rface of the ground. 7 Then the L��� God formed a man c from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils nostrils the breath of life, and the man became became a living living being. being. 8 Now the L��� L ��� God had planted planted a garden garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The L��� God made all al l kinds ki nds of trees grow out of the ground grou nd — trees that were pleasing pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river river water watering ing the garden garden flowed from Eden; from there it was sepa separated rated into four head waters. waters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; Pishon; it winds through the entire entire land of 12 Havi Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is good; aro aromatic matic resin resin d and onyx are also a lso there.) 13 The name of the second second river river is the Gihon; Gihon; it winds through the entire entire land of Cush. e 14 The name na me of the third river river is the Tigris; Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. Ash ur. And the fourth river riv er is the Euphra Euphrates. tes. 15 The L��� God took the man ma n and put him in i n the GarGa r16 den of Eden to work it and take ca re of it. And the L��� God command commanded ed the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you wil w illl certain cer tainly ly die.” 18 The L��� God said, sa id, “It is not good go od for the man ma n to be alone. I will make a helper helper suitable suitable for him.” 19 Now the L��� God had formed out of the t he ground all a ll the wild ani animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatev what ever er the man called each living liv ing creature, creature, that was its 20 name. So the man gave names to a ll the t he livestock, livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild ani animals. But for Adam f no suitable suitable helper helper was found. 21 So the L��� God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while whi le he was sleep slee ping, he took one of the man’s ribs g and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the t he L��� L�� � God made a woman woman from the rib h he had taken taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This “Th is is now bone of my bones and f lesh of my f lesh; a
b 6 Or mist c 7 The Hebrew for man 5 Or land; land ; also in verse 6 (adam) sounds (adam) sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for grou for ground nd (adamah) ; d 12 Or good; pearls s it is also the name Adam name Adam (see (see verse 20). Or good; pearl e 13 Possibly southeast f 20 Or the man g 21 Or took southeas t Mesopotamia Mesopotam ia part of o f the man’s side si de h 22 Or part Or part
GENESIS 3:15
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she shall shal l be cal called led ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24
That is why a man leaves his father father and mother mother and is united united to his wife, and they become become one flesh. 25 Adam and a nd his wife w ife were both naked, naked, and they felt no shame. THE FALL
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Now the serpent serpent was more crafty than any of the wild ani an imals the L��� God had made. He said to the woman, woman, “Did God really really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” garden’?” 2 The woman woman said to the serpent, serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, garden, 3 but God G od did say, ‘Y ‘ You must not eat fruit from the tree that th at is in the middle middle of the garden, garden, and you must not touch it, or you will wil l die.’ ” 4 “You will wi ll not certain cer tainly ly die,” the serpent serpent said to the woman. woman. 5 “For God knows k nows that when you eat e at from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing pleasing to the eye, and also desir desirable able for gaining gaining wisdom, wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them t hem were opened, and they real realized ized they were naked; naked; so they sewed fig leaves togeth together er and made cover coverings ings for themselves. themselves. 8 Then the man and his h is wife w ife heard hea rd the sound sou nd of the L��� God as he was walking walking in the garden garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the L��� God among the trees of the garden. garden. 9 But the L��� God called ca lled to the t he man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, answered, “I heard you in the garden, garden, and I was afraid because because I was naked; naked; so I hid.” h id.” 11 And he said, “Who “W ho told you that t hat you were w ere naked? naked? Have you eaten eaten from the tree that I command com manded ed you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman woman you put here with me — she gave me some fruit fru it from the tree, and a nd I ate it.” it.” 13 Then the L��� God Go d said to the woman, woman, “What is this you have hav e done?” The woman wom an said, “The serpent serpent deceived deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the L��� God Go d said to the ser s erpent, pent, “Because “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all al l livestock and all wild animals! You will wil l crawl on your belly and you will wil l eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will wi ll put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring a and hers; a
15 Or seed
3:1 The serpent Satan, or the devil, took the form of a snake to tempt Adam and Eve.
© Eric Isselee/Shutterstock
3:1 – 6 The conversation with the serpent Eve was the one who talked to the serpent. And it seems from verse six that Adam was with Eve. If he wasn’t there, then he made the decision to disobey without the pressure from the serpent. They were both guilty of disobeying God.
3:4 The serpent’s lies The serpent told Adam and Eve that their eyes would be opened and they would become like God. He said they would know good from evil. Their eyes were opened, but the result was different fr om what the serpent promised.
3:8 God visited Adam and Eve. God is a spirit, which means he doesn’t have a body like humans. So we don’t know if God actually “walked” in the garden — the verse might say that just so humans can better understand. underst and. But it is clear that God was really there in the garden, and he talked with Adam and Eve.
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GENESIS 3:16
3:12 – 13
he will wil l crusha your head, and you will wil l strike his heel.” heel.”
Adam and Eve responded to God. Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. Neither took responsibility for their actions.
3:14 – 15 The meaning of God’s curse God cursed the serpent to crawl on its belly and fight with humans. The promise that Eve’s children would crush the serpent’s head hints at salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross. (See Romans 16:20.)
3:17 – 19 The meaning of God’s words to Adam God told Adam that because bec ause of sin, it would be difficult and painful work to get food. And God said that when Adam died, his body would go back to the dust of the ground.
4:3 – 5 Abel’s offering vs. Cain’s offering Both a plant offering of fering and an animal offering were acceptable to God, but Cain’s offering was not made with a pure heart. He did not give his best. Abel pleased God because he offered his bes t animals.
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To the woman woman he said,
“I will wil l make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will wil l give birth to children. Your desire will wi ll be for your husband, and he will wil l rule over you.” 17
To Adam he said, s aid, “Because “Because you listened listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I command com manded ed you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful painf ul toil you will wil l eat food from it all the days of your life. 18 It will wil l produce thorns and thistles this tles for you, and you wil l eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat s weat of your brow you will wi ll eat your food until you return retur n to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will wil l return.” retur n.” 20
Adam b named his wife Eve, c because because she would become the mother mother of all the living. living. 21 The L��� L�� � God made gar ga rments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the t he L��� L ��� God said, “The man has now become be come like one of us, knowing knowing good and evil. evi l. He must not not be allowed allowed to reach out his hand and take also a lso from the tree of life and a nd eat, and live forev forever.” er.” 23 So the L��� God banished banished him from the Garden Garden of Eden to work the ground grou nd from which he had been taken. taken. 24 After Af ter he drove the man out, he placed on the east side d of the Garden of Eden cheru cherubim and a flaming flaming sword flashing flashing back and forth to guard gua rd the way to the tree of life. CAIN AND ABEL
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Adam Ada m b made love to his wife Eve, and she became be came pregnant pregnant and gave birth to Cain. e She said, “With the help of the L��� I have brought forth f a man.” 2 Later ater she gave birth to his brother brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the t he fruits of the soil as an offer of fering ing to the L���. 4 And Abel Ab el a lso ls o brought brou ght an offer offering ing — fat por portions tions from some of the firstborn first born of his flock. The L��� looked with wit h fa vor on Abel Abe l and his hi s offer offering, ing, 5 but on Cain and his offer offering ing he did not look with fa vor. So Cain was wa s very ver y angry, an gry, and his face was downcast. down cast. 6 Then the L��� said to Cain, “ Why are you angry? angry? (left) PhotoDisc: (left) PhotoDisc: Siede Preis; (right) © (right) © Eric Isselee/ Shutterstock
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c 20 Eve 15 Or strike b 20,1 Or The man 20 Eve probably probably means living. e Or placed Or placed in i n front fro nt 1 Cain sounds Cain sounds like the Hebrew for brought f 1 Or have acquired forth or forth or acquired. d 24
GENESIS 4:14
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Why is your face down dow ncast? 7 If you do what is right, r ight, will wi ll you not be accept accepted? ed? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching crouching at your door; it desires desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Now Cain Cai n sa id to his brother brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” a While Whi le they were in the field, Cain attacked attacked his brother brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the L��� L ��� said to Cain, “ Where is your brother brother Abel?” Abel ?” “I don’t know,” he replied. replied. “Am I my brother’s brother’s keeper?” keeper?” 10 The L��� said, “ What have h ave you done? Listen! Listen! Your brother’s brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under under a curse and driven driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive receive your brother’s brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it wil l no longer longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless rest less wander wanderer er on the earth.” 13 Cain said s aid to the t he L���, “My punish pun ishment ment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving driving me from the land, and
4:11 – 12 God’s curse on Cain Cain had made his living as a farmer, growing food from the ground. But now the ground was soaked with his brother’s blood, so God said the ground would no longer produce any crops for Cain. Instead of staying st aying with his family, Cain was forced to wander the earth.
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8 Samaritan Pentateuch, Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Syriac; Masoretic Text Text does not have “Let’s go out to the field .”
SETTING OF GENESIS Black Sea
Eden?
Ar A r a r a t Mt M t . Caspian Sea Se a
T U R K E Y Harran
I R A N T i g
SYRIA
p h
Medi Me di terr te rr an ean ea n Sea Se a ISRAEL
Shechem
Bethel Jerusalem Hebron
R .
r a t e
LEBANON
Z a g r o s M t s
r i s
E u
s
R .
.
Babel
I R A Q
Ur of the Chaldeans
Beersheba
Eden?
JO RD AN
P G e r u s i a l n f
S A U D I
Sinai A R A B I A 0
N i l e R .
R e d S e a
0
200 km. 200 miles
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4:15 The mark on Cain The Bible doesn’t say what kind of mark God placed on Cain, but it was a warning sign to protect him from anyone wanting to kill him.
4:19 Marrying more than one woman Having more than one wife was common in ancient times, but God created marriage to be between one man and one woman, like Adam and Eve. Having more than one wife sometimes caused problems for husbands in Old Testament times.
GENESIS 4:15
I will be hidden hidden from your presence; presence; I will be a restless restless wander wan derer er on the earth, and whoev whoever er finds me will kill k ill me.” 15 a But the L��� L�� � said sa id to him, hi m, “Not so ; anyone anyone who kills Cain will suffer suffer vengeance vengeance seven seven times over.” Then the L��� put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would wou ld kil k illl him. hi m. 16 So Cain Ca in went out from the t he L���’ L�� �’ss presb ence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 17 Cain made love to his wife, and she became became pregnant pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building build ing a city, and he named it after after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch E noch was born Irad, and Irad was the father fa ther of Mehu Mehu jael, jael, and Mehu Mehu jael jael was the father fa ther of Methu Methusha shael, el, and Methu Methusha shael el was the father of Lamech. Lamech. 19 Lamech La mech married married two women, women, one named Adah and the other other Zillah. Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth bi rth to Jabal; Jabal; he was the father father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. livestock. 21 His brother’s brother’s name was Jubal; Jubal; he was the father father of all who play illah also had a son, stringed instru in struments ments and pipes. 22 Z illah Tu Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of c bronze and iron. TubalTubal-Cain’s Cain’s sister sister was Naa Naamah. 23 Lamech Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, Zill ah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed ki lled a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. 24 If Cain is avenged aveng ed seven times, times , then Lamech seventy-seven seventy-sev en times.” 25
Adam made love to his h is wife wi fe again, agai n, and she gave birth d to a son and named him Seth, saying, saying, “God has granted granted me anoth another er child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26 Seth also a lso had a son, and he named na med him Enosh. At that th at time ti me peo people ple began began to call on e the name of the L���. FROM ADAM TO NOAH
5:5 – 32 People lived a long time. God’s original plan was that people would live forever. When Adam and Eve sinned, death was a result, and the length of human life gradually shortened.
5:24 Enoch did not die. Enoch had a very close c lose relationship with God. The Bible tells us that Enoch’s life on earth ended in a very unusual way: God took him away without Enoch experiencing death.
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This Th is is the t he writ wr itten ten account account of Adam’s fami fami ly line.
When Whe n God creat created ed mankind, mankind, he made them in the like2 ness of God. He creat cre ated ed them male and female female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” “Man kind” f when they were created. 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, likeness, in his own image; image; and he named him Seth. 4 After Af ter Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years yea rs and had other other sons and daughters. daughters. 5 Alto Al togeth gether, er, Adam lived a total total of 930 years, yea rs, and a nd then he died. d ied. 6 When Seth S eth had lived 105 years, yea rs, he be b ecame the father father g of Enosh. 7 After Af ter he became became the father father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other other sons and daughters. daughters. 8 Alto Al togeth gether, er, Seth lived a total total of 912 years, and then he died. a
15 Septuagint, Vulgate Vulgate and Syriac; Syriac; Hebrew Very well b 16 Nod means means c wandering (see 22 Or who instructed instru cted all who work in (see verses 12 1 2 and 14). d 25 Seth probably e 26 Or to proclaim f 2 Seth probably means granted means granted . 2 Hebrew g adam 6 Father may may mean ancestor ; also in verses 7-26.
GENESIS 6:3
9
9
When Enosh had lived l ived 90 years, y ears, he became became 10 the father father of Kenan. Kenan. After Af ter he became became the father father of Kenan, Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other oth er sons and daughters. daughters. 11 Alto Al togeth gether, er, Enosh lived a total total of 905 years, and then he died. 12 When Ke Kenan nan had lived 70 years, he became became 13 the father father of Maha Mahala lalel. lel. After Af ter he became became the father father of Maha Mahala lalel, lel, Kenan Kenan lived 840 years and had other other sons and daughters. daughters. 14 Alto Al togeth gether, er, Kenan lived a total total of 910 years, years , and then he died. 15 When Ma Maha hala lalel lel had lived 65 years, he became be came the father father of Jared. Jared. 16 After Af ter he became became the father father of Jared, Jared, Maha Mahala lalel lel lived 830 years Al togethgethand had other other sons and daughters. daughters. 17 Alto er, Maha Mahala lalel lel lived a total total of 895 years, and then he died. 18 When Jared Jared had lived 162 years, he became became the father father of Enoch. 19After Af ter he became became the father father of Enoch, Jared Jared lived 800 years and had other other sons and daughters. daughters. 20 Alto Al togeth gether, er, Ja Jared red lived a total total of 962 years, and then he died. 21 When Enoch Enoc h had lived l ived 65 years, ye ars, he became became 22 the father father of Methu Methuse selah. lah. After Af ter he became became the father father of Methu Methuse selah, lah, Enoch walked faithfulfaithfully with God 300 years and had other other sons and daughters. daughters. 23 Alto Al togeth gether, er, Enoch lived a total total of 24 365 years. Enoch walke w alked d faith fa ithful fully ly with God; then he was no more, because because God took him away aw ay.. 25 When Me Methu thuse selah lah had lived 187 years, he became became the father father of Lamech. Lamech. 26 After Af ter he became became the father father of Lamech, La mech, Methu Methuse selah lah lived 782 years yea rs and had other oth er sons and daughters. daughters. 27 Altogeth together, er, Methu Methuse selah lah lived a total total of 969 years, and then he died. 28 When Lamech La mech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah a and said, “He will wi ll comfort comfort us in the labor la bor and painful painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the L��� has cursed.” 30 After Af ter Noah was born, Lamech Lamech lived 595 years and had other oth er sons and daughters. daughters. 31 Alto Al togeth gether, er, Lamech Lamech lived a total total of 777 years, and then he died. 32 After Af ter Noah was 500 years old, he became be came the father father of Shem, Ham and Japheth. Japheth.
Over a Year on the Ark Genesis 6–8
Noah spends 375 days on the ark; here’s how those days break down:
WICKEDNESS IN THE WORLD
6
When Wh en human hu man beings beings began began to increase increase in number number on the earth and daughters daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that t hat the t he daughters daughters of humans humans were beauti beautiful, ful, and they married married any 3 of them they chose. Then the L��� said, sa id, “My Spir S pirit it will b not contend contend with humans hu mans forev forever, er, for they are mortal mortal c; their days will be a hundred hundred and twenty twen ty years.” a 29
Noah sounds Noah sounds like the Hebrew for comfort. c 3 Or corrupt remain in
b
3 Or My Or My spirit spir it will not n ot
7 days
Noah enters the ark one week before the flood 40 days
Springs surge and rains fall for 40 days and 40 nights 150 days
The water recedes; the ark rests on Mount Ararat
178 days
The water continues to recede; Noah releases birds from the ark; when the birds do not return, Noah leaves the ark
10
6:4 Nephilim Nephilim were people who were very tall, strong and powerful. power ful. They were known as heroes because of their power as rulers.
6:7 God destroyed other creatures beside humans with the flood. Human sin contaminated everything every thing God had made. So the the animal world also shared in God’s judgment.
6:14 The ark This ark is the ship God told Noah to build. It was about 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.
GENESIS 6:4 4
The Nephi Nephi lim were on the t he earth ea rth in those days — and also after after ward wa rd — when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans humans and had children children by them. They were the heroes heroes of old, men of renown. renown. 5 The L��� saw how great g reat the wick w icked edness ness of the human human race had become become on the earth, and that every every incli inclina nation tion of the thoughts of the human human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The L��� regret regretted ted that he had made human human beings beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply deeply troubled. troubled. 7 So the L��� said, “I will wi ll wipe from the face of the earth the human human race I have creat created ed — and with w ith them t hem the ani animals, the birds and the creatures creatures that move along a long the ground — for I regret regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found fa vor in the eyes eye s of the L���. NOAH AND THE FLOOD 9
This is the t he account account of Noah and his fami family.
Noah was a righteous righteous man, blameless blameless among the people people of his time, and he walked faithful faithfully ly with God. 10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Japheth. 11 Now the earth ea rth was corrupt cor rupt in God’s sight and was full of vio violence. 12 God saw how corrupt cor rupt the earth had become, be come, for all the people people on earth had corrupt corrupted ed their ways. 13 So God said to Noah, “I am going going to put an end to all people, for for the earth is f illed with vio violence because because of them. I am surely surely going going to destroy destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself yourself an ark of cypress cypress a wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside inside and out. 15 This is how you are a re to build it: The ark is to be three hundred hundred cubits cubits long, fifty fifty cubits cu bits wide and thirty thir ty cubits cubits high. b 16 Make Mak e a roof for it, leaving leaving below below the roof an opening opening one cubit cubit c high all around.d Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, lower, middle middle and upper up per decks. 17 I am going going to bring flood waters waters on the earth to destroy destroy all life under under the heavens, heavens, every every creature creature that has the breath of life in it. EveryEv ery18 thing on earth will perish. perish. But I will wil l estab establish lish my covenant covenant with you, and you will wi ll enter enter the ark — you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with wit h you. 19 You are to bring br ing into the t he ark two of all living living creatures, creatures, male and female, female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every ev ery kind of bird, of every ev ery kind of ani an i mal and of every every kind of creature creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. 21 You aare re to take every every kind k ind of food that is to be eaten eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did every everything thing just as God command commanded ed him. a
b 15 That 14 The meaning meanin g of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain uncer tain.. is, about 450 feet long, 75 feet wid e and 45 feet high or about 135 meters c 16 That is, about 18 inches long, 23 meters wid e and 14 meters high d or about 45 centimeters 16 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
GENESIS 7:24
7
The L��� then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole fami fam ily, because because I have found you righteous righteous 2 in this gener generaation. Take with you sev se ven pairs of every every kind of clean ani animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean unclean ani animal, a male and its mate, 3 and also seven seven pairs of every every kind of bird, male and female, female, to keep their vari various kinds alive through th roughout out the earth. 4 Seven even days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty for ty days and forty forty nights, and I will wil l wipe from the face of the earth eart h every every living living creature creature I have made.” 5 And Noah did d id all al l that the L��� command commanded ed him. 6 Noah was six hundred hundred years old when the flood waters waters came on the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his h is wife w ife and his sons’ wives entered entered the ark to escape escape the waters waters of the flood. 8 Pairs of clean and unclean unclean ani animals, of birds and of all creatures creatures that move along the ground, 9 male and female, came ca me to Noah Noah and entered entered the ark, as God G od had com10 manded manded Noah. And after af ter the seven seven days the flood waters waters came on the earth. 11 In the t he six hundredth hundredth year of Noah’s Noah’s life, on the seventeenth enteenth day of the second second month — on that t hat day all al l the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates floodgates of the heavens heavens were opened. 12 And rain fell fel l on the earth ear th forty forty days and forty forty nights. 13 On that ver y day Noah Noa h and his h is sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, Ja pheth, togeth together er with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered entered the ark. 14 They had with them every every wild ani an imal accord according ing to its kind, all livestock livestock accord according ing to their kinds, every every creature creature that moves along the ground accord according ing to its kind and every ev ery bird accord according ing to its kind, 15 every ev erything thing with wings. Pairs of all a ll creatures creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered en tered the an imals going going in were male and female female of evark. 16 The ani ery living living thing, as God had command com manded ed Noah. Then the L��� shut him in. 17 For forty forty days the f lood kept com coming ing on the earth, and as the waters waters increased increased they lifted lifted the ark high above the earth. 18 The waters waters rose and increased increased greatly greatly on the ear earth, th, and the ark float f loated ed on the surface surface of the water. water. 19 They rose greatly greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains mountains under under the entire entire heavens heavens were covered. covered. 20 The waters waters rose and covered covered the mountains mountains to a depth of more than fifteen fifteen cubits. cubits. a , b 21 Every Every living living thing that moved on land perished perished — birds, livestock, livestock, wild ani animals, all the creatures creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind. mankind. 22 Every Everything thing on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils nostrils died. 23 Every Every living living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people peo ple and ani an imals and the creatures creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. 24 The waters waters flooded flooded the earth for a hundred hun dred and fifty fif ty days. a 20
That is, about 23 feet or about 6.8 meters fifteen fi fteen cubits c ubits , and the mo untains untain s were covered co vered
b 20
Or rose more than
11
7:2 Clean and unclean animals God gave his people laws about what to eat, and he said that some animals were unclean or impure. God knew which food was the best for humans to eat at that time. The laws would have made sense then. (See Leviticus 5:2 and Leviticus 11.)
7:2 – 3 Noah brought more clean animals on the ark. In addition to repopulating the earth after af ter the flood, the clean animals were also used as food while on the ark, ark, and after ward as sacrifices to God.
7:8 – 9 How Noah got all those animals on board the ark The Bible tells us the animals came to Noah. We don’t know for sure, but maybe God gave the animals instincts instinct s to know that a disaster was coming.
7:23 Fish and other sea animals were safe during the flood. The Bible says only animals that lived on land and birds were destroyed.
12
GENESIS 8:1
8:1 The story changed after the flood. Before this point, the flood story has been about God’s God ’s judgment. Now the story becomes one of redemption. When the Bible says that God remembered Noah, it doesn’t mean that God had forgotten him. Instead, it means that God honored his promise to Noah.
8:4 Location of the mountains of Ararat This mountain range was north of Mesopotamia and east of modern Turkey.
8:6 – 12 Noah sent out birds. First, Noah sent out a raven, but it didn’t give him a clear answer. The dove ate only leaves, so it could better tell Noah that land and vegetation had reappeared.
© Epitavi/Shutterstock Epitavi/Shutterstock
8:11 Why an olive leaf is special Olive trees grow at lower elevation. The fresh leaf from the dove told Noah that the water was low enough for olive trees to grow again.
8
But God remem remembered bered Noah and all the wild ani animals and the livestock livestock that were with him in the ark, ark , and he sent a wind over the earth, earth , and the waters waters reced receded. ed. 2Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates floodgates of the heavens heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling falling from the sky. 3 The water water reced receded ed steadily steadily from the earth. At the end of the hundred hundred and fifty fifty days the water water had gone down, 4 and on the seven seventeenth teenth day of the seventh seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains mountains of Ara Ararat. 5 The waters waters contin continued ued to recede recede until until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains moun tains became became visi visible. 6 After Af ter forty forty days Noah opened a window window he had made in the ark 7 and sent s ent out a ra ven, and it kept fly f lying ing back and forth until until the water water had dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent out a dove to see if the water water had reced receded ed from the surface surface of the ground. 9 But the dove could find fi nd no where wher e to perch because because there was water water over all the surface surface of the earth; ear th; so it retur returned ned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself him self in the ark. 10 He waited waited seven seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. 11 When the dove returned re turned to him in the evening, evening, there in its beak was a freshly freshly plucked olive olive leaf ! Then Noah knew that t hat the water water had reced receded ed from the 12 earth. He waited waited seven seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return return to him. 13 By the first f irst day of the first f irst month of Noah’s Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water wa ter had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed removed the cover covering ing from the ark and saw that the surface surface of the ground was dry. dr y. 14 By the twenty-sev twenty-seventh enth day of the second second month the earth was complete completely ly dry. 15 16 Then God Go d said sa id to Noah, “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every ev ery kind of living living creature creature that is i s with w ith you — the birds, the ani animals, and all the creatures creatures that move along the ground — so they the y can ca n multi multiply ply on the earth and be fruitful fruitful and increase increase in number number on it.” 18 So Noah Noa h came out, togeth together er with his sons and his wife wi fe and his sons’ wives. 19 All the ani an imals and all the creatures creatures that move along a long the ground grou nd and all al l the birds — every everything thing that moves on land — came out of the ark, one kind after af ter anoth another. er. 20 Then Noah built an altar altar to the L��� and, taking tak ing some of all the clean ani animals and clean birds, he sacri sacrificed ficed 21 burnt offer offerings ings on it. The L��� smelled the pleasing pleasing aroma aro ma and said in his heart: “Never “Never again will I curse the ground because because of humans, humans, even though a every every incli inclina nation tion of the human human heart is evil from childhood. childhood. And never never again will wi ll I destroy de stroy all living living creatures, creatures, as I have done. 22
“As long as the earth ear th endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will wi ll never cease.”
a 21
Or humans, for
GENESIS 9:22
GOD’S COVENANT WITH NOAH
9
Then God G od blessed bles sed Noah Noa h and his h is sons, sons , saying saying to them, “Be fruitful fruitful and increase increase in number number and fill the earth. 2 The fear and a nd dread of you will wi ll fall fa ll on all a ll the beasts of the earth, ear th, and on all the birds in the sky, on every every creature creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they the y are given given into your hands. 3 Every Everything thing that lives and a nd moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you every everything. thing. 4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood lifeblood still in 5 it. And for your lifeblood lifeblood I will surely surely demand demand an accountaccounting. I will demand demand an account accounting ing from every every ani animal. And from each human human being, being, too, I will demand demand an account accounting ing for the life of anoth another er human human being. being. 6
“Whoever “W hoever sheds human huma n blood, by humans shall shal l their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.
7
As for you, be fruit fr uitful ful and increase increase in number; number; multi multiply ply on the earth and increase increase upon it.” 8 Then God said sa id to Noah and to his h is sons with w ith him: hi m: 9 “I now estab establish lish my covenant covenant with you and with your descendescendants after after you 10 and with every every living living creature creature that was with you — the birds, the livestock livestock and all the wild ani animals, all those that came out of the ark with you — every ev ery living living creature creature on earth. 11 I estab establish lish my covenant covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed destroyed by the waters waters of a flood; never never again will wil l there be a flood to destroy destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This “Th is is the t he sign of the covenant cov enant I am making making between between me and you and every ev ery living living creature with you, a covenant covenant for all gener gen eraations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant covenant between between me and the earth. 14 Whenev henever er I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow rainbow appears appears in the 15 clouds, I will wi ll remem remember ber my covenant covenant between between me and you and all living living creatures creatures of every every kind. Never Never again will the waters waters become become a flood to destroy destroy all life. 16 Whenev henever er the rainbow rainbow appears appears in the clouds, I will see it and remem re member ber the everlast everlasting ing covenant covenant between between God and all living living creatures of every every kind on the earth.” 17 So God said s aid to Noah, “This “ This is i s the sign of the covenant covenant I have estab established lished between between me and all life on the earth.” THE SONS OF NOAH 18
The sons of Noah who came ca me out of the a rk were Shem, Ham and Japheth. Japheth. (Ham was the father father of Canaan.) Canaan.) 19 These were the t he three sons s ons of Noah, and from f rom them came the people people who were scattered scattered over the whole earth. 20 Noah, a man of the soil, soi l, pro proceed ceeded ed a to plant a vine yard. ya rd. 21 When he drank some of its wine, wi ne, he became became drunk and lay uncov uncovered ered inside inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father father of Canaan, Ca naan, saw his father father naked naked and told his two brothers broth ers a 20
Or soil, was the first
13
8:21 – 22 God promised to never again destroy all living things. God was pleased with Noah’s sacrifice, but he knew that humans would continue to sin. He was showing forgiveness and grace for life on earth. He promised that the normal cycles of nature would continue until the end of time.
9:1,7 God’s instructions to Noah and his family God told Noah and his family to be fruitful and multiply and take care of the earth, just like he had told Adam and Eve. (See Genesis 1:28.)
9:2 – 3 Why animals feared humans Sin brought violence into the world. God made mad e humankind to rule over all creation, including the animal world. God also gave Noah permission to e at animal meat.
9:4 Why bloody meat was not okay to eat The blood of the animal represented its life. Since life is a gift from God, it must be honored. To honor that life, people were required to drain the blood from the meat they were eating.
9:5 – 6 God’s judgment for murder God created human beings in his own image, so human life is precious and valuable. v aluable.
14
GENESIS 9:23
9:12 – 16
outside. outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth Japheth took a garment garment and laid it across their shoulders; shoulders; then they walked in back ward and covered covered their father’s father’s naked naked body. Their faces faces were turned the other other way so that they would not see their father father naked. naked. 24 When Noah Noa h awoke from his h is wine w ine and found out what his youngest youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,
The sign of the rainbow God knows that people tend to forget things, even important things like his faithfulness. God said the rainbow is a reminder to people that he will keep his promise to never destroy the world again with a flood.
“Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves wil l he be to his brothers.” 26
He also a lso said,
“Praise “Prais e be to the L���, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. 27 May God Go d extend ex tend Japheth’sa territory; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be the slave of Japheth.” 28
After Af ter the flood Noah lived 350 years. total total of 950 years, and then he died.
29
Noah lived a
THE TABLE OF NATIONS
10
This Thi s is the account account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Japheth, Noah’s ah ’s sons, sons, who themselves themselves had sons after after the flood.
THE JAPHETHITES 2
Digital Stock
9:22 Ham mistreats Noah. Ham did not show respect for his father, Noah. Instead of covering his father’s nakedness as his brothers did, Ham told others about his father’s father ’s drunkenness drunkenness and nakedness.
The sons b of Japheth: Japheth: Gomer, Gomer, Magog, Magog, Madai, Madai, Ja van, van , Tu Tubal, Meshek Meshek and Tiras. Ti ras. 3 The sons of Gomer: Gomer: Ashke Ashkenaz, naz, Riphath Riphath and Togar Togarmah. mah. 4 The sons of Ja van: van : Elishah, Elishah, Tarshish, Tarshish, the Kittites Kittites and the Roda Rodanites. c 5 (From these the mar mariitime peoples peoples spread out into their terri territo tories ries by their clans within within their nations, nations, each with its own language.) language.) THE HAMITES 6
The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Egy pt, Put and Canaan. Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havi Havi lah, Sabtah, Sabtah, Raa Raamah and Sabte Sabteka ka.. The sons of Raa Raamah: Sheba Sheba and Dedan. Dedan. 8
Cush was wa s the t he father father d of Nimrod, Nimrod, who became became a mighty war wa rrior on the earth. 9 He was wa s a mighty hunter hunter before before the L���; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, Nimrod, a mighty hunter hunter before before the L���.” 10 The f irst centers centers of his kingdom kingdom were e Bab ylon, ylo n, Uruk, Uru k, Akkad Ak kad and Kalneh, Kal neh, in Shinar. Shinar. f 11 From that land he went to Assyr Assyria, ia, where he built Nine Nine veh, veh , a 27 Japheth 27 Japheth sounds sounds
b 2 Sons may like the Hebrew for extend. may mean descendants or or successors or or nations ; also in verses ver ses 3, 4, 6, 7, 20-23, 29 and 31. c 4 Some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text and Samaritan Samarit an Pentateuch (see also Septuagint and 1 Chron. 1:7); most manuscripts of the Masoretic essor or foun der ; Text Dodanites d 8 Father may may mean ancestor or predec or predecessor or founder e 10 Or Uruk and Akkad — all of also in verses 13, 15, 24 and 26. f 10 That is, Babylonia them in
GENESIS 10:19
Reho Rehoboth both Ir, a Calah Calah 12 and Resen, Resen, which is between between NineNine veh and a nd Calah Calah — which is the great city. c ity. 13
Egypt was the father father of the Ludites, Ludites, Ana An a mites, Leha Lehabites, bites, Naphtu Naphtuhites, hites, 14 Pathru athrusites, sites, Kaslu Kasluhites hites (from whom the PhilisPhilistines came) ca me) and Caphto Caphtorites. rites. 15 Canaan Canaan was the father father of Sidon Sidon his firstborn, firstborn, b and of the Hittites, Hittites, 16 Jeb ebuusites, Amo Amorites, Girga Girgashites, shites, 17 Hi vites vi tes,, A rkites, 18 Sinites, Sinites, Ar vad Ar vadites, ites, Zema Zemarites and Hamath Hamathites. ites. Later Later the Canaan Canaanite ite clans scattered scattered 19 and the borders borders of Canaan Canaan reached from Sidon Sidon to ward wa rd Ge G erar as far as Gaza, and then to ward Sodom, Sod om, Gomor Gomorrah, rah, Admah Admah and ZeboyZeboyim, as far as Lasha. Lasha. a
b
11 Or Ninev eh with its it s city squares square s Or Nineveh foremost foremo st
15
10:1 – 32 Why the Bible includes lists of names A family tree was important impor tant in ancient times as a way to record people’s history and show how families were connected to the community. community. People were identified by their relatives. Many family trees in the Bible point forward and backward — forward to Jesus and backward to the people from whom he descended.
15 Or of the Sidonians, the
Age of Early Ancestors The book of Genesis records the long lives of the early ancestors of faith; here are some of the better-known better-known examples: Ancestor
Bible Reference from Genesis
Adam
5:5
Seth
5:8
930 912
Methuselah
5:27
Noah
9:29
Shem
11:10–11
Eber
11:16–17
Peleg
11:18–19
Nahor
11:24–25
969 950 600 464 239 148 205
Terah
11:32
Sarah
23:1
Abraham
25:7
175
35:28–29
180
Isaac Jacob
47:28
Joseph
50:26
Age at Death
127
147 110
16
10:25 How countries formed The earth was divided into separate nations, probably when God confused the languages at the Tower of Babel (11:8 – 9).
11:1 Everyone used to speak the same language. Before the Tower of Babel, there was one language. No one knows what that language was for sure. Although people could understand each other, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren from Noah’s three sons may have had their own unique words and pronunciations. (See Genesis Ge nesis 10:5,20,31.)
11:4 The Tower Tower of Babel Babe l Ancient cities were built around a temple. The typical Mesopot amian temple tower, called a ziggurat, had a square base and sloping sides, with steps that led to a shrine on the top. Ziggurats were meant to serve as staircases from earth to heaven. A god could “come down” to the shrine and receive worship from the people who had climbed to the shrine. God probably s aw this tower as a symbol s ymbol of human pride rather than of glory to God.
GENESIS 10:20 20
These are the t he sons of Ham by their clans cl ans and languaglanguages, in their terri territo tories ries and nations. nations. THE SEMITES 21
Sons were also a lso born to Shem, whose older older brother brother was a Japheth; Ja pheth; Shem was the ances ancestor tor of all the t he sons of Eber. 22
The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Ashur, Arphax Arphaxad, ad, Lud and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram: Ara m: Uz, Hul, Gether Gether and Meshek. Meshek. b 24 Arphax Ar phaxad ad was the father father of c Shelah, Shelah, and Shelah Shelah the father father of Eber. 25 Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, Peleg, d because be cause in his time the earth was di vided; vid ed; his brother brother was named Joktan. Joktan. 26 Joktan Joktan was the father father of A l modad, mo dad, Sheleph, Sheleph, Hazar Hazarma ma vet veth, h, Jerah, Je rah, 27 Hadoram, do ram, Uzal, Diklah, Dik lah, 28 Obal, Abima Abimael, Sheba, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havi Havi lah and Jobab. Jobab. All these the se were sons of Joktan. Joktan. 30
The region region where they lived stretched from Mesha Me sha to ward wa rd Sephar, Sephar, in the eastern eastern hill country. country. 31 These are the sons of Shem by their clans cla ns and languaglanguages, in their terri territo tories ries and nations. nations. 32
These are a re the clans of Noah’s Noah’s sons, accord according ing to their lines of descent, descent, within within their nations. nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after after the flood. THE TOWER OF BABEL
11
Now the whole world had one language language and a common speech. 2 As peo people ple moved east ward, ward , e they found a plain in Shinar Shinar f and settled settled there. 3 They said to each other, other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thorough thoroughly.” ly.” They used brick instead instead of stone, and tar for mortar. mor tar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build bui ld ourselves ourselves a city, cit y, with a tower tower that reaches reaches to the heavens, heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; our selves; other wise wis e we wil w illl be scattered scattered over the face of the whole earth.” ear th.” 5 But the L��� came ca me down to see the t he city and a nd the tow6 er the people people were build building. ing. The L��� L�� � said, “If as as one people people speaking speaking the same language language they have begun begun to do this, then nothing nothing they plan to do will wil l be impos impossi sible ble for them. 7 Come, let us go down and a nd confuse confuse their language language so they wil l not under understand stand each other.” other.” 8 So the t he L��� L�� � scattered scat tered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building building the city. cit y. 9 That is why it was called ca lled Babel Babel g — because because there the L��� confused confused the language language of the whole a 21
Or Shem, the older brother of b 23 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. Chron. c 1:17; Hebrew Mash Hebrew Mash.. 24 Hebrew; Hebrew; Septuagint father Septuagint father of Cainan, Cain an, and a nd d e Cainan was the father of 25 Peleg means 2 Or fro m the means division. Or from g 9 That is, Babylon; Babel east; east ; or in the east f 2 That is, Babylonia sounds like the Hebrew for confused .
