Genesis Bible Study Notes and Comments
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Commentary on the Book of Genesis Bible Study Notes and Comments by David E. Pratte Available in print at www.gospelway.com/sales Commentary on the Book of Genesis: Bible Study Notes and Comments © Copyright David E. Pratte, 2010, 2013 Minor revisions 2016 All rights reserved ISBN-13: 978-1492270362 ISBN-10: 1492270369 Note carefully: No teaching in any of our materials is intended or should ever be construed to justify or to in any way incite or encourage personal vengeance or physical violence against any person. Front page photo: Mt. Ararat, where Noah’s ark rested after the flood. “Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat” - Genesis 8:4 Photo credit: MEDIACRAT distributed under Creative Commons license, via Wikimedia Commons Other Acknowledgements Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are generally from the New King James Version (NKJV), copyright 1982, 1988 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are from Holy Bible, New American Standard La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (MLV) are from Modern Literal Version of The New Testament, Copyright 1999 by G. Allen Walker. Scripture quotations marked (RSV) are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 by the Division of Christian Education, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are from the New International Version of the Holy Bible, copyright 1978 by Zondervan Bible publishers, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Study Notes on Genesis Page #2 Other Books by the Author Topical Bible Studies Growing a Godly Marriage & Raising Godly Children Why Believe in God, Jesus, and the Bible? (evidences) The God of the Bible (study of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) Grace, Faith, and Obedience: The Gospel or Calvinism? Kingdom of Christ: Future Millennium or Present Spiritual Reign? Do Not Sin Against the Child: Abortion, Unborn Life, & the Bible True Words of God: Bible Inspiration and Preservation Commentaries on Bible Books Genesis Gospel of Mark Joshua and Ruth Gospel of John Judges Acts 1 Samuel Romans Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther Ephesians Job Philippians and Colossians Proverbs Hebrews 1 & 2 Peter Bible Question Class Books Genesis Gospel of John Joshua and Ruth Acts Judges Romans 1 Samuel 1 Corinthians Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther 2 Corinthians and Galatians Job Ephesians and Philippians Proverbs Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians Ecclesiastes 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon Isaiah Hebrews Gospel of Matthew General Epistles (James – Jude) Gospel of Mark Revelation Gospel of Luke Workbooks with Study Notes Jesus Is Lord: Workbook on the Fundamentals of the Gospel of Christ Following Jesus: Workbook on Discipleship God’s Eternal Purpose in Christ: Workbook on the Theme of the Bible Visit our website at www.gospelway.com/sales to see a current list of books in print. Page #3 Study Notes on Genesis Other Resources from the Author Printed books, booklets, and tracts available at www.gospelway.com/sales Free Bible study articles online at www.gospelway.com Free Bible courses online at www.biblestudylessons.com Free class books at www.biblestudylessons.com/classbooks Free commentaries on Bible books at www.gospelway.com/commentary Contact the author at www.gospelway.com/comments Study Notes on Genesis Page #4 Table of Contents Genesis 1................................ 9 Genesis 2 .............................. 37 Genesis 3 ..............................54 Genesis 4 ............................. 69 Genesis 5 ............................. 80 Genesis 6 ............................. 85 Genesis 7 ............................. 99 Genesis 8 ............................ 106 Genesis 9 ............................ 113 Genesis 10 .......................... 124 Genesis 11 ........................... 128 Genesis 12 .......................... 133 Genesis 13........................... 141 Genesis 14 .......................... 145 Genesis 15 ........................... 151 Genesis 16 .......................... 157 Genesis 17 ........................... 162 Genesis 18 .......................... 169 Genesis 19 .......................... 176 Genesis 20 .......................... 186 Genesis 21 .......................... 190 Genesis 22 .......................... 198 Genesis 23 ......................... 205 Genesis 24 ......................... 208 Genesis 25 ......................... 220 Genesis 26 ......................... 229 Genesis 27 .......................... 237 Genesis 28 ..........................252 Genesis 29 ......................... 258 Genesis 30 ......................... 268 Genesis 31........................... 276 Genesis 32 ......................... 289 Genesis 33 ......................... 296 Genesis 34 .......................... 301 Genesis 35 .......................... 310 Genesis 36 .......................... 317 Genesis 37 ......................... 320 Genesis 38 ......................... 330 Genesis 39 ......................... 338 Genesis 40 ......................... 346 Genesis 41 ......................... 350 Genesis 42 .......................... 357 Genesis 43 ......................... 363 Genesis 44 ......................... 368 Page #5 Study Notes on Genesis Genesis 45 .......................... 373 Genesis 46 .......................... 379 Genesis 47 ......................... 383 Genesis 48 ......................... 390 Genesis 49 ..........................395 Genesis 50 ......................... 402 (Due to printer reformatting, the above numbers may be off a few pages.) Notes to the Reader To save space and for other reasons, I have chosen not to include the Bible text in these notes (please use your Bible to follow along). When I do quote a Scripture, I generally quote the New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated. Often – especially when I do not use quotations marks – I am not quoting any translation but simply paraphrasing the passage in my own words. Also, when I ask the reader to refer to a map, please consult the maps at the back of your Bible or in a Bible dictionary. You can find study questions to accompany these notes at www.gospelway.com/sales To join our mailing list to be informed of new books or special sales, contact the author at www.gospelway.com/comments Study Notes on Genesis Page #6 Introductory Thoughts about Commentaries Only the Scriptures provide an infallible, authoritatively inspired revelation of God’s will for man (2 Timothy 3:16,17). It follows that this commentary, like all commentaries, was written by an uninspired, fallible human. It is the author’s effort to share his insights about God’s word for the purpose of instructing and edifying others in the knowledge and wisdom found in Scripture. It is simply another form of teaching, like public preaching, Bible class teaching, etc., except in written form (like tracts, Bible class literature, etc.). Nehemiah 8:8; Ephesians 4:15,16; Romans 15:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:12-14; 5:12-14; 10:23-25; Romans 10:17; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:4; 2 Timothy 2:2,24-26; 4:2-4; 1 Peter 3:15. It follows that the student must read any commentary with discernment, realizing that any fallible teacher may err, whether he is teaching orally or in writing. So, the student must compare all spiritual teaching to the truth of God’s word (Acts 17:11). It may be wise to read several commentaries to consider alternative views on difficult points. But it is especially important to consider the reasons or evidence each author gives for his views, then compare them to the Bible. For these reasons, the author urges the reader to always consider my comments in light of Scripture. Accept what I say only if you find that it harmonizes with God’s word. And please do not cite my writings as authority, as though people should accept anything I say as authoritative. Always let the Bible be your authority. “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” – 1 Corinthians 1:31 Page #7 Study Notes on Genesis Abbreviations Used in These Notes ASV – American Standard Version b/c/v - book, chapter, and verse ESV – English Standard Version f - the following verse ff - the following verses KJV – King James Version NASB – New American Standard Bible NEB – New English Bible NIV – New International Version NKJV – New King James Version RSV – Revised Standard Version Study Notes on Genesis Page #8 Genesis 1 Introduction to the Book of Genesis Name and theme “Genesis” means origin or beginning. The book is the account of the beginning of the earth, mankind, and God’s dealings with man. It is the earliest history we have of the earth and of God’s relationships to men. As such, it is foundational to our understanding of many major Bible themes. Many events cited elsewhere in Scripture are first mentioned and described in detail in the book of Genesis and would be very hard to understand without Genesis. Morris (p. 18f) offers a list of things the beginning of which are recorded in Genesis, including the following: The universe, life, man, marriage, evil, language, civilization, nations, religion, and the promises to Abraham regarding his descendants (Israel). Horne reminds us that Moses wrote this inspired record over 2000 years after the creation and many other events in the book actually