AN INTERPRETATION OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE BY B. H. CARROLL Late President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas Edited by J. B. Cranfill BAKER BOOK HOUSE Grand Rapids, Michigan New and complete edition Copyright 1948, Broadman Press Reprinted by Baker Book House with permission of Broadman Press ISBN: 0-8010-2344-0 VOLUME 1 GENESIS CONTENTS Publisher’s Preface General Forward I Introduction to an "Interpretation of the English Bible" II Introductory Studies – The Old Testament III Introductory Studies – The Pentateuch IV Creation – Part One (1:1-25) V Creation – Part Two (1:26-2:3) VI Man in Paradise (2:4-25) VII The Angels VIII The Fall of Man (Chapter 3) IX Sin X Cain and Abel (Chapter 4) XI Chronology from Adam to Noah (Chapter 5) XII Enoch – His Translation (Chapter 5) XIII Causes of the Deluge (6:1-22) XIV Lessons of the Flood (Chapter 7) XV God's Covenant with Noah (Chapters 8-9) XVI Origin of Nations and Languages (10:1-11:9) XVII Distribution and Territories of the Nations (10:1-11:9) XVIII Generations of Shem and Terah (11:10-32) XIX The Call and Migration of Abraham (Chapters 12-13) XX The Covenants with Abraham (Part One) (12:1-3; 15:1-21; 17:1-1 4 ; 22:1-19) XXI The Covenants with Abraham (Part Two) (12:1-3; 15:1-21; 17:1-14; 22:1-19) XXII Abraham, Lot, and Melchizedek (Chapter 14) XXIII Abraham's Conversion (Part One) (Chapter 15) XXIV Abraham's Conversion (Part Two) (15:1-19:28) XXV The Life of Abraham (Concluded) (19:29-25:18) XXVI Isaac and Jacob (25:19-28:9) XXVII Jacob's Conversion and Life in Haran (28:10-31:55) XXVIII Jacob's Meeting with Esau (32:1-34:31) XXIX Jacob, Joseph, and Others (Chapters 35-41) XXX Joseph in Egypt (Chapters 42-45) XXXI Jacob and Family Migrate to Egypt (46:1-47:27) XXXII The Last Days of Jacob and Joseph (47:27-50) PUBLISHER'S PREFACE At the time of its publication this set was acclaimed to constitute "the greatest commentary on the English Bible ever published" (Baptist and Reflector). It remains to this day a reliable guide to a thorough understanding of the Scriptures. This is an excellent set for the preacher who aspires to be true to the Word and who wishes to enrich his preaching ministry. It is an invaluable aid for the teacher who seeks to guide his class to a deeper knowledge and appreciation of God's Revelation to us. It is an ideal set for any student of the Bible who desires to hear what God has to say to him. This is more than a commentary. It is rightly called an interpretation. An interpretation of the English Bible now makes its appearance in six bindings. All seventeen of the volumes of the prior printing are included. The renowned author of this set was a Southern Baptist preacher educated at Baylor University. After a pastorate at the Baptist Church at Waco, Texas, he served in succession as Principal of the Bible Department and Dean and Professor of English Bible at Baylor University, and as President at South-western Baptist Theological Seminary. An Interpretation of the English Bible remains a continuing contribution to Bible knowledge and consistent Christian living. Additional information concerning this valuable set is found in the General Foreword which follows. A GENERAL FOREWORD An Interpretation of the English Bible, by Dr. B.H. Carroll, first came from the press of Fleming H. Revell Company in 1913. Revell's copyright was bought by Broadman Press in 1942. These volumes were edited by Dr. J. B. Cranfill, assisted by Dr. J. W. Crowder. In the meantime, it became apparent that the "Interpretation" was not complete: four volumes were yet needed to include the whole Bible. Dr. J. W. Crowder had in his possession the material of these volumes and at our request edited the following: IV, Poetical Books of the Bible; VI, Divided Kingdom; VII, Prophets of Assyrian Period; VIII, Prophets of Chaldean Period. For the first time, therefore, we are able to present the new and complete Interpretation of the English Bible, in seventeen volumes. Of course, no one would be presumptuous enough to attempt to edit the body of Dr. Carroll's work; these volumes are valuable because of the undisputed position of the author in the minds and hearts of our Baptist people. We are leaving the long paragraphs as written; we are not disturbing references incorporating scientific statements which are now out of date, nor have we made any effort to eliminate repetitions or to bring the bibliography up-to-date. As is known by readers of the earlier editions, this work is an interpretation rather than a commentary in the popular acceptance of the latter term. In such interpretation, the author indulges in paraphrasing the biblical text, in inserting now and then a sermon on a vital subject, and in sharing with his readers bits of humor which he has picked up along the way. After each chapter a lengthy list of pertinent questions is appended. The reader finds Dr. Carroll's knowledge of the Bible positively amazing, and rejoices in his strict adherence to the objective with which he started: "We set out not to study human creeds, but the Bible, and we agreed to let the Bible interpret itself and mean what it wants to mean." (John L. Hill) I. INTRODUCTION TO AN INTERPRETATION OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE My theme is a thrilling one – THE ENGLISH BIBLE. The most natural construction of this topic calls for a history of the Bible in English from the earliest crude version in this tongue to the latest version, and for a summing up of the value of these versions in their traceable effect on our language and literature, on individual character, on the family, the unit of society, on business and commerce, on national policy, legislation and life, and on world evangelization, civilization and unity. A less natural construction allows the more timely discussion of the value of a thorough study of the whole Bible in English by English- speaking people. In expressing a preference for this less natural construction of the demands of the topic, I do not seek to disparage the interesting character and importance of the discussion as delimited by the first construction. No event in any nation's history can be more momentous and far-reaching than the giving to them of the Word of God in their mother tongue and allowing it to be an open book at every fireside, with no page or promise or precept darkened by the proscriptive shadow of priest or state. The book is for the people themselves. It is God's message to man and is addressed in all its sublime simplicity to the individual heart and conscience, obligating the personal responsibility of private judgment. You recall the notable fact at Babel, showing that division of the race into nations arose from a prior confusion of tongues and not different languages from a prior division into nations. A common speech is the greatest factor of unity. And you will observe also in that other Bible story that Pentecost, by its gift of many tongues to one set of men, reversed the disintegration of Babel, prepared the way for breaking down the middle walls of partition which separated peoples, and rejoiced the hearts of the representatives of every nation under heaven, who thereby were enabled to hear the Word of God each in the tongue wherein he was born. And you also recall the apostolic declaration that whoever speaks in an unknown tongue to another even though he speak the words of life is unto his hearer as a barbarian. Even a thing without life, a bugle, a harp, or flute, if it give no distinction in its sounds conveys no message to the hearer. And when I consider what the English version of the Bible has wrought, I could not overestimate the greatness of the topic under this construction. (See 1 Cor. 14:7f.) On the contrary, I desire to commend as one of the most charming and instructive classics of our language, "The History of the English Bible," by Doctor Pattison, of the Rochester Theological Seminary. Every preacher, every Sunday school teacher, every English- speaking Christian, yea, every student of our language, would do good to himself by adding to his library this valuable contribution to our literature. Yet, very weighty are the reasons which constrain me to adopt the line of discussion suggested by the less natural construction of the topic. The Bible in English is valueless unless we study it. Mighty as has been the influence of this version, that influence has been measured by the study of the Book. If all the English speaking people had made this version a vade mecum, a lamp to their feet and the oracle of their counsel, the millennium would be here now. We have the Book, but do we study it? Do we study it all? Who of use ver devoted himself to a four years' consecutive course of earnest and prayerful study of the English Bible, covering all its parts from Genesis to Revelation, allowing the Book to mean what it wants to mean, and to be, by comparison of all its parts, its own interpreter? THE ORIGIN OF THE IDEA The idea of the work in this form originated in this way: First, a statement in a great introductory oration by Dr.