OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
Lesson 1. Historical Background And Genesis

(Audio Clip)

I. BIBLE GEOGRAPHY / PALESTINE

Locate the following regions:

1. Coastal Plains.
2. Shephelah.
3. Hill Country. The Judean Highlands were formerly rich with vegetation. Now, due to defoliation, they are very arid with only seasonal vegetation.
4. Rift Valley. The lowest place on the earth that is not under water. A very unstable area. Vegetation grows only along the Jordan River - the only continual river in Palestine.
5. Trans-Jordan. The home of Ammon, Moab and Edom, as well as Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Mannaseh (in Gilead). A fertile, volcanic plain.
6. Arabian Desert. Very few outposts around oases. Caravan routes did not pass through it.

II. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

A. Creation - 4000 B.C. Derived by adding up the GENEAOGIES in Genesis, but there may be gaps in the genealogies.

B. The Flood - 3000-2500 B.C. Much scientific research is being done on the flood and its effects on the planet.

C. Abraham - 2100-2000 B.C. JOB may have lived at the same time.

D. Jacob and his family go to Egypt - 1876 B.C. They remained in Egypt for 430 years, followed by the Exodus.

E. Period of the Judges, 320 years. The conquest lasted 5-7 years followed by the settling of the land and the death of Joshua. The cycle of the judges then occurred, ended by the ministry of SAMUEL the prophet.

F. Period of the Kings.

1. United Monarchy, 120 years, including the reigns of Saul, DAVID and Solomon.
2. Divided Monarchy. Under the reign of Rehoboam the kingdom of Israel divided into ten northern tribes and two tribes and the Levites in the south.

a. Israel. Nineteen kings in the north, all ungodly.
b. Judah. Some godly kings (e.g. Uzziah, Hezekiah, Josiah), but most were ungodly.

G. Period of the Captivity.

1. Northern tribes were taken captive by Assyria in 722 B.C. The Assyrians split up the tribes, clans and families so that they disappeared.
2. Judah was taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 606 after they conquered the Assyrians in 612. He returned in 596 B.C. and finally destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 B.C., beginning a 70-year period of captivity. The Babylonians sought to keep their captives happy and kept the families intact. Thus the remnant of Judah and Levi returned to Palestine intact.

H. The Period of the Restoration.

1. Ezra and Nehemiah governed during this time.
2. The prophets Zechariah, Haggai and Malachi ministered during this time. God did not then speak through the prophets until John the Baptist. Why did the prophetic ministry cease? GOD WAS NO LONGER GIVING REVELATION

 

THE BOOK OF GENESIS:

I. THE BOOK OF BEGINNINGS

The beginning sets the stage for everything that is to follow. Studying the beginnings results in an understanding of :

A. Source - where did it come from? what was the nature of its origin?

B. Purpose - why does it exist? was it accidental or intentional?

C. Means - how did it come into existence? was it natural, circumstantial or providential?

D. Structure - what determines how it operates and is sustained? what are the governing elements? are they natural laws, laws of science or LAWS of God? what is the structure of authority? Why do some people believe in the theory of evolution? THEY WANTED TO DENY THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.

E. Values - those things that are consistent with the original purpose are valuable. Those things that work harmoniously with the structure are good. What is the meaning of "good"? THAT WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE AUTHORITY OR STRUCTURE AND GOVERNING LAWS OVER AN INSTITUTION.

II. GENESIS 1

A. Source - GOD is the source of all things.

B. Purpose - that man might bear the image of God and have dominion over the entire created realm.

"Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth" (Genesis 1:26-28 NKJV).

C. Means - God created all things with His Word, ex nihilo.

D. Structure - God established the natural forces and laws that govern all things. How did this influence the early development of science? THEY WANTED TO FIND HOW GOD DID IT.

E. Value - God saw His creation and declared it to be "very good."

F. Genesis 1:1 -

"In the beginning God," refutes Atheism ("there is no God") and Polytheism ("there are many gods").

"created," refutes Fatalism ("there is no guiding and directing force in the universe") and Evolution ("the created realm is an accident and is in an arbitrary state of chaos").

"the heavens and the earth," refutes Pantheism ("God is in nature - God and nature are one"), Materialism ("matter is eternal") and Hylozoism ("all matter has life in it - life is a primary quality of matter").

 

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