I. Course Objectives
A. Forming a familiarity with the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
B. Seeing creation as the beginning of everything else.
C. Seeing the development of covenant relationship with God.
D. Seeing the Law as a reflection of the nature of God.
II. Geography
A. Map of the ancient world.
B. Map of Palestine.
III. Chronology
Ancient History B.C. Bible Narrative Appearance of homo sapien
The creation of man End of the last ice age
The flood Vast migrations of peoples
Tower of Babel Invention of writing (3100)
Old Egyptian Kingdom (3100-2258)4,000 Great Pyramid (2700)
Akkadian Empire (2350-2230)
Sumerian Empire (2112-2004)3,000 Abraham (2166-1991)
Ishmael (2080-1943)
Isaac (2066-1881)
Isaac marries Rebekkah (2026)Middle Egyptian Kingdom (2040-1786)
Hittite Empire (2000-1200)2,000 Jacob (2006-1859)
Jacob goes to Haran (1929)
Jacob marries Rachel and Leah (1922)
Joseph (1915-1805)
Jacob moves to Canaan (1909)
Benjamin (1906-)1,900 Joseph sold into slavery
(1898)
Joseph elevated (1885)
Jacob moves to Egypt (1876)Old Babylonian Empire (1792-1595)
Hyksos in Egypt (1730-1570)1,800 1,700 New Egyptian Kingdom (1570-1085)
1,600 Moses (1526-1406) Old Assyrian Empire (1354)
1,500 The Exodus (1446) IV. Historical Background
A. Sumerians. Urban civilization began among the Sumerians.
1. Sumerians were descendents of Cush and Ham and were therefore related ethnically to the Egyptians. Cf. Genesis 10:6-10.
2. Sumerian cities were temple communities built around a ziggurat, a step pyramid.
3. The Sumerians invented pottery and mud bricks, wheeled vehicles, sailing ships, irrigation, metallurgy (bronze, 3500) and writing.
4. Craftsmen developed to serve the priestly class.
5. Kingship developed for self-defense around 3,000.
B. Egyptians. Ethnic cousins of the Sumerians.
1. Society centered around Pharaoh as a god-king.
2. Immortality was obtained by serving Pharaoh.
3. Formed the first unified empire.
C. Babylonians. A later Semitic civilization.
1. Developed a centralized secular authority.
2. Developed an imperial bureaucracy and professional army.
3. A well developed system of transportation and communication.
4. An independent merchant class.
5. Rapid literary and scientific development.
V. Titles
A. Hebrew: Torah.
B. Greek: Pentateuch.
C. Topical: The Law (Matthew 12:5).
VI. Principles of Interpretation
A. Consider the grammatical and historical context.
B. Consider the theological context.
C. Understand the role of narratives:
1. True stories with God as the central character.
2. Stories that illustrate doctrine.
3. Stories that record what actually happened not what was supposed to have happened.
4. Selective and incomplete accounts.
D. Understand the role of types:
1. A person, object, event or institution adapted to illustrate some spiritual reality.
2. Such use is to be clarified in the New Testament.
3. Used to illumine the more essential features of an antitype.
4. Used to illustrate doctrine.
VII. Summary
Pentateuch Summary Book History Themes Genesis From creation to the death of Joseph. The beginning of all things, including the people of God. Exodus From the enslavement of Israel to the erection of the tabernacle. The redemption of God’s people and their formation into a nation. Leviticus The first month of the second year in the wilderness. A manual of laws for the priests and people governing their worship. Numbers The forty years of wilderness wandering. The preparation of the people to inherit the promised land. Deuteronomy The last month of Moses’ life and ministry. Farewell sermons with instructions on how to live in the land.
INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF GENESIS
I. Titles
A. Hebrew: In the beginning.
B. Greek: Genesis.
C. Topical: The Book of Beginnings.
II. Key Verses
A. 1:1, In the beginning God….
B. 3:15, I will put enmity between you and the woman.
C. 12:2-3, I will bless you….
D. 49:10, the obedience of the nations is his.
III. Structure
A. Toledoth / Generations:
1. The Generations of the heavens and the earth, 2:4.
2. The Generations of Adam, 5:1.
3. The Generations of Noah, 6:9.
4. The Generations of the sons of Noah, 10:1.
5. The Generations of Shem, 11:10.
6. The Generations of Terah, 11:27.
7. The Generations of Ishmael, 25:12.
8. The Generations of Isaac, 25:19.
9. The Generations of Esau, 36:1.
10. The Generations of Jacob, 37:1.
B. Key characters:
1. Abraham
2. Jacob
3. Joseph
C. Outline:
I. Pre-patriarchal History, 1:1 - 11:26.
A. The Seven Days of Creation, 1:1 - 2:3.
B. The Generations of the Heavens and the Earth, 2:4 - 4:26.
C. The Generations of Adam, 5:1 - 6:8.
D. The Generations of Noah, 6:9 - 9:29.
E. The Generations of the Sons of Noah, 10:1 - 11:9.
F. The Generations of Shem, 11:10-26.
II. Abraham, 11:27 - 25:18.
A. The Generations of Terah, 11:27 - 25:11.
B. The Generations of Ishmael, 25:12-18.
III. Jacob, 25:19 - 37:1.
A. The Generations of Isaac, 25:19-35:29.
B. The Generations of Esau, 36:1-37:1.
IV. Joseph, 37:2 - 50:26.
A. Joseph Tried, 37:2 - 40:23.
B. Joseph Exalted, 41:1 - 47:31.
C. Jacob's Last Words, 48:1 - 50:26.
IV. Themes
A. Beginnings
1. Creation
2. The World
3. The People of God
B. Redemptive Covenants
1. Adam
2. Noah
3. Abraham
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