The Old Testament - A Brief Overview

Summary of The Book of Genesis

Bible Survery - Genesis
Hebrew Name - Bereshith "in the beginning"
Greek Name - Genesis "origination"
Author - Moses
Date - From 4004 to 1635 BC Approximately
Theme - The Founding of the Hebrew Nation
Types and Shadows - In Genesis Jesus is the seed of the woman

Hebrew Title and Meaning: Bereshiyt - In the Beginning

English Title and Meaning : Genesis - Latin word meaning Origin

The Book of Genesis (from the Latin Vulgate, in turn borrowed or transliterated from Greek γένεσις, meaning "origin"; Hebrew: בְּרֵאשִׁית‎, Bereʾ�yt, "In [the] beginning"), is the first book of the Hebrew Bible (the Tanakh) and the Christian Old Testament. - Wikipedia

Author: Moses

Genesis is the first book of the Bible and the first book of the five books written by Moses. The word "Genesis" is the title given to it by the Septuagint (Greek) Version. The Hebrew Bible names the title of the first book of Moses Bereshiyt ("in the beginning"). Genesis means beginning and it is truly the book of beginnings. The book of Genesis covers the beginning of God's creative works (time, space, and matter), the beginning of mankind, the beginning of sin, the beginning of redemption, the beginning of worship, the beginning of civilization, the beginning of nations and races, the beginning of languages, the beginning of God's covenant with mankind through Israel, and many more beginnings. Genesis is truly the foundation of the entire Bible. God loves man but He is holy and the way of approach is through a humble obedient life, trusting in the Word of the LORD.

The book of Genesis, and the beginning of the book of Exodus, describe Gods steps in establishing a nation for Himself. This nation would be in the center of the world, and they would receive and maintain the oracles of God. They would be the chosen people, chosen with the task of being a light to the whole world, to all nations, revealing God's promises of redemption. The book of Genesis shows how God first revealed himself to the Abraham and his Hebrew descendants in order to make of them a people who would serve him and be his witnesses on the earth. This is the core principle of which pervades the entire book.

Quick Reference Map

Map of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Click to Enlarge)

ARCHAEOLOGY

The Standard of Ur

This royal standard of ancient Ur of the Chaldees was carried on a pole around 2600 BC. There are scenes of war and scenes of peace.

The contents of Genesis may be outlined in the following manner:

Outline of the Book of Genesis

I. The Beginnings of History (Chapters 1-11)

1) The creation of the universe (Chapter 1:1-2:3).
2) Description of the Garden of Eden (Chapter 2:4-17).
3) The creation of woman (Chapter 2:18-25 ).
4) The Fall of man (Chapter 3).
5) Cain and Abel (Chapter 4).
6) The generations from Adam to Noah (Chapter 5). Also known as the antediluvians.
7) The wickedness of man, God calling Noah to build an ark, the flood, and the events of Noah's life (Chapters 6-9).
8) The origin of the nations, as they descended from Noah (Chapter 10).

II. The Life of Abraham (Chapters 12-25)

1) The LORD calls Abram to leave his home and sojourn in a new land that would become the land of promise. God makes a covenant with him in which he was promised that his descendants should inherit the land of Canaan, that they should become a great nation and that through them all nations of the earth would be blessed (Chapters 12-17). Abram's name is changed to Abraham and Ishmael is born to Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's handmaid.
2) God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah for their heinous sins and delivers lot (Chapters 18-19).
3) Abraham deceives Abimelech concerning his wife Sarah (Chapter 20).
4) The early years of Isaac (Chapter 21-25:18). This section contains the birth of Isaac (Chapter 21:1-8); the departure of Hagar and Ishmael (Chapters 21:9-21) ; Abraham's faith, as demonstrated by his willingness to sacrifice Isaac (Chapter 22); the death of Sarah and the purchase of the family burial ground from the Hittites (Chapter 23); and the betrothal of Isaac and Rebekah (Chapter 24). At the end of this section, Abraham's death is recorded (Chapter 25:1-11) and the generations of Ishmael are given (Chapter 25:12-18).

III. The Life of Isaac (Chapters 25:19-26; 35)

The main events in connection with Isaac's life are the birth of his twin sons, Jacob and Esau (Chapter 25:19-34) and his sojourn among the Philistines (Chapter 26).

IV. The Lives of Jacob and Esau (Chapters 27:1-37:1)

1) Jacob leaves home, after receiving his father's blessing by deceit (Chapters 27:1-28:9). It was on this journey that he experienced the vision of the ladder at Bethel (Chapter 28:10-15).
2) Jacob's family and his return from Haran to Canaan (Chapters 29-33). This section gives an account of Jacob's marriages, the birth of most of his children, the shrewd dealings between Laban and Jacob and the departure of Jacob from Haran. After leaving Haran and wrestling with the angel, Jacob came into contact with Esau, but without the conflict which had been feared.
3) The last years of Jacob's life (Chapters 34-36).

V. The Story of Joseph (Chapters 37-50)

1) Joseph, because of the jealousy of his brothers, is sold into Egypt where, after a series of events, he becomes a ruler of Egypt, ranking just under Pharaoh (Chapters 37-41 ).
2) Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy food during a time of great famine. After a time, Joseph reveals his identity to his brethren (Chapters 42-45).
3) At the insistence of Joseph, Jacob and his family settle in Egypt (Chapters 46-47).
4) Jacob's blessing of Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and his prophecy concerning the twelve tribes (Chapters 48-49).
5) The death of Jacob and Joseph (Chapter 50).

Quick Reference Map

Map of the the Land of Israel in Genesis (Click to Enlarge)