The Old Testament - A Brief Overview

Summary of The Book of Genesis

Genesis is the title given to the first book of Moses by its Greek translators. The word means "origin" or "beginning"; truly, Genesis is a book of beginnings. It describes the beginning of man and the universe which he inhabits, the beginning of sin, the consequent beginning of an effort at redemption, and the beginning of the Hebrew nation through whom this redemption was to come.

The book of Genesis, together with the early chapters of Exodus, describes the steps which led to the establishment of the theocracy. Two ideas are seen to be predominant in this book— the people of God and the promised land. Genesis has a character which is both special and universal. It embraces the entire world as it speaks of God as the Lord of the whole human race; yet, as an introduction to Jewish history, it makes the universal interest subordinate to the national. Its design is to show how God first revealed himself to the patriarchs of the Hebrew race in order to make of them a people who would serve as his witnesses on the earth. This is the inner principle of unity which pervades the entire book.

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

I. The Beginnings of History (1-11)

1) The creation of the universe (1:1-2:3).
2) Description of the garden of Eden (2:4-17).
3) The creation of woman (2:18-25 ).
4) The Fall of man (ch. 3).
5) Cain and Abel (ch. 4).
6) The generations from Adam to Noah (ch. 5). This section is characterized by the extreme longevity of the persons noted.
7) A description of the wickedness which moved God to commission Noah to build and enter the ark, together with the details concerning the ark, the flood, and the post-deluvian events of Noah's life (6-9).
8 ) The ancient families of mankind, as they descended from Noah (ch. 10).

II. The Story of Abraham (12-25)

1 ) God's call of Abram and the 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 (12-17). Abram's name is changed to Abraham and Ishmael is born to Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's handmaid.
2 ) The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, with an account of Lot's deliverance (18-19).
3 ) Abraham deceives Abimelech concerning Sarah (ch. 20).
4 ) The early years of Isaac (21-25:18). This section contains the birth of Isaac (21:1-8); the departure of Hagar and Ishmael (21:9-21) ; Abraham's faith, as demonstrated by his willingness to sacrifice Isaac (ch. 22); the death of Sarah and the purchase of the family burial ground from the Hittites (ch. 23); and the betrothal of Isaac and Rebekah (ch. 24). At the end of this section, Abraham's death is recorded (25:1-11) and the generations of Ishmael are given (25:12-18).

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

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

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

1) Jacob leaves home, after receiving his father's blessing by deceit ( 27:1-28:9 ). It was on this journey that he experienced the vision of the
ladder at Bethel (28:10-15).
2 ) Jacob's family and his return from Haran to Canaan ( 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 (34-36).

V. The Story of Joseph ( 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 ( 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 (42-
45).
3 ) At the insistence of Joseph, Jacob and his family settle in Egypt (46-47).
4 ) Jacob's blessing of Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and his prophecy concerning the twelve tribes (48-49).
5 ) The death of Jacob and Joseph (ch. 50).

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The Story of the Bible - Part One - The Old Testament