Keith Essex
Part III: Genesis

Keith Essex's correlating video lecture(s) from The Master's Seminary:

• Lecture 4: Introduction to Genesis;
• Lecture 5: Major Themes and Purpose of Genesis;
• Lecture 6: Literary Structure of Genesis; and
• Lecture 7: Interpretive Issues of Genesis.

3. Genesis [MSB, 13-15; ESVSB, 39-48; BTSB, 17-24; NIVSB, 4-11; RSB, 5-10; HWSOT, 76-98; WOTA, 60-79; LDIOT, 38-62; DOTP, 350-59]
   1. Introduction
      1. Title (W&W, 170)
         1. Hebrew: "In the Beginning"
         2. LXX: "Genesis" – origin, source, generation (LXX, Gen 2:4; 5:1; etc.)
      2. Date of Events:
         • from Creation
         • to the Death of Joseph (1806 BC)
      3. The History of Interpretation [RSB, 8; DTIB, 246-47; Mathews, 1:63-85; ACCSOT, vol. I; ACCSOT, vol. II; RCSOT, vol. 1]
   2. Major Themes [see W&W, 184-87; NIDOTTE, 4:663-75]
      1. The Noahic Covenant (Gen 6:18; 8:20-22; 9:1-17) [see MSJ 10:2 (Fall, 1999): 183-86; MSB, 28; ESVSB, 64-66; BTSB, 37-38; NIDOTTE, 4:982-85; DOTP, 139-43]
      2. The Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12:1-3, 7; 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 17:1-21; 18:17-19; 22:15-18; 26:2-5, 23-25; 28:10-17; 35:9-12; 50:24) [see MSJ 10:2 (Fall, 1999): 191-212; MSB, 32; ESVSB, 71, 77-78, 79-81; BTSB, 48-49; NIDOTTE, 4:351-58; DOTP, 8-17, 143-49; JETS 56:2 (June, 2013) 249-71]
         1. The Development of the Covenant
            1. The Need for the Covenant (Gen 1:1-11:26)
            2. The Foundation of the Covenant (Gen 12:1-3)
            3. The Making of the Covenant (Gen 15:1-21)
            4. The Sign of the Covenant (Gen 17:1-14)
            5. The Purpose of the Covenant (Gen 18:17-19)
            6. The Blessing from the Covenant (Gen 22:15-18)
            7. The Reaffirmation of the Covenant (Gen 26:2-5, 23-25; 28:10-17; 35:9-12; 50:24)
         2. The Elements of the Covenant
            1. Personal Blessing for Abraham (Gen 12:2; cf. 24:1)
            2. A Great Nation (Gen 12:2; 17:4-6 [cf. Gen 21:13, 18]; Gen 18:18; 25:23; 35:11; 46:3; cf. Gen 10:5, 20, 31, 32)
               1. The Land (Gen 12:1, 7; 13:14-18; 15:18-21; 17:8; 23:1-20; 24:7; 26:3-4; 28:13; 35:12; 50:24; cf. Gen 1:1, 2, 26, 28; 6:5, 6, 11, 13, 17; 9:1, 7, 13, 17; 10:5, 20, 31, 32; 11:1, 4, 8, 9)
               2. A Nation through the Seed (Gen 12:2, 7; 15:5; 17:3-14; 22:16-17; 26:4, 24; 28:14; 35:11)
                  1. Corporate (Gen 12:7; 13:15-16; 15:5, 13, 18; 17:7-10, 19; 22:17a; 26:3-4a; Gen 26:24; 28:13-14a; Gen 35:11-12)
                  2. Individual
                     1. (a) Son (Gen 15:3; 21:13)
                     2. (b) Messiah (Gen 22:17b-18; 26:4b-5; 28:14)
            3. Universal Blessing (Gen 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14)
      3. The Powerful God (Gen 1-2; 6-8; 15:1)
      4. The Sovereign God (Gen 37-50)
      5. The Sin of Mankind (Gen 3; 4; 6; 11; 19) [see DOTP, 764-78]
      6. The Judgment of God (Gen 3; 4; 6; 11; 19)
      7. The Grace of God: His Choice of the Lowly
      8. Blessing (Gen 1:22, 28; 2:3; 5:2; 9:1, 26; 12:2, 3; 14:19, 20; 17:16, 20; 18:18; 22:17, 18; 24:1, 27, 31, 35, 48, 60; 25:11; 26:3, 4, 12, 24, 29; 27:4, 7, 10, 12, 19, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 41; 28:1, 3, 4, 6, 14; 30:27, 30; 31:55; 32:26, 29; 35:9; 39:5; 47:7, 10; 48:3, 9, 15, 16, 20; 49:25, 26, 28) [NIDOTTE, 1:757-67] /
         Cursing (Gen 3:14, 17; 4:11; 5:29; 9:25; 12:3; 27:12, 13, 29; 49:7) [NIDOTTE, 1:403-5, 524-6; 4:491-3] [B & C: DOTP, 83-87]
   3. Purpose:
      • The God of Creation chose to bless sinful mankind and to reestablish human rule of the Earth through Abraham and his Seed, who will come through his physical seed who will inherit the Land.
   4. The Literary Structure (W&W, 173-74, 182-84)
      1. The Literary Frame of Genesis
         "In the beginning" (Gen 1:1); seven days (Gen 1:1–Gen 2:3)
         "God blessed them" (Gen 1:28)
         Subdue the earth, rule over …" (Gen 1:28)

         "The end of the days" (Gen 49:1)
         "He (the father) blessed them" (Gen 49:28)
         "The scepter … the ruler's staff" (Gen 49:10)

         "The toledot(h) of the heavens and the earth" (Gen 2:4)

         "The toledot(h) of Jacob" (Gen 37:2)

         The sin of Adam (Gen 3:1-6)

         The sin of the sons of Israel (Gen 37:12-35)

         The exile of Adam from the Garden (Gen 3:22-24)

         The departure of the sons of Israel from the Land (Gen 46:1-7)

         A snake deceived (Gen 3:1-6)

         A lion will rule (Gen 49:9-12)

         The seed of the woman will crush the head of the seed of the snake (Gen 3:15)

         The King from Judah will dominate over his enemies (Gen 49:8)

         Cain killed his brother (Gen 4:8)

         Joseph forgave his brothers (Gen 50:21)
      2. A Chart of Genesis
         THE PRIMEVAL HISTORY

         THE PATRIARCHAL HISTORY

         Introduction: God's Creation (Gen 1:1–Gen 2:3)

         [Introduction: Noahic Covenant (Gen 1:1– Gen 11:26)]

         Toledot: Man's Sin (Gen 2:4–Gen 4:26)

         Toledot: Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 11:27–Gen 25:11)

         Toledot: God's Blessing [Noah/Shem] (Gen 5:1–Gen 6:8)

         Toledot: Non-covenantal Son (Gen 25:12-18)

         Toledot: God's Recreation (Gen 6:9–Gen 9:27)

         Toledot: God's Choice of Jacob/Israel (Gen 25:19–Gen 35:29)

         Toledot: Man's Sin (Gen 10:1–Gen 11:9)

         Toledot: Non-covenantal Son (Gen 36:1–Gen 37:1)

         Toledot: God's Blessing [Terah / Abram] (Gen 11:10-26)

         Toledot: Abraham's Family in Egypt (Gen 37:2–Gen 50:26)
      3. The Outline of Genesis
         1. The Primeval History: The Introduction to the Patriarchs and the Sinaitic Covenant [i.e. the Noahic Covenant and the Need for the Abrahamic Covenant] (Gen 1:1–Gen 11:26)
            1. The Introduction: God's Creation of the Universe with Mankind at the Apex as God's Delegated Rulers over the Earth (Gen 1:1–Gen 2:3)
            2. The Toledot(h) of the Heavens and the Earth: The Entrance and Spread of Sin among Mankind (Gen 2:4–Gen 4:26)
            3. The Toledot(h) of Adam: The Corruption of Mankind (Gen 5:1–Gen 6:8)
            4. The Toledot(h) of Noah: God's Judgment of Mankind [Uncreation] and Renewal [Recreation] Culminating in the Noahic Covenant (Gen 6:9–Gen 9:27)
            5. The Toledot(h) of the Sons of Noah: God's Dispersion of Mankind as Nations after the Rebellion at Babel (Gen 10:1–Gen 11:9)
            6. The Toledot(h) of Shem: The Hope of the Nations for God's Blessing [through a second Noah] in the Family of Terah (Gen 11:10-26)
         2. The Patriarchal History: The Abrahamic Covenant as the Means of God's Blessing to the Nations [the Noahic Covenant] and the Foundation to the Sinaitic Covenant (Gen 11:27–Gen 50:26)
            1. The Toledot(h) of Terah: Yahweh's Making of His Covenant with Abraham (Gen 11:27–Gen 25:11)
            2. The Toledot of Ishmael: The Non-covenantal Son of Abraham (Gen 25:12-18)
            3. The Toledot(h) of Isaac: Yahweh's Reaffirmation of the Abrahamic Covenant with Isaac and Jacob/Israel (Gen 25:19–Gen 35:29)
            4. The Toledot(h) of Esau: The Non-covenantal Son of Isaac (Gen 36:1–Gen 37:1)
            5. The Toledot(h) of Jacob: Yahweh's Sending of His Covenantal Family from Canaan to Egypt (Gen 37:2–Gen 50:26)
   5. Bibliography
      1. Exegetical:
         • Wenham, Genesis (WBC). 2 vols.
      2. English Interpretation:
         • Hamilton, The Book of Genesis (NICOT). 2 vols.
         • Kidner, Genesis (TOTC).
         • *Mathews, Genesis (NAC). 2 vols.
         • Waltke with Fredricks, Genesis: A Commentary.
      3. Expositional:
         • Hughes, Genesis (PTW).
         • *Ross, Creation and Blessing.
         • Walton, Genesis (NIVAC).
   6. Selected Interpretive Problems
      1. The Literary Structure [MSB, 14-15; ESVSB, 40-41, 46-48; BTSB, 19; JETS, 56:2 (June, 2013): 219-47]
         1. Organized by the toledot(h)s
            1. Toledot(h) introduces a Section [Wenham; Hamilton; Kidner; Waltke; Hughes; Ross; Walton]
            2. Toledot(h) concludes a Section
            3. Toledot(h) functions as a hinge linking the preceding material and subsequent section [Mathews; Waltke]
            4. Toledot(h) has different meanings ["descendants" (Gen 5:1); "history" (Gen 6:9)] that usually introduces a section, but also can follow an account (Gen 2:4)
         2. Organized by Biographical Material [EBC1 & 2]
            • Adam and Noah (Gen 1:1–Gen 11:26)
            • Abraham (Gen 11:27–Gen 25:34)
            • Jacob (Gen 26:1–Gen 36:43)
            • Joseph (Gen 37:1–Gen 50:26)
      2. The Nature of Genesis 1:1–Gen 11:26 [see W&W, 174-82; Kelly, Creation and Change; MacArthur, The Battle for the Beginning; Mortenson & Ury, eds, Coming to Grips with Genesis; Moreland & Reynolds, Three Views on Creation and Evolution; DOTP, 130-39, 155-68; GST, 262-314; BTSB, 19-20]
         1. Myth
         2. Symbolic Theology [Wenham; Kidner]
         3. Historical Narrative (the reasons) [Matthews (-1); Hughes; Ross]
            1. No literary distinction between Gen 1:1–Gen 11:26 and Gen 11:27–Gen 50:26
            2. Discernible historical features in Gen 1:1–Gen 11:26
               1. 64 geographical terms
               2. 88 personal names [CBCOT, 13]
               3. 48 generic names
               4. 21 cultural items (woods, metals, buildings, musical instruments)
            3. NT confirmation
               • (Adam – Luke 3:38; Rom 5:14; 1 Cor 15:22, 45; 1 Tim 2:13, 14; Jude 14;
               • Noah – Matt 24:37, 38; Luke 3:36; 17:26, 27; Heb 11:7; 1 Pet 3:20; 2 Pet 2:5)
      3. The Understanding of Gen 1:1-5 [MSB, 16; BTSB, 25; CBCOT, 80, 97]
         1. The Gap Theory
         2. The Re-creation Understanding [Ross]
         3. The Original Creation Understanding
            1. Gen 1:1-5 = Day 1 [Wenham; Kidner; Matthews; KD]
            2. Gen 1:2-5 = Day 1 [EBC1 & 2]
            3. Gen 1:3-5 = Day 1 [Hamilton; Walton; ESVSB, 49-50]
      4. The Meaning of ruach ‘elohim (Gen 1:2) [MSB, 16; ESVSB, 49; BTSB, 25]
         1. "The Spirit of God" ["‘Wind of God' as a concrete and vivid image of the Spirit of God," Wenham; "S/spirit," Hamilton; "‘Wind' as prototype of the ‘Spirit," Mathews; Kidner; Waltke; Ross; Hughes; EBC1 & 2]
         2. "A mighty wind" or "A wind from God" (cf. Gen 8:1; Exod 14:21; 15:8) ["A supernatural wind that was permeated with the power of God," Walton]
         3. "The breath of God"
      5. The meaning of "Day" (yom) in Gen 1:1–Gen 2:3 [MSB, 16; BTSB, 19-20; CBCOT, 97; NIDOTTE, 2:419-24; Pipa Jr. & Hall, eds., Did God Create in Six Days?; Hagopian, ed., The Genesis Debate: Three Views on the Days of Creation]
         Gen 1:2

         "formless"
         Formed

         "void"
         Filled

         Day 1
         (Gen 1:1[3]-5)

         Light

         Light Bearers

         Day 4
         (Gen 1:14-19)

         Day 2
         (Gen 1:6-8)

         Expanse

         Sea and Air Animals

         Day 5
         (Gen 1:20-23)

         Day 3
         (Gen 1:9-13)

         Land
         Vegetation

         Land Animals
         Man

         Day 6
         (Gen 1:24-31)
         Day 7 (Gen 2:1-3)

         God Rested, Blessing and Sanctifying the Seventh Day
         1. The 24-hour Day theory (reasons) [Wenham; Ross; Walton]
            1. "evening and morning"
            2. numerical adjective
            3. Ex. 20:11
         2. The Day-age theory [Kidner]
         3. The Intermittent-day theory
         4. The Revelatory-day theory
         5. The Literary Framework theory
         6. The Analogical-day Theory – God's Workdays [Hughes; ESVSB, 50]
      6. "The Image of God" (Gen 1:26, 27) [MSB, 17; ESVSB, 51; BTSB, 27; NIDOTTE, 4:643-48; DOTP, 441-45; GST, 442-50]
         1. The Totality of Man Is a Reflection of God [Hamilton; Kidner]
         2. The Immaterial Nature of Man Is a Reflection of God [Hughes; Ross]
         3. The Rule of Man as God's Representative(s) over the Earth [Wenham; Matthews; Walton]
         4. Human Plurality (male & female) in Unity (man) as a Reflection of God's own Personhood [EBC1 & 2]
      7. "Your seed and her seed" (Gen 3:15) [MSB, 20-21; ESVSB, 56; BTSB, 30; GST, 118, 520]
         1. Singular Understanding;
            • i.e., Satan's representative and the Messiah [Kidner; Hughes]
         2. Corporate Understanding;
            • i.e., the continuing enmity between the Wicked and the Righteous [Wenham; Walton]
         3. Corporate / Singular Understanding;
            • i.e., a continuing enmity culminating in an individual victor [Hamilton; Mathews; Ross; EBC1; EBC2]
      8. The Identity of the "Sons of God" in Gen 6:2, 4 [MSB, 24; ESVSB, 61; BTSB, 34; CBCOT, 98; DOTP, 793-8; GST, 413-4]
         1. The Angelic interpretation [Wenham; Kidner; Hughes]
         2. The Godly Sons of Seth interpretation [Matthews]
         3. The Dynastic Rulers interpretation [Ross (with #1)]
         4. The Royal Heroes interpretation [Walton]
         5. The Men denoting their Origin from God interpretation [EBC1 & 2]
      9. The Extent of the Noahic Flood [MSB, 24-28; ESVSB, 62; BTSB, 36; CBCOT, 14, 81, 100-1; NIDOTTE, 4:640-42; DOTP, 315-26, 605-11]
         1. Global, Worldwide (reasons) [Matthews; Hughes]
            1. The death of all creatures (Gen 6:13, 17; 7:21-23)
            2. The need for the ark (Gen 6:14-16, 19-21)
            3. The depth of the water (Gen 7:17-20)
            4. The duration of the flood (Gen 7:24)
            5. The later biblical testimony (Gen 2 Pet. 3:5, 6)
            6. The worldwide tradition (Gen 7:19)
         2. Known World, Regional, Local [Kidner; Walton (?)]
      10. The Curse of Canaan in Gen 9:25-27 [MSB, 29; ESVSB, 66; BTSB, 40; BSac 137 (July, 1980): 223-40]
          1. Ham Cursed, not Canaan
          2. Ham's Punishment transferred to Canaan [Hamilton; Matthews]
          3. Canaan Cursed for his own Sin [Hughes]
          4. Canaan's Descendants Cursed (cf. Lev. 18:2-23) [Wenham; Ross]
      11. The Historicity / Chronology of the Patriarchs (Gen 11:27-50:26) [MKP, 96]
          1. The Historicity of the Patriarchs [GTS, 115-37; 217-35; DOTP, 404-6]
             1. The Traditional / Orthodox View
             2. The Archaeological Maximalist View (reasons)
                1. Geographical terms
                2. Patriarchal names
                3. Archaic features in Genesis 14
                4. Patriarchal life
                   1. The escalating price of slaves
                   2. The form and structure of the covenants
                5. Patriarchal livelihoods
             3. The Tradition-Historical View
             4. The Minimalist View
          2. The Chronology of the Patriarchs [CBCOT, 15, 16, 99; MKP, 46-48; 92-96; DOTP, 113-22, 345-50; BSac 137 (July, 1980): 241-51]
             1. Early Exodus; Long Sojourn
             2. Early Exodus; Short Sojourn
             3. Late Exodus; Long Sojourn
             4. Late Exodus; Short Sojourn
             5. Reconstructionist
      12. "Until Shiloh Comes" (Gen 49:10) [MSB, 86; ESVSB, 133-34; BTSB, 100; NIDOTTE, 4:1222-23]
          1. Shiloh is a personal name (The Messiah) [KD]
          2. Shiloh is the town in the Central Highlands
          3. Shiloh represents two terms meaning "which is to him," i.e., "one to whom it belongs" [Hamilton (?); Kidner; Mathews; Ross; EBC1 & 2; BKC]
          4. Shiloh means "Ruler"
          5. Shiloh is repointed to mean "tribute to him" [Wenham]
   7. Preaching Genesis [IBI, 234-61; 741-53; COTC, 69-88, 294-97; GTS, 407-54; DOTP, 637-43; see Kaiser, Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament [PTOT], 63-82; Mathewson, The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative; Davis, The Word Became Fresh; Pratt, He Gave Us Stories]

Used with permission by Dr. Keith Essex. Redistribution without express permission from Dr. Keith Essex is prohibited.