Creation/Primeval History
Creation
Moses authored Genesis and is
believed to have written the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch).
2. Day two; God spoke the expanse or firmament[2] H7549 (Strong's 1996) [3] into being by separating the waters (Genesis
1:6)
3. Day three; God brings forth dry land, and He spoke
vegetation into being (Genesis 1:9-13).
4. Day four; God spoke into existence other
planets, and stars (Genesis 1:14).
5. Day five; God creates living aquatic life as
well as flying creatures (Genesis 1:20).
6. Day six; God
creates animals, and other forms of animal life and finally man or mankind[4] (Strong’s
reference H120 2),
(Genesis 1:26).
God[5]
created man from the dust in His image, breathing life into him and named him
Adam[6]
(Genesis 2:20).
God plants a garden east of Eden
and places the man in it (Genesis 2:8).
God forms a helpmate from the rib of Adam, and Adam named her Eve
(Genesis 2:22).
The length of time Adam and Eve
lived in the garden is unknown. Satan
(who became a serpent) tempted them, they disobeyed God and ate the fruit of
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God banishes both Adam and Eve[7]
from the garden for their sin (Genesis 3:22, 23).
Eve gave birth to two sons Cane and
Able. Cane sinned[8] by
murdering his brother and was banished to the land of Nod (Genesis 4:16). Adam died after living nine-hundred-thirty
years (Genesis 5:5).
The Flood
God found great sin[9] in
His creation and vowed to destroy everything.
However God found favor in Noah, and God spared him, along with his
family (Genesis 6:8). God told Noah to
place two of every air-breathing creatures (male and female) clean and unclean
into the ark (Genesis 6:19). The first
rain[10]
fell from the sky for forty days, and forty nights then it stopped. The flood waters remained on the Earth for
one hundred fifty days (Genesis 7:24).
“In the six hundred and first year…the waters were dried from off the
earth” (Genesis 8:13). God placed a
rainbow in the heavens as a sign of His covenant[11]
with Noah and all living things (Genesis 6:18). When the earth’s flood had dried
up, Noah and his family along with all living creatures left the ark and went
their separate ways. Noah died three hundred and fifty years after the flood
(Genesis 9:28). Noah’s lifespan was nine
hundred and fifty years (Genesis 9:29).
The earth became populated once
again. The people gathered in Babylon
and having one language they built a city with a tower using fire hardened
bricks (Genesis 11:3).
God seeing their desire to reach
the heavens, confused their tongues, so they could no longer conspire together
(Genesis 11:4). Hence, the name of the tower was “Bable” because they babbled
and could no longer understand each other (Genesis 11:9). Grouping together with the same tongue they went
their separate ways forming nations.
The History of the Patriarchal
The patriarchal period began
approximately 2100 B.C. and extended to 1800 B.C.[12].
The four great patriarchs of the nation of Israel were Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, and Joseph; through these patriarchs came the lineage of the nation of
Israel and eventually Christ Jesus.
Abraham
Abram was born in the city of Ur in
ancient Babylon (Genesis 12-21).
God spoke to Abram telling him and
his family to go to a place He would show him (Genesis 12:1).[13]
Abram found his wife Sarai in Haran, and they departed Haran when he was
approximately seventy-five.
God made a Covenant with Abram, with
the following promises:
1.
" I will make of you a great nation.
2. I will bless you and make your name great;
you will be a blessing.
3. I will bless those who bless you, and him
who dishonors you I will curse.
4. Land to be given to Abram and his descendants
(Genesis 13:14).
5. In you, all the families of the earth shall
be blessed." (Gen 12:2-3)
A dispute arises between Abram and
Lot (his nephew) after arriving in Canaan, they decided to separate. Lot chose Sodom because of its fertile plains,
while God gave Abram all the land he could see from Abrams high vantage point (Genesis
13:15). God destroyed Sodom because of
the wickedness of the inhabitance. God showed
mercy to Lot and his family and told them to flee from Sodom.
Abram did not have an heir because Sarai
was barren. (Genesis 16:2). Sarai gave
her handmaiden (Hagar) to Abram to be her surrogate.[14] Hagar became pregnant and gave birth to
Ishmael. After Ishmael’s birth, Sarai
became increasingly jealous of Hagar and mistreats her. Hagar flees into the wilderness and there encounters
an angel who sends her back to Sarai with a promise that “He [her son Ishmael]
shall father twelve princes, and through his seed, a great nation will be born.”
(Genesis 17:20 ESV)
Isaac
Sarah conceived at ninety and
Abraham 100 years old[15]. Isaac[16]
was born approximately 2000 B.C.[17]
Sarah protecting Isaac’s birthright had Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away
into the wilderness.
God commands Abraham to offer fourteen-year-old
Isaac as a burnt offering (Genesis 22:2).
Abraham and Isaac, arrived at the place God showed to Abraham, and Abraham
and his son prepared an altar. Abraham
bound Isaac and put him upon the altar.
Abraham was prepared to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. However, an angel of the Lord prevented
Abraham from doing so, and God provided a suitable sacrifice in Isaac’s place (Genesis
22:11). Isaac lived one-hundred-eighty
years.
Joseph
Joseph was born to Rachael while
Jacob was still with Laban (Genesis 30:35).
Joseph’s brothers became jealous because
of the favoritism their father demonstrated towards Joseph, and consequently, they
sold him into slavery.[18] Joseph ended up in Egypt as a slave for The captain
of Pharaoh’s bodyguard named Potiphar in 1897 B.C.[19] Pharaoh was impressed with Joseph’s ability to
interpret dreams and to plan for an upcoming famine, and made Joseph answerable
only to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:16). There
was famine in the land, Israel and his family was starving. Hearing of Egypt’s riches went to Joseph[20]who
they did not recognize. Joseph’s forgives his brothers and saves his family
from starvation. Israel died, and Joseph embalmed him (Genesis 50:2). Joseph died after living one-hundred-ten
years.
Egyptian Bondage and Exodus
A new Pharaoh took the throne of
Egypt and enslaved the Hebrews for four hundred-thirty- years (Exodus 12:40, 41).
The nation of Israel cried out continually
for a deliverer and God heard their prayers.
Moses was born a Hebrew, raised a
prince of Egypt, exiled as a murderer, and later returned to Egypt as a Gods deliverer. From within a burning bush (Exodus 3:1-5),
God tells Moses to tell Israel “I AM” has sent you (Exodus 3:14). God caused Pharaoh’s heart to harden bringing
ten plagues[21]upon
Egypt. The tenth and final plague (death
of the firstborn), gave rise to the Hebrew observance of Passover (Exodus
12:14); this plague persuaded Pharaoh to let God’s people go (Exodus 7-12).
Israel’s exodus
Pharaoh’s heart once again hardened, and he gives chase to Israel (Exodus
14:8).[22]Israel
escaped pharaoh’s pursuit after God parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21). God answered the needs of His people for
forty years while in the wilderness. God
gave Moses the law (the Ten Commandments) while on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:4),
and subsequently, Moses wrote the books of Leviticus (laws and ordinances),
Numbers (the census of Israel) and Deuteronomy (the second law). Israel sinned, while in the wilderness, and
as a consequence, that generation died in the desert.
Moses and Aaron also having sinned[23],
were not permitted to lead the people into the Promised Land (Numbers
20:12).
Conquest and Period of the Judges
Joshua
Before Moses dies, he appoints
Joshua as his successor. The nation of
Israel follows the Ark of the Covenant across the dry Jordan River bed (Joshua
3:1-4:24). All uncircumcised males are then
circumcised (Joshua 5:1-15).
Joshua begins his conquest campaign
by first sending spies into the walled city of Jericho, where Rahab harbors
them, and after the siege is rewarded by sparing her life.
Joshua obeys God’s direction, and with
a shout,[24] God
gives Jericho into the Israelites hands.
Joshua divides the new land between the twelve tribes of Israel. Joshua establishes a tabernacle in Shiloh
(Joshua 13:1-22:34).
After Joshua’s death[25] the
Israelites were uncertain who was going to lead them (Judges 1:1).
Judges
God raised up Six Judges (Ehud,
Barak, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson). Each of these judges was flawed. Of these Judges, the two standouts were
Gideon and Samson who were also flawed.
Gideon
Chapter six and seven of the book
Judges shows Gideon (remembered as a coward) as being fearful and hesitant in obeying
God, challenging Him with several tests. After being satisfied and at God’s
direction Gideon defeats the Midianites with three-hundred soldiers, a trumpet,
picture, and lamps.
Samson
God makes a Nazarite[26]covenant
with the barren wife of Manoah (Judges 13:2–13); and she conceives and gives
birth to a son, naming him Samson (Judges 13:24). Samson raised under a Nazarite[27]vow
grew into a man with supernatural physical strength. However, Samson was flawed in his character. Samson succumbed to the desires of the flesh[28]and
broke covenant with God by drinking wine, eating unclean honey, touching a dead
animal and telling Delilah his strength comes from not cutting his hair,[29]
whereas she proceeded to cut his hair.
As a result Samson was captured, blinded and ridiculed. Samson calls upon God to renew his strength
one last time and he destroys the house where the Philistines nobles had
gathered, killing them all (Judges 16:30).
Ruth
Ruth, a daughter-in-law of Naomi,
stays with Naomi and gleans the fields of Boaz[30], a
rich property owner. Ruth finds she can
claim Boaz as a kinsman redeemer[31]. Boaz makes himself available as her kinsman
redeemer and marries Ruth (Ruth 4:13).
United Monarchy
Saul
Samuel a priest anointed Saul (the
people’s choice) as King. God warning
about kings came true with Saul (1 Samuel 8:10). Jealousy consumed Saul driving him to seek
David’s death. God withdrew Himself from
Saul (1 Samuel 16:14).
David
David once a lowly shepherd now the
champion of God, slays the Philistine giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58). David flees from Saul after he attempted to
kill him. Saul and his son Johnathan
were both killed at Gilboa (Samuel 31:1-13) their death made it possible for
the men of Juda to anoint David (God’s choice), as the king of Judea (2 Samuel
2:4). David was thirty-years-old when
they anointed him king of Israel (2 Samuel 5:4). David was anointed king after he made a
covenant at Hebron. God makes a covenant
with David and promises to make his descendant (Christ Jesus) ruler over His
kingdom forever (1 Samuel 7:4-17).
David commits adultery with Bathsheba who bears his son; this child dies because of their sin. After David repents, Bathsheba conceives and gives birth to Solomon. David reigned in Israel for Thirty-Three-years (2 Samuel 5:3-5). During his reign, Absalom, David’s third son led a successful revolt against David. However, David was restored to his kingdom after Absalom's death in battle (2 Samuel 19).
David’s reign was fraught with war, and because of this God did not allow David to build his temple.
Solomon
After David charges Solomon to keep the Davidic covenant, he dies. Solomon was then anointed king of Judea. The wisdom God gave Solomon was renown throughout Israel. Hence Solomon brings stability to Judea and builds God’s temple, with all that his father, had gathered.
Divided Kingdom through the Pre-Exilic Period
The northern kingdom (Samaria)
split away from Judea. Jeroboam ruled
the northern tribes in 931 B.C. There
was a succession of twenty Kings who ruled the kingdom; some were godly most
were not. Under the rule of Omri
(885-874 B.C.[32]), the
worship of Baal spread throughout the kingdom, which continued until Elisha
anointed Jehu as king. Jehu returned the
northern kingdom to the worship of Jehovah instead of Baal.
Israel’s last king was Hosha 722
B.C. His rule ended with the captivity[33]of
the northern tribes.
God warns Israel
to repent through:
1. Obadiah: doom for Edom.
2. Joel: warns
of the desolation of Israel and the restoration of Israel.
3. Jonah: during the time of Jaraboam
4. Amos: judgement of Judah and Israel and their final
dispersion.
5. Hosea: prophesized during the reign of Uzziah,
Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekia
6. Isaiah: prophesized on Juda during same period as
Hosea. His most noted prophesy was about the suffering Servant Jesus.
7. Micah: Israel’s destruction. He also predicts
Armageddon.
8. Nahum: the destruction
of Nineveh.
9.
Zephaniah: judgement of Judah and surrounding nations.
10. Jeremiah (known as the
weeping prophet) was persecuted for his unwelcomed prediction of the pending
captivity of Judea[34].
The southern kingdom (Jerusalem)
fell to Babylon in 586 B.C.[35]
Post-Exilic Period
Daniel
Daniel’s gifts[36] made him invaluable to Jehoiakim
king of Babylon. Jeroiakim was succeeded by Nebuchadnezzar
(601-562).
Ezekiel
During the reign of Jehoiachin (598 B.C.), Ezekiel was taken
into Babylonian captivity. Ezekiel is
noted for his heavenly visions and prophesy of supernatural events in the
future of Israel and of the end times. Ezekiel
in his captivity warns Israel of coming judgement and also predicts Israel
return to their land.
Other notables:
Haggai gives Israel two messages
Rebuking and encouragement. Zechariah prophesized
the coming Messiah and the dispersion and regathering of Israel. Malachi prophesized the coming of John the
Baptist and the coming day of the Lord.
Zerubbabel returns with Fifty
Thousand Exiles and Ezra led two thousand Hebrews back to Judah[37]. Nehemiah
visits Jerusalem in 445 B.C. and
encourages Israel to rebuild the wall.
Bibliography
Hindson, Edward. "Old Testament Survey
Notes." 74. Verginia: Solution, 2010.
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D.,. Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Third Edition,. Thomas Nelson, 1897.
Miller, Garnet. Christian Devotionals - Mother of
Many of many nations. October 23, 2005. http://faithwriters.com (accessed
February 23, 2018).
Morris Jastrow, Jr., B. Eerdmans, Marcus Jastrow,
Louis Ginzberg. Jewish Encyclopedia. 1906.
http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3444-boaz (accessed February 23,
2018).
Scofield, D.D., C.I. . "The Scofield Study
Bible." In The Scofield Study Bible. Oxford University Press,
1843-1921.
Strong's, James. "Strongs Exhaustive
Concordance." In Strongs Eshaustive Concordance, by James Strong.
Nashville : Nelson Publishers, [1996], 1996.
[1]
Unless otherwise cited all Biblical references are taken from the ESV
translation of the Bible.
[2] Was translated from the Hebrew word râqîyaʻ meaning
canopy.
[3]
James Strong. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. Hendrix publishing Inc. copy
write 207.
[4]
Mankind, man, human being, (much more frequently intended sense in OT).
[5]
Elohim plural form of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
[6]
The use of the word him before the name Adam indicates on this occasion refers
to the man as an individual.
[8]
Cane sin was brought about because of jealousy.
[9]
The sons of God (believed to be angles) cohabitated human women and produced
giants.
[10]
Prior to the rain the earth was watered from a mist.
[11]
God promised He would never destroy the earth by water again (Genesis 9:11).
[12] Old
Testament Survey Notes. Edward Hinderson. Published by Solutions. 2010
(Accessed February 2, 2018)
[13] Abram
did not know where God was leading him but never the less he obeyed God in
faith.
[14] It was
permissible to sue a slave to bear a child when a wife was barren.
[16] Isaac
means laughter.
[17] Abraham
was born 2100 B.C. and was 100 when Isaac was born therefore 2100 B.C. – 100
B.C. = 2000 B.C.
[18] The
slave traders are believed to be Ishmaelite (Gen 37:25)
[19] Edward
Hendson. Old Testament Survey Notes. Solutions (2010). Page 25. (Accessed
February 23 2018)
[20] They
went to Joseph because of his position as chief magistrate of the food supply
(Gen 41:57).
[21] Note: The
ten plagues corresponded to the Egyptian deities (Old Testament Survey Notes
pg. 30)
[22] It is
accepted that Pharaoh used lite horse-drawn chariots first invented in
Mesopotamia in 1800 B.C.
[23] Sinned by
not believing in the power of God
[24] Joshua
6:16 records on the 7th time they marched around the city and then
shouted and the walls fell
[25] Joshua
lived for 110 years then died.
[26] The
Nazarite covenant was the vow Manoah’s wife kept during her pregnancy.
[27] The
Nazarite covenant was the vow Manoah’s wife kept during her pregnancy.
[28] The
appeasement of thirst (Judges, touching unclean things and the guile of
Delilah.
[29] Note:
Long hair is the outward sign of a Nazarite vow is not to allow his hair to be
cut.
[30] For additional
information on Boaz - http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3444-boaz
[31] A
kinsmen redeemer is the closest relative to a person selling property who he is
obligated to redeem this item.
[32] Edward
Hindson. Old Testament Survey Notes.75. Virginia: Solutions, 2010.
[33] Edward
Hindson. Old Testament Survey Notes.74. Virginia: Solutions, 2010.
[35]
Edward Hindson. Old Testament Survey Notes.82. Virginia: Solutions, 2010.
[36] God
gave Daniel the gift of interpreting dreams and of prophecy.
[37] Edward
Hindson. Old Testament Survey Notes.89. Virginia: Solutions, 2010.
