Exposition of Genesis 1-11

1. Exposition of Genesis 1-11 Creation – Part III Gen 2:4-25

2. Relationship of Gen 1 to Gen 2 • “In the story of creation man is referred to as one of many creatures...and his creation is mentioned only as a link in the long chain of created beings; hence it was not possible to enter into details there without impairing the symmetry of the narrative...In the second section, where the Bible speaks of the creation of man at greater length, the details are explained...” (Umberto Cassuto, A Commentary of the Book of Genesis – Part I, p. 89).

3. Transition from Previous Section • “This is the account (tAdl.At) of the heavens and the earth • when they were created, • in the day that the Lord God made • earth and heaven” (Gen 2:4). • The tAdl.At statement here serves as a bridge between the two sections (Creation in chap 1 and the Garden of Eden in chap 2). • This new section will run through 4:26.

4. Creation of ManGen 2:5-7 • This section begins with a description of the conditions existing prior to the creation of man. • “Now no thorn (x:yfi) of the field was yet in the earth, and no grain (bf,[e) of the field had yet sprouted” • Vegetation in general had already been created on the third day; these refer to specific kinds of vegetation that would not come into being until after the fall (cf. Gen 3:18). • So, • No weeds since there was no rain • No crops since there was no man to till the ground

5. Creation of ManGen 2:5-7 • V. 6 – Before there was rain, water came up out of the earth and watered the ground; this will change after the fall. • V. 7 – God formed man from the dust of the ground. He then gave that inanimate form life, breathing “into his nostrils the breath of life,” so that man became a living soul.

6. Planting of the Garden of EdenGen 2:8-14 • After fashioning man, the Lord planted a garden in which man would dwell, in a place called “Eden”, to the east. • The etymology of “Eden” suggests “a well-watered place”; v. 10 confirms this, as does Gen 13:10. • The Lord caused to flourish in this garden the fruit-bearing trees that He had created earlier, which were pleasing to the sight and good for food.

7. Planting of the Garden of EdenGen 2:8-14 • There were also two special trees, both in the middle of this garden: • Tree of Life – In light of Gen 3:22, this must have been a tree that had the capability of endowing man with eternal life. (Shows up again in the new earth in Rev 22:2). • Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil – Among several options, the best choice is that this refers to moral autonomy, i.e. the ability for man to decide for himself what is in his best interests and what is not.

8. Planting of the Garden of EdenGen 2:8-14 • V. 10 – A river flowed out of Eden; it divided and became four headwaters: • Pishon – flowed through Havilah, noted for its gold, bdellium, and onyx. • Gihon – flowed throughout the land of Cush. • Hiddekel (Tigris) – flowed east of Assyria. • Perath (Euphrates) – nothing said about location. • Note: these names are all with respect to lands in the pre-flood world! Yet these names will be used again for rivers and territories in the post-flood world.

9. Adam’s Task in the GardenGen 2:15-17 • Man’s initial task in the garden was “to work it and keep it,” i.e., to tend the fruit trees and eat from their produce. • This task for man will change significantly after the fall. • Of all the trees in the garden, God only prohibited man from eating of one: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. • This is the first usage of the verb for “command” in the Bible. • The penalty for disobedience was clearly spelled out beforehand: Death! • Remember, when Adam hears this command, he does not even know what death is; it is not part of the world in which he lives. • Though Adam did not die immediately after eating from this tree, he did become subject to death at that point, and was banished from both the garden and the tree of life.

10. Creation of WomanGen 2:18-25 • God declared that it was “not good” for man to be alone, and that he would create a helper that “corresponded to him.” • Of course, this was necessary for man to fulfill the command to “be fruitful and multiply.” • As God brought specimens of the birds and land animals before Adam so he could name them (thus demonstrating his authority over them), it became clear to him that none of these were a suitable helper... • ...thus engendering in Adam the desire for an appropriate companion and a greater appreciation when God gives him one.

11. Creation of WomanGen 2:18-25 • The Lord God put man into a deep sleep and took “from his side” (bone and flesh), then immediately closed the place back up, making Adam whole again. • The Lord God then “built, fashioned” (Heb. hn"B') Adam’s side into a woman, and brought her to Adam. • What was Adam’s first impression of this new creature?

12. Creation of WomanGen 2:18-25 “At last! This one is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh! This one will be called ‘Isha,’ for from Ish was taken this one” (Gen 2:23).

13. Creation of WomanGen 2:18-25 • Vv. 24-25 are not Adam’s words, but Moses’. • While a man is single, he is part of his father’s family, but when he takes a wife, he begins a new family. • As long as he is in his father’s house, his love is dedicated to his parents, but when he marries, his love for his wife transcends that for his parents. • Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed (cf. 3:7) because they were still in a state of “not knowing good and evil”; they had not yet learned that sexual desire could be directed towards evil ends.

14. The Fall and its AftermathPart I Gen 3:1-13