Genesis 2 4b-2 Analysis

GENESIS

(1) Genesis 1:1-2:4a and Genesis 2:4b-2:25 are seen as two accounts of the creation which give conflicting reports regarding the order of the creation of man, animals and vegetation. They further present different conceptions of the Deity.

The view that Genesis 2:4b (and the following verses) is a duplicate account of creation is given some weight by treating the Hebrew word toledoth as expressing the idea of origin. Genesis 2:4 says: These are the generations (toledoth) of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

One coming from a western origin background might think that Genesis 2:4 and the following verses relate how the heavens and the earth were created,

So, the toledoth of the heavens and the earth do not describe the origin of the universe but what happened to the heavens and the earth after their creation.

With this in mind, a straightforward reading of Genesis 2:5 and following shows that the supposed duplicate account of chapter one has to do with the creation of Adam and the environment of Eden in which he was set. This account in Genesis 2:4-25 clearly presupposes the general account of chapter one and supplements it at one point. The first account is cosmic and comprehensive; the second is detailed and particularistic. The first speaks in terms of heavens and earth, a firmament, vegetation, sun and moon, sea animals, birds, land animals and finally of mankind in general. The second

Genesis one mentions man as the last of a series and without details, whereas in Genesis two man is the centre of interest and more specific details are given. Chapter two is actually needed to bridge the gap between Genesis 1:31 which says ‘it was very good’ and the punishment for disobedience in Genesis three. It does this by giving the command and threat by God in Genesis 2:16-17.

It should also be noted that Genesis 2:4b serves to point out that the creation has already taken place.

(2) The Flood Narrative Genesis 6 --- 9 This section has been subjected to much scrutiny due to the many repetitions. A careful reading removes the supposed problems and especially when one remembers that repetition is a tool used by God to stress that something will shortly come to pass and to emphasise the actual coming event. The theme of these chapters is the punishment of man by the flood and the saving of a remnant by grace. A careful reading of the flood narrative shows its unified character and the errors which are put down to sources soon vanish.

(3) Three accounts of the naming of Isaac

The birth of Isaac was such a pivotal point in the history of the Israelites and so momentous that it is not considered unusual to have it and Isaac’s name mentioned three times in the Holy Record. The three instances