Genesis 1 & 2

(Read Genesis 1 and 2 here.)

Genesis opens with the creation of the heavens and the earth. Apparently there were waters everywhere. First God creates light, then he creates an expanse called Heaven that separates “waters from waters.” Then he gathers together the waters that are under Heaven, and creates Land. So it seems that we’ve got the dry land and the seas here, then Heaven, then more waters above Heaven. 

I think it’s interesting that the order of creation roughly parallels the “big bang” and evolutionary theory. Basically there’s nothing but waters, and then we’ve got light and Earth. Then plants grow from the earth, and then there are creatures in the water, then birds, then the beasts of the earth, and finally Man.

God tells the birds and the sea creatures to multiply and fill the waters and the earth. He doesn’t tell the beasts of the earth to do this. Then he tells mankind to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth—and to subdue it and have dominion over everything. God also tells man that all the seed- and fruit-yielding plants on the earth are ours to eat. The birds and beasts of the earth get all the green plants for food. He doesn’t say anything about meat. I bet the vegan crowd likes that.

• What are the fish of the sea supposed to eat?

On the seventh day, God rests because he is done working. This makes the seventh day holy.

• Is this where we get the “Sabbath?”

Next we get a more in-depth version of the creation of Man. God makes a man out of the dust of the ground, and breathes life into him. Then God plants a garden, and in the middle of the garden are two special trees: the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Apparently a river flows out of Eden and splits into four rivers, all of which are described as going around or through lands for which we have no frame of reference. I suppose these places will be mentioned later in the book.

God puts the man in the garden and tells him he can eat the fruit of every tree except the tree of knowledge of good and evil—if he does, he will die.

• What about the tree of life? I guess it’s OK to eat from that one.

God observes that the man needs a helper, then he brings all the animals to the man to see what he will call them, and the man gives every living creature a name.

• Was he giving the animals species-type names, or nicknames?

Apparently God was trying to see if any of the animals would make a good helper for the man, but none of them are a good fit. So God puts the man to sleep, takes out one of his ribs, and creates a woman out of it. Lastly, we learn that the man and the woman were both naked, but weren’t ashamed of it.

The ESV uses the name “Adam” only once in Chapter 2; the footnotes say that “Adam” is the generic Hebrew term for mankind.