commentary by f. lagard smith · the text of the holy bible, new living translation, may be quoted...

Commentary by

F. LaGard Smith

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Copyrighted material

To my father,Frank L. Smith,

who gave his life to the ministry of the gospeland first suggested the idea for this book

andto my mother,

Mary Faye Smith,who taught me to love God’s Word.

Visit Tyndale online at www.newlivingtranslation.com and www.tyndale.com.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permis-sion of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved.

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Commentary and chronological order of Scripture verses copyright © 1984 LaGard SmithEugene, Oregon 97408www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-7613-8 (eBook) ISBN 978-0-7369-7614-5 (hardcover) ISBN 978-0-7369-8047-0 (Milano Softone™ ) ISBN 978-0-7369-7612-1 (pbk.)

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OlD TeSTamenT cOnTenTSBeginnings of Early Mankind

(Creation to ca. 2100 B.C.)

The Beginning 1Adam and Eve 3First Three Sons of Adam and Eve 7Descendants from Adam to Noah 9Mankind’s Degeneration into

Wickedness 11Noah and the Flood 12Human Condition Remains Sinful 16Dispersion of the Human Family 17Beginning of Nations 18Descendants from Shem to Abram 21Job, the Righteous Sufferer 23

Period of the Patriarchs(Ca. 2100– 1525 B.C.)

The Call of Abram 24Abram Dishonors Himself in Egypt 25Separation of Abram and Lot 26Defeat of the Kings 28God’s Covenant with Abram 30Birth of Ishmael Through Hagar 31Names and Circumcision as Signs

of Covenant 33Appearance of Heavenly Visitors 35Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah 36The Scheme of Lot’s Daughters 39Abraham Deceives Abimelech 40The Birth of Isaac 42Abraham and Abimelech Settle

Dispute 43Expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael 44Abraham’s Ultimate Test of Faith 45News Regarding Nahor’s Family 46Sarah’s Death and Burial 47Abraham Arranges a Wife for Isaac 48Abraham Marries Keturah 51Death of Abraham 52Last Account of Ishmael 52Esau and Jacob 53A Birthright Is Sold 54Isaac Follows in Abraham’s Footsteps 54Trouble Between Jacob and Esau 56Jacob Leaves for Haran 59

Jacob Marries and Has Children 60Laban and Jacob Outsmart Each Other 63Jacob Leaves Laban 64Jacob Returns to Canaan 67Dinah and the Men of Shechem 70Jacob’s Journey Continues 72Record of the Edomites 74Joseph’s Early Years 76Judah and Tamar 78Joseph the Egyptian Ruler 80Jacob’s and Joseph’s Last Days 95

Establishment of a Nation(Ca. 1525– 1400 B.C.)

Moses Emerges as Leader 101Plagues on the Egyptians 107Passover and the Exodus 116Journey to Sinai 123The Israelites’ Covenant with God 128Instructions for the Tabernacle 133The Covenant Broken and Renewed 144Construction of the Tabernacle 149Ordination of the Priests 158The Levites Chosen for Service 163Offerings from the Tribes 164A Nation Under Law 168First Passover After Egypt 169Numbering of the Israelites 170The Journey Begins 178Doubts and Murmurs 180Moses Rebuked by Miriam 182The People Lack Courage 183Challenge to Leadership 187From Kadesh to Moab 192Moses’ Journal of Israel’s Trek 196Blessings and Prophecy of Balaam 198Israel Sins in Moab 204Destruction of the Midianites 206Israel’s Second Numbering 209Joshua Named as Successor 213Two-and-a-Half Tribes East of Jordan 213Preparations for Conquest and

Settlement 216Moses Reviews History and Purpose 218The Lawgiver Urges Obedience 225



THE DAILY BIBLE

The Laws of Moses(Ca. 1450– 1400 B.C.)

Introduction to the Laws 235I. Religious and Ceremonial Laws 236 A. Laws Against Idolatry and

Paganism 236 B. Laws Against False

Spiritualists 239 C. Laws Regarding Blasphemy 241 D. Laws Requiring Dedications 241 E. Laws Requiring Tithing 242 F. Special Instructions for

Conquest 243 G. Law of the Sabbath 244 H. The Special Festivals 245 I. Sacrifices and Offerings 255 J. Other Rituals 267 K. Rules for the Priests 268 L. The Sabbatical Year 270 M. Year of Jubilee 271 N. Purification 273 O. Persons Excluded from the

Congregation 278 P. The Nazirite Vow 278 Q. Vows of Dedication 280 R. Laws of Separation 282II. Laws of Government 282 A. Concerning a King 283 B. Respect for Rulers 283 C. The Judicial System 283III. Laws of Special Crimes 285 A. Crimes Against the Person 286 B. Crimes Against Property 290IV. Personal Rights and Remedies 290 A. Restitution for Loss 291 B. Seduction 291 C. Injuries and Damages 292 D. Masters and Servants 293 E. Credit, Interest, and Collateral 294 F. Contracts and Agreements 295 G. Weights and Measures 296 H. Inheritance 296V. Marriage, Divorce, and Sexual

Relations 298 A. Marriage 298 B. Divorce 299 C. Sexual Violations 300

D. Separation of Sexes 305VI. Health and Dietary Laws 305 A. Health Regulations 305 B. Dietary Regulations 311VII. General Welfare Laws 314 A. Requirements for Benevolence 314 B. Duties of Respect and

Support 315 C. Treatment of Animals 317VIII. Rules of Warfare 317 A. Preparation for Battles 317 B. Rules of Siege 318 C. Camp Regulations 318 D. Soldiers and Marriage 319IX. Responsibilities Under the Laws 319 A. Obedience Enjoined 319 B. Duty to Promulgate 319 C. Blessings of Obedience 320 D. Punishments for

Disobedience 320 E. Conclusion 321

Conquering a Land(Ca. 1400– 1100 B.C.)

Renewal of the Covenant 322Transfer of Leadership to Joshua 329A Song of Unfaithfulness 330Moses Blesses the Tribes 335Moses’ Death and Burial 338Preparation for Conquest 339The Taking of Jericho and Ai 345General Conquest of Canaan 350Division of the Promised Land 356Joshua’s Farewell Addresses 368Three Burials 373Additional Conquests 373Failure to Complete Conquests 375Apostasy and the Judges 377Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar 378Deborah and Barak 380Gideon and His Son 384Jephthah and Five Others 393The Story of Ruth 397Samson the Strong Man 402Micah and the Danites 408Civil War with Benjamin 411Period of Judges Summarized 416



CONTENTS

Israel as a Monarchy(Ca. 1100– 930 B.C.)

Samuel Brings About Transition 417Saul Appointed King 425The Reign of Saul 432David’s Rise to Power 438David Becomes King 469Period of the Wars 487Absalom’s Rebellion 496Two Major Calamities 512Preparations for Building the Temple 515The National Convention 517The Book of Psalms 528Psalms of the Troubled Soul 528Psalms About Righteousness and

Wickedness 559Psalms of Joy and Praise 575Psalms Expressing a Variety

of Sentiments 611Psalms of the Messiah 622Solomon Becomes King 630Solomon Secures His Kingship 634Solomon Blessed with Wisdom 636Building of the Temple 638Dedication of the Temple 645Construction of Cities and Royal Palace 650Extent of Solomon’s Glory 653The Book of Proverbs, Arranged

Topically 658Proverbs of Solomon and Sayings

of the Wise 664Sayings of Agur 708Sayings of King Lemuel 711The Wife of Noble Character 711(Complete topical contents in

Appendix)Songs of Solomon 712Solomon’s Glory Fades 725Solomon’s Reflections on Life 727Ecclesiastes, Arranged Topically 728The Search for Meaning 728Importance of Finding Meaning 729Meaninglessness of Human Pursuits 730Value of Wisdom 734Life’s True Meaning 738End of Solomon’s Reign 739

The Divided Kingdom(Ca. 930– 725 B.C.)

Division Between Israel and Judah 740Two Kingdoms in Contrast 748Elijah the Prophet 756Ahab and Jezebel 761Elisha the Prophet 772Miracles and Massacres 776Obadiah’s Prophecy Against Edom 779The Era of Joash in Judah 792The Prophecy of Joel 795Era of Jeroboam II in Israel 806The Preaching of Jonah Against

Nineveh 809The Prophecies of Hosea 812The Prophecies of Amos 832Era of Uzziah and Jotham in Judah 847The Prophecies of Isaiah 847Isaiah’s Mission Told in Vision 859The Prophecies of Micah 861Early Beginnings of Captivity 872War Between Syria, Israel, and Judah 872Isaiah Prophesies About a Savior 873Isaiah Prophesies Against Nations 884More of Isaiah’s Prophecies Against

Nations 893The Reforms of Hezekiah 898Isaiah Tells of “Last Days” 903Isaiah Warns Against Relapse 909The Fall of Israel 919

Judah After Israel’s Fall(Ca. 725– 585 B.C.)

Isaiah Warns About Egypt and Ethiopia 923

Last Years of Hezekiah’s Reign 930Spiritual Decline Under Manasseh 939Isaiah’s Prophecies About Restoration

and the Messiah 940Spiritual Renewal Under Manasseh 990Nahum’s Prophecy Against Nineveh 991From Manasseh to Josiah 996Zephaniah Prophesies About the Day

of the Lord 998Josiah’s Reforms 1003Jeremiah the Weeping Prophet 1004



THE DAILY BIBLE

Jeremiah Rebukes an Unfaithful Nation 1006

Effect of Jeremiah’s Preaching 1047Assyria Falls and Babylonia Emerges 1052Jeremiah Faces Charges 1054Jeremiah’s Judgment Against Egypt 1056Habakkuk’s Questioning Prophecy 1059First Deportation from Judah 1065Jeremiah Tells Length of Captivity 1066Jehoiakim Burns Jeremiah’s Scroll 1069Daniel the Faithful Captive 1072Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream 1073Jehoiakim’s Last Years 1076The Great Deportation 1084Reign of Zedekiah 1085Jeremiah’s Prophecies Under

Zedekiah 1086Ezekiel, Prophet in Exile 1104Ezekiel’s Denunciations of Judah 1112Siege of Jerusalem 1136Siege Announced to Ezekiel 1137Jeremiah’s Prophecies During Siege 1139Jeremiah Sees Spiritual Restoration

Under the Messiah 1149Ezekiel’s Prophecies During Siege 1152Jeremiah Escapes Death 1164Fall of Jerusalem 1167Gedaliah and Jeremiah 1169Jeremiah’s Lamentations 1170A Remnant Flees to Egypt 1183

The Exiled Nation(Ca. 585– 535 B.C.)

Ezekiel’s Restoration Prophecies 1189Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 1202Ezekiel’s Great Temple Vision 1204End of Ezekiel’s Ministry 1220

Nebuchadnezzar’s Temporary Insanity 1221

End of Jeremiah’s Ministry 1225Job and the Problem of Suffering 1226Psalms of a People in Exile 1283Daniel’s Apocalyptic Visions 1296The Writing on the Wall 1300The Seventy “Sets of Sevens” 1303Daniel in the Lions’ Den 1305

Period of Restoration(Ca. 535– 425 B.C.)

First Return to Jerusalem 1308Daniel’s Last Vision 1313Opposition to Temple’s Construction 1318Preaching of Haggai and Zechariah 1322Zechariah’s Visions 1326The Meaning of Restoration 1331Completion of the Temple 1334Psalms of a Nation Restored 1335Zechariah’s Futuristic Prophecies 1346Esther and the Festival of Purim 1354Prophecies of Malachi 1364Ezra and the Second Return 1368Problem of Intermarriage 1372Nehemiah Rebuilds the Wall 1376Redistribution of Population 1384Law and Covenant 1390Nehemiah’s Religious Reforms 1395Dedication of the Wall 1397Official Records of Israel 1399

Historical Interlude(Ca. 425– 5 B.C.)

End of Old Testament Record 1415Writings of the Apocrypha 1417Influences on a Dispersed People 1421Hellenism and the Jews 1422Judaism Under Roman Rule 1424

new TeSTamenT cOnTenTSJesus the Christ

(Ca. 5 B.C.– A.D. 30)

The Coming of the Messiah 1426The Gospel Accounts 1427Introductions by the Gospel Writers 1428The Genealogies of Jesus 1430

The Births of Jesus and John the Baptist 1433

Visit of the Magi and Flight into Egypt 1439

From Infancy to Manhood 1441The Ministry of John the Baptist 1442



CONTENTS

Jesus Faces Temptations 1444Jesus’ Early Work in Judea, Samaria,

and Galilee 1446Beginning of the Great Galilean

Ministry 1452The Rise of Opposition 1456The Sermon on the Mount 1461The Ministry Continues 1467Teaching Through Parables 1475Performing Miracles 1479Sending Out Apostles 1482Miracles and Multitudes 1486Extensive Tour Throughout Galilee 1491Preparation of Apostles for the

End 1493In Jerusalem for Festival of

Shelters 1499Ministry from Galilee to Judea 1506In Jerusalem for Festival of

Dedication 1510The Perean Ministry 1511Return to Judea to Raise Lazarus 1518The Final Journey 1520The Triumphant Entry— Sunday 1525Final Week— Monday 1527Final Week— Tuesday Morning 1529Discourse of Future Events 1535Final Week— Tuesday Afternoon 1540Final Week— Wednesday 1540The Upper Room 1543Final Discourse 1549Betrayal and Arrest 1552Trial Before Sanhedrin 1554Trial Before Pilate 1557The Crucifixion of Jesus 1561The Burial of Jesus 1563Jesus’ Resurrection and

Appearances 1564Final Instructions and Ascension 1570Conclusion to the Gospel Accounts 1572

Christ’s Church and the Apostles(Ca. A.D. 30– 100)

Acts of the Apostles 1573Power of the Holy Spirit 1573Growth of the Early Church 1576Martyrdom of Stephen 1582Persecution and Preaching 1585Conversion of Saul 1588First Gentile Converts 1590Persecution by Herod Agrippa I 1594First Missionary Journey 1596The Jerusalem Council 1600Letter to the Galatians 1603Second Missionary Journey 1611First Letter to the Thessalonians 1616Second Letter to the Thessalonians 1620Third Missionary Journey 1623First Letter to the Corinthians 1625Second Letter to the Corinthians 1647Letter to the Romans 1660Paul’s Arrest and Trial 1686Paul Before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa 1691Voyage to Rome 1695House Arrest in Rome 1698Letter to the Colossians 1699Letter to Philemon 1705Letter to the Ephesians 1706Letter to the Philippians 1713First Letter to Timothy 1719Letter to Titus 1725Second Letter to Timothy 1728Letter by James 1732Letter by Jude 1738First Letter by Peter 1740Second Letter by Peter 1747Letter to the Hebrews 1751First Letter by John 1770Second Letter by John 1776Third Letter by John 1777The Revelation to John 1778



aOr In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, . . . Or When God began to create the heavens and the earth, . . .

ACCOUNT OF CREATION. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.a The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.”

And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.

Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” And that is what

Gen. 1:1,2

Gen. 1:3- 5

Gen. 1:6- 8

JANUARY 1

BeginningS Of eaRly mankinD(Creation to ca. 2100 B.C.)

The Beginning

I s it possible to imagine a time when nothing existed? Take away the brilliance of the sun, for example, and the moon and stars at night. What would life be like without them? Take away the clouds and sky

and rivers and oceans. Imagine the earth without any human beings, animals, fish, birds, grass, trees, or plants of any kind. What would it be like with the earth completely bare? Indeed, what would it be like if there were no earth at all, no universe— nothing? Has the universe existed forever? Was there never a time when it had a beginning? Surely it must have had a beginning. But when would that have been? How would it all have happened? What made it hap-pen? For what purpose, if any, did it happen? Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here?

Since recorded history began, men and women of every generation, culture, and place have searched for the answers to those questions. Some say it all happened by chance, without any reason or purpose whatever. But given what appears to be intelligent design and order throughout the uni-verse, an origin by chance seems hard to accept. And life without meaning seems clearly contrary to the very mind which searches for meaning. So what are the answers? Where did I come from, and why am I here? How did it all begin?



january a 2

happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. God called the space “sky.”

And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.

Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation— every sort of seed- bearing plant, and trees that grow seed- bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. The land produced vegetation— all sorts of seed- bearing plants, and trees with seed- bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.

And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.

Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. God made two great lights— the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.

Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” So God created great sea crea-tures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird— each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multi-ply on the earth.”

And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.

Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each pro-ducing offspring of the same kind— livestock, small animals that scur-ry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make human beingsa in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth,b and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

So God created human beingsc in his own image.In the image of God he created them;male and female he created them.

Gen. 1:9- 13

Gen. 1:14- 19

Gen. 1:20- 23

Gen. 1:24,25

Gen. 1:26- 30

aOr man; Hebrew reads adam. bAs in Syriac version; Hebrew reads all the earth. cOr the man; Hebrew reads ha- adam.



3 january a

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed- bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground— everything that has life.” And that is what happened.

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed.

On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he resteda from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of cre-ation.

This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth.

Gen. 1:31- 2:1

Gen. 2:2- 4a

aOr ceased; also in 2:3.

Adam and Eve

T he answer is God. God is the Creator of all things. God existed before the universe came into being, and it was God who made it all happen. What power and majesty must accompany this God! The Genesis

account of the beginnings of all things is a revelation which ascribes creation to an all- powerful, all- knowing, and purposeful Supreme Being— a living Creator and spiritual God acting with meaningful deliberation. In documenting the creation of man, the account suggests that God speaks with more than one voice in bringing about his creation. The implication is that there is a fullness to this divine personality, a fullness which will be more completely revealed as the biblical text unfolds.

Of even more significance is the statement that, in some way distinctly different from all other creatures, mankind has been created in the very likeness of God. Surely this cannot mean that the likeness is a physical resemblance, since God existed before anything physical came into being. Therefore it prob-ably suggests that, like God, human beings are essentially spiritual beings, having intelligence, moral consciousness, and freedom of choice. Though lim-ited by human form, mankind is given creativity and permitted to exercise a degree of dominion over God’s creation and the lesser creatures within it. What an amazing thought, that mankind, both male and female, should be so hon-ored by the Creator!

As if to underscore the significance of mankind’s creation, the Genesis rev-elation gives a special account of the first man and woman, known as Adam and Eve. Adam is formed first from elements of the earth, as if God, working like a potter, fashions him from a lump of clay. Then Eve is formed from part of



january a 4

aOr mist.

Adam’s own body, suggesting a wholeness and unity between man and woman, particularly when the two are joined in the marriage relationship, which is instituted with this first couple. Both Adam and Eve share in the uniqueness of having received a divine inbreathing of God’s Spirit which sets them apart from all other living creatures. They are given dominion over the other creatures and are set in a garden of lush vegetation in a place called Eden, an area associated with the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, just east of the Arabian Desert in the Middle East.

Here in Eden, Adam and Eve live in a time of innocence until both are tempted by a serpent to eat of a particular fruit which God has forbidden them to touch or taste. Although a complete explanation is lacking, it appears that the serpent is being used on this occasion by Satan, or the Devil, who will subse-quently be identified as God’s adversary in the spirit realm and the great Tempter of mankind to do evil.

The effect of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God is a new acquaintance with sin and the reality of punishment. Their sin not only produces feelings of shame, fear, and blame, but also results in more specific consequences to all mankind, who will be seen in each subsequent generation to participate in their own disobedience to God’s will. The ultimate punishment, as far as Adam and Eve are personally concerned, is banishment from the garden, with all its ease and pleasure. They, like all generations thereafter, must face the hardships and struggles which life on the earth imposes.

CREATION OF MAN. When the Lord God made the earth and the heav-ens, neither wild plants nor grains were growing on the earth. For the Lord God had not yet sent rain to water the earth, and there were no people to cultivate the soil. Instead, springsa came up from the ground and watered all the land. Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

GARDEN OF EDEN. Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground— trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches. The first branch, called the Pishon, flowed around the entire land of Havilah, where gold is found. The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. The second branch, called the Gihon, flowed around the entire land of Cush. The third branch, called the Tigris, flowed east of the land of Asshur. The fourth branch is called the Euphrates.

The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

Gen. 2:4b- 7

Gen. 2:8- 17Mesopota-mia



5 january a

CREATION OF WOMAN. Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the mana to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.

So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribsb and closed up the open-ing. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.

UNION OF MAN AND WOMAN. “At last!” the man exclaimed.

“This one is bone from my bone,and flesh from my flesh!

She will be called ‘woman,’because she was taken from ‘man.’ ”

This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

TEMPTATION TO SIN. The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ”

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

SIN PRODUCES SHAME. The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wis-dom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

SIN PRODUCES FEAR. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the manc and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

Gen. 2:18- 22

Gen. 2:23- 25

Gen. 3:1- 5

Gen. 3:6,7

Gen. 3:8- 10

aOr Adam, and so throughout the chapter. bOr took a part of the man’s side. cOr Adam, and so throughout the chapter.



january a 6

aOr bruise; also in 3:15b. bOr And though you will have desire for your husband, / he will rule over you. cEve sounds like a Hebrew term that means “to give life.” dOr the man; Hebrew reads ha- adam.

SIN PRODUCES BLAME. “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”

CURSE ON THE TEMPTER. Then the Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this, you are cursedmore than all animals, domestic and wild.

You will crawl on your belly,groveling in the dust as long as you live.

And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,and between your offspring and her offspring.

He will strikea your head,and you will strike his heel.”

CONSEQUENCES FOR WOMAN. Then he said to the woman,

“I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,and in pain you will give birth.

And you will desire to control your husband,but he will rule over you.b”

CONSEQUENCES FOR MAN. And to the man he said,

“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the treewhose fruit I commanded you not to eat,

the ground is cursed because of you.All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.

It will grow thorns and thistles for you,though you will eat of its grains.

By the sweat of your browwill you have food to eat

until you return to the groundfrom which you were made.

For you were made from dust,and to dust you will return.”

WOMAN NAMED. Then the man— Adam— named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live.c

SHAME HIDDEN. And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.

BANISHMENT FROM GARDEN. Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beingsd have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if

Gen. 3:11- 13

Gen. 3:14,15

Gen. 3:16

Gen. 3:17- 19

Gen. 3:20

Gen. 3:21

Gen. 3:22- 24



7 JANUARY 2

First Three Sons of Adam and Eve

I n a continuing succession of beginnings, the Genesis account records the beginning of the first family. Adam and Eve give birth to two sons, named Cain and Abel, and later to a third, named Seth. The text will

subsequently indicate that over a period of many years the family will include numerous sons and daughters. As there is no indication of other created human beings, it is altogether likely that these first brothers and sisters enter into mar-riages with each other, despite the sense of inappropriateness which would be felt should that occur in following generations.

Still another “first” is the Genesis record of mankind’s earliest formal wor-ship of God. Both Cain and Abel offer sacrifices to God by devoting the fruits of their individual labors. As a farmer, Cain brings a portion of his crops, while Abel, a herdsman, offers up some of the best of his flock to God. Although the text is silent as to what prompts God’s response, it is evident that God is not pleased with Cain’s offering. Whether this is because God has specifically com-manded the brothers to offer animal sacrifices, or whether perhaps Cain’s char-acter is already known by God to be evil, is unclear. In any event Cain’s pride is dashed and his anger toward Abel is so great that in an act of premeditated murder Cain kills Abel. The murder is then compounded when Cain lies to God concerning Abel’s whereabouts.

Although God punishes Cain for his wrongdoing, the text gives some inter-esting insight into the character of God by indicating that, despite Cain’s great sin, God nevertheless shows mercy to him. This is not to be a unique act of grace. God’s mercy will be seen time and again. Unfortunately, Cain apparent-ly does not respond favorably to God’s mercy, at least if his descendants are any reflection of Cain’s continued character. In contrast, when Seth is born it appears that Seth takes on the righteous character of Abel and instills a respect for God in his children as well.

aOr the man; also in 4:25. bOr I have acquired. Cain sounds like a Hebrew term that can mean “produce” or “acquire.”

they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

CAIN AND ABEL BORN. Now Adama had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have producedb a man!” Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel.

BROTHERS BRING OFFERINGS. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift— the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The

Gen. 4:1,2aEden

Gen. 4:2b- 7



january a 8

Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

CAIN KILLS ABEL. One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.”a And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his broth-er, Abel, and killed him.

Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?”

“I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”

CAIN PUNISHED. But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your broth-er’s blood. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”

Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishmentb is too great for me to bear! You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”

The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him. So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod,c east of Eden.

CAIN’S DESCENDANTS. Cain had sexual relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain founded a city, which he named Enoch, after his son. Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad became the father ofd Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.

Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the sec-ond was Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the first of those who raise livestock and live in tents. His brother’s name was Jubal, the first of all who play the harp and flute. Lamech’s other wife, Zillah, gave birth to a son named Tubal- cain. He became an expert in forging tools of bronze and iron. Tubal- cain had a sister named Naamah.

LAMECH CONFESSES KILLING. One day Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;listen to me, you wives of Lamech.

I have killed a man who attacked me,a young man who wounded me.

If someone who kills Cain is punished seven times,then the one who kills me will be punished seventy- seven

times!”

Gen. 4:8,9

Gen. 4:10- 16

Gen. 4:17- 22Nod, east of Eden

Gen. 4:23,24

aAs in Samaritan Pentateuch, Greek and Syriac versions, and Latin Vulgate; Masoretic Text lacks “Let’s go out into the fields.” bOr My sin. cNod means “wandering.” dOr the ancestor of, and so throughout the verse.



9 january a

SETH BORN. Adam had sexual relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to another son. She named him Seth,a for she said, “God has granted me another son in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.” When Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh. At that time people first began to worship the Lord by name.

Gen. 4:25,26

aSeth probably means “granted”; the name may also mean “appointed.”

Descendants from Adam to Noah

W hat follows is a simple chronology of ten generations from Adam through Seth to Noah. Yet this brief family record is full of surprises. For one thing, the men who are named each live for hundreds of

years and have children when they are from 65 to 500 years old! Much specu-lation has been generated as to the cause of this longevity. Some have even rejected the historical accuracy of the account, saying that the “years” are merely representative periods of time, perhaps shorter than modern years. However, the original language allows no such interpretation. In support of the historic credibility of the account, others have explained the unusual lon-gevity on a variety of bases, including the effect of the fruit of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden; the original immortality of man feeling only the slight-est consequences of sin at this early stage in man’s development; or the supe-riority of the food, atmosphere, and other living conditions during this period. One can only speculate, but acknowledging a creative Being powerful enough to bring the universe into existence certainly allows the option for such a Creator to permit unusually lengthy lives for whatever purpose might suit his comprehensive plan for mankind. A number of possible purposes immediate-ly present themselves, including the need to quickly populate the earth and the need to promulgate basic moral principles throughout the beginnings of mankind.

Promulgating morality throughout the early generations is made easier due to the fact that Adam and Seth continue to live as contemporaries with their offspring several generations removed. By living 930 years, for exam-ple, Adam is still alive during the days of Lamech, father of Noah, toward the end of the first millennium from creation. One can almost see Adam gathering the early patriarchs together and telling them over and over how God created the world, how he directed mankind to live, and how he showed both punishment and mercy when Adam and Eve, and even Cain, had been disobedient.

Still another surprise is that one of Adam’s descendants, Enoch, does not die— ever! After 365 years of what is apparently an exceptionally righteous life, Enoch is taken from the world in some manner other than death. The accounts of the other patriarchs each record the year in which they die, but the account of Enoch indicates that God took him and “he was no more.” What is even more noteworthy than one’s being translated out of this life without experiencing death is the exciting suggestion that mankind is immortal— that there is actually life beyond death!

It is altogether possible that this genealogical listing and others to follow



january a 10

may not list every successive generation, and therefore may omit hundreds of years of mankind’s history. Such would be the case, for example, if “son” were used in reference to a grandson or an even more remote descendant, as is sometimes seen in later historical records. Should that be the case, there would be great difficulty in assigning specific dates to such major events as the cre-ation of the first man and woman, or the great flood which will come in the days of Noah. Because there is no indication to the contrary, this narrative proceeds on the assumption that the genealogies list father- to- son progres-sions without omission of intervening generations, but leaves the matter as an open question.

Early dating will be shown as A.C., After Creation (of mankind), as calcu-lated from the information supplied in the Genesis record, until such time as more positive dating in the B.C. era can be utilized. Even then, the dates indi-cated are usually only approximate and should not be considered unquestion-able. Dates are supplied where reasonably believed to be accurate in order to aid the reader’s understanding of the historical context.

aOr man; Hebrew reads adam; similarly in 5:2. bOr the ancestor of; also in 5:9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25. cOr the birth of this ancestor of; also in 5:10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 26.

RECORD OF MANKIND. This is the written account of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings,a he made them to be like himself. He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them “human.”

SETH.When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father of a son who was

just like him— in his very image. He named his son Seth. After the birth of Seth, Adam lived another 800 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.

ENOSH.When Seth was 105 years old, he became the father of b Enosh. After the

birth ofc Enosh, Seth lived another 807 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Seth lived 912 years, and then he died.

KENAN.When Enosh was 90 years old, he became the father of Kenan. After the

birth of Kenan, Enosh lived another 815 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enosh lived 905 years, and then he died.

MAHALALEL.When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel. After

the birth of Mahalalel, Kenan lived another 840 years, and he had oth-er sons and daughters. Kenan lived 910 years, and then he died.

JARED.When Mahalalel was 65 years old, he became the father of Jared. After

the birth of Jared, Mahalalel lived another 830 years, and he had

Gen. 5:1,2

Gen. 5:3- 5(130 A.C.)

Gen. 5:6- 8(235 A.C.)

Gen. 5:9- 11(325 A.C.)

Gen. 5:12- 14(395 A.C.)

Gen. 5:15- 17(460 A.C.)



11 JANUARY 3

other sons and daughters. Mahalalel lived 895 years, and then he died.

ENOCH.When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch. After the

birth of Enoch, Jared lived another 800 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.

METHUSELAH.When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. After

the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he dis-appeared, because God took him.

LAMECH.When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech.

After the birth of Lamech, Methuselah lived another 782 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.

NOAH.When Lamech was 182 years old, he became the father of a son. Lamech

named his son Noah, for he said, “May he bring us reliefa from our work and the painful labor of farming this ground that the Lord has cursed.” After the birth of Noah, Lamech lived another 595 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Lamech lived 777 years, and then he died.

SHEM, HAM, AND JAPHETH.After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and

Japheth.

Gen. 5:18- 20(622 A.C.)

Gen. 5:21- 24(687 A.C.)

Gen. 5:25- 27(874 A.C.)

Gen. 5:28- 31(1056 A.C.)

Gen. 5:32(1556 A.C.)

aNoah sounds like a Hebrew term that can mean “relief” or “comfort.”

Mankind’s Degeneration into Wickedness

I n the accounts of Seth, Cain, and their descendants is a hint that two distinct groups of people have been developing. Those descending from Seth— for example, Enoch— were apparently people who lived

righteously before God. On the other hand, those descending from Cain, as typ-ified by Lamech the murderer, appear to have degenerated into unrighteous-ness. Therefore, although undoubtedly individual exceptions might be found within each of the two extended families, it can generally be assumed that the Sethites were godly people and the Cainites ungodly. At this point, however, the record seems to indicate that the “sons of God,” perhaps referring to the Sethites, or in any event to those who have had a God- fearing heritage, now begin to intermarry with the “daughters of men,” not because they are righteous women but only because they are physically attractive. The apparent result is that such



commentary by f. lagard smith · the text of the holy bible, new living translation, may be quoted...

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