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Bible Commentaries
Genesis

Hawker's Poor Man's CommentaryPoor Man's Commentary

Chapter 1
Creation of the World in Six Days.
Chapter 2
Creation of Adam, Eve, and Eden.
Chapter 3
The Fall: Adam and Eve's Sin.
Chapter 4
Cain Kills Abel; Cain's Descendants Multiply.
Chapter 5
Genealogy from Adam to Noah.
Chapter 6
Wickedness Prompts God to Flood Earth.
Chapter 7
Noah's Ark Survives the Great Flood.
Chapter 8
Waters Recede; Noah Exits the Ark.
Chapter 9
God's Covenant with Noah; Rainbow Sign.
Chapter 10
Genealogy of Noah's Descendants Post-Flood.
Chapter 11
Tower of Babel; Languages Confused.
Chapter 12
God's Call to Abram; Covenant Begins.
Chapter 13
Abram and Lot Separate; God Promises Land.
Chapter 14
Abram Rescues Lot; Melchizedek Blesses Abram.
Chapter 15
God's Covenant with Abram Affirmed.
Chapter 16
Hagar Bears Ishmael, Abram's First Son.
Chapter 17
Circumcision Covenant; Abram Renamed Abraham.
Chapter 18
Angelic Visitors Announce Isaac's Birth.
Chapter 19
Destruction of Sodom; Lot's Escape.
Chapter 20
Abraham's Encounter with Abimelech in Gerar.
Chapter 21
Birth of Isaac; Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away.
Chapter 22
Abraham's Near-Sacrifice of Isaac.
Chapter 23
Sarah Dies; Abraham Purchases Burial Site.
Chapter 24
Isaac Marries Rebekah, Abraham's Choice.
Chapter 25
Abraham's Death; Jacob and Esau's Births.
Chapter 26
Isaac Prospers in Gerar, Repeats Abraham's Mistakes.
Chapter 27
Jacob Deceives Isaac; Esau's Blessing Stolen.
Chapter 28
Jacob's Ladder Dream; Covenant Reaffirmed.
Chapter 29
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel.
Chapter 30
Jacob's Children; Prosperity Through Livestock.
Chapter 31
Jacob Flees Laban; Covenant of Peace.
Chapter 32
Jacob Wrestles with God; Becomes Israel.
Chapter 33
Jacob Reconciles with Esau Peacefully.
Chapter 34
Dinah Defiled; Simeon and Levi's Revenge.
Chapter 35
Jacob's Name Change Reaffirmed; Rachel Dies.
Chapter 36
Genealogy of Esau's Descendants.
Chapter 37
Joseph's Dreams; Sold into Slavery by Brothers.
Chapter 38
Judah and Tamar's Complicated Story.
Chapter 39
Joseph Prospers in Egypt Despite Imprisonment.
Chapter 40
Joseph Interprets Dreams for Pharaoh's Servants.
Chapter 41
Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams; Rises to Power.
Chapter 42
Joseph's Brothers Visit Egypt for Grain.
Chapter 43
Brothers Return to Egypt with Benjamin.
Chapter 44
Joseph Tests His Brothers' Loyalty.
Chapter 45
Joseph Reveals His Identity to Brothers.
Chapter 46
Jacob's Family Moves to Egypt.
Chapter 47
Joseph Manages Egypt During Famine; Jacob Blesses Pharaoh.
Chapter 48
Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons, Ephraim, and Manasseh.
Chapter 49
Jacob's Prophetic Blessings on His Sons.
Chapter 50
Jacob's Burial; Joseph Reassures His Brothers.

- Genesis

by Robert Hawker

THE BOOK OF GENESIS.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

THE first, and most important observation, to be made on this Book of God, is what our Lord himself declared, concerning the writings of the Author of it, in general; that Moses wrote of Him. John 5:46 . And as the Redeemer did not say, in what part of this man's inspired writings, more particularly it is, that mention is made of Him, (perhaps with an intention to enforce a more diligent search through all,) it should seem to he our wisdom to keep this direction in view, through every part, in going over the whole of the five Books of Moses; that we may not overlook a single passage, in our search for Him, of whom Moses and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth.

Reader! I charge you to place these four words of the Lord Jesus, as a motto for remembrance, at the head of every Book, and every Chapter: Moses wrote of Christ. And as from this unquestionable authority, whenever we open any of the writings of Moses, we may with safety say, whether it be discovered by us or not, Jesus is here: conscious also that from our own blindness, untaught of the Holy Ghost, we shall never find Him; how ought we to look up, for light, and direction from above, and say with David; "Lord open thou mine eyes, that I may see the wondrous things of thy law!"

There is another general observation to be made upon this Book of Genesis, before the Reader enters upon the perusal of it; namely, how gracious, and condescending it was in God, to cause those Sacred Records to be made, and carefully handed down to us, for giving us information concerning those interesting points, without which, they never could have been known by us. May divine grace make us duly thankful for such distinguishing mercies!

In this first Book of Moses, we have brought before us the history of the creation; the original state of man as innocent; his fall, by reason of sin; the gracious promise of redemption; together with the Church's history, in the lives of the Patriarchs, comprising a period of about 2369 years.

Reader! in observing how short an account we have of the lives of the Fathers, during so long. a period, contemplate with due seriousness, the fluctuating transitory state of man upon earth! And while the reflection suitably affects the mind, recollect no less, how sweet, and reviving the thought is, that amidst all the changing scenes of succeeding generations, in which one passeth away, and another cometh, our Covenant God in Christ, liveth and abideth forever. Lord, grant to him that writes, and to him that reads these lines, that when their hour is also come, in which both will cease from their labors, be gathered to their fathers, and have seen corruption, they may find thee to be the strength of their heart, and their portion forever.

As the very foundation of religion must be formed in the knowledge of God, and our relation to Him; the Sacred Historian opens this Book of God, with a general account of the glorious work of the Divine Persons of the Godhead, in Creation; and the particular recital of each day's work, in the progress of it: concluding the Chapter with an account of the Divine Complacency, in the review of the whole, as being all perfect in its kind, and very good.

 
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