Notes on Genesis

Ch-1

First day- Day & Night

Second- Sky
Third- Water & vegetation
Fourth- Sun, Moon – 2 great lights
Fifth- living creatures, sea monsters
Sixth- Wild animals, snakes & Man

Ch-2
God rested on the 7th day
Garden in Eden, in the east
Tree of life & Tree of knowledge of good & evil
Four branches of the river:
Pishon rvr for Havilah – gold, bdellium & onyx
Gihon for Cush
Tigris which flows east of Assyria
& Euphrates.

Ch-3
First sin & punishment-
They used fig leaves to cover
God put a cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the tree of life

Ch-4
Cain murders Abel
Able was keeper of sheep & Cain a tiller of the ground
Cain settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
God said whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold venegeance.
Cain’s son is Enoch
Lamech said – “If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold”
Adam had another son named Seth who begat Enosh

Ch-5
Adam’s descendants to Noah
Adam was 130 yrs old when he begat Seth- Adam lived till 930 yrs
Seth- 912 yrs
Enosh- 905 yrs
Kenan- 910 yrs
Mahalalel- 895 yrs
Jared- 962 yrs
Enoch- 365 yrs
Methuselah- 969 yrs
Lamech- at 182 yrs begat Noah – Lamech died at 777 yrs
Noah at 500 yrs old begat, Shem, Ham & Japheth

Ch- 6
Wickedness of humankind
Nephilim – old heroes who were warriors
Ark- cypress wood – 300 cubits (l) x 50 cubits (w) x 30 cubits (h)
3 decks
Ch-7
The Great Flood
7 pairs of clean animals, a pair of unclean, 7 pairs of birds,
In 7 days rain for 40 days & 40 nights started
Noah was 600 yrs old when the flood started
After 7 days of entering the ark the rain started
In the 600th year of Noah’s life in the second month & 17 th day , flood became
intense
Mountains were covered 15 cubits deep
Waters swelled on the earth for 150 days

Ch- 8

Flood subsides
At the end of 150 days the water had abated.
In the 7th month, 17th day the ark rested on Mt Ararat
At the end of 40 days Noah opened the window of the ark & sent out a Raven
Raven came back with an olive leaf
In the 601st yr, 1st month 1st day the waters drying up
In the 2nd month 27th day the earth was dry.

Ch- 9
Covenant with Noah- Rainbow
Ham was the father of Canaan,
Noah planted a vineyard & got drunk
Noah cursed Canaan
Noah died 950 yrs
Ch- 10

Nations descended from Noah

Cush father of Nimrod, mighty warrior

Ch- 11
The tower of Babel
They came to Shinar & had brick for stone & bitumen for mortar
Nahor – Terah @ 70 yrs became father of Abram, Nahor & Haran.
Haran was the father of Lot.
Haran died in Ur of Chaldeans
Terah died @ 205 yrs & he died at Haran.

Ch- 12

Call of Abram
Abram was 75 yrs when he left from city of Haran,
They left for Canaan .
God appeared at Shechem, oak of Moreh . He built an altar
Also built an altar at hill country east of Bethel , pitched his tent , Bethel on the
west & Ai on the east
Abram & Sarai went to Egypt due to the famine. He told Sarai to say she is his
sister to the Egyptians & Pharoah.
Lord afflicted plagues on the Pharaoh & his household because of Sarai

Ch- 13
Abram & Lot separate-
Abram & Lot went into Negeb where Cnaanites & Perizzites lived.
Lot chose to go to the plain of Jordan towards the east at Sodom. Abram settled
in Canaan.
Abram settled at Oaks of Mamre at Hebron and built an Altar.

Ch- 14

Lot’s captivity and rescue-

Valley of Siddim (Dead Sea)
Abram took 318 men to rescue Lot at the city Dan. Pursued the enemy to
Hobah, north of Damascus.
Abram blessed by Melchizedek
King of Sodom met Abram at Valley of Shaveh (king’s valley) . King
Melchizedek of Salem brought bread and wine. He was priest of God Most
High.
Abram gave him 10 th of everything.
Young men Aner. Eshcol & Mamre were with Abram.

Ch- 15
God’s covenant with Abram –
Abram was childless so was thinking of having Eliezer of Damascus to be his
heir.
God said bring him a heifer 3 yrs old, a female goat 3 yrs old, a ram 3 yrs old , a
turtle dove & a young pigeon. Abram did not cut the birds.
God said to Abram in a dream that his people will be oppressed for 400 yrs.
Iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.
When sun came down a smoking fire pot & a flaming torch passed between
these pieces.
God said to Abram to your descendants I give the land from the river of Egypt
to the great river Euphrates, the land of Kenites, Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,
Hittites, Perizzzites, Rephaim, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites & Jebusites.
Ch- 16
The birth of Ishmael-
After Abram had lived for 10 yrs in Canaan he took Hagar, Egyptian slave girl
as wife
The angel found Hagar at a spring of water on the way to Shur
She called God- ‘El Roi’
Therefore the well was called ‘Beer-lahai-roi’ it lies between Kadesh & Bered.
At 86 yrs old Abram had Ishmael.

Ch-17
The sign of the covenant
When Abram was 99 yrs old God named him Abraham and made him a promise
and told him that all males to be circumcised at 8 yrs old. Sarai was also named
Sarah.
Sarah was 90 yrs old at the time.
Abraham was 99 yrs & Ishmael 13 yrs old when they were circumcised.

Ch- 18

A son promised to Abraham & Sarah.

LORD appeared to Abraham at Oaks of Mamre & saw 3 men.
Judgment on Sodom . God said for the sake of 10 He won’t destroy Sodom.

Ch- 19
Depravity of Sodom
Sodom & Gomorrah destroyed .Lot was sent to Zoar. It rained Sulphur & fire
on Sodom & Gomorrah.
Lot’s daughters slept with him. First son – Moab who is ancestor of Moabites
Second son- Ben-ammi , ancestor to Ammonites.

Ch- 20
Abraham & Sarah at Gerar
Abraham went towards Negeb & settled between Kadesh & Shur. Resided in
Gerar as an alien.
Abraham said of his wife that she is his sister to King Abimelech of Gerar
Abraham said Sarah is indeed his sister as she is the daughter of my father but
not the daughter of my mother.
Abimelech gave to Abraham, sheep, oxen, male and female slaves, land, 1000
pieces of silver.

Ch-21

Birth of Isaac
Abraham was 100 yrs old when Isaac was born
He sent away Hagar with bread and skin of water and she went to Beer-sheba.
Ishmael became an expert with bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran and his
mother got him a wife from Egypt.
Abimelech came with Phicol his commander and made a covenant with
Abraham. Abraham set apart 7 ewe lambs.
They swore and oath at Beer-sheba. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree there and
called on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God. Abraham resided as an
alien in Philistines.

Ch- 22
The command to sacrifice Isaac –
Abraham called the place “The LORD will provide”
Angel of the LORD spoke to him twice.
Abraham then went and lived at Beer-sheba
Nahor, Abraham’s brother had 8 children with Milcah. He also had 4 kids with
concubine Reumah.

Ch- 23
Sarah died at 127 yrs and died at Kiriath-arba (Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
Abraham paid 400 shekels of silver for land from Ephron the Hittite , son of
Zohar
Sarah was buried in the cave at Machpelah facing Mamre (Hebron) in the land
of Canaan.

Ch-24
Marriage of Isaac & Rebekah
Abraham told his servant not to get a wife for Isaac from Canaan but go to his
country .
Servant took 10 camels and went to Aram-naharaim, to the city of Nahor.
Rebekah was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s
brother.
He gave Rebekah a gold nose-ring weighing half shekel and 2 bracelets
weighing 10 gold shekels.
Rebekah had a brother named Laban.
They asked if Rebekah can stay 10 days.
Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi and settled at Negeb.

Ch- 25

Abraham married Keturah . their kids –Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian,

Ishbak & Shuah.
Jokshan was the father of Sheba & Dedan
Abraham lived 175 yrs . He was buried at the cave of Machpelah.
Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.
Ishmael’s first born – Nebaioth. Ishmael died at 137 yrs
Isaac was 40 yrs old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the
Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean
Isaac was 60 yrs old when Jacob & Esau were born.
Isaac loved Esau because he was fond of game but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Esau sells his birthright. Esau was famished that’s why he is called Edom.

Ch- 26
Isaac & Abimelech
There was another famine besides the days of Abraham. Isaac went to Gerar to
King Abimelech of the Philistines.
LORD told Isaac not to goto Egypt & settle in the land He will show him . So
Isaac settled in Gerar. He told the men that Rebekah is his sister.
Isaac sowed a seed in the land and it reaped a hundredfold. He became rich and
prosperous . Philistines and Abimelech envied him.
Herders of Gerar quarreled with herders of Isaac saying that water is ours. So he
called the well ‘Esek’ because they contended with him. They quarreled over
another well and called it ‘Sitnah’ . He dug another well but they did not quarrel
so he called it ‘Rehoboth’
LORD appeared to him in Beer-sheba and he built an altar
Abimelech went to Isaac from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol,
commander of his army. They exchanged oath to make peace.
Isaac’s servants came and said they have found water so he called it ‘Shibah’
therefore the city is called ‘Beer-sheba’
Esau’s Hittite wives- Esau at 40 yrs married Judith, daughter of Beeri and
Basemath , daughter of Elon. And they made life bitter for Isaac & Rebekah.

Ch- 27
Isaac blesses Jacob
Isaac told Esau to take his quiver and bow and hunt a game.
Rebekah told Jacob to get two choice kids from the flock
Rebekah told Jacob to flee to her brother Laban in Haran.
Rebekah told Isaac that she doesn’t want Jacob to marry a Hittite woman.

Ch- 28
Isaac told Jacob not to marry a Canaanite woman and to goto Paddan-aram to
the house of Bethuel your mother’s father and take a wife from one of the
daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.
Esau marries Ismael’s daughter- Mahalath.
Jacob’s dream at Bethel
Jacob left Beer-sheba and went to Haran.
Jacob’s ladder dream. He took the stone under his head set it up for a pillar and
poured oil on the top. He called the place Bethel which used to be known as
Luz.
Jacob promised to give one-tenth to God.

Ch-29
Jacob meets Rachel –
Jacob came to the land of the people of the east- 3 flocks of sheep were there
Jacob went and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of
his mother’s brother Laban. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept.
Jacob married Laban’s daughters-
Jacob server 7 yrs for Rachel
Leah maid was Zilpah
Rachel’s maid was Bilhah
Jacob served another 7 yrs after completing the week
Leah gave birth to – Reuben, Simeon , Levi then Judah
Ch – 30

Rachel envied Leah

Rachel gave Bilhah to Jacob
From Bilhah was born Dan – since God has judged me (Rachel) and gave me a
son . And Naphtali – with mighty wrestlings I have wrestled
Then Leah gave Zilpah to Jacob – From this was born Gad –good fortune!
Second son Asher- happy am I (Leah) for the women will call me happy
In the days of wheat harvest Reuben found mandrakes and brought them to
Leah
Rachel told Leah that she can sleep with Jacob for the mandrakes.
Leah conceived and bore Isaachar ( God heard me for I gave my maid to Jacob)
Leah had another son –Zebulun – God has endowed me with a good dowry,
now my husband will honour me.
Then Leah had a daughter called Dinah .
Rachel then had Joseph .
Jacob prospers at Laban’s expense.
Jacob took fresh rods of poplar, almond and plane to stripe the flocks.

Ch- 31
Jacob flees with family and flocks
Laban’s sons were saying that Jacob has taken all their wealth.
God said I am the God of Bethel where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to
me.
Jacob crossed the Euphrates and set towards hill country of Gilead.
One the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled. So he pursued him for 7
days. God came to Laban in a dream and told him to not say a word against
Jacob.
Laban said he would have sent Jacob with mirth and songs, with tambourine
and lyre.
Jacob served Laban for 14 yrs for his two daughters and for 6 years for his
flock. And Laban had changed his wages ten times.
Laban and Jacob make a covenant. They set up a pillar and gather heap of
stones. Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha but Jacob called it Galeed.
Heap is Galeed and the pillar is called Mizpah.

Ch- 32
When angels met up with Jacob he called it God’s camp and called it
Mahanaim.
Jacob sends presents to appease Esau-
Esau was at Seir, country of Edom. Jacob offered oxen, donkeys, flocks, male
and female slaves.
Esau came with 400 men to meet Jacob.
Jacob sent 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 milch
camels and their colts, 40 cows , 10 bulls , 20 female donkeys , 10 male
donkeys.
Jacob wrestles at Peniel – Jacob took his 2 wives, 2 maids, 11 children and
crossed the ford of Jabbok
Jacob was name Israel for he has striven with God. Jacob was struck at the hip
socket at the thigh muscle.

Ch- 33
Jacob & Esau meet –
After meeting Esau went to Seir and Jacob went to Succoth and built a house
and made booths for cattle, therefore the place is called Succoth.
Jacob then went to Shechem which is in the land of Canaan on the way to
Paddan-aram. He bought a land for 100 pieces of money from the sons of
Hamor, Shechem’s father. There he elected an altar and called it ‘El-elohe-
israel’
Ch- 34

The rape of Dinah

Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite raped her.
Simeon and Levi killed them

Ch- 35
Jacob returns to Bethel –
God said to Jacob to goto Bethel and make an altar there.
Jacob hid all the rings and foreign gods under the oak , near Shechem
Jacob came to Luz (Bethel) and built an altar and called it El-bethel.
Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse died and she was buried under an oak below Bethel.
So it was called Allon-bacuth.
God said to Jacob that his name shall be Israel. .
Rachel died while giving birth to Ben-oni . His father called him Benjamin .
Rachel was buried at Ephrath (Bethlehem) . Jacob set up a pillar for Rachel’s
tomb.
Reuben lay with Bilhah.
Jacob had 12 sons- Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, & Joseph
& Benjamin. Son’s of Bilhah- Rachel’s maid- Dan & Naphtali. The sons of
Zilpah- Leah’ maid- Gad & Asher. They were born at Paddan-aram.
Isaac died at 180 yrs at Mamre, Kiriath-arba ( Hebron) where Abraham &
Isaac had resided as aliens. Esau & Jacob buried him.

Ch- 36
Esau’s descendants –
Esau is Edom.

Ch- 37
Joseph dreams of greatness.
Jacob settled in Canaan where his father had lived as an alien.
Joseph being 17 yrs old was shepherding. Israel loved Joseph because he was
son in his old year and made him a long robe with sleeves.
Joseph had 2 dreams- his brother’s sheaves were bowing down to his sheaves
& Sun, moon and 11 stars were bowing down to him.
Joseph is sold by his brothers.
Brothers went to pasture the father’s flock nead Shechem. Joseph went after his
brothers and found them at Dothan . Reuben said shed no blood . Saw a caravan
of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead with their camels carrying, gum, balm, resin,
on their way to Egypt. Judah said sell him to the Ishmaelites. Midianite traders
lifted Joseph from the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver,
And they took Joseph to Egypt. Midainites sold him to Potiphar, one of
Pharoah’s officials, the captain of the guard.

Ch- 38
Judath & Tamar-
Judah married Shua, a Canaanite and had a sone named Er, Onan and then had
Shelah
Judah then got Er a wife called Tamar
Judah thought Tamar was a prostitute and slept with her. She had twins Perez
who breached and then Zerah came out with a crimson thread.

Ch- 39
Joseph & Potiphar’s wife –
Ch- 40

The dream of two prisoners-

The chief cupbearer & the chief baker offended the king of Egypt and they were
prisoned.
Chief cupbearers’ dream – Vine with 3 branches . as soon as it budded , its
blossoms came out and clusters ripened into grapes. Pharoah’s cup was in my
hand and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharoah’s cups and placed in
Pharoah’s hand, Interpretation- 3 branches are 3 days within three days
Pharoah will lift up your head and restore your office and you shall place
Pharaoh’s cup in his hand.

Chief baker- 3 cake baskets on my head, in uppermost basket all sorts of baked
foods for pharaoh, but the birds were eating out of it- Interpretation- 3 baskets
are within 3 days Pharoah will lift up your head and hang you and the birds will
eat your flesh.

Ch- 41
Joseph interprets Pharoah’s dream-
After 2 years Phaorah dreams- he was standing by the Nile and there came out
of the Nile 7 sleek & fat cows, and they grazed in the reed grass. Then 7 ugly
and thin cows came up and ate the other cows.
Another dream- 7 ears of grain, plump and good were growing on one stalk.
Then 7 ears thin and blighted by the east wind , sprouted after them and
swallowed the other grains.
He called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men but none could
interpret.
Chief cupbearer then reminds of Joseph.
After Joseph shaved and changed his clothes . Joseph said it is not I but God
will give the answer.
Joseph said the 7 good cows are 7 years of prosperity followed by 7 years of
famine.
Let Pharoah appoint overseers and take one-fifth of the produce of the land.
Joseph’s rise to power.
Pharoah put his signet ring on Joseph’s hand and gave him fine linen and put a
gold chain around his neck and have him ride his chariot of his second-in-
command.
‘I am Pharoah and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all
the land of Egypt.
Pharoah gave Joseph the name ‘Zaphenath-paneah’ and gave him Asenath,
daughter of Potiphera, priest of On as his wife.
Joseph was 30 yrs old when he entered the service of Pharoah
Joseph’s firstborn son was called Manasseh- for God has made me forget all my
hardship and all my father’s house
Second child – Ephraim- For God has made me fruitful in the land of my
misfortunes.
All the world came to Joseph to buy grain.

Ch- 42
Joseph’s brothers goto Egypt –
10 of Joseph’s brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain except Benjamin
Joseph blamed them as spied who had come to see the nakedness of the land.
He put them all together in prison for 3 days.
He let them go to get Benjamin but Simeon he kept in prison
Reuben said to Joseph you may kill my two sons if I don’t bring Benjamin back.
Joseph said you would bring down my grey hairs to Sheol.
Ch- 43

Brothers come again with Benjamin –

Judah said that Joseph said that they will not see his face unless their brother is
with them
Judah gave surety to Israel that let Judah bear the blame forever.
Israel sent them with presents- balm, honey, gum, resin, pistachio, nuts and
almonds. Told them to take double the money that Joseph put in their sacks.
Joseph slaughtered an animal for them when they arrived.
Portion’s were taken from Joseph’s table but Benjamin’s portions was 5 times
as much.

Ch- 44

Joseph detains Benjamim –

Joseph put his silver cup in the sack of Benjamin
Judah pleads for Benjamin’s release- O my Lord let your servant speak a word
in my Lord’s ears. Judah offers to stay back instead of Benjamin

Ch -45

Joseph reveals himself to his brothers

At that time the famine had been in the land for 2 yrs & had 5 yrs to go.
God made me a father to Pharoah and lord of all his house and ruler of Egypt
Joseph told them to come and settle in the land of Goshen.
To each one he gave them a set of garments but to Benjamin he gave 300 pieces
of silver and 5 sets of garments.
To Israel he sent 10 donkeys with good things of Egypt, 10 female donkeys
with grain, bread and provision for his father on the journey.
He told the brothers do no quarrel on the way.

Ch -46
Jacob brings his whole family to Egypt-
When Jacob came to Beer-sheba he offered sacrifices to the God of Isaac.
God said to Jacob to not be afraid & to goto Egypt and God will accompany
Jacob.
A total of 70 of the house of Jacob came to Egypt.
Israel sent Judah ahead to Joseph into Goshen. Joseph made ready his chariot
and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel.
Joseph told them to settle in Goshen because all shepherds are abhorrent to
Egyptians.

Ch- 47
Jacob said to Pharoah he is 130 yrs. Jacob blessed Pharoah.
Joseph gave them the best of the land of Rameses,
Joseph bought all the land except the priests. Told the Egyptians to give one-
fifth to Pharoah.

Ch- 48
Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons –
Jacob blessed Manasseh & Ephraim.
Rachel died in the land of Canaan some distance from Ephrath and buried her at
Bethlehem.
Ephraim sat on Israel’s left and Manasseh to Israel’s right. But Israel crossed his
hand and put his right hand on Ephraim and left on Manasseh.
Jacob blessed Joseph first.
Israel said the younger shall be greater.
Israel said to Joseph- I give you one portion more than your brothers, the
portion I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.
Ch- 49

Jacob’s last words to his sons-

Reuben- first fruits, excelling in rank & power, unstable as water, you shall no
longer excel, you defiled father’s couch
Simeon & Levi- weapons of violence, may I never come to their counsel, the
killed men in anger, hamstrung oxen. Cursed be their anger. I will divide them
in Jacob and scatter them in Israel
Judah- your brothers shall praise you, your hand shall be on the neck of
enemies, your father’s sons shall bow down .Lion’s whelp Nor the ruler’staff
until tribute comes to him. Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to
the choice vine. Wash his garments in wine and robe in blood of grapes. Eyes
are darker than wine and teeth whiter than milk.
Zebulun- shall settle at the shore of the sea. Haven for ships. Border of sidon
Issachar – strong donkey, lying down within sheepfolds. Saw resting place was
good and land pleasant. Bowed his shoulder to burden and became a slave to
forced labour.
Dan- judge his people. Snake by the roadside, Viper along the path that bites the
horse’s heels
Gad- shall be raided.
Asher’s- food shall be rich, provide royal delicacies.
Napthali- is a doe let loose that bears lovely fawns.
Joseph- fruitful bough, branches run over the wall. Archers fiercely attacked
him, shot at him. Yet his bow remained taut arms agile by then hands of the
mighty one of Jacob. By the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.
Blessings of God and your father
Benjamin- ravenous wolf- in the morning devouring the prey, evening dividing
the spoil .
Jacob told bury him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamer, land of
Canaan in the field Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittie. There Abraham &
his wife Sarah are buried. There Isaac and Rebekah are buried & also Leah and
after saying this Jacob died.
Ch- 50
Joseph wept and kissed Jacob. Commanded the physicians to embalm his father.
It took 40 days to do this. Egyptians wept for him for several days.
Joseph went to bury his father with servants of Pharoah, the elders of the
household and of entire Egypt, household of Joseph, his brothers and his
father’s household. Only their children, flock and their herds left behind.
When they came to threshing floor of Atad, beyond Jordan they held great
lamentation.
Canaanite said this is grievous mourning by the Egyptians therefore named the
place ‘Abel-mizraim’
Joseph forgives his brothers
Joseph remained in Egypt and died at 110 yrs . Joseph saw Ephraim’s children
of third generation and children of Machir son of Manasseh were born on
Joseph’s knees.
Joseph said to his brothers- God will bring you out to the land promised to
Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. So Joseph made the Israelites swear saying when God
comes to you, carry my bones from here . He was embalmed and placed in a
coffin in Egypt.