Genesis

Theme:
The beginning of everything.
In Hebrew, Bereshith means "In the beginning".
The book of Genesis recounts the origin of the universe and life, the beginning of God's relationship with humankind, the origin of sin through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, and its consequences for all humanity.
It also presents the beginnings of the formation of the people of Israel, starting with God's choice of Abraham and Sarah.

Number of Chapters:
50

Author:
Moses

Date of Writing:
Approximately between 1445 BC and 1405 BC

Period Covered:
From 4004 BC to 1805 BC (about 2,200 years)

Location:
Egypt and Canaan

Recipients:
Israelites

Main Characters:

• Adam and Eve
• Noah
• Abraham and Sarah
• Isaac and Rebekah
• Jacob
• Joseph

Key Verses:

• Genesis 1:1 – "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
• Genesis 3:15 – The first messianic promise
• Genesis 12:2-3 – God's promise to Abraham
• Genesis 50:20 – God's providence in Joseph's life

Major Events:

• The Creation
• The Fall of Man
• Cain and Abel
• The Flood
• Tower of Babel
• The calling of Abraham
• Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
• The sacrifice of Isaac (the "knife")
• Jacob wrestles with the angel
• Joseph’s dreams
• The covenant with the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Chapter(s) – Main Subject

Genesis 1 – The creation of the world, animals, and mankind
Genesis 2 – The first Sabbath, creation of the Garden of Eden and woman
Genesis 3 – The temptation and fall of man
Genesis 4 – Cain and Abel; the first murder
Genesis 5 – Genealogy from Adam to Noah
Genesis 6 – Humanity’s corruption and Noah’s calling
Genesis 7–8 – The flood and Noah’s ark
Genesis 9 – God’s covenant with Noah
Genesis 10 – The descendants of Noah’s sons
Genesis 11 – The Tower of Babel and genealogy to Abraham
Genesis 12 – Abraham’s calling
Genesis 13 – Separation of Abraham and Lot
Genesis 14 – Abraham rescues Lot
Genesis 15 – God’s covenant with Abraham
Genesis 16 – Hagar and the birth of Ishmael
Genesis 17 – Circumcision as the sign of the covenant
Genesis 18 – Promise of Isaac’s birth; intercession for Sodom
Genesis 19 – Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Genesis 20 – Abraham in Gerar
Genesis 21 – Birth of Isaac; Hagar and Ishmael sent away
Genesis 22 – The sacrifice of Isaac
Genesis 23 – Death and burial of Sarah
Genesis 24 – Rebekah is chosen and marries Isaac
Genesis 25 – Abraham’s death; birth of Esau and Jacob
Genesis 26 – Isaac in Gerar; covenant with Abimelech
Genesis 27 – Jacob deceives Isaac and receives the blessing
Genesis 28 – Jacob’s dream of the ladder to heaven
Genesis 29 – Jacob meets Rachel and marries Leah and Rachel
Genesis 30 – Jacob’s children and his prosperity
Genesis 31 – Jacob flees from Laban
Genesis 32 – Jacob wrestles with the angel
Genesis 33 – Jacob and Esau reunite
Genesis 34 – Dinah and the men of Shechem
Genesis 35 – God renews the covenant and confirms the name Israel
Genesis 36 – The descendants of Esau
Genesis 37 – Joseph is sold by his brothers
Genesis 38 – Judah and Tamar
Genesis 39 – Joseph in Potiphar’s house and in prison
Genesis 40 – Joseph interprets dreams in prison
Genesis 41 – Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream and becomes governor
Genesis 42–43 – Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt
Genesis 44 – Judah’s loyalty is tested
Genesis 45 – Joseph reveals himself to his brothers
Genesis 46 – Jacob and his family go to Egypt
Genesis 47 – Jacob settles in Egypt
Genesis 48 – Jacob blesses Joseph and his sons
Genesis 49 – Jacob’s prophetic blessings to his sons
Genesis 50 – The deaths of Jacob and Joseph