1. AUTHOR. — Moses, according to the commonly received view. In its composition use was probably made of earlier written documents, and of trustworthy traditions.

2. DATE. — About 1490 B, C.; the chronology of this early period is, however, uncertain.

3. HISTORICAL OCCASION. — The establishment of the Theocracy, when God was about to select a people to carry out his purposes in connection with redemption.

4. LEADING TOPIC. — Those events that were preparatory to the choosing of the Israelites, through whom God's plan of redemption was to be unfolded. It covers the period from the creation to the sojourn of the Israelites in Egypt.

5. CHIEF PURPOSE. — To give the origin of man; his relation to the world and to God; his sin that made redemption needful; and to show that God intended to redeem him.

6. GENERAL ANALYSIS.

Part I. From the Creation to the Flood, Ch. 1-9.

(a) Man's creation and sin, Ch.1-3.

(b) Wickedness until the flood, Ch. 4-9.

Part II. Dispersion of the nations, Ch. 10, 11.

Part III. Period of the Patriarchs, Ch. 12-35.

(a) Career of Abraham, Ch. 12–25:1-11.

(b) Career of Isaac, Ch. 25:12-34; Chs. 26, 27.

(c) Career of Jacob, Ch. 28–36.

Part IV. Occasion of Israel's sojourn in Egypt, Ch. 37–50.

(a) Joseph made ruler in Egypt, Ch. 37-41.

(b) Israel in Egypt, Ch. 42–50.

7. POINTS OF ESPECIAL INTEREST. — The creation; the deluge; dispersion of the nations; call of Abraham; sacrifice of Isaac; Jacob's life; Joseph's history; Jacob's dying blessing

8. RELATION TO OTHER O. T. Books. — Genesis gives the beginning of the history of man; the beginning of God's purpose to redeem him; the beginning of the special people who were to serve God. It is thus Genesis. 13 closely related to the rest of the Pentateuch. It contains in germ most of what was after ward developed in the historical books and the prophets.

9. MESSIANIC IDEAS. — A conqueror of Satan is promised (3:15); a substitute for sinful man is typified (22:13); a peaceful ruler is promised, springing from the tribe of Judah, and ruling the peoples (49:10).

10. TOPICS FOR SPECIAL STUDY. — The ac count of creation as related to the conclusions of science; the primitive state of man; the unity of the human race; the origin of sacrifices; the condition of the various nations at the time of the patriarchs.