Genesis: The Mysterious Beginning (Part 1)

In the Book of Genesis there are 70 different stories scattered throughout the canon of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. Most of the stories are incredibly brief, leaving a person wondering why they even made the final cut, while other chronicles take you on the journey with them through the continuing tales.


The following is a brief description of the various Genesis stories:     

> Creation (Genesis 1 - 2)

The Book of Genesis begins with a mysterious Creator fashioning a universe together. For six days the Bible records that this omni-potent God separated light and darkness (1:4); divided the waters which were under the heavens from the waters which were above heaven (1:6-7); made the dry land, seas, grass, trees and herbs (1:10-12); the sun, moon and stars were created to divide the day from the night (1:14); fish and fowl were made to multiple upon the Earth (1:21); animals, beasts, insects and mankind [created in the image of the Creator] were brought into being (1:25-26). It is pointedly noted that the Creator rested on the seventh day after a busy week of articulating an entire universe, including a new inhabited planet known as Earth (2:2). This story, that is contained within the first chapter of Genesis, continues to remain quite mysterious among the scholars, theologians and scientists even unto our present time.

> Garden of Eden (Genesis 2 - 3)       

After creating man and woman, the Creator gave them a lovely place to live [Garden of Eden] with the following simple instructions to heed unto : 1 - be fruitful and multiply; 2 - take care of the land and animals; 3 - not to eat from a certain tree in the garden known as the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (2:15-17). Like any curious child just learning right from wrong, Adam and Eve disobeyed the Supreme Being that created everything and broke one of His major rules by eating from the tree that was off limits (3:6). Remarkably, it was a wily serpent that enticed the newly-formed humans to violate God's instructions. Most biblical scholars believe it was Satan, who took the form of a snake, to deceive God's creation (mankind). Christians refer to this episode as the "original sin" that has brought heartache upon mankind since almost literally the beginning of time. Judaism and Islam, on the other hand, does not hold Adam and Eve responsible for the sins of humanity, but the Jews and Muslims believe Adam and Eve were equally responsible for their transgression. However, all three Abrahamic religions agree that Adam and Eve were soon after evicted from the Garden of Eden for their sinful offense (3:23). A life of hardship would soon follow...

> Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)

Not long after leaving the Garden of Eden, the Bible says that two sons are born to Adam and Eve: Cain and Abel (4:1-2). The brothers' story is so brief, yet a horrific occurrence marks it for inclusion into scripture. The story of Cain and Abel is born of a fit of jealous rage in which the older brother becomes enraged with the younger brother over their offerings to the Creator. Abel took much consideration when choosing the fattest firstling from his flock, while Cain is assumed to take fruit from the ground without consideration. When Abel's offering is acceptable [in the eyes of the Lord], but his brother's is not, Cain is so incensed that he killed his own brother (4:8). However, God did spare Cain from being killed in a likewise manner [as his brother, Abel] by placing a mark upon his head so no man would kill him (4:15); his punishment was to be evicted from the land of his parents (Adam & Eve) and sent far away to a place called Nod (4:16). According to the Book of Jubilees, Cain murdered his brother with a stone. Afterwards, Cain was killed by the same instrument he used against his brother; his house fell on him and he was killed by its stones.

> Enoch, Son of Cain (Genesis 4)  
One of the shortest stories in Genesis is found in the story of Enoch, son of Cain. Cain, who was banished to the land of Nod, suddenly has a wife, she becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son [Enoch] (4:17a). Most biblical scholars believe Cain's wife was one of the unnamed daughters of Adam and Eve. However, according to Jubilees 4:9, Enoch's mother was listed as being named Awan. The story goes on to proclaim that a city was built and named for Cain's son [Enoch] (4:17b). It is unclear who exactly built the city of Enoch, whether it was Cain or Enoch himself. Then the story ends. A genealogy of Cain's descendants follows and leads up to the tale of Lamech (4:18). In keeping with Samaritan tradition, Enoch (son of Cain) was buried in Mount Ebal.

> Lamech and His Wives (Genesis 4)

The story of Lamech is somewhat peculiar and again brief. He has two wives [Adah and Zillah] and another murderous situation to contend with comes into play. Other than being duly noted as being the first polygamist on record, the brief tale only enumerates the names of Lamech's four children by the two wives, the sons' "professions" and the fact that he killed a man, just as Cain had done (4:23). "If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold." (4:24). Some biblical theologians interpret this passage as God threatening to wipe out Cain's entire lineage. And, Titus Flavius Josephus, in the book, Antiquity of the Jews, saw in the word "seventy-seven" as the number of Lamech's sons also. Then the stories of Cain and Lamech come to an end and their life events fade from history and scripture.

> Birth of Seth (Genesis 4)
The Bible then directs the story briefly back to Adam and Eve and the announcement of a third son, Seth. It is recorded that Seth was born unto Adam and Eve to replace the son [Abel] that Cain had killed (4:25). And, just like Cain, Enoch and Lamech, no further life events of Adam, Eve or Seth are mentioned again. Except for in the genealogies, these early patriarchs of humanity soon vanish from the holy scriptures completely.

> Enoch, Son of Jared (Genesis 5)
The 5th Chapter of Genesis is basically a genealogical record of Adam's descendants from his son, Seth, down to Noah, which was 10 generations. However, there is a mysterious narrative that pops up in the genealogies. It's an unceremonious tale about a man named Enoch, son of Jared (Adam's x4 grandson), who "walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (5:24). Some Christian denominations interpret this passage as Enoch entering Heaven alive. In Islam, Enoch is identified as Idris; the Quran contains two references to this Muslim prophet (The Prophets, 21:85; Maryam, 19:56-57) which are somewhat similar to the Christian text. While Enoch is referenced a few times throughout the Bible, this is his mystifying story. No further details are forthcoming from a biblical perspective. Many modern scholars attribute the Book of Enoch to this briefly mentioned man in Genesis. However, his quick mention does have a "beginning and ending" to his story unlike the early patriarchs of creation.

> The Giants (Genesis 6)

This story is quick, matter of fact and somewhat mind-boggling! In the opening verses of Chapter 6, the Bible refers to the "sons of God and daughters of men" (6:1-2). Who the Bible is referring to respectively has been an ongoing debate for many centuries. Then suddenly, scripture declares, "And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." (6:3) The majority of biblical theologians believe the Creator was addressing the "sons of God" here, which most agree were the fallen angels led by Lucifer (aka: Satan). Regardless of who these men and daughters were, it is recorded that their 'marital' union brought forth giants who lived on the earth (6:4). Then no other mention about these giants are made in the Book of Genesis. Disregarding the 'giant debate', the only thing that is actually clear about this tale is it abruptly ended and occurred long after Enoch's story took place. 

> Noah and the Great Flood (Genesis 6 - 9)

After the brief allegory of the giants, a new story develops and focuses on Noah, who would become the last patriarch of the Pre-Flood world. During the days of Noah the planet was a hub of wickedness, mayhem and violence. The Creator was displeased with his creation of mankind and decided to wipe the slate clean and begin again (6:13). However, He chose a righteous man named Noah [and his family] to survive the horrid flood that would wipe out mankind. From the precise instructions on how to build the ark that would save them to gathering two of every animal for the upcoming voyage, Noah did as God bid him to do (6:19-20). The story is one of faith and endurance as the non-stop rain washed away the lands that once were. It is recorded the rain lasted 40 days and nights (7:12) and Noah remained upon the flood waters for 150 days (7:24). "By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry." (8:13). It wasn't until after the waters had totally receded that the Creator once again gave mankind instructions to follow: be fruitful and multiply (9:1); eat only acceptable foods (9:4); whoever kills a man shall die in a likewise manner (9:6). A new promise was also established between God and mankind after the Great Flood; the covenant of the rainbow signifies the Creator's promise to never flood the world again (9:11). The flood narrative is one of the most popular biblical stories told in all cultures and religions around the world today.  

> Noah and the Vineyard (Genesis 9)

Not long after the flood narrative, a short, but strange story crops up about Noah planting a vineyard. Scripture only states, in the briefest of details, that Noah planted a vineyard, got drunk, passed out, his eldest son (Ham) saw his nakedness and informed his brothers about it. The story takes on an odd twist when his brothers (Shem and Japheth) become angry with Ham, and "took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness." (9:23). Other than in the beginning when God reprimanded Adam and Eve for knowing they were "naked", there has been no other reference to "nakedness" before this story unfolds, so it is hard to determine exactly what is meant by such a bizarre spin to the story. Regardless, Noah was not happy to learn of his son's "inappropriate" behavior and curses him to be a "servant to his brothers" (9:25-27). The story abruptly ends with Noah's death at 950 years old (9:29). The harsh punishment of Ham remains a hot topic among the modern scholars and theologians of biblical studies.

> Nimrod, Son of Cush (Genesis 10)

Other than the genealogies, Noah's three sons disappear from the scriptures and a new biblical character emerges known as Nimrod. He is introduced in the genealogies listed in Chapter 10, with more than an honorable mention. He was the grandson of Ham and the great-grandson of Noah. Nimrod is described as "a mighty hunter before the Lord" who held a grand kingdom in the land of Shinar, which included the city of Babel. (10:9-12). Besides being listed in the genealogies of Genesis 10, Nimrod's brief story in history was also recounted in the Talmud and by Josephus, who believed King Amraphel, who wars with Abraham later in Genesis, is none other than Nimrod himself. In this sense, Nimrod is portrayed as a king who was rebellious against God.

 > Tower of Babel (Gen 11)

While it is not recorded in the holy scriptures that Nimrod was the king of Babel when the tower was being built, the inference is there. The 1st-century Jewish interpretation found in Josephus' writings explain the construction of the tower as an arrogant act of defiance against God ordered by the tyrant Nimrod. The legend states that all people on the earth spoke one language during this time period and as the people built the tower within the city of Babel, the Creator watched from above as they laid one brick upon another. It is not recorded how high the tower became before God said, "Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."(11:6) To make a short story shorter, the Creator confounded the languages and "scattered them abroad upon the face of all the earth." (11:9). And, yet another mysterious Genesis story comes to an abrupt end.

> Introduction of Abram and Sarai (Genesis 12)

Once again the genealogies [of Adam] are listed between the story of Babel's tower and the introduction of the patriarch Abraham. The story of Abram and Sarai will become a saga with horrid wars, enigmatic meetings and deceptive undertones. Abram's father, Terah, is mentioned briefly at the beginning of the story, along with Terah's sons: Abram, Nahor and Haran (12:26). After the death of Abram's brother, Haran, some of the family uprooted from Ur [of the Chaldeans] and traveled to the city of Haran. Those undertaking the journey included: Terah, Abram, Sarai (Abram's wife) and Lot (Abram's nephew). Then Terah dies and leaves Abram to look after the family in Haran (12:32). The story of Abram and Sarai begins... once again the Creator uproots the patriarch and instructs him to continue on to Canaan and promised to make Abram a great nation from this land. 

> Abram and Sarai in Egypt (Gen. 12)
The next induction of the saga suddenly finds Abram and Sarai in Egypt. A famine had came upon the land; Abram was determined to take care of his family and faithfully went into the strange country on his way to Canaan. However, it becomes quite interesting when Abram asks his wife to say she is his sister while in Egypt for fear of the Egyptians killing him and taking his wife (12:11-13). "When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace." (12:14-15). The plan worked in the beginning for Pharaoh rewarded Abram well with livestock and servants. However, the feeling of goodwill did not last when Pharaoh discovered their deception and sent Abram and Sarai from the land of Egypt (12:18-20). Pharoah knew this man called Abram had caused [his] god to inflict the Egyptian empire with various plagues and wanted the patriarch gone. Abram was allowed to keep the livestock he was gifted and, thus fled from Egypt (12:17-20).

> Lot (Gen. 13-14)

Not long after leaving Egypt, a new story is inserted in the saga of the patriarch. Abram and Lot disperse and go their separate ways temporarily due to there not being enough land for both of them to feed their cattle and other animals (13:5-11). Abram went to Hebron, while Lot settled near the city of Sodom (13:12). During this time, a mighty war erupted between nine different kings, which included the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the vale of Siddim (14:1-4). The kings of Sodom and Gormorrah would later flee from battle and the remaining reigning kings captured the cities (14:10-11). When Abram discovered Lot had been taken prisoner, along with all his worldly goods and family, by the opposing kings [in particular the king of Elam, known as Chedorlaomer], Abram slaughtered all the opposing monarchs armies and rescued his nephew, as well as his entire household and goods (14:16). The king of Sodom was impressed with Abram and offered him many riches,"Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself." (14:21), which Abram eloquently turned down (14:22-24).

> Melchizedek (Gen. 14)

Oddly enough, the story of Melchizedek is short, to the point and leaves one wondering, "who was that man?". Right after the king of Sodom offered Abram riches, this mysterious king of Salem, known as Melchizedek, suddenly shows up in the saga. Melchizedek is referred to as a "priest of the most high God" (14:18). He blesses Abram and gives him the riches of his enemies. In return, Abram gives this mysterious king a tenth of all he owned. Then Melchizedek completely vanishes from the continuing epic of Abram. Melchezidek, while he made honorable mentions throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible, he never made another physical appearance in the Holy Book.

> Abram's Nightmare (Gen. 15)

The Creator reiterated He would make Abram a great nation, which confuses Abram as he had yet to produce a child (15:1-3). But God encouraged him to believe by faith that it would come to pass. Then Abram is struck with a horrendous nightmare that enlightened him further. God told him: "Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;" (15:13-14). The Lord made a covenant with Abram that very same day, saying, "Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:" (15:18). Whether Abram was mystified at this point is unclear, but he was definitely troubled by his horrid nightmare. 

> Hagar (Gen 16)

When Sarai failed to produce a child with Abram, she became impatient [with waiting] and sent her handmaiden, Hagar, to complete the task (16:1-2a). It is not recorded how Abram reacted to this request, but he did agree (16:2b). When Hagar successfully conceives, it is recorded that she suddenly despises Sarai (16:4). No reason is given for this sudden change of attitude, but the story goes on to relate that Hagar fled from her home after Sarai reprimanded her (16:5-6). An angel of the Lord finds the handmaiden and questioned her about why she had left, to which Hagar replied, "I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai." (16:8). Hagar is then instructed by the angel of the Lord to return home. She is told that her son's name should be called Ishmael and that he would one day become a great nation (16:9-10). Hagar submitted to God's will and returned to the household of her mistress.

> Circumcision (Gen 17)

When Abram turned 99 years old, the Creator came to him and told him to "walk before me and be thou perfect." (17:1). God once more informed that Abram would one day become a great multitude. "I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you." (17:6). It's at this point in the saga of Abram, the Creator changes his name to Abraham and orders him to circumcise all the male children in his household, including the male servants. According to scripture, this was God's way of enforcing the covenant of making Abraham a great nation. God stated, "this shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant." (17:13). Abraham obeyed God and had all the males of his household circumcised. The covenant of circumcision is still ordained by the majority of Jews, Christians and Muslims unto this day.

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