Genesis Bible Commentary

Beyond Today Bible Commentary: Genesis

The book of Genesis is the first of the five books that Moses wrote (known collectively as the Pentateuch or Torah), apparently during the 40 years that Israel wandered in the wilderness before being brought into Canaan, the Promised Land, under Joshua. The other four books of Moses are Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Table of Contents

Genesis 1:1–2:4

15 minutes
Creation, Earth's six-day renovation, the Sabbath

Genesis 2:4-25

5 minutes
Man and woman in the Garden of Eden

Genesis 3

5 minutes
Taking from the forbidden tree

Genesis 4

4 minutes
Cain and Abel

Genesis 5

2 minutes
Genealogy of Adam

Genesis 6

5 minutes
The antediluvian world, God calls Noah

Genesis 7

3 minutes
The flood begins

Genesis 8

2 minutes
The flood ends

Genesis 9

3 minutes
Noachian Covenant, the cursing of Canaan

Genesis 10

2 minutes
Table of nations descended from Noah

Genesis 11

3 minutes
The tower of Babel, genealogy of Shem

Genesis 12

3 minutes
Call of Abram (Abraham), Abram journeys to Canaan and Egypt

Genesis 13

3 minutes
Abram and Lot separate

Genesis 14

5 minutes
Abram rescues Lot and tithes to Melchizedek

Genesis 15

3 minutes
Abram accounted righteous, future slavery and deliverance

Genesis 16

3 minutes
Hagar and Ishmael

Genesis 17

4 minutes
Circumcision and future greatness

Genesis 18

3 minutes
Visit of God and angels, Abraham reasons with God

Genesis 19

2 minutes
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 20

1 minute
Abraham's dealing with Abimelech

Genesis 21

3 minutes
Birth of Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael leave, covenant with Abimelech

Genesis 22

4 minutes
The offering of Isaac, family of Nahor

Genesis 23

4 minutes
The death of Sarah

Genesis 24

3 minutes
A wife for Isaac

Genesis 25

3 minutes
Abraham and Keturah, death of Abraham, families of Ishmael and Isaac, Esau sells his birthright

Genesis 26

3 minutes
Isaac and the Philistines

Genesis 27:1-28:5

2 minutes
Jacob's deception to get blessing, Esau's future, Jacob flees Esau

Genesis 28:6-22

3 minutes
Esau marries an Ishmaelitess, Jacob's vision and vow at Bethel

Genesis 29:1-30:24

6 minutes
Jacob marries Leah and Rachel, fathers children

Genesis 30:25-43

4 minutes
Jacob's deal with Laban concerning the flocks

Genesis 31

4 minutes
Jacob departs from Laban

Genesis 32

5 minutes
Esau coming out to meet Jacob, wrestling with God

Genesis 33

2 minutes
Jacob meets Esau

Genesis 34

4 minutes
Shechem and Dinah, Shechemites slaughtered

Genesis 35:1-26

3 minutes
Return to Bethel, death of Rachel, sin of Reuben

Genesis 35:27-36:43

2 minutes
Death of Isaac, family of Esau

Genesis 37

4 minutes
Joseph's dreams, sold into slavery by his brothers

Genesis 38

2 minutes
Judah and Tamar

Genesis 39

3 minutes
Joseph a slave in Potiphar's house

Genesis 40

2 minutes
Joseph in prison, interprets dreams

Genesis 41

4 minutes
Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph's rise to power

Genesis 42-43

2 minutes
Joseph's brothers come to Egypt and return home

Genesis 44

2 minutes
Joseph's cup

Genesis 45

2 minutes
Joseph reveals himself

Genesis 46-47

3 minutes
Jacob comes to Egypt, Joseph's handling of the famine

Genesis 48

2 minutes
Blessings upon Ephraim and Manasseh

Genesis 49:1-28

3 minutes
Jacob prophesies of Israel in the last days

Genesis 49:29-50:26

2 minutes
Deaths of Jacob and Joseph