Genesis: Difference between revisions

Genesis is one of books of the Law, also known as the Pentateuch. It begins with the [[Six-Day Creation|creation of the heavens and the earth]] and ends with the death of Joseph. Genesis is divided into the pre-patriarchal age (chapters 1–11) and the age of the patriarchs (chapters 12–50). The former is about the Creation and human society as a whole, while the latter focuses on the people chosen by God’s promise. Commencing with [[Abraham]], a scion of Adam, [[Isaac]] is born and [[Jacob]]’s twelve sons crystallize into the [[The Twelve Tribes of Israel|twelve tribes]] of Israel.

However, Abraham was childless until in his old age. At one point, Abraham considered making his servant Eliezer of [https://www.britannica.com/place/Damascus Damascus] his heir, but God said, “A son of your own body will be your heir.” Soon after, [[Hagar]], Sarah’s maidservant, bore him a son named [[Ishmael]]. However, God did not acknowledge him as Abraham’s heir, either. When Abraham was a hundred years old, [[Sarah (Abraham’s Wife)|Sarah]], who was ninety years old, gave birth to Isaac, and Isaac became the [[History of Abraham’s Family|heir of Abraham’s family]].

One day, God commanded Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. Without hesitation, Abraham took Isaac to the Mount Moriah early the next morning. Just as Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, a voice from heaven stopped and told him not to touch Isaac. At that moment, Abraham saw a ram caught in a thicket, which he then offered as a substitute for Isaac.

Isaac, who was born according to God’s promise, married Rebekah at the age of forty, but there had been no child between them for a long time. God promised that Isaac’s descendants would be fruitful and that He would fulfill His covenant with Abraham through Isaac. At sixty, he became the father of twin sons, Esau and Jacob. During Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, was pregnant with twins, God said that the oldest (Esau) would serve the youngest (Jacob).

[[Joseph (Son of Jacob)|Joseph]] was the eleventh of Jacob’s twelve sons. Envious of him, his brothers sold him into slavery, and he was taken to Egypt. Despite these hardships, God was with Joseph, enabling him to prosper in all circumstances. He served diligently in the household of Potiphar, the captain of the guard, eventually become the overseer. However, after being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, he was imprisoned. While in prison, Joseph interpreted the dream of the chief cupbearer, which eventually led to his interpreting Pharaoh’s dream and being appointed as prime minister of Egypt.