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The first book of the Pentateuch is called by the Jews "Bereshith", i.e., "in the beginning", because this is the first word of the book. It is generally known among [[Christian]]s by the name of [[Genesis]], i.e., "creation" or "generation" . It contains, according to the usual computation, the history of about two thousand three hundred and sixty-nine years.
Genesis is divided into two principal parts. The first part ([[Genesis 1(WEB)#Chapter 1|1-11]]) gives a general history of mankind down to the time of the Dispersion. The second part presents the early history of Israel down to the death and burial of [[Joseph]] ([[Genesis 1 (WEB)#Chapter 12|12-50]]).
There are five principal persons brought in succession under our notice in this book, and around these persons the history of the successive periods is grouped, viz., [[Adam]] ([[Genesis 1 (WEB)#Chapter 1|1-3]]), [[Noah]] ([[Genesis 1 (WEB)#Chapter 4|4-9]]), [[Abraham]] ([[Genesis 1 (WEB)#Chapter 10|10-25:18]]), [[Isaac]] ([[Genesis 1 (WEB)#Chapter 25|25:19-35:29]]), and [[Jacob]] ([[Genesis 1 (WEB)#Chapter 36|36-50]]).
In this book we have several prophecies concerning [[Christ]] ([[Genesis 3:15|3:15]]; [[Genesis 12:3|12:3]]; [[Genesis 18:18|18:18]]; [[Genesis 22:18|22:18]]; [[Genesis 26:4|26:4]]; [[Genesis 28:14|28:14]]; [[Genesis 49:10|49:10]]). The author of this book was Moses. Under divine guidance he may indeed have been led to make use of materials already existing in primeval documents, or even of traditions in a trustworthy form that had come down to his time, purifying them from all that was unworthy; but the hand of Moses is clearly seen throughout in its composition.
{{returnto}} [[Easton's Bible Dictionary]] | [[Genesis]]