Genesis 2 - Introduction
_GOD CEASING FROM ALL HIS WORKS, BLESSETH THE SEVENTH DAY: PLANTS THE GARDEN OF EDEN: INTERDICTS MAN FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE: AND FORMS EVE FROM THE SIDE OF ADAM._... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOD CEASING FROM ALL HIS WORKS, BLESSETH THE SEVENTH DAY: PLANTS THE GARDEN OF EDEN: INTERDICTS MAN FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE: AND FORMS EVE FROM THE SIDE OF ADAM._... [ Continue Reading ]
HOST OF THEM— All the creatures in the heavens and the earth are called their _hosts_, for their multitude, variety, order, power, and subjection to the Lord of hosts. Nothing remained farther to be done; the whole was finished to the utmost perfection, and regulated in the exactest order.... [ Continue Reading ]
RESTED— This word (ישׁבת _ishboth_) is not opposed to _weariness,_ but to _work,_ or _action._ And therefore all the idle sarcasms which have been cast upon Moses and his God, are built upon ignorance and misunderstanding of the fact. God, an Almighty and Omnipotent Spirit, can neither faint nor be... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD BLESSED THE SEVENTH DAY, AND SANCTIFIED IT— _Blessed_, i.e.. says Mr. Locke, appointed it to be kept as a day of holy rejoicing; _and sanctified it, i.e._. separated, or set it apart, for his own use; that, upon it, men might cease from their work, as he had ceased from his; and employ their tim... [ Continue Reading ]
GENERATIONS— תולדות _Toldoth,_ sometimes signifies the origin of the thing treated of, and sometimes the posterity of those who are mentioned. Here it means the origin, or successive production, of the world; as much as to say, "this is the true and faithful account of the origin," &c. _LORD_— By th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EVERY PLANT OF THE FIELD, BEFORE IT WAS IN THE EARTH— That is, God when he made the heavens and the earth, made also, by his immediate power, every plant in its state of perfection, with its seed in it; before the several plants, thus produced, grew and increased in the natural and regular metho... [ Continue Reading ]
FORMED MAN OF THE DUST OF THE EARTH— Having given us a general account of the formation of man, and of the dignity of his species, in that he was made _in the image of his Maker;_ Moses proceeds to give us a more circumstantial account of his formation; his first station, Genesis 2:8 employment, Gen... [ Continue Reading ]
PLANTED A GARDEN— It pleased God to provide for man, when formed, a proper place of reception, a garden. The Hebrew word גן _gan,_ which we render _garden,_ and frequently, _paradise,_ signifies, properly, a _fenced_ or _enclosed garden: eastward,_ must be taken in reference to the situation of Mose... [ Continue Reading ]
OF EVERY TREE, &C.— Rich in his bounty, and free in his donations, the liberal Creator of all things here gives a large and extensive grant to his creature, allowing the free use of all those various excellencies with which he had furnished this garden. In this case surely it was but reasonable, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NOT GOOD, &C.— Though man was possessed of all the bliss of Paradise, one thing was still wanting to his felicity. He was alone; nor amidst the various orders of creatures could find any like unto himself. Angels were rational spirits, but incorporeal; beasts corporeal, but irrational. God saw... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUT OF THE GROUND GOD FORMED, &C.— _Had_ formed beast and fowl; see remarks on Genesis 2:20; Genesis 2:1 : It seems probable that this account of the review of the creatures taken by Adam, was appointed by God, among many other reasons, for the end of shewing him, that there was among them none... [ Continue Reading ]
CAUSED A DEEP SLEEP— Adam having, by the Divine assistance, surveyed the creatures, whom he found corresponding according to their species, and in all respects adapted to each other, became fully sensible that there was none like himself, none that could be a proper mate and companion to him, endued... [ Continue Reading ]
ADAM SAID, THIS IS NOW BONE OF MY BONES, &C.— _Adam_ here begins to be used as a proper name; not as the general name of man. The several genera of beasts and birds had already passed before Adam, to which he gave names expressive of their respective natures and properties: but among all these, ther... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE SHALL A MAN, &C.— It is evident, that Adam, before he expressed these words, had been instructed by God in the nature of that institution to which these words refer, and the nature of which they so aptly and fully express; teaching to us the close union of the marriage-state; an union near... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WERE BOTH NAKED—AND NOT ASHAMED— "Shame," says Mr. Locke, "is an uneasiness of the mind upon the thought of having done something which is indecent, or which will lessen the valued esteem which others have for us." It was impossible, therefore, that our first parents, in their state of perf... [ Continue Reading ]