Genesis

ANNOTATIONS ON THE PENTATEUCH OR FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES, AND PARTICULARLY ON THE FIRST OF THEM CALLED GENESIS.

The Argument

The five Books of Moses are sometimes contained under one Title, and so from the most observable matter delivered in them, and dispersed through them, they are called Torah the Law; and from their number, and Juncture, the Title given them by the Greeks is the Pentateuch, or fivefold Volume; for all five anciently made but one Book, as did the twelve smaller Prophets; and thence it is that the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, begin with words of Coherence, which carry on the subsequent matter as by way of orderly contexture, and connexion with what was said before.

Of these the first Book in particular is called by the Hebrews Bereshith, from the initial words of it; after which manner they gave names to divers other Books: the Greeks call it Genesis, be– cause it delivereth the Story of the World’s Original, the Creation of Adam and Eve, their lapse, and off-spring in their degenerated condition, the multiplying of sin in their multiplied posteri– ty, whereupon followed the universal flood that overwhelmed all living creatures of the Air and Earth, except a very few of each sort, which were reserved as a Stock for a new Plantation in the next Age; with other memorable matters of the Patriarchs, especially of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, with whose death Genesis endeth; which was in the year of the world 2368. as they bring in the accompt, who have made it upon diligent perusal, and comparing of particulars.

Object. All this time and about thirteen years more were expired before Moses was borne, how then had he the knowledge of things done and past so many Centuries preceding his birth?

Answ. He might hear much by Tradition from the sons or nephews of Joseph, as they from Jacob, he from Isaac, Isaac from Abraham, Abraham from Sem, Sem from Noah, Noah from Methu– selah, and he from Adam but the way of tradition was subject to corruption, and at long running the stream of that channel carrieth with it many dregs of erroneous additions; wherefore, though Moses might receive some Historical reports from some eminent persons of the precedent ages, his pen was guided by the unerring Spirit of God, while he wrote this and the four books following:

whereof though Eusebius lib. 7. cap. 2. de praepar. Evang. supposed the Book of Genesis was composed while he kept the flock of his father in law in the land of Midian, yet it is rather to be believed, that that as well as the rest was indicted by him not when he was a private but a public person, inspired and instructed by God for that purpose: but whether he received revelations from God for the contents of this and the rest of the Pentateuch, when he called him into the Mount, Exod. 24. 12. Or, whether writing many things in the manner of a Diary (in all but the first) he had his informations daily communicated to him by the Spirit of God, it is not to be determined by any resolution of man: yet this is most certain, whereon we may rest, that the Spirit of God, which to other Prophets revealed things to come, inspired him with the Revelation for things already done, which is equally infallible in the knowledge of forepassed, and future persons, mat- ters, words, acts, or events, at what distance soever.