Genesis 2: 8 - 25
In verses 8-14 tell us that God placed man in a garden called Eden, and it goes on to describe many details of what that garden includes.
In verse 9 we learn that God caused many trees to grow out of the ground and that those trees had purpose. They were to be pleasing to the eye and good for food. We are also told that there were two special trees that were unique from the others. How do we know they are unique? They are specially mentioned with specific names: “the tree of life” and “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.
In verses 10-14 we learn that “a rive watering the garden flowed from Eden” and that “from there it was separated into four headwaters.” The verses go on to give each headwater’s name and location. These names would have been the current names in use at the time Moses wrote the book of Genesis. The purpose seems to have been to give a general location for the Garden of Eden. However, two of the names and some details given have lost their meaning over the passage of time and so the locations described are not clear.
*I wonder if there is any significance to the number of headwaters??
In verse 15 we are reminded that God put man in the Garden of Eden, but this time with the added detail that man was put there for a reason. He was to work the garden and take care of it.
*Notice that man was to work even before “the fall.” He was never intended to be idle.
In verses 16-17 God gives His first command to the man: “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,”
But God does not stop with just the command. He even goes on to graciously give a reason for His command: “for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
*Certainly the King of all creation was not required to give such an explanation. He might simply have stated His command and expected it to be obeyed. Instead, He chose to show incredible caring and grace in choosing to give this explanation.
In verse 18 God makes a statement that explains His purpose in creating a woman: to make a “helper suitable for him” and that he may not be alone.
*If a woman takes exception to being man's helper, she should know this: The word translated in this verse as "helper" is the Hebrew word "ezer". This same Hebrew word is used to describe God in many O.T. verses. (For example: Ex. 18:4 ; Duet. 33:29 ; Psa 33: 20 , 70:5 , 115:9 -11 , & especially Hsa 13:9 where God refers to himself with this word!)
In verse 19 we are reminded that God created all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. However, we are now told that even though God created them, He gave man the privilege of naming them.
Verse 20 confirms that the man accepted this gift and did indeed name all the livestock, birds of the air, and beasts of the field. It then goes on to say that Adam (this is the first mention of the man’s name) was not able to find a suitable helper among the animals.
*It is clear that this was not a surprise to God, for when he mentioned man needing a suitable helper (v18), He did not say, “I will find a helper suitable for him.” Instead, He said, “I will make a helper suitable for him.”
In verse 21 we learn that God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, took one of the man’s ribs, and closed up the place with flesh.
*Note the man’s total lack of aid in this. This was something God was doing. Man had no active part in it.
*It is also a bit humorous to note that this reads almost as the world’s first anesthetized surgery. Talk about ahead of your time! ;-D he he
In verse 22 we are told that God made a woman from the man’s rib and then brought her to the man.
*Again I notice man’s total lack of contribution and God’s truly awesome power of creation. It is a humbling contrast.
*Also, I find it interesting that the verse seems to imply that the man was not able to watch the woman being formed, for God first made her, then brought her to him.
In verse 23 we have man’s response to God’s creation of woman. In his response he names the new creation “woman” as a confirmation that she was made from a part of him.
Verse 24 makes the connection between what has just been described (the creation of man & woman) and the institution of marriage. It also establishes some of the method of marriage- that the man must leave his father and mother and be united to his wife. And it refers symbolically to the nature of marriage as being irreversable.
*The verse begins with the words, “for this reason”. Q: What reason? A: “for she was taken out of man.” (v23)
*”they will become one flesh” That which is one cannot/should not be divided into two.
*It seems obvious from the context of this verse that marriage is intended to be a monogamous relationship which is to continue for the duration of their lifetime.
Verse 25 provides us with some information that will help us to have greater insight into the story of “the fall” which follows in chapter 3. It tells us that both the man and his wife were naked and yet felt no shame. In chapter 3 we learn that the man and the woman only began to feel shame after they had sinned.
In verse 9 we learn that God caused many trees to grow out of the ground and that those trees had purpose. They were to be pleasing to the eye and good for food. We are also told that there were two special trees that were unique from the others. How do we know they are unique? They are specially mentioned with specific names: “the tree of life” and “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.
In verses 10-14 we learn that “a rive watering the garden flowed from Eden” and that “from there it was separated into four headwaters.” The verses go on to give each headwater’s name and location. These names would have been the current names in use at the time Moses wrote the book of Genesis. The purpose seems to have been to give a general location for the Garden of Eden. However, two of the names and some details given have lost their meaning over the passage of time and so the locations described are not clear.
*I wonder if there is any significance to the number of headwaters??
In verse 15 we are reminded that God put man in the Garden of Eden, but this time with the added detail that man was put there for a reason. He was to work the garden and take care of it.
*Notice that man was to work even before “the fall.” He was never intended to be idle.
In verses 16-17 God gives His first command to the man: “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,”
But God does not stop with just the command. He even goes on to graciously give a reason for His command: “for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
*Certainly the King of all creation was not required to give such an explanation. He might simply have stated His command and expected it to be obeyed. Instead, He chose to show incredible caring and grace in choosing to give this explanation.
In verse 18 God makes a statement that explains His purpose in creating a woman: to make a “helper suitable for him” and that he may not be alone.
*If a woman takes exception to being man's helper, she should know this: The word translated in this verse as "helper" is the Hebrew word "ezer". This same Hebrew word is used to describe God in many O.T. verses. (For example: Ex. 18:4 ; Duet. 33:29 ; Psa 33: 20 , 70:5 , 115:9 -11 , & especially Hsa 13:9 where God refers to himself with this word!)
In verse 19 we are reminded that God created all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. However, we are now told that even though God created them, He gave man the privilege of naming them.
Verse 20 confirms that the man accepted this gift and did indeed name all the livestock, birds of the air, and beasts of the field. It then goes on to say that Adam (this is the first mention of the man’s name) was not able to find a suitable helper among the animals.
*It is clear that this was not a surprise to God, for when he mentioned man needing a suitable helper (v18), He did not say, “I will find a helper suitable for him.” Instead, He said, “I will make a helper suitable for him.”
In verse 21 we learn that God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, took one of the man’s ribs, and closed up the place with flesh.
*Note the man’s total lack of aid in this. This was something God was doing. Man had no active part in it.
*It is also a bit humorous to note that this reads almost as the world’s first anesthetized surgery. Talk about ahead of your time! ;-D he he
In verse 22 we are told that God made a woman from the man’s rib and then brought her to the man.
*Again I notice man’s total lack of contribution and God’s truly awesome power of creation. It is a humbling contrast.
*Also, I find it interesting that the verse seems to imply that the man was not able to watch the woman being formed, for God first made her, then brought her to him.
In verse 23 we have man’s response to God’s creation of woman. In his response he names the new creation “woman” as a confirmation that she was made from a part of him.
Verse 24 makes the connection between what has just been described (the creation of man & woman) and the institution of marriage. It also establishes some of the method of marriage- that the man must leave his father and mother and be united to his wife. And it refers symbolically to the nature of marriage as being irreversable.
*The verse begins with the words, “for this reason”. Q: What reason? A: “for she was taken out of man.” (v23)
*”they will become one flesh” That which is one cannot/should not be divided into two.
*It seems obvious from the context of this verse that marriage is intended to be a monogamous relationship which is to continue for the duration of their lifetime.
Verse 25 provides us with some information that will help us to have greater insight into the story of “the fall” which follows in chapter 3. It tells us that both the man and his wife were naked and yet felt no shame. In chapter 3 we learn that the man and the woman only began to feel shame after they had sinned.
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