THE MURDER

OF ABEL
Genesis 4:1–16
 • Verses 1–16 show the effects of sin on Adam’s
children
– There is a progression of the wickedness of people
as time passed.
Gen. 4
– “Sin is more firmly entrenched and humanity is
further alienated from God” (Wenham, p. 100).
• Verses 17 – 26 trace the line of Cain and the birth of
Seth.
 • vv. 1–8
– Why did God accept Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s?
• Abel had faith (Heb. 11:4).
• By bringing a sacrifice “from the firstborn” and “from
Gen. 4 their fat,” Abel offered his best gifts to God. “By
offering the firstborn, Abel signified that he recognized
God as the Author and Owner of life” (Waltke, “Cain
and His Offering,” WTJ, p. 223).
• The choice is either because of Abel’s faith or because
of Abel giving his best offering to the Lord. Or maybe
Abel’s faith is evidenced by giving his best offerings.
 • vv. 1–8
– Why did God accept Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s?

Gen. 4 • The choice is either because of Abel’s faith or because of

Abel giving his best offering to the Lord. Or maybe
Abel’s faith is evidenced by giving his best offerings.
• Also, others believe that Abel’s offering of an animal
with its shed blood is what made it acceptable. However,
in Mosaic law, grain offerings were also accepted.
 • v. 7
– “Sin is crouching at the door”
• Probably, it means that the consequences of sin is
ready to master a person who gives in to temptation.
• Vv. 9– 16
Gen. 4 – Notice that in v. 9 God’s question does not mean he
does not know where Abel was. His question is given
to confront man with sin and elicit repentance.
– Cain is the first person who was cursed by God (v.11).
Man is getting more wicked as time passes.
 • What is Cain’s mark in v. 15?
Gen. 4 – We can only speculate. It may be a name (cf. Ezek. 9:4)
written on him or some mark that identified him as
under the protection of God.
THE SPREAD OF
CIVILIZATION

Genesis 4:17 – 26
• Vv. 17–22 narrates the first recorded
civilization in Scripture.
• God’s grace is evident upon Cain who built a
city and whose descendants were successful
in their respective professions.
• V. 19 records the first polygamy in the Bible.
This is a violation of God’s will for marriage—
Genesis 4
monogamous and heterosexual (2:24).
• The naming of Seth (meaning, “God has
given”) is Eve’s expression of faith “that God
would continue to provide seed despite
death.”
• The naming of Seth (meaning, “God has
given”) is Eve’s expression of faith “that God
would continue to provide seed despite
death.”
• V. 26 is known to contain the first known
prayer or public worship in the Bible
• Some Lessons in chapter 4:
Genesis 4
– God desires for sinners to repent.
– God’s grace continues to abound in spite of
sin.
– God continues to preserve a righteous seed.
WHAT BECAME
OF ADAM

Genesis 5:1–6:8
• Chapter 5:1 gives the second reference of toledot.
• It covers the longest period in world history.
• It links Adam to Noah through Seth.
• It shows the reality of the effect of sin: death (“and he died,” 8x)
• At the same time, it expresses the fulfillment of God’s mandate in 1:28.
• Seth’ s genealogy contrasts with the genealogy of Cain in the previous
chapter.
• Question: Is the genealogy in chapter 5 complete? (see p. 69–70)

1. The effects of the curse on humanity ch. 5

• Enoch, the sixth man from Seth, corresponds with Lamech, the sixth man from
Cain. Lamech, a bigamist and a vengeful murderer, seems to be contrasted with
Enoch, who “walked with God” (v. 22).
• Enoch’s translation to heaven anticipates the believers’ translation to heaven at the
end time.
• Enoch’s life teaches us that life comes by walking with God. He conquered
victoriously the effect of the curse.
• “Walked with God” is a metaphorical expression speaking of Enoch’s devotion to
God. His life is characterized by obedience and intimacy with God.

1. The effects of the curse on humanity ch. 5

• This section explains why God brought the Flood during the time of Noah.
• Two reasons for the flood: the sins of the sons of God (vv. 1–4) and the sins
of humankind generally (vv. 5–8).
• A controversial part of this passage is the identity of the “sons of God” in
6:2, 4. There are three views to interpret this phrase (see pp. 72–73).
– Fallen angels (cf. 2 Pet. 2:4; Jd 6)?
– Men from the godly family line of Seth (context)?
– Kings or men of high social status (Ps. 82:6–7; Jn 10:34–35?

2. God’s sorrow over man’s wickedness 6:1–8

• If you give primacy to context, then you would argue for view #2.
• With view #2, the term “daughters of men” refers to descendants of
ungodly Cain.
• 6:3 mentions the 120 years (“grace period”?) that God would judge
humankind with a flood.
• The Nephilim in 6:4 were not necessarily a result of the union of the sons of
God and daughters of men. The word literally means “fallen ones”—
referring either to their moral conditions or to their once heavenly identity.

2. God’s sorrow over man’s wickedness 6:1–8

• In 6:5–7, humankind in general are wicked and their thoughts are evil all
the time. This is the second reason for the flood.
• These verses remind us that God is not static or unmindful of his creation.
Since the fall of Adam, man has gotten far and far away from the
righteousness of God. His transcendence does not rule out his affection to
the people whom he created for his glory.
• Along with the immoral and wicked men was Noah who found favor with
God. By God’s grace alone, one can escape His judgment.

2. God’s sorrow over man’s wickedness 6:1–8

WHAT BECAME
OF NOAH

Genesis 6:9–9:29
• 6:9 begins the third of the of the eleven toledot sections in Genesis.
• Just as God rescued Enoch from death because he walked with God (5:22),
God rescued Noah from the Flood because he walked with God (6:9).
• Corruption due to sin results in wickedness (vv. 11–13--Read).
• Sin does not only affect humans but also nature as a whole (v. 13).
• Dimension of the ark: 450 ft long, 75 ft wide, and 45 ft high.
• Noahic covenant in v. 18—the Third Covenant in Scripture and the first
mention of the word covenant (kind: suzerainty covenant)

1. The Flood 6:9–8:22

a. Conditions and events before the Flood 6:9–7:10
 Age of Methuselah In relation to Lamech In relation to Noah In relation to the
Flood

187 years old Birth of Lamech (Gen.

5:25)

188 Lamech turned 1 year

old

369 Lamech turned 182 Noah was born (5:28–

years old and begat 29)
Noah (5:28–29)

964 Lamech died at the Noah was 595 years

age 777 (5:31) old.

969 (5:27) Noah turned 600 The Flood began (7:11)

years old (7:11)

1. The Flood 6:9–8:22

a. Conditions and events before the Flood 6:9–7:10
• 6:22—the descriptions of the ark (and the tabernacle) were written not to
impress the readers of the greatness of the object but to point us to the
care and obedience with which God’s servants express their faith.
• 7:1 shows that Noah stands as the only righteous person during his time. It
is, therefore, possible to stand faithful to God when all others are failing.
• Clean and unclean animals (by twos—male and female) entered the ark.
This distinction is not connected to the Laws of Uncleanness in the Mosaic
law. Its purpose is for future propagation, not separation (see 7:3).

1. The Flood 6:9–8:22

a. Conditions and events before the Flood 6:9–7:10
• Question: Were dinosaurs brought into the ark? Read Genesis 7:14–15.

1. The Flood 6:9–8:22

a. Conditions and events before the Flood 6:9–7:10
1. The Flood 6:9–8:22
b. The Flood proper 7:11–24
1. THE
FLOOD 6:9–
8:22
B. THE
FLOOD
PROPER
7:11–24
• 7:11—”The water for Noah’s Flood came from the release of great
underground sources of water (the fountains of the great deep with
contained pouring forth for 150 days), and from the collapse of the waters
above (presumably a vast water vapor blanket or canopy above the
atmosphere), giving the 40 days and nights of rain.”
• The Flood narrative an anticipation of the Exodus event? (see pp. 81–82).

1. The Flood 6:9–8:22

b. The Flood proper 7:11–24
Specific Event of Flood Date (with reference to Noah) Day of Flood
Rains begin Gen. 7:11 1st day
40 days of rain end 7:12 40th day
Waters prevail 150 days 7:24; 8:3 150th day
Ark rests on Mt. Ararat 8:4 151st day
Mountain tops become visible 8:5 225th day
Raven sent forth 8:6-7 264th day
Dove that Noah sent out returns 8:8-9 271st day
Dove sent out returns with branch 8:10-11 278th day
Dove does not return 8:12 285th day
Face of the ground is dry 8:13 315th day
Noah leaves the Ark 8:14-16 371st day

1. The Flood 6:9–8:22

b. The Flood proper 7:11–24
• 8:1–5
– God’s remembering Noah does not mean that God forget Noah and then
suddenly remembered him. To “remember” (Heb. zacar) is not just mere mental
reflection but it is accompanied by action.
– In 8:1, God remembered or “paid special attention” to Noah by extending mercy
to him, delivering that person from death.
– V. 4 mentions the “mountains of Ararat” is not a specific mountain but a range
of mountains. Modern Mt. Ararat is located on the border between Turkey and
Armenia.

1. The Flood 6:9–8:22

c. The aftermath of the Flood ch. 8
• 8:15 introduces the third dispensation, the dispensation of human
government.
– New feature: restraint through influence and power of civil government
– Function: protection of human life
– “Ended as a specific test of human obedience when God called Abraham to be
his instrument of blessing to the whole world (12:2).”
• 8:20—Noah built the first recorded altar in Scripture. This is for worship
purposes.

1. The Flood 6:9–8:22

c. The aftermath of the Flood ch. 8
• 9:1 – 7
– At the Noahic Covenant, Noah serves as the second Adam who head the new
family of humanity.
– God reiterates the divine mandate (cf. 1:26, 28–29; 2:16–17).
– Capital punishment for murder (v. 6), which “laid the foundation for all civil
government” (Keil and Delitzsch, 1:153).
– New feature: permission to eat animals (v. 3) and prohibition of eating blood (vv. 4–
5).

2. The Noahic Covenant 9:1–17

• 9:8–17
– Continuing with his covenant with Noah, God promised never to destroy the
earth by flood (v. 11). “Thus, this covenant is unconditional (v.9), universal (v.
11), and everlasting (v. 12).”

2. The Noahic Covenant 9:1–17