Bible History - Old Testament www.williambranhamstorehouse.com BIBLE HISTORY Old Testament By Alfred Edersheim www.williambranhamstorehouse.com 1 Bible History - Old Testament BIBLE HISTORY Old Testament Alfred Edersheim 1825 – 1889 This electronic edition is a reproduction of the work ‘Bible History, Old Testament’ that appeared in 1890, comprising seven volumes. www.williambranhamstorehouse.com 2 Bible History - Old Testament www.williambranhamstorehouse.com 3 Bible History - Old Testament VOLUME I THE WORLD BEFORE THE FLOOD and THE HISTORY OF THE PATRIARCHS www.williambranhamstorehouse.com 4 Bible History - Old Testament PREFACE One of the most marked and hopeful signs of our time is the increasing attention given on all sides to the study of Holy Scripture. Those who believe and love the Bible, who have experienced its truth and power, can only rejoice at such an issue. They know that "the Word of God liveth and abideth for ever," that "not one tittle" of it "shall fail;" and that it is "able to make wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Accordingly they have no reason to dread the results either of scientific investigation, or of searching inquiry into "those things which are most surely believed among us." For, the more the Bible is studied, the deeper will be our conviction that "the foundation of God standeth sure." It is to help, so far as we can, the reader of Holy Scripture - not to supersede his own reading of it -that the series, of which this is the first volume, has been undertaken. In writing it I have primarily had in view those who teach and those who learn, whether in the school or in the family. But my scope has also been wider. I have wished to furnish what may be useful for reading in the family, - what indeed may, in some measure, serve the place of a popular exposition of the sacred history. More than this, I hope it may likewise prove a book to put in the hands of young men, - not only to show them what the Bible really teaches, but to defend them against the insidious attacks arising from misrepresentation and misunderstanding of the sacred text. With this threefold object in view, I have endeavored to write in a form so popular and easily intelligible as to be of use to the Sunday-school teacher, the advanced scholar, and the Bible-class; progressing gradually, in the course of this and the next volume, from the more simple to the more detailed. At the same time, I have taken up the Scripture narrative successively, chapter by chapter, always marking the portions of the Bible explained, that so, in family or in private reading, the sacred text may be compared with the explanations furnished. Finally, without mentioning objections on the part of opponents, I have endeavored to meet those that have been raised, and that not by controversy, but rather by a more full and correct study of the sacred text itself in the Hebrew original. In so doing, I have freely availed myself not only of the results of the best criticism, German and English, but also of the aid of such kindred studies as those of Biblical geography and antiquities, the Egyptian and the Assyrian monuments, etc. But when all has been done, the feeling grows only more strong that there is another and a higher understanding of the Bible, without which all else is vain. Not merely to know the meaning of the narratives of Scripture, but to realize their spiritual - 4 - www.williambranhamstorehouse.com 5 Bible History - Old Testament application; to feel their eternal import; to experience them in ourselves, so to speak - this is the only profitable study of Scripture, to which all else can only serve as outward preparation. Where the result is "doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness," the Teacher must be He, by whose "inspiration all Scripture is given." "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." But the end of all is Christ - not only "the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth," but also He in whom "all the promises of God are Yea and Amen." A. E. Heniach Bournemouth. - 5 - www.williambranhamstorehouse.com 6 Bible History - Old Testament TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE 4 INTRODUCTION 15 CHAPTER 1: Creation - Man in the Garden of Eden - The Fall. 20 CHAPTER 2 : Cain and Abel - The Two Ways and the Two Races. 25 CHAPTER 3: Seth and his Descendants - The Race of Cain 30 CHAPTER 4: Genealogy of the Believing Race, through Seth. (GENESIS 5) 34 CHAPTER 5: The Universal Corruption of Man - Preparation for the Flood. (GENESIS 6) 38 CHAPTER 6: The Flood (GENESIS 7-8:15) 44 HISTORY OF THE PATRIARCHS 50 CHAPTER 7: After the Flood - Noah's Sacrifice - Noah's Sin - Noah's Descendants. (GENESIS 8:15-9:28.) 51 CHAPTER 8: Genealogy of Nations - Babel - Confusion of Tongues (GENESIS 10-11:10) 57 CHAPTER 9: The Nations and their Religion (Job) 63 CHAPTER 10: The Chronology of the Early History of the Bible - Commencement of the History of God's Dealings with Abraham and his Seed 67 CHAPTER 11: The Calling of Abram - His Arrival in Canaan, and Temporary Removal to Egypt (GENESIS 11:27-13:4) 71 CHAPTER 12: The Separation of Abram and Lot - Abram at Hebron - Sodom plundered - Lot rescued - The fleeting with Melchizedek (GENESIS 13, 14) 78 CHAPTER 13: The Twofold Promise of "a Seed" to Abraham - Ishmael - Jehovah visits Abraham - The Destruction of Sodom - Abraham's Sojourn at Gerar - His Covenant with Abimelech (GENESIS 15-20, 21:22-34) 84 CHAPTER 14: Birth of Isaac - Ishmael sent away - Trail of Abraham's faith in the Command to sacrifice Isaac -Death of Sarah - Death of Abraham (GENESIS 21-25:18) 91 CHAPTER 15: The Marriage of Isaac - Birth of Esau and Jacob - Esau sells his Birthright - Isaac at Gerar - Esau's Marriage (GENESIS 24; 25:19-26:35) 98 CHAPTER 16: Isaac's Blessing obtained by Jacob deceitfully - Esau's Sorrow - Evil Consequences of their error to all the members of their family - Jacob is sent to Laban - Isaac renews and fully gives him the Blessing of Abraham (GENESIS 27-28:9) 105 - 2 - www.williambranhamstorehouse.com 7 Bible History - Old Testament CHAPTER 17: Jacob's Vision at Bethel - His Arrival at the House of Laban - Jacob's double Marriage and Servitude - His Flight from Haran - Pursuit of Laban, and Reconciliation with Jacob (GENESIS 28:10-31:55) 111 CHAPTER 18: Jacob at Mahanaim - The Night of Wrestling - Reconciliation between Jacob and Esau - Jacob settles at Shechem - Jacob proceeds to Bethel to pay his Vow - Death of Rachel - Jacob settles at Hebron (GENESIS 32-36) 119 CHAPTER 19: Joseph's Early Life - He is Sold by his Brethren into Slavery - Joseph in the House of Potiphar -Joseph in Prison (GENESIS 37-39) 127 CHAPTER 20: Joseph in Prison - The Dream of Pharaoh's Two Officers - The Dream of Pharaoh - Joseph's Exaltation - His Government of Egypt (GENESIS 40, 41; 47:13-26) 134 CHAPTER 21: The Sons of Jacob arrive in Egypt to Buy Corn - Joseph Recognizes his Brothers - Imprisonment of Simeon - The Sons of Jacob come a second time, bringing Benjamin with them - Joseph tries his Brethren - He makes himself known to them - Jacob and his family prepare to descend into Egypt (GENESIS 42-45) 142 CHAPTER 22: Departure of Jacob and his family into Egypt - Jacob's Interview with Pharaoh - His last Illness and command to be buried in Canaan - Adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh among the Sons of Israel (GENESIS 46-48) 150 CHAPTER 23: The Last Blessing of Jacob - Death of Jacob - Death of Joseph (GENESIS 49:1) 156 - 3 - www.williambranhamstorehouse.com 8 Bible History - Old Testament Dates of Events Recorded in the Book of Genesis, According to Hales, Ussher, and Keil. Column 1 - Ussher, Before Christ; Column 2 - Ussher. Year of the World; Column 3 - Event; Column 4 - Hales, Before Christ; Column 5 - Hales, Year of the World; Column 6 - Keil, Year after the immigration into Canaan. Ussher Ussher Event Hales Hales Keil B.C. Y.W. B.C. Y.W. Y.C. 4004 1 The Creation 5411 1 3874 130 Birth of Seth 5181 230 3769 235 Birth of Enos 4976 435 3679 325 Birth of Cainan 4786 625 3609 395 Birth of Mahaleel 4616 795 3074 930 Death of Adam 4481 930 3544 460 Birth of Jared 4451 960 3382 622 Birth of Enoch 4289 1122 3317 687 Birth of Methuselah 4124 1287 3130 874 Birth of Lamech 3937 1474 3017 987 Translation of Enoch 3914 1487 2948 1056 Birth of Noah 3755 1656 2348 1656 Deluge 3155 2256 2346 1658 Birth of Arphaxad 3153 2258 2311 1693 Birth of Salah 3018 2393 2281 1723 Birth of Heber 2888 2523 1998 2006 Death of Noah 2805 2606 2247 1757 Birth of Pelag 2754 2657 2233 1771 Confusion of Tongues 2554 2857 2217 1787 Birth of Reu 2624 2787 2185 1819 Birth of Serug 2492 2919 2155 1849 Birth of Nahor 2362 3049 2126 1878 Birth of Terah 2283 3128 1998 2006 Death of Noah 1996 2008 Birth of Abram 2153 3258 1921 2083 Abram in Canaan 2078 3333 1 1910 2094 Birth of Ismael 2067 3344 11 Beg. Of Circumcision 24 1896 2108 Birth of Isaac 2053 3358 25 Death of Sarah 62 1856 2148 Marriage of Isaac 2013 3398 65 1836 2168 Birth of Esau & Jacob 1993 3418 85 Death of Abraham 100 Esau's Marriage 125 Death of Ishmael 1916 3495 148 1760 Jacob to Padan Aram 162 Jacob's Marriage 169 1745 2259 Birth of Joseph 1902 3509 176 1739 2265 Jacob's to Canaan 1896 3515 182 1732 2272 Jacob's at Hebron 1889 3522 192 www.williambranhamstorehouse.com 9 Bible History - Old Testament 1728 2276 Joseph sold into Egypt 1885 3526 193 1716 2288 Death of Isaac 1873 3538 205 1715 2289 Joseph Gov. of Egypt 1872 3539 206 1706 2298 Jacob goes to Egypt 1863 3548 215 1689 2315 Death of Jacob 1846 3565 232 1635 2369 Death of Joseph 1792 3619 286 The reader will find in ch. 10, some explanations regarding the systems of Chronology by Ussher and Hales. Hales professes to follow the text of the Greek or LXX translation of the Old Testament, correcting it by the Jewish historian Josephus, whose dates, however, are often manifestly very inaccurate. Ussher professes to follow the Hebrew text. The modern Jewish chronology places the birth of Isaac, when Abraham was one hundred years old, in the year of the world 2048. With this latter very nearly agrees the chronology adopted by a celebrated modern German commentator, Professor Keil, who places it only two years earlier, viz. in 2046. We have given in the last column, according to the chronology of Keil, the succession of events after the migration of Abram into Canaan. Keil places the latter event in the year of the world 2021, and before Christ 2137. From this the reader will easily be able to calculate all the other dates according to the chronology of Keil, which on the whole seems to us the most reliable. He bases it on the following data: according to 1 Kings 6:1, the Temple of Solomon was built 480 years after the Exodus, while the deportation of Israel into Babylon took place 406 years after the building of the Temple, that is, in all, 886 years after the Exodus. But as the commencement of the Exile must have fallen in the year 606 before Christ, we have the year 1492 before Christ (or 2666 after the Creation) as that of the Exodus. The year 606 before Christ is fixed as that of the commencement of the Babylonish exile, because it ended after 70 years, in the first year of the sole reign of Cyrus, which we know to have been the year 536 before Christ. www.williambranhamstorehouse.com 10