DATE
|
EVENT
|
LESSONS / COMPARISON WITH OTHER VERSES
|
ATTRIBUTES OF GOD / INTERESTING DETAILS |
| 0 AM (4004 BC |
Creation (ch 1-2) |
- we were created in God's image (what an honor!) - we have dominion over the animals (use it wisely) - everything we have was created by Him (gratitude) - love the way He made us (He doesn't make mistakes) - spouses are to live in unity |
- first thing God created was Light - powerful enough to speak things into existence - provided necessary resources for species to thrive - was pleased with His creations - doesn't want us to be alone |
| 0 AM (4004 BC |
Sabbath (ch 2) |
- remember it's holy, a time reminding us to honor Him - rest on Sabbath, don't cause others to work (Ex. 20:8-11) - prepare day before, prevent work (Ex. 16:23, Mk. 15:42) - gather together in "holy convocation" (Lev. 23:3) - reminds us it's the Lord who purifies us (Ezek. 20:12) - don't seek our own pleasure or talk idly (Isa.58:13) |
- ceased creation on the seventh day - set aside that day as holy (sanctified it) |
| 0 AM (4004 BC |
Temptation (ch 3) |
- disobeying God sometimes looks appealing - sin has consequences and causes shame - we can't hide our sins from God - confess our sins to Him |
- knows everything that we do - encouraged confession - showed mercy by clothing them - kept them from eating of tree of life in fallen state |
| Cain/Abel (ch 4) |
- children are gifts from God, show gratitude (Gen. 4:1) - give Him our best in faith, not our leftovers for show - don't resent God's correction of us - avoid jealousy, envy and festering anger - sins start first with negative thoughts - small sins, if left unchecked, can lead to bigger ones - don't deceitfully deny our sins - remain faithful even in the face of death |
- has good reason for all He does - didn't punish Cain without cause - if we are insincere in our obedience, He knows - even downcast expressions don't escape His notice - mercifully reasoned with Cain, encouraging change - asked Cain to learn the root cause of His anger - Cain wicked, Abel just: reason for murder (1 Jn 3:12) - the first recorded murder was of a righteous man - Heb. v10: "bloods" cried (descendants he'd have had? - God's mercy in not killing Cain->time to repent |
|
| 130 AM (3875 BC) |
Seth (ch 5) |
- God always raises a new just "Abel" for his purposes - Seth was born when Adam was 130 - Adam lived thru 9 generations (Noah's dad's time) |
|
Genesis
Table of Nations
SHEM
(Semetic)
|
HAM
(Turaniam)
|
JAPHETH
(Aryan)
European and Middle Eastern
|
| Elam Elamites/Persians (Iran, Iraq) Asshur Assyrians (n. Iraq --> Germany) Lud Lydians (Asia Minor) Aram Syrians Lebanese Arphaxad Chaldeans (s. Iraq) Hebrews Arabians MOABITES
Lands:
Iraq, Arabia, Patestine,
Asia Minor, North Africa,
Middle East
|
Cush Babylonians Ethiopians Arabians (Genesis 10:7-12) Mizraim Egyptians (Egypt) Philistines (Palestine) (Genesis 10:13-14) Canaan Canaanites/Phoenicians (no. Israel, so. Lebanon) Hittites Hivites Amorites Jebusites (ancient Jerusalem) (Genesis 10:15-19)
Lands:
Africa, Arabia, Asia, aboriginal Australia,
Pacific Isles
|
Gomer Gomerites (Welsh Celts, Britains, Scandinavians, Saxons) Magog Scythians (Irish Celts, Britains, Russians) Madai Medes (Persians) Persians Javan Greeks Romans
Lands:
Isles of the Gentiles
(Places beyond the sea from Judea were called isles)
British Isles, Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, India,
Persia (now Iran), Greece, Cyprus, Iran, southern Russia
|
The Moabites and Ammonites
After the Flood
The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
The earth was re-populated through Noah's three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. Everyone descends from this family (Genesis 9: 18-19). It was from Shem's son, Arphaxad, that the Chaldeans descended. The Land of the Chaldeans, or Ur of the Chaldeas, was located along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in southern Babylonia (Mesopotamia) which is in present day southern Iraq. Sometimes the term "Chaldeans" is also used when referring to the Babylonians in a broader scope.
Arphaxad's 5th great grandson, Terah, had three sons in the Land of the Chaldeans: Abram (later renamed Abraham), Nahor and Haran. Haran's son, Lot, was also born there, and it is through him that the Moabites and Ammonites came to be.
Arphaxad's 5th great grandson, Terah, had three sons in the Land of the Chaldeans: Abram (later renamed Abraham), Nahor and Haran. Haran's son, Lot, was also born there, and it is through him that the Moabites and Ammonites came to be.
Noah > Shem > Arphaxad > Salah > Eber > Peleg > Peu > Serug > Nahor > Terah > Haran > Lot > Moabites and Ammonites
The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Lot left the land of the Chaldeans with his grandfather, his father already having died, and his uncle, Abram. Terah died along the route, but Lot and Abram arrived in Canaan. Eventually, the land couldn't support both families, and they parted ways, Lot settling in Sodom.
Prior to the destruction of this wicked city, two angels found Lot and spared him, as a mercy to his uncle, Abraham, who had been told what would soon happen. Lot fed and lodged these angels, who were sent to destroy the city. The Sodomites pressed Lot to release the angels to them, but he, instead, offered the men his virgin daughter in hopes this would appease them. However, they only became more aggressive. The angels pulled Lot back into the house and closed the door, then "smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness" (Genesis 19:11) so they couldn't find the door, which they sought to break through.
These angels instructed Lot to get his family out promptly so that they would be spared. Lot's sons-in-law wouldn't take him seriously, so they were left behind and the angels took only Lot, his wife, and two of the daughters out of the city. Lot appreciated the mercy shown him (Genesis 19:19). Though they were told not to look back (Genesis 19:17), Lot's wife did look back, and "became a pillar of salt" (Genesis 19:26).
The Birth of Two Nations
Lot and his daughters fled to the small city of Zoar, which was near the Dead Sea and, presumably, very near Sodom. Zoar was spared so that Lot could find refuge there. It's name means "small" and it was one of the oldest cities in the land of Canaan.
They left Zoar, out of fear, perhaps because of its nearness to the destruction, and "dwelt in the mountain" cave (Genesis 19:30) in the hill country near the Dead Sea. The destruction being so great, Lot's two daughters thought there were no men left in the world. They figured the only way they could have children, or "preserve the seed" of their father (Genesis 19:32) was to make him drunk and lie with him. The text lends to the idea that they considered their choice to be commendable or excusable, in order to accomplish the greater purpose of continuing their father's lineage rather than allowing it to die off.
Though no further information appears later in Genesis concerning Lot, centuries later it was written that God had delivered Lot, whom Peter called a "just" and "righteous man" dwelling among people whose "unlawful deeds" "vexed his righteous soul" (2 Peter 2:6-9). Two nations resulted from the incestuous unions of Lot and his daughters: the Ammonites and the Moabites. (Genesis 19:38)
These were descendants of Benammi, son of Lot and his younger daughter. Ben-ammi means "son of my people" which indicates that he was a son of a relative.
With the aid of God, the Ammonites destroyed an ancient race of giants, whom they called the Zamzummims, before He gave them their land, east of Judea (Deuteronomy 2:19-21). The region included the territory east of the Dead Sea, bordered by the Jabbock and Arnon Rivers to the north and south and the Jordan River on the west, and extending a ways into Arabia on the east. Their capital was Rabbah.
The Ammonites turned to idolatry and worshiped Molech, to whom babies were sacrificed. They became a cruel people. For example, they "ripped up the women with child of Gilead" (Amos 1:13). They were eventually conquered by Babylon and, during the Roman period, were presumably absorbed into the Arab nation.
Prior to the destruction of this wicked city, two angels found Lot and spared him, as a mercy to his uncle, Abraham, who had been told what would soon happen. Lot fed and lodged these angels, who were sent to destroy the city. The Sodomites pressed Lot to release the angels to them, but he, instead, offered the men his virgin daughter in hopes this would appease them. However, they only became more aggressive. The angels pulled Lot back into the house and closed the door, then "smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness" (Genesis 19:11) so they couldn't find the door, which they sought to break through.
These angels instructed Lot to get his family out promptly so that they would be spared. Lot's sons-in-law wouldn't take him seriously, so they were left behind and the angels took only Lot, his wife, and two of the daughters out of the city. Lot appreciated the mercy shown him (Genesis 19:19). Though they were told not to look back (Genesis 19:17), Lot's wife did look back, and "became a pillar of salt" (Genesis 19:26).
The Birth of Two Nations
Lot and his daughters fled to the small city of Zoar, which was near the Dead Sea and, presumably, very near Sodom. Zoar was spared so that Lot could find refuge there. It's name means "small" and it was one of the oldest cities in the land of Canaan.
They left Zoar, out of fear, perhaps because of its nearness to the destruction, and "dwelt in the mountain" cave (Genesis 19:30) in the hill country near the Dead Sea. The destruction being so great, Lot's two daughters thought there were no men left in the world. They figured the only way they could have children, or "preserve the seed" of their father (Genesis 19:32) was to make him drunk and lie with him. The text lends to the idea that they considered their choice to be commendable or excusable, in order to accomplish the greater purpose of continuing their father's lineage rather than allowing it to die off.
Though no further information appears later in Genesis concerning Lot, centuries later it was written that God had delivered Lot, whom Peter called a "just" and "righteous man" dwelling among people whose "unlawful deeds" "vexed his righteous soul" (2 Peter 2:6-9). Two nations resulted from the incestuous unions of Lot and his daughters: the Ammonites and the Moabites. (Genesis 19:38)
The Moabites
These were descendants of Moab, son of Lot and his older daughter. The Moabites neighbored the Ammonites, and settled in the mountainous region along the east side of the Dead Sea, in present day west-central Jordan. This land was given them by the Lord (Deuteronomy 2:8-9). Numerous archaeological findings have confirmed this location. They were later driven by the Amorites (descendants of Canaan) to an area south of the Arnon River.
It is interesting to note that, during the Exodus, the Israelites avoided passing through Moab, but skirted around through the wilderness until they were on the north side of the Arnon River. Balak, the Moabite king, was worried and sought the help of the Midianites (Numbers 22:2-4)
Moses was buried in the land of Moab, and Ruth, a convert who married Boaz, was a Moabite. King David was one of their direct descendants, thus having Moabite heritage as well as being a member of the tribe of Judah through Boaz.
The Moabites were mostly polytheists, but worshiped Chemosh as their main god. Their practices involved human sacrifice and they had their own priests, sorcerers and "prophets". Eventually, they became a tributary of Assyria, then later fell to the Babylonians and were exiled to Babylon in 582 BC because of pride and idolatry. (Jeremiah 48)
As a people group, they disappeared from existing records during the Persian period, they having assimilated into other cultures and lost their collective identity. They were promised in Jeremiah's prophesy that they would return in the last days. (Jeremiah 48:47)
The AmmonitesAs a people group, they disappeared from existing records during the Persian period, they having assimilated into other cultures and lost their collective identity. They were promised in Jeremiah's prophesy that they would return in the last days. (Jeremiah 48:47)
These were descendants of Benammi, son of Lot and his younger daughter. Ben-ammi means "son of my people" which indicates that he was a son of a relative.
With the aid of God, the Ammonites destroyed an ancient race of giants, whom they called the Zamzummims, before He gave them their land, east of Judea (Deuteronomy 2:19-21). The region included the territory east of the Dead Sea, bordered by the Jabbock and Arnon Rivers to the north and south and the Jordan River on the west, and extending a ways into Arabia on the east. Their capital was Rabbah.
The Ammonites turned to idolatry and worshiped Molech, to whom babies were sacrificed. They became a cruel people. For example, they "ripped up the women with child of Gilead" (Amos 1:13). They were eventually conquered by Babylon and, during the Roman period, were presumably absorbed into the Arab nation.
The Burning of Jerusalem
Evidence of the Babylonian Siege
It is believed that the siege took place in about 587 BC, at the end of the First Temple Era.
Babylonian Arrowheads
These date back to the 6th century BC and were discovered near the top of the hill. Similar ones were found in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and in the rubble from the Temple Mount. Though the Babylonians tended to recovered the arrowheads they could for reuse, some were likely trapped beneath fallen buildings.
These date back to the 6th century BC and were discovered near the top of the hill. Similar ones were found in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and in the rubble from the Temple Mount. Though the Babylonians tended to recovered the arrowheads they could for reuse, some were likely trapped beneath fallen buildings.
Evidence of Jerusalem Being Burned by the Babylonians
Excavations of the City of David (Old Jerusalem) have revealed beneath layers of rock, charred remains of pottery, wood, bones and grape seeds covered by a layer of ash. The evidence points to a large amount of the city being burned quickly in an intense fire, while buildings in other portions were simply abandoned.
Stamped Jars
In the same layers as charred artifacts were found many jars that were once used to store grain and fluids. Many of these containers bore a rosette seal, and many of their handles were stamped. Seals such as this are consistent with this period of time. Names stamped into the handles included the following:
Scribe of King Jehoikim, son of Josiah (Jeremiah 36:10)
Gemaryahu ben Shafan - Geramiah
Ministers of King Zedekiah who tried to kill Jeremiah by lowering him into a muddy dungeon (Jeremiah 38:1,6)
Yehuchal Ben Shelamayahu - Jucal, son of Shelemiah
Gedaliah Ben Pashchur - Gedaliah, son of Pashur
Gemaryahu ben Shafan - Geramiah
Ministers of King Zedekiah who tried to kill Jeremiah by lowering him into a muddy dungeon (Jeremiah 38:1,6)
Yehuchal Ben Shelamayahu - Jucal, son of Shelemiah
Gedaliah Ben Pashchur - Gedaliah, son of Pashur
| Biblical Account | Antiquities of the Jews (Flavius Josephus 37-100 AD) |
Nebuchadnezzar Chronicle (written on a clay tablet) |
Archaeological Findings |
| Nebuchadnezzar "crossed the river to go against the Egyptian army which lay in Karchemis...He accomplished their defeat and beat them to non-existence." This was the Battle of Carchemish in about 605 BC. He pursued those who escaped. "...in the district of Hamath the Babylonian troops overtook and defeated them so that not a single man escaped...Nebuchadnezzar conquered the whole area of Hamath." | |||
| "In the seventh year [of Nebuchadnezzar] in the month Chislev [Nov/Dec] the king of Babylon assembled his army, and after he had invaded the land of Hatti [Syria/Palestine] he laid siege to the city of Judah." This is considered to be the first of three sieges of Jerusalem by Babylon. (Chronicle 5, Rev. 11) |
|||
| "On the second day of the month Adar [16 Mar] he conquered the city and took the king [Jeconiah] prisoner. He installed a king [Zedekiah] of his own choice, and after he had received rich tribute, he sent forth to Babylon." This was in 597 BC. (Chronicle 5, Rev. 12-13) |
|||
| Nebuchadnezzar's tablet ended at about 594 or 593 BC. The tablet which would have covered the second siege on Jerusalem in 587 BC has not been found. | |||
| On the 10th day of the 10th month of the 9th year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar and his army built forts around Jerusalem and attacked. (Jeremiah 52:4-5) |
The Babylonian armies "erected towers upon great banks of earth" around the city to repel "those that stood upon the walls" (Book X, ch 8:1) |
The Nebuchadnezzar tablet found doesn't cover all of his reign; it only covers through the 11th year (594 or 593 BC) of his reign. This final siege on Jerusalem took place about 10 years later, so we don't have the Babylonian perspective on this siege. | |
| In the 9th day of the 4th month, the famine was "sore in the city" (Jeremiah 52:6) |
The siege lasted 18 months. Many Hebrews died of famine and "the darts which the enemy threw at them from the towers" (Book X, ch 8:1) |
Babylonian arrowheads, which date back to the 6th century, were found near the top of the hill. Similar arrowheads were found in the rubble of Temple Mount. | |
| Jerusalem was taken at about midnight, the generals entered the temple (Book X, ch 8:2) |
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| The city was "broken up and its armies fled by night through a gate by the king's garden into the plains (Jeremiah 52:7) |
King Zedekiah took his wives, children, captains and friends and fled the city through a fortified ditch into the desert (Book X, ch 8:2) |
||
| The armies of the Chaldeans pursued the king and caught him in the plains of Jericho. His army "was scattered from him". (Jeremiah 52:8) |
The Babylonians pursued him. His friends and captains scattered and Zedekiah was captured near Jericho. (Book X, ch 8:2) |
||
| They took Zedekiah to the king of Babylon in Riblah in the land of Hamath, "where he gave judgment upon him." (Jeremiah 52:9) |
Zedekiah was taken to Nebuchadnezzar in Riblah. He accused him of forgetting "his former words" and not appreciating the power Nebuchadnezzar had given him, and called Zedekiah "a wicked wretch" for not keeping "the country for him". (Book X, ch 8:2) |
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| The king of Babylon killed Zedekiah's sons "before his eyes" and killed the princes of Judah in Riblah. (Jeremiah 52:10) |
Zedekiah's sons and friends are killed in front of him. The high priest, Saraiah, was beheaded there in Riblah, a city of Syria. (Book X, ch 8:2) |
||
| Zedekiah's eyes were "put out" and Nebuchadnezzar "bound him in chains" and took him to Babylon where he was put in prison until his death. (Jeremiah 52:11) |
Zedekiah's eyes were "put out" and he was bound and carried, blind, to Bablyon by Nebuchadnezzar with the other captives. Zedekiah was kept in prison in Babylon until his death. (Book X, ch 8:2,7) |
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| Nebuzaradan was sent "to pillage the temple", "burn it and the royal palace", level the city to the ground and bring the people to Babylon. | |||
| He arrived in the 11th year of Zedekiah's reign (the 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar), pillaged the temple and carried away the "vessels of God". | |||
| He set fire to the royal palace and to the temple, which had stood for 470 years, 6 months and 10 days. | Charred remains of pottery, wood, bones and grapes seeds were found beneath a layer of ash and layers of rock, indicative of an intense fire. Containers were found in the same layer as the charred remains. Some were stamped with the names Jehoikim's scribe and two of Zedekiah's ministers. | ||
| The fire was set 1062 years, 6 months and 10 days after the Hebrews' departure from Egypt, and 3513 years, 6 months and 10 days after the "generation of Adam". (Book X, ch 8:5) |
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| After Zedekiah's death, Nebuchadnezzar "buried him magnificently" and freed the new high priest. (Book X, ch 8:7) |
Out of Exile
THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME
Ever since their forefathers' captivity in Egypt, many of the Israelite people kept returning to idolatry. Thus, they placed their trust in man-made objects that had no power and had done nothing for them, rather than in God, who created them and the very earth they lived on. After giving them multiple chances to repent and turn to Him, the Lord finally had enough. He knew that the only way to get them to repent, was to thoroughly humble them.
JEREMIAH'S PROPHESIES IN 605 BC
Judah would fall to the Babylonian Empire
Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed
They would be exiled and "serve the king of Babylon seventy years." (Jeremiah 25:11)
After the 70 years, the Lord would have mercy and cause them to return home (Jeremiah 29:10
THE EXILE OF A NATION
The captives were taken in three groups. The first included the king and many prominent leaders and priests. The second was comprised of the skilled laborers and others. The third encompassed everyone else that was left in Judah.
THE ENDURING MERCY OF GOD
Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, was led by the Lord to give a decree, allowing many of the exiled people of Judah to return to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding the temple. This group was indeed released after 70 years, as Jeremiah had foretold. The other two waves of people returned home quite a bit later, under two later kings of Persia. Each of the three migrations was led by a loyal leader and each had an important role to play in the recovery of their way of life.
Ever since their forefathers' captivity in Egypt, many of the Israelite people kept returning to idolatry. Thus, they placed their trust in man-made objects that had no power and had done nothing for them, rather than in God, who created them and the very earth they lived on. After giving them multiple chances to repent and turn to Him, the Lord finally had enough. He knew that the only way to get them to repent, was to thoroughly humble them.
JEREMIAH'S PROPHESIES IN 605 BC
Judah would fall to the Babylonian Empire
Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed
They would be exiled and "serve the king of Babylon seventy years." (Jeremiah 25:11)
After the 70 years, the Lord would have mercy and cause them to return home (Jeremiah 29:10
THE EXILE OF A NATION
The captives were taken in three groups. The first included the king and many prominent leaders and priests. The second was comprised of the skilled laborers and others. The third encompassed everyone else that was left in Judah.
THE ENDURING MERCY OF GOD
Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, was led by the Lord to give a decree, allowing many of the exiled people of Judah to return to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding the temple. This group was indeed released after 70 years, as Jeremiah had foretold. The other two waves of people returned home quite a bit later, under two later kings of Persia. Each of the three migrations was led by a loyal leader and each had an important role to play in the recovery of their way of life.
| Exile | Who Left? | Events in Between | Return | Time Lapsed | Who Returned? | Leader | Accomplishments |
| 608 BC |
King's family Daniel Sharach Misheck Abed-Nego |
539 BC
Babylonian Empire conquered by the Medes & Persians
Cyrus the Great was king of Persia
Cyrus allowed the Israelites to return to Jerusalem to rebuilt the temple
|
538 BC |
70 years
re: Jeremiah's prophecy
|
About 50,000 -priests -Levites -singers -porters -Nethinims (Levites' servants) 8,000+ animals - 736 horses - 245 mules - 435 camels - 6720 donkeys |
Zerubbabel, a descendant of David
|
Temple rebuilt |
| 596 BC |
Priests Craftsmen Ezekiel |
522 BC Darius became king of Persia |
458 BC |
138 year |
Ezra, priest/scribe His parents might have been among the captives |
Temple worship was re-instituted |
|
| 586 BC |
After further rebellion, the temple and Jerusalem were destroyed and everyone else was taken as slaves
|
486 BC Ahasuerus (Xerxes) became king of Persia 480 BC Ahasuerus asked for fair, young virgins to be gathered (Esther was among them) 479 BC Esther became queen of Persia 465 BC Artaxerxes became king of Persia |
444 BC |
142 years |
Nehemiah (cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia) He became governor of Jerusalem |
Walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt |
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