| Show GENESIS the first book of the bible general ly known as genesis but also referred to by talmudist writers as the book of creation or the book of abraham isaac and jacob is one of the most important books tu lu the sacred volume it was evidently written as an introduction to the mosaic law showing the connection between the dispensation of moses and the preceding dispensations in it the basis on which the theocracy is founded is in laid down and without it the first chapter of the ecclesiastical history of mankind would be missing the subjects on which this book more or less exhaustively treats are numerous and of the greatest grea teat imbor to toe the human race in general it opens with a cosmogony and a which for sublimity of conception cep tion depth of philosophy and simplicity of style etyle has baa never been surpassed it accounts for the generation of everything animate anil and inanimate first in its spiritual and then in its material existence exia tence both pointing out the direction in which an in quiring trig mind must turn to find the truth and leaving ample room for further study and research then it narrow down to the history of ing on off the origin or of evil evi the m preal da luence the destruction of et the ahe antediluvian iv the ro peopling of abw tb earth aho ah origin of the of languages and the dispersion of the human family over the surface of the earth from this time the book taken takee up the history of abraham the ancestor ance ator ot of the chosen people and follows it with sketches of the life of isaac jacob and the twelve patriarchs to the death of joseph in egypt covering a period of counting from adam at least 2869 2369 year yean the of who wrote the book of and when to is one that has baa caused some discussion critics CAULO have noted apparent differences of style bayle in the various of it and what seems to be unnecessary repetitions as ag well an raps papa in the narrative and above bli h 11 the indiscriminate use of the names elohim jehovah and elohim ejon aljon for god which could not be explained on any doctrine known to the theology theol theo lolay opy of t e christian chriatian churches this has hag led to various suppositions A few critics have advanced the idea that there was an author and a Jeh oviet the former writing as late as solomon and the latter about the time of Heze hezekiak klah A still later editor probably ezra is in then supposed to have merged the two versions into one with but indifferent success but this theory has not found any advocates among eminent critics it is too im probable and others pro ler tor to consider certain to them objectionable tio passages pae sages as interpolations rather than to question genuineness the of the book the fact of the matter to la that the history of the hebrew language easily shows three distinct periods period the first of theme la Is the mosaic during this time words forms of construction and phraseology are found which afterwards became obsolete after this time new words were formed new phrases coined in short the language developed with the people till it reached its golden era during the pro abets previous to the captivity after this event the language became mixed with foreign words and expressions showing the influence bence of the surrounding nations over the people the language of any book to is a sure test of its antiquity and A nd by this test nono no scholar bolar will hesitate in admitting that the book of genesis belongs to the mosaic period and not to a later date that moses was the author can therefore hardly be doubted tradition both jewish and heathen sustains this view the book is appealed to as am genuine and authentic by our savior and his apostles profane history adds add its testimony even julian the apostate maintained the genuineness f the pentateuch as dot dota a porphyry with many others not inclined to be credulous in such matters mattera the fact to la that the first doubt about the genuine of these records did not emanate from onen men who can claim much credit for soundness of opinion thomas thomae hobbes born 1688 1588 la is the first Enji english lish writer who expressed doubt on this point he also claimed to have discovered the of the circle but was as unable to prove this BB as to shake the confidence in the genuine lessof of the books of moms the probability Is that moses is the author of genesis as well as the other his name thih that he 0 an a a made tiser of needs BO argument abc that his narrative shows shown this thib to 1 also admitted that he be wrote much of it during the wanderings wandering in the desert where bin bia daily occupation the duties of his office as an the supreme raft judge of the people and the com command malmd or er in of the army left him but little time for literary pursuits pure so ae counts fully for some peculiarities of composition which a later editor would never have pawed passed without correction and that flimsily finally a few later interpolations have been made no one dispute but with all these the book must auit be coi eldered both genuine suj and authentic it is a curious fact that the various books of the bible nave have in turn been submitted to severe attacks by those who think their learning greatly in advance of the truths revealed by the almighty but from every contest content the sacred books have come out with ith more brilliant luster and while infidels eidels come and go making a stir for fora a short time and then die and with their boasted arguments are soon forgotten the believers flad ali d in the word of ga that ruck rock of which ages on they p can safely build and live ju in happiness happl nef forever the bible contains thu the truth and the truth is eternal while infidelity even under the name of higher criticism J is doomed to oblivion |
