Genesis 2:4-25

Memory Verse: 7-8

Questions

Introduction

Outline

Old Testament Books Timeline
Bibliography
Beliefs I Had Before I Begin to Study Genesis
A map of the time of Genesis.
A map of Egypt and Sinai during the time of Genesis.
Genesis Genealogy - A spreadsheet of birth's & deaths of all as listed in Genesis.

The following verses focuses on day six of creation. Primarily this chapter focus is on the creation of man and women.

God, through the Holy Spirit, inspired Moses to write this chapter, as he did the previous chapter. However, there are differences in the narratives of chapter one and chapter two. The differences are due to a difference in the emphasis of each chapter. In chapter two the emphasis is on man, his mate, his environment and probation.

The differences between chapters are as follows:
    1) Chapter two is written from Adam's point of view of day six. The first chapter was God's point of view.
    2) Chapter two starts in the middle of God's creative work.
    3) Instead of terse, abrupt sentences that the first chapter has, this chapter has a more flowing style.
    4) Instead of God as the sovereign power of the universe (Elohim) chapter two presents Him as the condescending, gracious God (Yahwek Elohim).
    5) In chapter two there was a short time on day six that women was not made yet, while man was.

Special note on the different translations of verses 4-7.

I. God Creates Adam (2:4-14)

The painting of Adam with the animals is now in public domain.

>1. What does verse 4 mean and imply? How is the earth described before the creation of man? Why is it described in this way?

Genesis 2:4a "This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created."

* "This is the account of "-Hebrew for "account" is "towledah" or "toledah". It is plural. It means; "descent, i.e. family; (fig.) history:-birth, generations." In planner English, the Hebrew word comes from a verb meaning "to beget or bear children." It could be translated "begettings." From this word comes the name of the book, Genesis. (See introduction.)

Some say this statement may be a reference to Genesis 1. They believe that this is a conclusion and a summary of creation that the previous verses have described. The LXX translates: "This is the Book of the Genesis."

Some would translate it, "The history of the heavens and the earth." The offspring of heavens and earth were thus pictured.

The phrase, "This is the account of" is written in other places in the Book of Genesis. From these I see a precise pattern that is not changed. In each instance, after the phrase, "This is the account of," a conclusion to the previous events in history (usually a person's life) is done. In many instances it is done with a genealogy of the person that was previously written about, thus closing his life and either linking him to the next important person, or saying nothing about him and his decedents again.

The different times that this is done in Genesis is as follows:
    Genesis 5:1-2, "This is the written account of Adam's line. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them 'man.'" Then the author goes through a genealogy from Adam to Noah and his sons.
    Genesis 6:9, "This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." Then the author goes through the account of Noah and the flood.
    Genesis 10:1, "This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah's sons, who themselves had sons after the flood." Then the author goes through the genealogies of each as well as the tower of Babel incident.
    Genesis 11:10, "This is the account of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad." Then the author goes through the genealogy from Shen to Abram.
    Genesis 11:27, "This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot." Then the author goes through the life of Abram/Abraham.
    Genesis 25:12, "This is the account of Abraham's son Ishmael, whom Sarah's maidservant, Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham." Then the author goes through the genealogy of Ishmael.
    Genesis 25:19, "This is the account of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac," Then the author goes through Isaac's life.
    Genesis 36:1, "This is the account of Esau (that is, Edom)." Then the author goes through a brief summary of Esau's life.
   Genesis 36:9, "This is the account of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir." Then the author goes through the genealogy of Esau.
    Genesis 37:2, "This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them." Then the author goes through the events of Jacob's life.

I believe that what the author is doing in each instance is making a closing to the former and opening the later. In other words when the phrase "This is the account of" appears, the following verses will provide a bridge between the older to the newer points in history. In doing this the author made clear breaks, not leaving anything unfinished.

Therefore, in 2:4 what the author is doing is closing the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth by bridging it to the creation of man and women.

* "of the heavens and the earth" -"Heavens" and "earth" are the same Hebrew words as 1:1.

* "when they were created" -In Hebrew "created" is "bara" which was used in 1:1, 21, and 27. This is different that 1:7, 16, 25, and 26. In those four verses the Hebrew word "asah" is translated "made." The difference in noted by using different English words (created, made) in both the King James Version and the NIV.

Genesis 2:4b-6 "When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground--"

* "When" -The King James Version translates the Hebrew word here as the phrase, "...in the day that..." (See special note above on 2:4a, the differences between the KJV and the NIV.)

The Hebrew word for "When" in the NIV and "in that day that" in the KJV is "yowm"; the exact same word that is used in the previous phrases, "And there was evening, and there was morning- the sixth day."

Before expounding on the word "yowm" in this sentence I want to note that "yown" here is referring to more than a twenty-four-hour day. Precisely it is referring from 1:1-25. This is one of the reasons that many of the earlier scholars that I quoted in lesson 1, believed that the six "days" of creation was more than a twenty-four-hour period. However, some later scholars have held to the twenty-four-hour view for reasons that I briefly talked about in lesson one.

Now back to chapter 2. In this sentence, "yown" is translated in the NIV as if someone was looking back in time reviewing the events from 1:1-25. I note that this is a different perspective than chapter one which records the events as they took place.

* "the LORD God" -Hebrew for LORD is "Yahweh (Jehovah)". Jews is YHWH. Jehovah is known as the God of the covenant of Israel and God being of himself. Exodus 6:3 says, "I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them."

Hebrew for God is "Elohim", the name of God associated with creation.

Joining the two together calling God "LORD God" signifies the God of power and perfection. A fitting way for God to be mentioned of here in this account of man's creation from man's point of view.

* "made" -The Hebrew "asah" is used.

* "the earth and the heavens" -The same words as in 1:1 and earlier in verse 2:4, but this is the first time that "earth" appears before "heavens" in this phrase. Perhaps in doing this the author is expressing a change in viewpoints; i.e. from God creating all to God's creation man.

* From this point on till the end of six the author gives a description of the earth's surface. This enhances what I said in the notes "the earth and the heavens" above.

* "no" -I notice the negatives before man was made; "no shrub", "no plant", "not sent rain", and "no man". This seems to say that without man creation was incomplete; creation was wild; it was a negative place to be.

* "and there was no man" -God was preparing a place for man to dwell in. Without the things mentioned in these verses man would have no purpose to be on the earth. He would have nothing to do and no way to glorify God.

All of the things mentioned in these verses were made for man to take care of. I believe Adam knew God created all these things for him.

* "to work the ground" -Adam knew his purpose. Part of his stewardship (rule over and subdue) was to till the soil and plant seeds. Adam would cultivate (work) for the glory of God.

The just freed from slavery Israelites who received this book first, working a garden was a good and easy life compared to making bricks.

* "for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth... but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground" -Much debate about these combined phrases.

* "rain" -In Hebrew "matar." It is a prime root meaning; "to rain:-(cause to) rain (upon)."

* "earth" -In Hebrew "erets" as used in every other place up until now.

* "streams" -Hebrew for "streams" is "'ed". Its meaning has in it the sense of enveloping. It could also be translated; a fog, a mist, vapor.

* "came up" -In Hebrew "alah." It is a prime root meaning; "to ascend, intrans. (be high) or act. (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, lit. and fig. (as follow):-arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break [the day] (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, + shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up), grow (over), increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, [make] up, X mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work."

I note that this is different than rain which comes down. When the flood took place it is said in Genesis 7:11; "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month--on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened." This could have been where the "streams/mist" were coming up from.

In the same way as these streams/mist went up, divine grace descends like a mist or silent dew and waters the church without noise. Deuteronomy 32:2 says, "Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants."

* "the earth" -Again the Hebrew "erets."

* "watered" -In Hebrew "shaqah." It is a prime root meaning; "to quaff, i.e. (caus.) to irrigate or furnish a potion to:-cause to (give, give to, let, make to) drink, drown, moisten, water."

* "the whole surface" -In Hebrew "paniym.' It is plural (but always as sing.) of an unused noun "paneh." It means: "the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (lit. and fig.); also (with prep. pref.) as a prep. (before, etc.):-+ accept, a- (be-) fore (-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront (-part), form (-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him (-self), + honorable, + impudent, + in, it, look [-eth] (-s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason, of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them (-selves), through (+ -out), till, time (-s) past, (un-) to (-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with (-in, + -stand), X ye, X you."

* "the ground" -This is the first time that the Hebrew "erets" is not used to describe the earth. Now the author is talking about something else; a particular part of the earth. In Hebrew "ground" is "adamah." It means; "soil (from its gen. redness):-country, earth, ground, husband [-man] (-ry), land."

>2. What does it mean that we are formed from dust? What does it mean to become a living being (refer to 1:26-27)? Why do you think this is repeated in chapters one and two?

Genesis 2:7 "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

* "the LORD God" -see above.

* "formed" -Hebrew for "formed" is "yatsar". It's definition has the meaning "through the squeezing into shape" in it. It can be defined, "to mold into a form; espec. as a potter; fig. to determine (i.e. form a resolution):-X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make (-r), potter, purpose."

"Yarsar" is also used to describe a potters work in Jeremiah 18:3-4. It says, "So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him." "Yatsar" implies both God's skill and sovereignty.

Man's flesh was not created/made/formed before this event. Our flesh did not evolve from some other flesh/skin of another animal. Yet I note that God took from what was already created to make man's physical body.

* "the man" -In Hebrew "adam."

* "dust of the ground" -The Hebrew words for this phrase means minerals.

This would be a house where man's spirit dwells. 1 Corinthians 15:47; Psalm 134:14-15; and Job 1:21, 4:19, 10:9 tell us this.

Obviously the workmanship exceeds the material.

Psalm 8:5

We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

One of Job's friends refers to this time. (Job 33:6, 8)

The fact that we were created from the dust of the ground (common materials) shows that we have humble beginnings. Man's greatness is not from his physical attributes.

* "and" -Man was made in two steps/phases. Thus the two aspects of man, physical and spiritual.

* "breathed into his nostrils" -God gave special attention to man for He was up close, close enough to breath in man's nostrils.

The fact that God gave special attention to us, giving us his breath of life (not common but noble) shows that we have noble beginnings.

* "breathed into" -The Hebrew word here, "naphach", is similar to the Hebrew word for "Spirit" in Genesis 1:2. However, it probably isn't used here to avoid the impression of suggesting that man was a semi-divine being. "Naphach" is a prime root meaning; "to puff, in various applications (lit., to inflate, blow hard, scatter, kindle, expire; fig., to disesteem):-blow, breath, give up, cause to lose [life], seething, snuff."

In the same way Jesus breathed onto his fearful disciples after this resurrection and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:22)

In Ezekiel 37:4-10 God commanded Ezekiel to command the breath to enter a army of dead bones. When they did they became living men.

* "his nostrils" -Hebrew "aph" meaning; "the nose of the face."

* "the breath of life" -God's Spirit and Word is man's breath of life. In Hebrew "breath" is "neshamah." It means; "a puff, i.e. wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect, or (concr.) an animal:-blast, (that) breath (-eth), inspiration, soul, spirit." I notice that this is the same as "breathed" above except it is in a different context.

* "man became a living being" -In Hebrew "became" is "hayah" meaning "come to pass." In Hebrew "living" is "chay" meaning "alive." In Hebrew "being" is "nephesh." It is similar to "breath" and "breathed" above. It means, "a breathing creature, i.e. animal or (abstr.) vitality; used very widely in a lit., accommodated or fig. sense (bodily or mental):-any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead (-ly), desire, X [dis-] contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart (-y), (hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they, thing, (X she) will, X would have it."

The Hebrew phrase here translated "living being' is translated "living creatures" in 1:20,24. The words of 2:7 therefore imply that people, at least physically, have affinity with the animals. The great difference is that man is made "in the image of God" (1:27) and has an absolutely unique relation both to God as his servants and to the other creatures as their divinely appointed steward.

"Man became a living being" is the conclusion; man is in flesh and spirit. This is how we are in the likeness of God; eternal life; spiritual life; different than the animals. Man's soul came immediately from God; He gave it to be put into the body.

Man is made up of physical body and spirit. We should work to maintain both parts of us because both are gifts of God. But we should not sacrifice the spiritual part of us for the physical. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" "Word" thus being linked to Genesis 1 "And God said" and Genesis 2 "breathed into man the breath of life."

Ecc. 12:7 says, "and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it."

1 Corinthians 15:47-49 says, "The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven."

>3. How did God provide for man's happiness and needs? (8-14) What does God's provision suggest about his feelings for and understanding of man?

Genesis 2:8-9a "Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food."

* "Now" -indicating that it is a fact. Also linking it to the previous statement which was God creating man.

* "planted" -This does not refer to original creation of trees, but to the furbishing of the garden. The intent here is to show that God took special care in making this garden.

* "in the east" -Being that this book was first given to the Isrealites it can be said that Eden was east of Israel. It was definitely a real place, even after Adam was driven out the land of Eden was still there as was the garden. Its location is not know now. It probably won't be found because of the flood which probably ruined it. Definitely it won't be found because the cherubim are keeping it hidden. Nowhere else is this garden mentioned. However, the tree of life is later found in heaven in the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is where the bride of Christ (those who put their faith in him) will stay. The New Jerusalem will be in Israel. Jesus will bring it down when he comes again.

Rev. 2:7 says, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." Rev. 22:2 says, "down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." Rev. 22:14 says, ""Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city."

* "Eden" -"Eden" is a Hebrew word. It means, "plain, steppe, an enclosure or park; delight, paradise".

* "there he put man" -God gave it to man as a gift.

* "And" -Linking it to the previous statement. Either God made the trees grow out of the ground before Adam's eyes, or Adam know that the LORD God made these grow.

* "made...grow" -God made sure it was right. God made sure it tasted good too. Adam's food did not have the vitamin's with bad taste.

* "all kinds of trees" -Many tastes and many colors.

* "pleasing to the eye" -Man's environment was beautiful.

* A summery of Eden described thus far is as follows:

Man was given all he needed to live. He had no needs. Adam didn't worry about his needs. (Society needs was meet when Eve was made.)

Man's body is from the earth so he needed to eat.

God loved man. God took care of man and man's needs. God was pleased with man.

God did this so that man would know that God loved him and therefore thank God. This passage gives the impression that man watched God make this garden.

God wants to bless man and make his life happy.

>4. What were the special trees in Eden? (9) What does each mean? Why did God put them into the garden?

Genesis 2:9b "In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."

* God does not give a reason to man why he planted these trees. He simply enunciated it. But the intent is obvious. Some say man was put on probation. Some say it was to test man, God's creation. It seems to me the most important was to establish spiritual order. As long as man obeyed God regarding these trees, the spiritual order was maintained. Not only that, but most importantly by obeying God command Adam would return God's love. God from the beginning showed his love to man. Now God was giving man a way to return that love. My book "The Believer's Future - Hope that Inspires" speaks much of a love relationship with God.

God's intent was not to tempt man for He not only planted a tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but He also planted a tree of life. Rather what God was doing was giving man a choice. God was not being mean to man.

God did not lord His authority over man. Rather, it was always there. The trees symbolized this authority over man.

* "In the middle" -There are reasons for planting these trees in the middle. 1) They were very important for man's life/existence. 2) Man could see them well because they were separate from the other trees. They were made distinct. 3) In a way it was a symbol of God. God's word (command) was in the center (spiritual order). 4) So man wouldn't forget God. Just like the Ebenezar stone. 5) Man would know God better through these trees. They would be a reflectance of God's character.

* "tree of life" -Perhaps the tree's fruit would not make man live forever, but the fact that man chose to eat fruit from this tree, God's tree of life, that man would live. God would give his life forever. In the same way, eating the bread and drinking the wine today, under the new covenant, doesn't give us life because they have some special quality. Rather, it is remember what Jesus did for us so that we can have eternal life.

This tree is seen again in Revelations 22. God gave this tree to man.

* "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" -The element of good of evil wasn't so much in the tree's fruit but the act of disobeying would give the knowledge of good and evil. Through disobedience much would be learned, but it would all be unpleasant. This is not saying that man was not self-conscience. Man had the ability to imagine himself from another viewpoint; that is to imagine himself doing something without actually doing it. It is believed that man alone in the animal kingdom has this ability.

This tree is not seen again as the tree of life is.

Man was originally innocent; not sinning is action or thought or in the heart. He did not think of disobeying God. It was not in his nature/being. Innocents was part of the image of God in man. The knowledge of good and evil was later planted in him by the Satan through disobedience.

* "knowledge" -This does not say that man wasn't knowledgeable or able to learn, but that he would learn these qualities thru his disobedience. Example of man's knowledge is seen when he easily named all the animal in a way that pleased God. Also man made a covering out of fig leaves.

Genesis 2:10-14 "A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four head waters. The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates."

* These verses prove that Eden was a real place not a mythical place.

God planned for man to have plenty of things when he multiplied and spread throughout the earth.

The rivers all pointed to the center which was were God meet with man, man's beginning place, and the place of the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The rivers probably flowed in all four directions.

Life would flow out from the garden as the rivers flowed out.

Thank God and glorify God and enjoy God forever.

Use all that God gives to glorify God.

* "Tigris" "Euphrates" -These two rivers now exist, however, because of the flood it would be easy to think that that they are not the same rivers we today call the Tigris and the Euphrates. However, since this book was given to the Israelites who lived after the flood, perhaps they are.

* "Cush" -In the Bible "Cush" is also "Egypt" or "Ethiopia." The above logic could apply here.

* "Havilah" -This river is linked with "Cush" in Genesis 10:7 which says, "The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan."

II. Adam's Bible (15-17)

>6. What work did God give man to do in the garden? How does and doesn't this relate to 1:28? What is our mission today? (John 21)

Genesis 2:15 "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."

* "work it" -All men need to work to be happy and content. Working is a part of man's nature, of course not all the time. Man needs rest to. That is why day seven was given by God.

We need to work for the right and wise things. (John 6:27)

Adam didn't initially plant the garden but he was to take care of it.

The mission is specific and the work was practical.

God had provided everything to do this work.

Man was to be the shepherd (care taker) of the garden.

Note Genesis 1:28's "increase in number" is left out of 2:15 for Eve was not yet made.

Everyone has a garden of Eden to work, mission field.

* "take care of it" -Hebrew for "take care" is "Samar". It means "guard." Obviously there was danger unspecified, outside.

>7. What command did God give man? (16-17) What does this teach about God's love and grace to man? His authority? What does God giving man a choice tell us? What would be the consequences of Adam's actions? What does, "You will surely die" mean?

Genesis 2:16-17 "And the LORD God commanded 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, for when you eat of it you will surely die.'"

* "surely die" -Adam obviously knew what this meant. Perhaps he had seen animals die. So Adam, who was immortal, would die if he disobeyed God. Death in the Old Testament means above all inability to function, and this was the chief result of man's disobedience; God's warning went into full effect. Man's physical death was merely the logical and inevitable sequel.

This command is absolute and clear.

There would be death in disobedience.

This command shows man what he is free to do and not free to do and the consequences of both.

The command maintained spiritual order. Clearly God, the Creator is far greater than the creation, man. Although this is clear man was not to forget this for it meant his death.

Man could not sustain his life by himself. God is the giver and sustainer of life.

God made man this way.

Man needed to know and remember his place.

God love and grace was overflowing.

God wanted man to be happy. Obedience is part of this.

Grace is the work and word of God.

God's desire is for man to obey his word and maintain spiritual order.

This command was not hard to keep.

Man has a choice but we are limited to our freedom. Unlimited freedom is disorder which is destructive and not of God.

Man was not a robot. But truly free to make a choice.

God gave man rights, but also obligation and law.

The command doesn't limit our rights but increases our greatness for we can choice to do right. Thus it increases our happiness and joy. Obedience brings blessing.

The one who obeys is below the one who gives the law.

Without following God man will cease to function.

Man needs God.

The command is absolutely true.

The command gives us fear of God and respect for God.

We were made to follow God.

Jesus taught his disciples during the last supper, "If you love me you will keep my commands." Obedience and love go together. Obedience is the way to show we love God.

* "You will surely die" -This is an absolute statement which could not be negotiated. It was a warning of love.

III. God Creates Eve and Establishes the Family (18-25)

A wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) titled "Formation of Eve" that is in a Bible was titled: "The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments, according to the authorized version. With illustrations by Gustave Doré.
Dore's drawings were in Bibles that are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.

>8. What was the one thing not good in God's eyes? Who was going to solve the problem? What does this suggest about God's love and understanding? What purpose was woman to be created? (18)

Genesis 2:18 "The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"

* "It is not good" -Hebrew for "good" is "towb". It means; "good, a good or good thing, beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, favor, fine, glad, good, graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, pleasant, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well."

* "to be alone" -Man is a social being. But this is even more than a need to be with others. It is a need to be united with someone by the hand of God; in physical and spiritual and in soul.

God created man first, establishing order in the family and society. But this order is often distorted by men.

God waited on creating a suitable helper so that Adam would realize the need both in his soul and in doing God's work.

Adam did not quit working even though he knew a problem existed.

* "I will make" -God was going to solve the problem.

Adam knew the problem but he did not know or could not solve the problem.

Women was the last work of creation.

Women was created as man was created.

God knew what need in man's inner being.

God provided everything perfectly in his time.

* "a suitable helper" -Women was and is to be a suitable helper for man. Note, it is in the singular not plural. There was only meant to be one from before she was made.

* "suitable helper" -Hebrew for "suitable helper" is_"ezer". It means: "aid, proper one."

Women would be one on the same spiritual level as man. They should be spiritually and physically compatible. She was to assist in Adam's work in following God's direction and plan; a co-worker.

If they are arguing they can not be fruitful. They were to compliment each other.

He was not a male chauvinist and she was not a feminist.

They were not independent, but dependent on each other.

Practical and spiritual helper.

>9. What was man's relationship to the animals? (19-20a) What does man naming the animal show about man's stewardship? How did man co-work with God? Was a suitable helper found? (20b)

Genesis 2:19-20a "Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field."

* "out of the ground" -they were made out of the ground as he was.

He was ruling over them in naming them.

Man had dominion over the animals.

Man gave the animals a further meaning to their existence.

Genesis 2:20a "He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field."

* God could have named them as he did the light and darkness. But God wanted to co-work with man.

Man had the ability to name all the animals.

Man named them properly, the best he could to please God.

God respected what Adam named the animals.

Genesis 2:20b "But for Adam no suitable helper was found."

* Although they were made on the same day. None of the animals would be a suitable helper for any man for animals are not made in the image of God.

Those who do not accept Jesus as Immanuel God, the Son of God and the Son of Man are not born of the Holy Spirit and thus do not have the Spirit of God either. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

>10.How did God provide a helper for man? (21-22) What does women being caused from the rib tell us?

Genesis 2:21-22 "So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man."

* "to fall into a deep sleep" -unknown how God did it. Today we do it with Anastasia.

* "took one of the man's ribs... with flesh" -first surgery.

* "one of the man's ribs" -one rib made one women. There was no more women for Adam. God did not take from his head nor from his feet, but that which was close to his heart.

* "made" -very similar to "formed" when God created man.

* "women" -means from man.

* "brought her to the man." -first marriage. Instituted by God.

>11. Why was she a suitable helper? (23, 1:27) How did man receive her? (23) What does this mean to us? (Eph. 5:21-33, Col. 3:18-19)

Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

* "The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man.'" -Genesis 2:23

* "bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh" -She to was in the image of God, like man was.

They complimented each other.

Same goal and same mission.

They could not fulfill God's mission alone. They needed each other. They would co-work.

They are one but different identities. God made them this way to point this out.

Genesis 2:23 "The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man.'"

* "bone" -Hebrew for bone not only signifies body, but "essence" or "self".

* "woman" -As Adam had named the animals, he names the one from his flesh.

Woman was part of man and vise-versa. She was an extension of his being and visa-versa. The physical operation was a symbol to man and women of the spiritual bond. They both realized this bound.

Man accepted women in love.

They accepted what God gave them.

They recognized what was given them for God's work.

They respected each other before God and man in the heart.

Both knew that God had brought them together.

They could relate and understand each other. The relationship was meant to grow.

Affections doesn't come from much dating but from God's binding with the suitable helper.

Dating foundation is to see if one will like the other and visa-versa. But this is seldom found out for sure. It is said that people change after marriage by non-believers. Also we can find this out after marriage. The rest of Genesis shows how many of God's people did not focus on dating, but rather focused on spiritual compatibility.

>12. What commitment must man make to his helper? (24a) How does God confirm and establish the family? (24b) What does "they will become one flesh" mean? What does verse 25 tell us?

Genesis 2:24a "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife"

* From Matthew 19:4-5 it is clear that this verse was a statement made by God, not Adam.

It signifies that a couple joined by God is a commitment made in love before their Creator. It is a life time commitment. After the fall it would only be separable by death. Example: "At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven." -Matthew 22:30 "When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven." -Mark 12:25

Marriage is a stronger bond then between sibling and parents is made between husband and wife.

They would become a family and grow.

* "leave" -in all aspects. They need to form their own unit before God.

"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church." -Ephesians. 5:22-32

They would need to workout their life and problems without interference. However, it does not that if they come for advice, the request should be be ignored.

Genesis 2:24b "and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."

* The family unit is the basis of society. They husband and wife is the basis of the family unit. God is the basis of the husband and wife unit.

* "and they will become one flesh" -This is God's work. It was spiritual and well as physical.

Genesis 2:25 "The man and his wife were bother naked, and they felt no shame"

* Their relationship was innocent and pure before God and each other. There relationship was based on love not fleshly desires.

"Food for the stomach and the stomach for food--but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:13-20)

Summary

God, who provides for man's happiness:
    loves us,
    understand us,
    cares for us,
    knows all about us,
    provides for us,
    wants us to be happy,
    does not want us to be unhappy,
    God working in his life and man working with God.
    Man having a mission.
    Man obey God and maintain the spiritual order.
    Man not to be alone.
    Man and women to be together.
    Man and women to co-work together as a family unit before God.