Recent Commentaries

Esau arrived with four hundred men to meet Jacob. If Jacob had wanted to fight, Esau was ready. Esau knew nothing of Jacob’s changed heart and found Jacob cautiously awaiting him (vv. 1-2). Jacob humbly approached Esau to ward off any retaliating spirit, as he bows to him (v. 3). This …

Adam and Eve had several sons and daughters as we read in (Gen. 5:4), but here we are intro¬duced to their son Seth (v. 25). Seth means the “appointed one.” Eve said that God had provided or “appointed” a son in the place of slain Abel. We are never told on when Cain murdered Abel …

Chapter 11 tells of one of the mightiest and far-reaching miracles of history. It finds no parallel until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The result of God’s intervention was the origin of the different nations. The building of the tower of Babel was man’s first attempt …

God provides a son to Abraham and Sarah just like he had promised (vv. 1-7). God had given Sarah laughter in her old age, so they named their son Isaac, “he laughs”. Abraham circumcised Isaac on the eighth day to show himself dependent on the grace of God for the spiritual welfare of …

Two angels paid Lot a visit in Sodom (v. 1). Lot “was sitting in the gateway to the city (v. 1), the place for leaders and judges to sit. Lot was likely a leader of the community. Knowing the sexual immorality that prevailed in Sodom, Lot offered hospitality for the night to protect these guests …

Noah lived faithfully for over 600 years but he was not perfect. Noah plant¬ed a vineyard and drank of the wine (vv. 20-21). He was drunk and naked in his tent (v. 22). Ham saw his father drunk and naked. This destroyed his respect and relationship with his father. When Ham reported it to his …

This chapter records the funeral of one of the most remarkable and most loved women in the Bible. Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose age at death is recorded. She was 127 years old when she died and a good example of a woman who followed her husband to the end …

Judah, the brother who suggested they sell Joseph, married a Canaanite woman. They had three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah (vv. 1-5). Intermarriage with the Canaanites had been avoided up to this time. Judah’s first son Er died because he was wicked (vv. 6-11). By custom the “husband’s …

Rachel was envious of her sister Leah, because Leah had given Jacob four sons, but she had none (v. 1). Rachel blamed Jacob for her childlessness, but Jacob blamed the Lord (v. 2). In anger, Rachel offered up her servant, Bilhah, as a way for Rachel to have children (v. 3). In accepting …

The news came to Joseph one day that his father was very sick. He immediately laid aside his affairs of state, took his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and hurried to see his father (v. 1). Jacob sat up in bed and when Joseph presented his two sons to him the aged patriarch prono …