Home Bible Commentaries James Wesley's Commentary

Genesis Chapter Commentary

The holy scripture, being designed to maintain and improve natural religion, to repair the decays of it. and supply the defects of it, since the fall, lays down at first this principle of the unclouded light of nature: That this world was, in the beginnin

This chapter is an appendix to the history of the creation, explaining, and enlarging on that part of it, which relates immediately to man. We have in it, The institution of the sabbath, which was made for man, to further his holiness and comfort, ver.

The general contents of this chapter we have Romans 5:12 . By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.More particularly, we have here, The innocent tempted, ver. 1 - 5. The tempt

In this chapter we have both the world and the church in Adam's family, and a specimen of the character and state of both in all ages. As all mankind were represented in Adam, so that great distinction of mankind into the children of God and the children

This chapter is the only authentic history extant of the first age of the world from the creation to the flood, containing (according to the Hebrew text) 1656 years. The genealogy here recorded is inserted briefly in the pedigree of our Saviour, 3:36 ,37

In this chapter we have, The abounding iniquity of that wicked world, ver. 1 - 5. and ver. 11, 12. God's just resentment of that iniquity, and his holy resolution to punish it, ver. 6, 7. The special favour of God to his servant Noah. In the charact

We have in this chapter, God's gracious call to Noah to come into the ark, ver. 1. and to bring the creatures that were to be preserved alive, with him, ver. 2, 3. in consideration of the deluge at hand, ver. 4. Noah's obedience, ver. 5. he came with h

We have here, The earth made anew, by the recess of waters, and the appearing of the dry land a second time. The increase of the waters is stayed, ver. 1, 2. They begin sensibly to abate, ver. 3. After fifteen days ebbing the ark rests, ver. 4. Aft

In this chapter is, The covenant of providence settled with Noah and his sons, ver. 1 - 11. In this covenant, God promiseth them to take care of their lives; so that, They should replenish the earth, ver. 1 - 7. They should be safe from the insults

This chapter contains, the only certain account extant of the original of nations; and yet, perhaps, there is no nation, but that of the Jews, that can be confident from which of these seventy fountains (for many there are here) it derived its streams. Th

The distinction between the sons of God and the sons of men, now appeared again, when men began to multiply. According to this distinction, we have in this chapter, The dispersion of the sons of men at Babel, ver. 1 - 9. where we have Their presumptuo

From henceforward Abram and his seed are almost the only subject of the sacred history. In this chapter we have, God's call of Abram to the land of Canaan ver. 1, 2, 3. Abram's obedience to this call, ver. 4, 5. His welcome to the land of Canaan, ver.

In this chapter we have a farther account of Abram; In general, of his condition and behaviour in the land of promise, which was, now, the land of his pilgrimage. His removes, ver. 1. 3. 4. 18. His riches, ver. 2. His devotion, ver. 4. 18. A part

We have in this chapter, A war with the king of Sodom and his allies, ver. 1 - 12. Abram's rescue of Lot from captivity, ver. 13 - 16. Abram's return from that expedition, ver. 17. with an account of what passed, Between him and the king of Salem, v

In this chapter we have a solemn treaty between God and Abram, A general assurance of God's kindness and good - will to Abram, ver. 1. A particular declaration of the purposes of his love concerning him, in two things. That he would give him a numero

Hagar probably was one of those maid - servants which the king of Egypt (among other gifts) bestowed upon Abram, chap. xii. 16. Concerning her we have four things in this chapter, Her marriage to Abram her master, ver. 1 - 3. Her misbehaviour towards S

This chapter contains articles of agreement betwixt the great Jehovah, the father of mercies, and pious Abram, the father of the faithful. Mention was made of this covenant, chap. xv. 18. but here it is particularly drawn up. Here are, The circumstances

We have an account in this chapter of another interview between God and Abraham, probably within a few days after the former, as the reward of his chearful obedience to the law of circumcision. Here is, The visit which God made him, ver. 1 - 8 The matt

We read, chap. 18. of God's coming to take a view of the state of Sodom, what its wickedness was, and what righteous there were in it: here we have the result of that enquiry. It was found upon trial that Lot was very good, ver. 1, 2, 3. and it did not

We have here, Abraham's sin in denying his wife, and Abimelech's sin thereupon in taking her, ver. 1, 2. God's discourse with Abimelech in a dream upon this occasion; wherein he shews him his error, ver. 3. accepts his plea, ver. 4, 5, 6. and directs h

In this chapter we have, Isaac, the child of promise, born into Abraham's family, ver. 1 - 8. Ishmael, the son of the bond - woman, cast out of it, ver. 9 - 21. Abraham's league with Abimelech, ver. 22 - 32. His devotion to God, ver. 33, 34.

We have here, The strange command which God gave to Abraham, ver. 1, 2. Abraham's strange obedience to this command, ver. 3 - 10. The strange issue of this trial. The sacrificing of Isaac was countermanded, ver. 11, 12. Another sacrifice was provid

Here is, Abraham a mourner, for the death of Sarah, ver. 1, 2. Abraham a purchaser of a burying place for Sarah. The purchase proposed by Abraham, ver. 3, 4. Treated of and agreed, ver. 5 - 16. The purchase - money paid, ver. 16. The premises conv

The subjoining of Isaac's marriage to Sarah's funeral (with a particular reference to it, ver. 67.) shews us, that as one generation passeth away, another generation comes; and thus the entail of human nature is preserved. Here is, Abraham's care about

The sacred historian in this chapter, Takes his leave of Abraham with an account, Of his children by another wife, ver. 1 - 4. Of his last will and testament, ver. 5, 6. Of his age, death and burial, ver. 7, 8, 9, 10. He takes his leave of Ishmae

In this chapter we have, Isaac in adversity, by reason of a famine in the land; which, Obliges him to change his quarters, ver, 1. but, God visits him with direction and comfort, ver. 2 - 5. He denies his wife, and is reproved for it by Abimelech, v

We have here, Isaac's purpose to entail the blessing upon Esau, ver. 1 - 4. Rebekah's plot to procure it for Jacob, ver. 6 - 17. Jacob's obtaining of the blessing, ver. 18 - 29. Esau's resentment of this. In which, His importunity with his father t

We have here, Jacob's parting with his parents to go to Padan - aram: the charge his father gave him, ver. 1, 2. the blessing he sent him away with, ver. 3, 4. his obedience to the orders given him, ver. 5 - 10. and the influence this had upon Esau, ver

This chapter gives us an account of God's providences concerning Jacob, pursuant to the promise made him in the foregoing chapter. How he was brought in safety to his journey's end, and directed to his relations there, who bid him welcome, ver. 1 - 14.

In this chapter we have an account of the increase, Of Jacob's family; eight children more we find registered in this chapter; Dan and Naphtali by Bilhah, Rachel's maid, ver. 1 - 8. Gad and Asher by Zilpah, Leah's maid, ver. 9 - 13. Issachar, Zebulon, a

Jacob was in general, a man of devotion and integrity; yet he had more trouble than any of the patriarchs. Here is, His resolution to return, ver. 1 - 16. His clandestine departure, ver. 17 - 21. Laban's pursuit of him in displeasure, ver. 22 - 25. T

We have here Jacob still upon his journey towards Canaan. Never did so many memorable things occur in any march, as in this in Jacob's little family. By the way he meets, With good tidings from his God, ver. 1, 2. With bad tidings from his brother, to

We read in the former chapter how Jacob had power with God, and prevailed; here we find what power he had with men too. Here is, A friendly meeting between Jacob and Esau, ver. 1 - 4. Their conference at their meeting. Their discourse is, About Jacob

In this chapter we have, Dinah debauched, ver. 1, 2 - 5. A treaty of marriage between her and Shechem who had defiled her, ver. 6 - 19. The circumcision of the Shechemites, pursuant to that treaty, ver. 20 - 24. The perfidious and bloody revenge whic

In this chapter we have, Three communions between God and Jacob. God ordered Jacob to Beth-el, and in obedience to that order, he purged his house of idols, and prepared for that journey, ver. 1 - 5. Jacob built an altar at Beth-el to the honour of G

In this chapter we have an account of the posterity of Esau, who were from him, were called Edomites; Because he was the son of Isaac, for whose sake this honour is put upon him. Because the Edomites were neighbours to Israel, and their genealogy would

At this chapter begins the story of Joseph, Jacob's eldest son, by his beloved wife Rachel. It is so remarkably divided between his humiliation and his exaltation, that we cannot avoid seeing something of Christ in it, who was first humbled and then exalt

How little reason had the Jews, who were so called from this Judah, to boast, as they did, that they were not born of fornication? 8:41 . We have in this chapter, Judah's marriage and issue, and the untimely death of his two eldest sons, ver. 1 - 11.

At this chapter we return to the story of Joseph. We have him here, A servant, a slave in Potiphar's house, ver. 1. and yet there greatly honoured and favoured, By the providence of God, which made him in effect a master, ver. 2 - 6. By the grace of

In this chapter things are working towards Joseph's advancement. Two of Pharaoh's servants are committed to prison, and there, to Joseph's care, and so became witnesses of his extraordinary conduct, ver. 1 - 4. They dreamed each of them a dream, which

Two things providence is here bringing about. The advancement of Joseph. The maintenance of Jacob and his family in a time of famine; for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the earth, and direct the affairs of the children of men.

We have in this chapter, The humble application of Jacob's sons to Joseph, to buy corn, ver. 1 - 6. The fright Joseph put them into, for their trial, ver. 7 - 20. The conviction they were now under of their sin concerning Joseph long before, ver. 21 -

Here the story of Joseph's brethren is carried on. Their melancholy parting with their father Jacob, in Canaan, ver. 1 - 14. Their meeting with Joseph in Egypt, ver. 15 - 34.

Joseph having entertained his brethren, dismissed them: but here we have them brought back in a greater fright than any they had been in yet. Observe. What method he took, both to humble them farther, and to try their affections to his brother Benjamin,

Joseph let Judah go on without interruption, heard all he had to say, and then answered it all in one word, I am Joseph. Now he found his brethren humbled for their sins, mindful of himself (for Judah had mentioned him twice in his speech) respectful to t

Jacob is here removing to Egypt in his old age. God sends him thither, ver. 1 - 4. All his family goes with him, ver. 5 - 27. Joseph bids him welcome, ver. 28 - 34.

In this chapter we have instances, Of Joseph's kindness to his relations, presenting his brethren first, and then his father to Pharaoh, ver. 1 - 10. setting them in Goshen, and providing for them there, ver. 11, 12. paying his respects to his father wh

In this chapter Jacob's dying words are recorded, because he speaks by a spirit of prophecy; Abraham's and Isaac's are not. God's gifts and graces shine forth much more in some than in others upon their death - beds. Here is, Joseph hearing of his fathe

Jacob is here upon his death - bed making his will: what he said here he could not say when he would, but as the Spirit gave him utterance, who chose this time that divine strength might be perfected in this weakness. The twelve sons of Jacob were in thei

Here, is, The preparation for Jacob's funeral, ver. 1 - 6. The funeral itself, ver. 7 - 14. The settling of a good understanding between Joseph and his brethren, after the death of Jacob, ver. 15 - 21. The age and death of Joseph, ver. 22 - 26.

Above All Things Put On Love

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

God has Chosen the Foolish Things to Shame the Proud

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that, as it is written, He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.