Literature.— Oi/. Heb. Lex. t. nh and nii^in, and Thayer- Grimm, NT Lex. 8. j-wMt, etc. W, JJ. BENNETT.
GENERATION In the phrase 'generation of
vipers,' which occurs in Mt 3' 12»' 23^ Lk 3', the Greek tr^ 'generation' is yenv^/iara (plu. of y(mr)ixa, which in the best texts occurs only in those places, elsewhere yiv-qixa), a totally difl'erent word from yevea, which is so often tr"* ' generation ' in EV. In fact, yevn-fipiara means ' offspring ' ; and as this meaning belonged once to ' generation ' also, it could stand as its representative. Thus Bp. Hall, Works (1634), i. 781, 'Of the Deluge'— ' These mariages did not beget men, so much as wickednesse, from hence religions (sic) husbands both lost their piety, and gained a rebellious and godlesse generation ' ; and Shaks. Lear, I. i. 119 — * He that makes his generation messes To gorge his appetite.'
'Generation of vipers' comes from Tindale, whom the versions mostly follow. Gen. NT has ' of- springes of vipers ' in Lk 3', and Rhem. NT ' vipers broodes ' throughout.
In Mt 1' ' The book of the generation of Jesua Chri-st,' the Gr. is yineai-s, which is used also in 1" (EV 'birth,' RVm 'generation'), Lk 1" (EV ' birth '), as well as Ja l-'^ 3', and the meaning is probably ' birth ' here also, though all the ver- sions have 'generation.' Cf. Bp. Hall, IVor/cs, ii. 104, ' I cannot blame that pnilosopher who, undertaking to write of the hidden miracles of nature, spends most of his discourse upon the generation and formation of man ; Surely we are fearefully and wonderfully made ; but, how much greater is the miracle of our spirituall regenera- tion'; and White, Selbome, xl., 'The threads sometimes discovered in eels are perhaps their young : the generation of eels is very dark and mysterious.'
Still another word is tr* 'generation' in 1 P 2» ' But ye are a chosen generation ' (7e>'os iKKeKriv, RV 'an elect race'). In this sen-se MandeWlle, Travels, 140, ' This Machoraete regned in Arabye, the Zeer of oure Lord Jhesu Crist 610 ; and wm one of the Generacioun of Ysmael.' Wye. (1388) has ' a chosen kyn.' J. HASTINGS.
UiiiMiSlS
GENESIS
143
•• GENESIS.—
Introdiiotion. i. Contents, ii. Plan ond Unity. ili. Composite Structure. iv. Component Sources of the Narrative. V. Historical Value, vi. l:eli;;ious Teaching. Literature.
The Jews divided their sacred books into three groups— the Law (or Torah), the I'rophets (or ychiiia), and the Writings (or Kethiihim). Of these the Law (or Torah). wliich corresponded to our Pentateuch, was divided into.rti'e portions or books, probably tor greater convenience in use and refer- ence ; and hence the Kabbis sometimes spoke of tliese books as -the five (itths of the 'I'orah.' Their lirst book was tlie same as <mr book 'Genesis,' and was ealied by a title consisting of its opening word Bn-Kuhith (='In the beghmiiig')- I" the Sepitiajiiiit version it was called Mienesis,' y^fean (' begi-tling,' ' origin,' ' generation '), a word which occurs in tiie rendering of 2* avTTi y fiipXo! ■yo'eaeui ovpamO Kal 7^s. This title was adojited and tran.s- literated in the Lat. translation, and .so passed into general use in Western and I'^astern Churches alike.
i. CoNi'K.N'TS. — Genesis begins with an account of the creation of the world. A survey of tlie whole book .shows us a division into two unequal pcu-tiuus, one (chs. 1-11) dealing wilh prtJiieval, the otlier and longer portion (chs. 12-50) dealing with patriiii-clial history. In both these portions we have mention of Jive distinct 'generations' (tolf- dhoth •^'"'': '■■'), which represent, as it were, successive stages in the progress of the narrative. In the primeval history are the 'generations' of (1) the heaven and the earth, chs. 1-4; (2) Adam, 5-0*; (3) Noah, (V'-!); (4) the sons of Xoali, lOi-ll'^* ; (5) Shem, 11'"--". In the patriarchal history are the 'generations' of (1) Terah, chs. 112'-2r>"; (2) Ishmael, 2oi-'-is ; (3) Isaac. 25i''-:!') ; (4) Esau, 30 ; (5) .Jacob, ST-.^O. It must not be supposed that the number of these 'generations' is accidentally ten. The number ten was regarded as symbolical of completeness ; and there can be little doubt that the enumeratiini of the ten tables of 'generations' was intended to denote the completion of the primitive period. The twelve sons of .I.acob, who in (ienesis are removed into Kgypt, have become in Exodus twelve tribes, and the family of Jacob has grown into the nation of Israel. 'I'he Bk. of Genesis gives the traditions res|)ecting the be- ginnings of the world, of man, of the nations, and of the people of Israel. It brings the people of Israel to the close of the patriarchal age, to the threshold of their history as a nation.
ii. PI-.VN .\N1) Unity. — The plan upon which the book is constructed is quite easy to recognize. The history of the Israelite people is traced from the thl-fe epochs, (a) the Creation, (h) the Flood. (<■) the call of Abraham. An account-is given of the three patriarchs, Abraliam, Isaac, and .Jacob. The story of Abraham is given at somt^ length ; that of Isaac is dismissed very briclly ; that of Jacob is merged in the life of Joseph, through whose instrumentality the sons of Jacob are brought into Egypt. The end of tlie book leaves the Israelites sojourning in Egypt, after the death of Jo.seph.