Synthetic Bible Studies by James Gray

• Title Page
• Pentateuch
  • Lesson 1: Genesis 1–11
    • The Word Outline
    • The First Great Fact
    • The Law of Recurrence
    • The Second Great Fact
    • The Third Great Fact
    • The Fourth Great Fact
  • Lesson 2: Genesis 12:1–28:15
  • Lesson 3: Genesis 28–50
  • Lesson 4: Exodus 1–19
  • Lesson 5: Exodus 20–40
  • Lesson 6: Leviticus
  • Lesson 7: Numbers 1–19
  • Lesson 8: Numbers 20–36
  • Lesson 9: Deuteronomy
• History
• Poetry
• Prophets
• Post Captivity Prophets
• Gospels, Acts
• Pauline Epistles
• General Epistles

Notice certain changes made in the covenant with Noah as distinct from that made with Adam. (1) Man’s dominion over the inferior animals is now based on their dread of him, where probably love ruled before. (2) Man is now permitted, indeed commanded, to eat animal food, the blood only restricted. A possible reason for the command is suggested in the volume referred to above. (3) Man is now put under human law as well as divine (Genesis 9:5-6). All this seems to be in keeping with man’s deterioration from what God made him at the beginning.

Notice the pledge of peace. Some think from Genesis 2:5-6, that it had never rained upon the earth till the flood, and that the rainbow was a new phenomenon. If so, with what joy it would be welcomed whenever, thereafter, showers began to fall!

The Fourth Great Fact

The last word in our outline is “Nations,” Genesis 10-11, where we again have something corresponding to the law of recurrence. That is, the reading of these two chapters discloses that the first treats of the dispersion of the nations in general, and the second in detail, or the first tells “how” and the second “why” they were divided.

Examining Genesis 10, on what basis were the nations divided? According to the sons of Noah. A map will be useful here, and you will probably find one in the back of your Bible. Fasten in mind the names of some of the sons and grandsons of Japheth, and then look at the map in the region of the Black and Caspian seas, and also a little further to the left toward Greece, where the same names occur. Do the same with the names of Ham’s descendants and look for them in the region of Canaan, Egypt and Africa. Trace Shem’s line in the same way through Assyria, Persia, etc., thus discovering by a comparison of ancient geography an ethnology, that the first-named settled in the north and north west, the second in the south and southwest, and the third, while remaining near the starting point, diverged a little to the south and southeast.

What are the details of Genesis 11? Recall them from memory if possible, and then write them like this:

• The unity of speech.
• The settlement in Shinar.
• The building of the city and tower.
• The anger and judgment of God.
• The dispersion abroad.