References and The following Hymn, taken from the Hindoo Rig Authorities. Veda, is translated in Macdonald's "Creation and Hindoo theory. Another form of Indian theory. Etrurian theory. Fall": "Nor Aught nor Nought existed; yon bright sky Was not, nor heaven's broad roof outstretched above; He knows it or perchance even He knows not." Of more modern representations of the Creation, the following may suffice to complete the contrast with the inspired records. Indian.-" At first all was dark: the world still rested in the purpose of the Eternal, whose first thought created water, and on it the seed of life. This became an egg, from which issued Brahma, the creative power, who divided his own substance and became male and female." Etrurian.-"God created in the first thousand years heaven and earth; in the second, the vault of heaven; in the third, the sea and other waters of the earth; in the fourth, the sun, moon, and stars; in the fifth, the inhabitants of the air, of the water, and of the land and in the sixth, man." In the ancient Scandinavian poem, "The Völuspa, and Scandinavian theory. or Song of the prophetess," the primeval state of the References material creation is described as having been a vast Authorities. void abyss, called Ginnunga-Gap, the cup, or gulf, of delusion. The northern nebulous and dark region of this abyss was called Nilfheim, or Mist Home, a dismal place of night, and mist, and ice, where is situated Huergelmir, or the spring of hot water, from which issue twelve rivers. The southern part of the abyss was illuminated by rays emanating from the sphere or abode of light, named Muspelheim. From this torrid zone of the infant universe blew a scorching wind which melted the frozen waters of the Elivâgar, from which was produced the giant Ymir in the likeness of man. At the same time was created the cow Audhumbla, from whose capacious udder flowed four streams of milk which gave healthful nourishment to Ymir. By licking the stones which were covered with salt and hoar-frost, she produced, in three days, a superior being called Bur, or Buri, in the shape of a man. Bör, the son of Buri, married a Joten or giantwoman, from which union sprang the three gods, Odin, Vili, and Ve, who combined in killing Ymir, and dragging his remains into the midst of GinnungaGap. At this point begins the work of Creation. Of the flesh of Ymir they made the earth; of his blood, the ocean and the rivers; of his huge bones, the mountains; of his teeth, his jawbones, and the splinters of some of his broken bones, the rocks and cliffs; of his hair, the trees; of his brain, the clouds; and of his eyebrows, Midgard-the abode of man. Besides, of his ample skull they constructed the vault of heaven, and References and poised it upon the four remotest pillars of the Authorities. earth, placing under each pillar a dwarf, the name "Faiths of the World." I. 636. The print of distinction in the Scripture record. of each corresponding respectively to one of the cardinal points of the horizon. The sparks and cinders which were wafted into the abyss from the tropical region of Muspelheim, they fixed in the centre of the celestial concave, above and below GinnungaGap, to supply it and the earth with light and heat. In comparing these cosmogonies with the Scripture record, we may find evident traces of the influence of those early memorials which Moses used, but one thing makes the essential difference between Moses' account and all others. To him the One Personal and living God had been revealed; and so, however, his narrative may resemble others in philosophical form, at its centre there are no antagonistic principles, no mysterious forces, no multiplied agencies; we find only the supreme undivided energy of one real, personal, infinite and almighty God, who could say"There is no other God beside Me, I know no other." TWO AGENTS IN THE BEGINNINGS-GOD AND MAN. : "By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist."-Col. i, 16, 17. "What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas."-Psa. viii, 4-8. and Authorities. The reason THE reason for calling the series of chapters which References we now commence "The Book of Beginnings" requires to be explained. The English reader will for the Title observe that the words "beginning" and "generations" of this part. and Toledoth; Greek, Genesis. References are characteristic of the earlier part of Genesis; and Authorities. the Hebrew term used is Toledoth, meaning origins, or Hebrew, generations. The word "Genesis" is Greek, with the distinct meaning of beginning; and we have some key to the purpose of Moses in this compilation when we observe that he designed to give some account of the beginnings of existing things, relations and races, taking care that the account should lead up to God as the primal source, or over-ruler of all things. The Book of Genesis a series of Toledoth. The Book of Genesis "consists of a series of Toledoth, or genealogical histories, the first of which is called 'the Toledoth of the heavens and earth' (ch. ii. 4), or, the history of the material universe and its productions; the others being the respective histories of the different families of man, especially of the ancestors of the people of Israel, from Adam to the Speak. Com. death of Joseph." "As a rule, in each of these sucpp. 22, 23. cessive Toledoth, the narrative is carried down to the Intro.to Gen. Summary of the contents close of the period embraced, and at the beginning of each succeeding portion a brief repetition of so much as is needed of the previous account is given, and with it, very often, a note of time." The Book of Genesis may be summarized thus :— of Genesis; I. The introduction (ch. i. 1 to ii. 3). 2. Toledoth Com. of the heavens and the earth (ch. ii. 4 to ch. iv.) after Speak. 3. Toledoth of Adam (ch. v. to vi. 8). 4. Toledoth of Noah (ch. vi. 9 to ix.) 5. Toledoth of the sons of Noah (ch. x. I to xi. 9). 6. Toledoth of Shem (ch. xi. 10-26). 7. Toledoth of Terah (ch. xi. 27 to XXV. 11). 8. Toledoth of Ishmael (ch. xxv. 12—18). 9. Toledoth of Isaac (ch. xxv. 19 to end of xxxv.) |