Genesis 2:24. Therefore shall a man, &c.— It is evident, that Adam, before he expressed these words, had been instructed by God in the nature of that institution to which these words refer, and the nature of which they so aptly and fully express; teaching to us the close union of the marriage-state; an union nearer and closer than that of any other relation; a state in which one only was formed for one. read more
24. one flesh—The human pair differed from all other pairs, that by peculiar formation of Eve, they were one. And this passage is appealed to by our Lord as the divine institution of marriage (Matthew 19:4; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:28). Thus Adam appears as a creature formed after the image of God—showing his knowledge by giving names to the animals, his righteousness by his approval of the marriage relation, and his holiness by his principles and feelings, and finding gratification in the... read more
1. The Garden of Eden 2:4-3:24This story has seven scenes that a change in actors, situations or activities identifies. [Note: For a different narrative analysis, see Waltke, Genesis, pp. 80-81.] Moses constructed this section of Genesis in a chiastic (palistrophic, crossing) structure to focus attention on the central scene: the Fall. The preceding scenes lead up to the Fall, and the following scenes describe its consequences. [Note: Wenham, p. 50.] A Scene 1 (narrative): God is the sole... read more
B. What became of the creation 2:4-4:26Moses described what happened to the creation by recording significant events in the Garden of Eden, the murder of Abel, and the family of Cain."The section begins with a description of the creation of Adam and Eve and traces their sin, God’s curse on sin, and the expansion of sin in their descendants. No longer at rest, mankind experienced flight and fear, making his way in the world, surviving, and developing civilization. As if in answer to the... read more
The creation of woman 2:18-25 read more
This verse clarifies God’s purpose in marriage. It involves leaving parents and cleaving to one’s spouse. [Note: See Mathews, pp. 222-24.] ". . . Israelite marriage was usually patrilocal, that is, the man continued to live in or near his parents’ home. It was the wife who left home to join her husband." [Note: Wenham, p. 70.] Leaving and cleaving probably means both psychological and physical separation and union under normal conditions. A newly married couple is wise to establish relative... read more
Paradise and the FallIn this famous passage we possess a wealth of moral and spiritual teaching regarding God and man. The intention of the writer is evidently to give an answer to the question: How did sin and misery find their way into the world? As is natural among Orientals he put his reply into narrative form; and though it is generally accepted that the details are to be interpreted symbolically rather than literally, yet they are in marvellous agreement with the real facts of human... read more
Paradise and the FallIn this famous passage we possess a wealth of moral and spiritual teaching regarding God and man. The intention of the writer is evidently to give an answer to the question: How did sin and misery find their way into the world? As is natural among Orientals he put his reply into narrative form; and though it is generally accepted that the details are to be interpreted symbolically rather than literally, yet they are in marvellous agreement with the real facts of human... read more
EXCURSUS C: ON THE DURATION OF THE PARADISIACAL STATE OF INNOCENCE.The Bereshit Rabba argues that Adam and Eve remained in their original state of innocence for six hours only. Others have supposed that the events recorded in Genesis 2:4 to Genesis 3:24 took place in the course of twenty-four hours, and suppose that this is proved by what is said in Genesis 2:4, that the earth and heavens, with Adam and the garden, were all made in one day, before the end of which they suppose that he fell.... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 2:24
"Therefore shall man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."This verse was quoted by Christ and designated the "Word of God" in Matthew 19:5,6. The prophetic power of Adam is inherent in such a declaration in the given circumstances. Christ used this verse as a condemnation of divorce, as did also the prophet Malachi (Malachi 2:15), as teaching the indissoluble nature of marriage and the condemnation of polygamy. Here again there is an... read more