A Short Introduction to the Literature of the Bible

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1901. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... chapter ii the history of the people of israel as presented by themselves Prologue to the Old Testament The relation between the people of Israel and their God is in the Bible expressed by the word 'covenant': God appears repeatedly as referring to his covenant with Abraham, and at successive stages in the history of Israel the covenant is renewed. The word 'testament,' which in later times has changed its meaning, was in earlier English exactly equivalent to ' covenant': hence it is natural that the sacred literature of Israel should be called 'The Old Testament,' or covenant between God and his ancient people of Israel. It might have been expected that this literature should commence with the first of the fathers: as a fact, Genesis commences long before. But when the eleven chapters which precede Abraham are examined, the reason is plain. The call of Abraham is not the first example of covenantal relations between God and mankind. When the origin of all things has been noted in the creation of the world, Adam is granted dominion over all the earth; the garden of Eden is given him for his abode, and for a sign of obedience is the command to abstain from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.. This is the covenant between God and the common ancestor of men. Then is narrated the eating of the 23 forbidden fruit; and Adam is driven out of Eden. With the slaying of Abel by Cain, the feud of the righteous and the wicked has appeared upon earth. Its continuance is suggested in the two genealogies that follow. The one traces the progeny of Cain to Lamech, the inventor of deadly weapons. In the other, Abel is replaced by Seth: "then b...