Old Testament. §13 A brief outline of the history of the Old Testament and the history of the creation of the Old Testament (according to modern biblical studies)

In this article, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the most famous biblical stories. It is known that biblical stories became the basis of many works of culture. Learning about Bible stories does more than just teach us wisdom, tolerance, and faith. Bible stories help us better understand the culture and ourselves.

In this material we offer you biblical stories of the Old and New Testaments. The greatest prophets, kings of the Ancient World, apostles and Christ himself - these are the heroes of epic biblical stories.

World creation.

The biblical story about the creation of the world is described in the Book of Genesis (1st chapter). The biblical story is fundamental to the entire Bible. He not only tells how it all began, he also sets out the basic teachings about who God is and who we are in relationship with God.

Creation of man.

Man was created on the sixth day of creation. From this biblical story, we learn that man is the pinnacle of the universe, created in the image of God. This is the source of human dignity, and that is why we follow spiritual growth, so we will be more like him. Having created the first people, the Lord bequeathed them to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and rule over animals.

Adam and Eve - the story of love and the fall

The story of the creation of the first people Adam and Eve and how Satan, disguised as a serpent, tempted Eve to sin and eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of good and evil. Chapter 3 of Genesis describes the story of the fall and expulsion from Eden of the first people. Adam and his wife Eve are in the Bible the first people on Earth, created by God and the progenitors of the human race.

Cain and Abel - the story of the first murder.

Cain and Abel are brothers, sons of the first people - Adam and Eve. Cain killed Abel out of jealousy. The plot of Cain and Abel is the plot of the first murder on the young Earth. Abel was a cattle breeder, and Cain was a farmer. The conflict began with a sacrifice to God made by both brothers. Abel sacrificed the firstborn heads of his flock, and God accepted his sacrifice, while Cain's sacrifice - the fruits of the earth - was rejected due to the fact that it was not offered with a pure heart.

Great Flood.

Chapters 6-9 of Genesis tell the story of the Great Flood. God was angry at the sins of mankind and sent rains to the earth, which caused the Flood. The only people Those who managed to escape were Noah and his family. God bequeathed to Noah to build an ark, which became a shelter for him and his family, as well as for animals and birds, which Noah took with him to the ark.

Babel

After the Great Flood, mankind was a single people and spoke the same language. The tribes that came from the east decided to build a city of Babylon and a tower to heaven. The construction of the tower was interrupted by God, who created new languages, because of which people stopped understanding each other and could not continue construction.

Abraham's covenant with the Lord

In the Book of Genesis, several chapters are devoted to the post-Flood patriarch Abraham. Abraham was the first person with whom the Lord God made a Covenant, according to which Abraham would become the father of many nations.

Sacrifice of Isaac.

The Book of Genesis describes the story of the failed sacrifice of Isaac by his father, Abraham. According to Genesis, God called Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a “burnt offering.” Abraham obeyed without hesitation, but the Lord spared Isaac, convinced of Abraham's devotion.

Isaac and Rebekah

The story of Abraham's son Isaac and his wife Rebekah. Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel and the granddaughter of Abraham's brother Nahor (Abraham, who lived in Canaan, decided to find a wife for Isaac in his homeland, in Haran).

Sodom and Gomorrah

Sodom and Gomorrah are two famous biblical cities that, according to the Book of Genesis, were destroyed by God for the sinfulness and depravity of their inhabitants. The only ones who managed to survive were Abraham's son Lot and his daughters.

Lot and his daughters.

In the tragedy of Sodom and Gomorrah, God spared only Lot and his daughters, since Lot was the only righteous man in Sodom. After fleeing from Sodom, Lot settled in the city of Segor, but soon left there and settled with his daughters in a cave in the mountains.

The story of Joseph and his brothers

The biblical story of Joseph and his brothers is told in Genesis. This is the story of God's faithfulness to the promises made to Abraham, His omnipotence, omnipotence and omniscience. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, but the Lord directed their destinies in such a way that they themselves accomplished what they so sought to prevent - the exaltation of Joseph.

Egyptian executions

According to the book of Exodus, Moses, in the name of the Lord, demanded that Pharaoh free the enslaved sons of Israel. Pharaoh did not agree and 10 Egyptian plagues were brought down on Egypt - ten disasters.

Wanderings of Moses

The story of the forty-year exodus of the Jews from Egypt under the leadership of Moses. After forty years of wandering, the Israelites rounded Moab and reached the banks of the Jordan at Mount Nebo. Here Moses died, appointing Joshua as his successor.

Manna from heaven

According to the Bible, manna from heaven is the food that God fed the people of Israel during the 40-year wanderings in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. Manna looked like white grains. The collection of manna took place in the morning.

Tencommandments

According to the book of Exodus, the Lord gave Moses ten commandments about how to live and treat God and each other.

Battle for Jericho

The biblical story tells how the successor of Moses, Joshua, asked the Lord to help him take the city of Jericho, whose inhabitants were afraid of the Israelites and did not want to open the gates of the city.

Samson and Delilah

The story of Samson and Delilah is described in the Book of Judges. Delilah - a woman who betrayed Samson, repaid her love and devotion by revealing the secret of Samson's strength to his worst enemies- the Philistines.

History of Ruth

Ruth is the great-grandmother of King David. Ruth was known for her righteousness and beauty. The story of Ruth represents a righteous entry into the Jewish people.

David and Goliath

Bible story about young man who, guided by faith, defeated the great warrior. Young David is the future God-chosen king of Judah and Israel.

Ark of the Covenant of God

The Ark of the Covenant is the greatest shrine Jewish people, in which the stone Tablets of the Covenant were kept, as well as a vessel with manna and Aaron's staff.

Wisdom of King Solomon.

King Solomon is the son of David and the third Jewish king. His reign is described as wise and just. Solomon was considered the personification of wisdom.

Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

A biblical story about how the legendary Arabian ruler, the Queen of Sheba, paid a visit to King Solomon, known for his wisdom.

Golden idol of Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar, who saw in a dream a golden idol, could not get rid of the desire to make himself a similar statue of huge size and of the purest gold.

Queen Esther

Esther was a beautiful, quiet, modest, but energetic and passionately devoted woman to her people and her religion. She is the protector of the Jewish people.

Job the long-suffering

Biblical stories of the New Testament.

Birth of John the Baptist

The Old Testament ends with the hope that God will send Elijah to prepare the people for the coming of the Savior, the Messiah. Such a person turns out to be John the Baptist, who prepares people for the coming of the Messiah, telling them about repentance.

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The biblical story about the announcement by the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary about the future birth of Jesus Christ in the flesh from her. An angel came to the Mother of God and uttered the words that She was chosen by God and found grace from God.

Birth of Jesus

Even in the Book of Genesis there are prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. There are more than 300 of them in the Old Testament. These prophecies come true in the birth of Jesus Christ.

Gifts of the Magi.

Three Wise Men bring gifts to baby Jesus at Christmas. In the Bible, the Magi are kings or magicians who came from the East to worship the baby Jesus. The Magi learned about the birth of Jesus by the appearance of a miraculous star.

Massacre of the innocents

The Massacre of the Innocents is a New Testament biblical tradition, described in the Gospel of Matthew. Tradition speaks of the massacre of infants in Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus. The murdered babies are venerated by a number of Christian churches as holy martyrs.

Baptism of Jesus

Jesus Christ came to John the Baptist, who was at the Jordan River in Bethabara, in order to be baptized. John said, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" To this, Jesus replied that "it behooves us to fulfill all righteousness" and was baptized by John.

Temptation of Christ

After being baptized, Jesus went into the wilderness to fast for forty days. In the desert, the devil tempted Jesus. In Christianity, the temptation of Christ by the devil is interpreted as one of the proofs of the dual nature of Jesus, and the wounding of the Devil by Him is an example of the struggle against evil and the blessed result of baptism.

Jesus walks on water

The walking of Jesus on the water is one of the miracles performed by Christ to assure the disciples of His divinity. Walking on water is described in three gospels. This is a well-known biblical story that was used for Christian icons, mosaics, etc.

The expulsion of merchants from the temple

A biblical story describing an episode of the earthly life of the Messiah. At the feast of Passover in Jerusalem, the Jews rounded up sacrificial cattle and set up shops in the temple. After entering Jerusalem, Christ went to the temple, saw the merchants and drove them out.

The Last Supper

The Last Supper is the last meal of Jesus Christ with His twelve disciples, during which He established the sacrament of the Eucharist and predicted the betrayal of one of the disciples.

Prayer for a cup

The Prayer for the Chalice or the Gethsemane Prayer is the prayer of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. The prayer for the cup is an expression that Jesus had two wills: divine and human.

Kiss of Judas

Biblical story found in the three Gospels. Judas kissed Christ at night in the Garden of Gethsemane after praying for a cup. The kiss was a sign for the arrest of the Messiah.

Pilate's Judgment

The Judgment of Pilate is the trial of the Roman procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate, over Jesus Christ, described in the four Gospels. The Judgment of Pilate is one of the Passion of Christ.

Renunciation of the Apostle Peter

The denial of Peter is a New Testament story that tells how the apostle Peter denied Jesus after his arrest. Renunciation was foretold by Jesus at the Last Supper.

way of the cross

The way of the cross or the bearing of the cross is a biblical story, an integral part of the Suffering of Jesus, representing the path made by Christ under the weight of the cross, on which he was later crucified.

crucifixion of christ

The execution of Jesus took place at Golgotha. The execution of Christ through crucifixion is the final episode of the Passion of Christ, which precedes the burial and Resurrection of Christ. Jesus suffered on the cross alongside the thieves.

Resurrection.
On the third day after his death, Jesus Christ rose from the dead. His body has changed. He emerged from the tomb without breaking the Sanhedrin seal and invisible to the guards.

Period one. From Creation to the Flood

And a lad for my wound.

If Cain is avenged sevenfold,

That is seventy times sevenfold for Lamech. This six-line is the first example of proper poetic speech in the primitive era, and this song is a true reflection of Jewish, as the most ancient poetry. As for the content of this primitive poem, then, in general, its meaning is as follows. In the midst of the violence and cruelty of that time, especially rampant among the descendants of Cain, Lamech comforts his wives with the assurance that with the copper and iron weapons now in his hands, thanks to the invention of Tubal Cain, he can kill anyone who dares insult him ; and if Cain was promised that he would be avenged sevenfold, then in the hands of the offspring of Lamech there is now a means to avenge themselves seventy times seven times. This poem expressed that spirit of arrogance and arrogance, which distinguished in their lives and in their character the offspring of a criminal and gloomy exile. Lamech looks at the newly invented weapon that his son forged, and a song of triumph escapes from his chest. How far ahead of his ancestor Cain, who was forced to roam the earth helplessly! He no longer needs outside help and he will be able to protect himself at any time. Not only is he not afraid of murder, but he himself sings of murder. This is what the offspring of the first murderer came to. The descendants of Cain directed all their activities to ensure material life. These purely worldly concerns absorbed all the strength of Cain's generation to such an extent that it obviously completely neglected the interests of spiritual life. Distinguished by stubborn arrogance, it apparently lived in complete enslavement to the bustle of life and was distinguished by gross unbelief, with its inevitable fruits - vices and crimes. With such a direction, it obviously could not be a true representative of the human race and, even more so, the keeper of great spiritual treasures - the first promise of the Savior and the primitive religious and moral institutions associated with it. It, in its crude one-sidedness, threatened only to distort the historical course of development destined for mankind. This one-sided direction needed a counterbalance. And he really appeared in the generation of the new son of Adam - Seth, who was born in the place of the murdered Abel. Seth begins in history that generation of people, which, in its spiritual mood, represented complete opposite offspring of Cain. In the generation of Cain, people, worshiping the only material force, turned all their abilities (to the point of complete oblivion of God) to the development and acquisition of means that increase this force; here, on the contrary, a completely different, more sublime direction was worked out and developed, which, awakening in people a humble consciousness of human helplessness and sinfulness, directed their thoughts to the supreme Patron, who gave the fallen people the promise of future deliverance. This direction declared itself already under the son of Seth - Enos: "then, the biblical chronicle says, they began to call on the name of the Lord God (Jehovah)." This, of course, does not mean that until that time there was absolutely no use of prayers as an invocation of God. Religion began to be expressed in external forms, and, consequently, in prayer, even during the time of the first sons of Adam - in the offering of a gift to God. This expression only means that now in the generation of Seth the invocation of the name of the Lord God became an open confession of their faith in God, a banner that distinguished them from the generation of Cain with its gross unbelief and wickedness. The highest spokesman and representative of this direction was Enoch, who "walked with God", i.e. throughout his life reflected the height of the original human purity and holiness. At the same time, He was the first to realize to what abyss of depravity and sinfulness Cain's direction could lead, and He acted as the first preacher and prophet who foreshadowed God's terrible judgment on the "wicked." “Behold, he said, the Lord is coming with thousands of His holy angels to judge all and convict all the wicked among them in all the deeds that their wickedness has produced, and in all the cruel words that ungodly sinners have spoken against Him” (). As a reward for this high piety and great faith, God “took him” from the sinful earth and thereby freed him from the death caused by sin (). become the root from which the whole tree of humanity was to develop. And it really became it. The course of historical development, starting from the first man and dividing into two currents, directed its main channel towards this particular generation. In this generation, one after another, those great representatives of primitive humanity or patriarchs appear, who, strong in spirit and body, were called upon to develop and preserve the principles that were to form the basis of the life of all future generations through long-term work. For the most successful fulfillment of their purpose, they, by the special providence of God, were endowed with extraordinary longevity, so that for almost a whole millennium each of them could be a living guardian and interpreter of the promise entrusted to them. The first man Adam, this first author of the revolution that took place in the history of mankind and the first witness of the great promise of the Savior, lived 930 years; his son Seth - 912 years; Seth's son Enos - 905 years; representatives of subsequent generations: Cainan - 910 years, Maleleel - 895, Jared - 962, Enoch, whose life was interrupted by being taken to heaven - 365, Methuselah - 969, Lamech - 777 and the son of the latter, Noah - 950 years. This extraordinary longevity of the patriarchs is unanimously witnessed by the tradition of all ancient peoples. When judging it, one must keep in mind that they were close descendants of newly created people (and, moreover, created immortal), the natural conditions of life were different from the current ones, life itself was simple and natural, and indeed, in the state of nature after her heavenly state, those changes did not suddenly occur that made her influence often destructive to life. Even now, the duration of human life reaches up to two hundred years, and among African Arabs, according to travelers, it is not even rare. Why, then, is it impossible to consider as possible a life span of more than two hundred years in primitive times, when primitive fossil remains indicate the grandiose size and gigantic fortress of the creatures living then? It has been proven that some animals, and especially birds, now live 300-400 years. Therefore, it is not impossible that a person in the country of his original origin and with a way of life more in line with nature than now, could live as long as the biblical chronicle testifies. The chronology of the life of the patriarchs also serves as the basis for general definition the life of mankind on earth, to establish the chronology of primitive history. Its construction is facilitated and simplified by the fact that the account of the years of the patriarchs in the biblical chronicle is threefold: 1) from the beginning of life to the birth of the first son, 2) from the birth of the first son to the end of life, and 3) the number of years of all life. The first count is especially important. It makes it possible to draw a continuous line of years from Adam to any subsequent patriarch: one should only add up the years of each lived before the birth of the first son. Thus, Adam was 130 years old when his son Seth was born, Seth was 105 years old at the birth of Enos, Enos was 90 years old at the birth of Cainan. The sum of these years is the period from the creation of Adam to the birth of Cainan: 130† 105† 90,325 years. In the same way, you can determine the number of years from Adam to Noah, from which new era in the history of mankind. But despite its apparent simplicity, reckoning presents almost insoluble difficulties in another respect. In order to establish the chronology of this primitive era, it is still necessary to first find a solid support in the very account of the years of the life of the patriarchs - both throughout and before the birth of the first son, since this account varies significantly in the three most ancient and authoritative texts of the biblical chronicle: Jewish, Samaritan and Greek. This difference can be seen from the following comparison table:

The columns are marked with numbers: 1) Summer before the birth of the first son; 2) Remaining years; 3) All life. Numerous interpreters have labored over the resolution and agreement of this difference in the counting of years, but so far the matter has not been clarified with sufficient completeness. All sorts of assumptions were made. Some explain this difference from the accidental errors of the scribes of St. books; others see in the deviations of the Samaritan text a consistent desire to reduce the supposedly incredible longevity of the patriarchs, and in the deviations of the Greek text from the Hebrew - the desire of seventy interpreters to bring the biblical chronology under the forms of the Egyptian; others, finally, in the diminished readings of the Hebrew text see a deliberate distortion of the text by the Jews, who wanted to prove by this that “the fulfillment of times had not yet come,” which, according to ancient prophecy, should have taken place in the sixth thousand years from the creation of the world. The first and last assumptions are more likely, although there may have been other reasons not yet discovered by science. In any case, the testimony of the Greek translation has more grounds for itself, and they formed the basis of the chronology adopted by the Orthodox Church and supported by many famous scholars. According to this reckoning, the considered period embraces (before the flood) 2262 years 15 Gregory the Theologian

According to the Hebrew text, the number is presented in this form: Adam - 130, Seth - 105, Enos - 90, Cainan - 70, Maleleel - 65, Jared - 162, Enoch - 65, Methuselah - 187, Lamech - 182, Noah - 500, Shem before the flood - 100. The sum of these numbers - 1656 is the number of years from creation to the flood.

Reading the "Holy Stories", children will get acquainted with the heroes of the Bible, receive the first spiritual lessons, learn to reason and evaluate events. Holy Scripture. The book is illustrated with miniatures from the Front Chronicle of Ivan the Terrible - a monument Ancient Russia XVI century. The book is suitable for independent reading and study in Sunday schools.

* * *

The following excerpt from the book Sacred Stories of the Old and New Testaments: with moralizing and pious reflections (I. Gübner, 2017) provided by our book partner - the company LitRes.

Part one

Fifty-two sacred stories from the Old Testament

Creation of the world, day one.

Genesis, ch. one

Story 1

About the creation of the world

Genesis, ch. 1 and 2

Everything that exists around us was created by God. It took him six days. First He created the heavens and the earth. The ground was empty and dark. God said: let there be light, and it became light. He separated the light from the darkness, calling the light day and the darkness night. Thus ended the first day of Creation.

On the second day, God created a firmament above the earth and called it heaven. On the third day, God commanded all the water to gather under the sky in their places, and dry land appeared. He called it the earth, and the gathering of the waters the seas. And God saw that it was good, and commanded herbs and trees to grow on the earth, bearing fruit. And so it happened.

Then came the fourth day of Creation, and God created the sun, moon, and stars. The sun now ruled the day, and the moon ruled the night, day could be separated from night, days and years could be counted. On the fifth day, God turned to water, created fish, turtles, dolphins and other organisms living in the seas. And in the sky above the earth, God created birds. And God breathed into the living souls in the heavenly and marine life. And God blessed them, saying: Be fruitful and multiply. Thus ended the fifth day of Creation.

On the sixth day, the Lord created all earthly animals and finally people: a man and a woman. They became the masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and all the animals on earth. Thus ended the sixth day of Creation. On the seventh day God did not create, this day He blessed for rest. So out of nothing, with one word of His and by His will, God created our entire wonderful and beautiful world.

Creation of the world, day three. Genesis, ch. one

1. Who created heaven and earth?

2. How long did it take God to complete all of Creation?

3. What did God create on the first day?

4. In the second?

5. Third?

6. Fourth?

7. On the fifth?

8. In the sixth?

9. From what did God create the whole world?

10. How did the world created by God become?

11. What did God do on the seventh day?

moralizing

I. If God out of nothing, by one word of His, created heaven and earth, and all that is in heaven, on earth, and in the sea, we cannot doubt His omnipotence. In Him alone we must place our hopes in everything.

II. Since God Himself loved His Creation, and the earth, and the sky, and the sea, and loves everyone who lives in this world, then we do not dare to condemn and despise anyone.

III. God created everything alive to people good, so we must love the Lord with all our heart and soul.

Story 2

On the Creation of Man

Genesis, ch. 1 and 2

When God created heaven and earth and all living in the air, in water and on land, He, as if consulting with Himself, said: Now let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. From the dust of the earth, the Lord God created the body of man, then breathed into his face the breath of life.

The Lord called the first man Adam, which means "clay", "earth". To him God brought all the beasts and all the birds that He had created, and Adam gave them names. But there was no friend like him for the man. Then the Lord said: “It is not good for a man to be alone; let us make him a helper.”

He put Adam into a deep sleep to take one of his ribs. From the rib of the first man, God created woman. When He brought her to Adam, Adam later gave her a name - Eve, which means "life." Looking at Eve, Adam said: "This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, she will be my wife."

The Lord God blessed the man and woman He created and said: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it." Thus the Lord established and sanctified the marriage union.

The Creation of Man Genesis, ch. 2

1. How did God decide to create the first man?

2. From what did He create it?

3. What was the name of the first person?

4. Why did the Lord bring all the birds and animals to Adam?

5. What did God say before creating woman?

6. How did God create a wife for Adam?

7. What was the name of the first woman?

8 What did Adam say when he saw his wife?

9. What did God say when he blessed Adam and Eve?

10. What did God establish when he blessed Adam and Eve?

moralizing

I. People! Do not forget that you were created from the dust of the earth, so never be proud of anything in yourself.

II. The Lord God Himself established and blessed the marriage union. Keep and take care of it.

III. At first, God created one couple, Adam and Eve, then the whole human race descended from them. Therefore, we must love one another as children of one father and one mother.

The Lord God and the first man Adam in the Garden of Eden. Genesis, ch. 2

Story 3

About the innocent state of Adam and Eve in Paradise

Genesis, ch. 2 and 3

Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden - Eden, which was created by the Lord. Fulfilling the will of God, Adam looked after the garden and kept it, and Eve helped her husband. The first people were close to God, saw Him and spoke with Him. They were innocent and immortal, not afraid of ferocious beasts and poisonous animals that were subject to them. So the Lord commanded.

Adam and Eve lived in simplicity and purity, they did not need clothes, it was warm in the lovely garden, and the wonderful aromas of flowers filled the air. The Lord planted many trees in Eden, Adam and Eve ate their fruits. Only from one tree did God forbid Adam to pluck and eat fruit. It was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, growing in the very middle of the garden.

But Adam and Eve violated the commandment of God - they plucked and ate the forbidden fruit. When the Lord found out about this, he expelled the first people from paradise. And they could not go back: God commanded Cherubim with a fiery sword to protect the entrance to the Garden of Eden. Thus people lost the likeness of God. Sin entered the world, and through it, death.

Fall of Adam and Eve. Genesis, ch. 3

1. What did Adam do in the Garden of Eden?

2 Who could Adam and Eve talk to in Eden?

3. Could the first people have died?

4. Were Adam and Eve afraid of wild animals and poisonous snakes?

5. Did the first people have clothes?

6. What was heaven on earth like?

7. Did the Lord allow all the fruits of the Garden of Eden to be eaten?

8. How did the Lord God punish Adam and Eve?

9. Could the first people return to the Garden of Eden after the exile?

10. What did the entire human race lose because of the disobedience of the first people?

moralizing

I. Adam broke one commandment of God and was expelled from the Garden of Eden. We must obey God in order to live happily.

II. Death, illness and all the misfortunes that happen in our lives are due to the fact that we commit sins.

III. The thing to fear most in life is that you will commit a sin.

Story 4

On the Fall of Adam and Eve

Genesis, ch. 2 and 3

God forbade Adam and Eve to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord told Adam, “You will eat from every tree in the garden, but do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it you will die.” The devil, the enemy of the human race, turned into a snake and crawled after Eve. He waited until Eve moved away from her husband, crawled up a tree and, finding himself face to face with Eve, spoke to her.

The meeting of God with the first people after the fall. Genesis, ch. 3

The serpent told Eve that God forbade them to eat the fruits of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, not because after that the first people would die, but because they would know good and evil. People's eyes will be opened and they will become like God. Eve believed the snake, she thought that the fruits of the forbidden tree would indeed make people wise.

Eve went to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, plucked its pleasant-looking and tasty fruit, and bit off of it. And then she plucked another fruit and treated Adam to it. As soon as the first people ate the fruits of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they immediately saw their nakedness and felt ashamed. To cover themselves, Adam and Eve sewed clothes from fig leaves. Immediately they heard the voice of God, He called them. And the first people did something that had never happened to them before - they hid between the trees from the Face of the Lord God.

The Lord asked Adam, "Where are you?" Adam replied: “I heard your voice in paradise, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and hid myself.” And God asked: “Who told you that you were naked? Have you not eaten from the tree from which I forbade you to eat?” The Lord was waiting for repentance, but people who had sinned began to shift the blame on each other. Adam blamed his wife for giving him the forbidden fruit, and Eve said that the serpent had deceived her.

God was offended not so much by the disobedience of the first people, but by the fact that they did not repent of their deeds. And the Lord determined a special punishment for each, He said, turning to Adam: “In sorrow you will eat from the earth all the days of your life ... in the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground from which you were taken, for you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. Genesis, ch. 3

God said to Eve: “I will multiply your sorrow in your pregnancy; in sickness you will bear children; and your desire is for your husband, and he will rule over you.” The Lord cursed the serpent for everything he had done, and said this: “You will walk on your chest and on your stomach, and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will make war between you, serpent, and between the woman, between your children and between her children.

Many years later, the Baby, born of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ will strike the serpent and destroy the power of the devil.

1. Could Adam and Eve eat from all trees?

2. What was the name of the forbidden tree?

3. Why was it forbidden to eat fruits from the forbidden tree?

4. Who deceived the first people and how?

5. Did the forefathers repent of their sin before God?

6. How did God punish Adam, Eve, and the serpent?

7. What hope did the Lord God give to the first people?

moralizing

I. Adam and Eve had only one commandment of God to fulfill: not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But being seduced by the promise of the serpent, they wanted to become equal to God and violated His commandments. The Lord punished the first people for disobedience - he expelled them from paradise.

II. The serpent deceived Eve and Adam, but the Lord did not accept this as a justification for the first people. Everyone is responsible for their actions before God.

III. When you think about your clothes, about their beauty and high cost, remember: the first, happiest people did not have clothes. And the main thing for a person is not what he has, but the fact that he is loved by God.

Story 5

About Cain who killed his brother Abel

Genesis, ch. 4 and 5

Adam and Eve had two sons, they were born after their parents were expelled by the Lord from the Garden of Eden. The eldest was called Cain, he was a farmer, and the youngest was Abel, he was a shepherd - he looked after the sheep and took care of them.

Cain kills his brother Abel. Genesis, ch. four

Once Cain sacrificed to God what he had grown on earth: grain, fruits and vegetables, and Abel sacrificed the best sheep. The brothers prayed and set fire to their victims. The smoke from Abel's burnt offering rose to the sky, and the smoke from Cain's burnt offering spread over the earth. Cain realized that the Lord did not accept his sacrifice, but, on the contrary, favored Abel and Abel's prayer was heard by God. Proud Cain wanted to be the best before God, a terrible feeling of envy took possession of him.

When the brothers were alone in the field, Cain killed his brother Abel. Cain was sure that no one saw how he committed fratricide, and was not afraid of punishment. But the Merciful Lord sees everything, He wanted to hear that Cain repented of a terrible crime, and asked him: “Where is Abel, your brother?” “I don’t know, am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain shouted arrogantly.

Then the Lord raised His voice: “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground!" Cain was silent. God’s words about the punishment for fratricide seemed to him like thunder: “And now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the land, it will no longer give its strength to you; you will be an exile and a wanderer on the earth.”

Descendants of Cain: son Enoch and grandson Irad. Genesis, ch. four

But Cain again did not repent, did not admit his guilt, but only became more hardened, despaired and said to God: “I have more punishment than I have strength.” Then Cain left with his wife away from all human settlements, moved away from God, forgot his relatives, wandered for a long time and finally settled in a distant country. Among his descendants were musicians, shepherds and foundry craftsmen. The earth, according to the word of God, no longer grew grain, fruit, or vegetables, either for Cain or for his children.

Adam and Eve grieved over the murdered son Abel, and the Lord consoled them, they had a pious son, Seth. He became the ancestor of a large nation, many of his descendants were loved by the Lord. Enoch pleased God so much that he was taken alive into heaven, and the Lord loved Methuselah so much that he marked him with remarkable longevity, he lived 969 years.

1. How many sons did Adam and Eve have, what were their names?

2. What did Cain do and what did Abel do?

3. What did the brothers offer as a sacrifice to God?

4. Whose sacrifices were pleasing to God?

5. How did Cain feel when he realized that Abel's sacrifice was more pleasing to God?

6. What did Cain do?

7. What did Cain say to God?

8. How did God punish Cain for not repenting for killing his brother?

9. Who was born to Adam and Eve for the comfort of God?

moralizing

I. Try with all your might to suppress the envy that arises in your heart - it is contrary to God. Everything we have is given by God and depends on Him.

II. God does not want the sinner to perish; He calls everyone to repentance. So the Lord did not punish Cain immediately, as he committed a sin. God expected repentance from Cain.

III. Even if you committed a sin in secret and no one saw it, the crime cannot hide from God. Cain killed his brother without witnesses, but the very blood of Abel cried out to God - from earth to heaven.

Story 6

Genesis, ch. b, 7, 8 and 9

As time went on, there were more and more people on earth. They forgot about God, became greedy, evil, cruel and deceitful. The Lord saw this, He repented that He had created man on earth, and planned to destroy the human race.

At that time, there lived a righteous man named Noah, which means “calming”, “pacifying”. He loved God with all his heart, with all his soul. And the Lord knew it, He said to Noah: “The end of all life has come before my face, for the earth is filled with evil. I will destroy all living things with a flood. And you make yourself an ark of wood, 133 meters long, 22 meters wide and 13 meters high, cover the ship with a roof, and let it have 3 floors. I will bring a flood of water on the earth to destroy everything that has the spirit of life under heaven. But I will make a covenant with you, and you will enter the ark, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons' wives with you. When you have built the ark, take two pairs of every unclean animal that must not be eaten, seven pairs of clean animals, seven pairs of every feathered and creeping bird, and food for every person that eats for a whole year.”

Noah builds an ark. Being, ch. 6

Noah did as the Lord commanded him. Noah built the ark for 120 years, first he planted the seeds of trees, then he waited for them to grow. At this time, Noah preached, he warned people about mortal danger and called them to repentance. But everyone laughed at him. The time came, and at the command of God, the blessed people and beasts entered the ark. The Lord closed the door behind them from the outside.

Noah and his descendants: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Genesis, ch. 5

After seven days the abyss of heaven opened up, rain fell on the earth for forty days and forty nights. Everything was covered with water, it rose so high that it hid the high mountains. The ark rose and swam. The water stood on the ground for 150 days, people, animals and birds died, and Noah floated safely in his ark. And God remembered Noah, and all the beasts, and all the birds that were with him. And the Lord stopped the rain, and the water began to subside.

Noah's ark stopped on the mountains of Ararat, but it was not known whether the earth had dried up. To find out, Noah released a raven from the ark, then doves. The raven then flew away, then again flew to the ark, the first dove also did not find dry land and returned to Noah. Seven days later, Noah sent out the dove again, and it returned with a fresh olive leaf.

When the third time Noah sent a dove to find dry land, he did not fly back. So Noah realized that the earth was completely dry. At the command of the Lord, Noah and all those who were with him in the ark went out onto dry land. Noah erected an altar and offered a sacrifice to God. The Lord accepted the sacrifice of the righteous man and blessed Noah and his sons.

God told them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. I will no longer curse the earth because of man, and I will no longer afflict all living things. I establish my covenant with you and with your offspring and with every living soul from the ark, that there shall be no more flood to destroy the earth. I put My rainbow in the cloud, so that it may be a sign of the Covenant between Me and between the earth.”

1. How did people live on earth before the flood?

2. What did God decide to do to stop the atrocities of people?

3. What kind of person was Noah?

4. What did the Lord tell Noah to do?

5. Who was to be saved in the ark according to the word of the Lord?

6 What did Noah do to find out if the earth was dry?

7 What was the first thing Noah did when everyone left the ark?

8. What did God promise righteous Noah and his descendants?

9. By what sign of the covenant did the Lord confirm His promise?

moralizing

I. Noah preached for 120 years while he was building the ark, calling to repentance and assuring God of mercy. But no one repented. We see that the Lord is long-suffering, He waits until the end for the repentance of the sinner.

II. In Deluge The Lord saved only righteous Noah and his family. What does this teach us? Because righteousness is the salvation of man.

Story 7

About the Babylonian pandemonium

Genesis, ch. eleven

Many years passed after the flood, and all people spoke the same language. One huge family lived on earth. One day, while traveling in search of new fertile fields, several friends found a green valley and settled there.

There was no forest, no stones in the valley, they had nothing to build their houses from. And people decided to make bricks, burn them and build houses from bricks. And in order to perpetuate their name, they wanted to build such a high tower (pillar) that its top would go to the sky. They called for help all the people born after the flood, and set to work.

When the city was built, and the tower became very high (but did not yet reach the sky), the Lord came down to earth to see what the sons of men were building. The senselessness and pride of the construction of this tower were obvious. “They have one language,” said the Lord, “let us confuse their language so that they no longer understand each other.” And the Lord scattered the proud people throughout the earth to distract them from building the tower. That is why they call this city Babylon, which means “to mix”, “to confuse”. And the tower or pillar erected by people is called Babylonian.

1. How many languages ​​were spoken by people after the Flood?

2. What did people decide to build when there were a lot of them?

3. What material did they use for construction?

4. For what purpose did people start building the tower?

5. Was it pleasing to the Lord God?

6. How did the Lord stop building?

7. What happened to people after the mixing of languages?

8. What was the name of the city on earth where the Lord mixed all languages?

moralizing

I. People wanted to build a great tower to be famous, but only lost what they had. God dislikes the proud.

II. God came down to see the tower under construction and confused the languages ​​of the builders - so the construction stopped. God can destroy everything that a person undertakes against His will.

Story 8

About Abraham and Sarah

Genesis, ch. 12, 13, 18

Abraham (his name is translated from Hebrew as "father of multitudes") was a descendant of Shem, the son of Noah. Abraham's father's name was Terah. Abraham was a wise, kind, merciful man, he lived according to the commandments of God and was pleasing to God. He had a wife Sarah euro. - "noble lady"), she was remarkably beautiful, hospitable and obedient to her husband. Sarah was 65 years old, Abraham was 75, and they had no children.

The Lord blesses Abraham. Genesis, ch. 17

And the Lord said to Abraham: “Get out of your country, from your kindred, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make you great your name and all the families of the earth will be blessed in you.” Abraham, always obedient to the will of God, raised up all his people who worked in his household, took all the cattle and small animals, all his property, and together with Sarah left his father's house.

Abraham and Sarah offer sacrifice to God at the oak forest of Mamre. Genesis, ch. 13

In the evening of each day, Abraham erected an altar and offered a sacrifice to God. So they came to the land of Canaan, and the Lord showed them a place to stop.

Time passed, and one day, when Abraham was praying at night, the Lord answered him: “Do not be afraid, Abraham, I am your shield, your reward will be great.” Abraham said: “O Lord God! what will you give me? “I remain childless.” The Lord invited Abraham to look at the sky and count the stars and said that Abraham would have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. Abraham believed God, for whom nothing is impossible.

Once, during the heat of the day, Abraham was sitting by the oak of Mamre at the entrance to the tent and saw three men. He rushed to meet them, invited them to come in and rest. The men agreed. Abraham prepared a meal, washed their feet, and seated them at the table.

Appearance of the Holy Trinity to Abraham and Sarah at the Oak of Mamre. Being, ch. eighteen

One of the husbands told Abraham that in a year he would again be a guest in this house and Sarah would have a son. Sarah, now 89 years old, laughed in her heart. And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Is there anything difficult for the Lord?

The prediction came true exactly: a hundred-year-old Abraham and ninety-year-old Sarah had a son. They named him Isaac (meaning "he who will laugh"). Under the guise of three men, the Holy Trinity appeared to Abraham on that day.

The Lord predicts to Abraham and Sarah the birth of a child. Genesis, ch. eighteen

1. From whom was Abraham descended?

2. What kind of person was he?

3. What was the name of Abraham's wife?

4 What promise did God make to Abraham?

5. Did Sarah have children?

6 How old were Abraham and Sarah?

7. Did Abraham believe God's promise?

8. Whom did Abraham see under the oak of Mamre?

9. What did Abraham offer travelers?

10. What did one of the guests say to Abraham?

11. What did Sarah think?

12. Has this prediction come true?

13. What name was given to the son of Abraham and Sarah?

14. Who appeared to Abraham under the guise of three men?

moralizing

I. Be hospitable, accept people as the Lord Himself, and He will reward you.

II. We do not lose, but gain a treasure when we spend on hospitality.

III. Do not doubt what God promises. He promised the ninety-year-old Sarah a son - and he gave it.

Story 9

About Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis, ch. 19

Sodom was a city of sin. Its inhospitable inhabitants were notorious for their cruelty. If one of the Sodomites saw a stranger, he invited him to the city, and immediately all the townspeople attacked the traveler and mocked him.

Lived in this city and one righteous man - Lot, he was the nephew of Abraham. One day, at the city gates, Lot saw two strangers who were settling down for the night on the street. He invited them to enter the house. Soon shouts and abuse were heard: all the inhabitants of Sodom surrounded the house of Lot and demanded that travelers be handed over to them for reprisal. Lot went out to the people and begged them not to harm his guests.

Seeing that the distraught townspeople did not retreat, Lot offered them his two unmarried daughters. But then some wicked Sodom began to beat Lot, while others began to break down the doors. Then the strangers who were staying with Lot brought him into the house, locked the doors and struck the attackers with blindness so that they searched all night for the doors to their dwellings. The strangers announced to Lot that they were sent by God and that they would destroy the city for the atrocities of its inhabitants. The strangers told Lot to take all his relatives out of the city. Lot invited the bridegrooms of his daughters to leave the city with him, but they only laughed.

The inhabitants of Sodom demand that Lot give them two angels. Genesis, ch. 19

Before dawn, the angels began to rush Lot, he hesitated, then they took Lot, his wife and two daughters by the hands and led out of the city. The angels ordered to go faster and not look back. Lot wished to hide in a small town that was also to be destroyed. The angel promised to save Lot not to punish this small ungodly city. They began to call him Sigor (which means "small").

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis, ch. 19

Lot entered Segor as the sun rose. At that moment, a rain of brimstone and fire fell from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. Two cities and the whole area around them burned down along with all the inhabitants. Lot's wife knew about the prohibition of the Angels, but she could not resist and decided to look at the farewell to her hometown of Sodom, she looked back and instantly turned into a pillar of salt.

1. Were there many righteous people in Sodom?

2 Whose nephew was Lot?

3 What did Lot do when he saw the two strangers in front of the city gates?

4 What did the people of Sodom do when they learned of Lot's hospitality?

5. What did Lot do?

6. How did the Sodomites behave?

7 What did the strangers do when they saw Lot being mocked?

8 What did the strangers tell Lot?

9 Why did Lot have to leave Sodom?

10. What did Lot warn the suitors of his daughters?

11 What did the angels order Lot and his family to leave the city?

12 What happened as soon as Lot entered Segor?

13 What did Lot's wife do when they left Sodom?

14. How was Lot's wife punished for disobeying the command of the angels?

moralizing

I. Be pious, keep the commandments of God, and the Lord will keep you, as He saved Lot, destroying the wicked.

II. Know how to control yourself: you must not do what is forbidden. Lot's wife knew that she should forget the past and not look back, but she could not help herself, looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.

Story 10

About Abraham Offering His Son as a Sacrifice to God

Genesis, ch. 22

Abraham and Sarah had an only son, Isaac. The promise of God referred to him: “All the families of the earth will be blessed in you.” But the Lord continued to test Abraham's faith and said to him: "Take your only son, Isaac, whom you love, climb one of the mountains and sacrifice him."

Obeying the command of God, Abraham went with his son Isaac to the mountain, which the Lord showed him. Approaching the mountain, Abraham took fire and a knife in his hands, and laid firewood on his son for a burnt offering. And so they went together. Finally, Isaac turned to his father: “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” “God will provide for Himself a sheep for a burnt offering,” Abraham replied.

Abraham sets out on his journey to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to God. Genesis, ch. 22

They came to the place indicated by the Lord. Abraham built an altar, spread the wood on it, and, having bound his son Isaac, placed him on the altar on top of the wood. Abraham took a knife to stab his son, because God commanded him so! And at that moment the Angel of the Lord called to him: “Abraham! Abraham! Do not raise your hand against the lad and do nothing with him, for now I know that you are afraid of God and have not spared your son, your only one, for Me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw a ram entangled with its horns in a thicket. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering instead of his son Isaac.

Abraham's sacrifice. Genesis, ch. 22

Such obedience was pleasing to the Lord, and He again called to Abraham: “Blessing, I will bless you and, multiplying, I will multiply your descendants, like the stars of heaven and like sand on the seashore. And all the peoples of the earth will be blessed in your descendants, because you obeyed my voice.”

An angel stops Abraham's hand. Being, ch. 22

1. How many children did Abraham and Sarah have?

2. What command did Abraham receive from God?

3. How did he act?

4. What did Abraham and his son Isaac carry to the mountain for a burnt offering?

5. What did Isaac ask his father about on the way?

6. What did his father say to him?

7 What did Abraham do when they went up the mountain?

8 What happened when Abraham picked up a knife?

9. What did the angel of the Lord say to Abraham?

10 What did Abraham do after that?

11. What did the Lord God say to Abraham?

moralizing

Be ready to sacrifice everything to God and you will receive everything from Him. Abraham sacrificed his only son and received numerous offspring.

Story 11

On the marriage of Isaac

Genesis, ch. 24

When Isaac was 40 years old, his father Abraham was already a respectable old man. The family lived in the land of Canaan. Abraham decided to find a wife for his son, but he did not want to take her from the Canaanite girls. The people of Canaan at that time did not know the Lord God, but worshiped soulless idols. So Abraham sent his oldest servant to visit relatives in Mesopotamia. lived there brother Abraham - Nahor. Abraham gave as a gift future bride ten camels and jewels, and the attendant set off.

Abraham's servant meets Rebekah at the well. Genesis, ch. 24

When he came to the city where Nahor lived, he stopped at a well. With all his heart, the traveler turned to God: “Lord, God of my master Abraham! Behold, I stand at the well, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city go out to draw water. Let the girl whom I ask to drink from her jug, and she will answer me: "Drink, traveler, and I will give water to your camels," be the one whom You appointed to Your servant Isaac.

Rebekah gives drink to the camels of Abraham's servant. Being, ch. 24

The minister had not yet finished praying, when the beautiful maiden Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor, left the city and went to the well. When she filled her jug, the traveler asked for a drink. Rebekah willingly complied with his request, and then offered to water the camels as well. The servant of Abraham rejoiced, he gave Rebekah gold earrings and two bracelets, asked whose daughter she was and if he could stay overnight at her father's house. Rebekah said that in their house they would find a place to rest for both the traveler and his camels.

Meeting of Rebekah and Isaac. Being, ch. 24

And the man bowed with gratitude to the Lord. Rebekah ran home to tell what had happened to her. Soon Laban, Rebekah's brother, came to the well, and with great joy he invited Abraham's servant to him. When the caravan approached Bethuil's house, the traveler was offered refreshments. He told the hosts about the reason for his appearance, and told about the prayer, and about what happened at the well.

The wedding of Rebekah and Isaac. Genesis, ch. 24

Rebekah's father Bethuel and brother Laban saw the will of God in this event and agreed to let Rebekah go with Abraham's servant. But only if Rebekah herself agrees and desires it. When asked, Rebekah said that she agreed to go to Isaac. Relatives blessed Rebekah and said: “Our sister! May thousands of thousands be born of you, according to the promise of our Lord.”

Rebekah and her maids mounted camels and together with Abraham's servant went to the land of Canaan. When evening came and Isaac went out into the field to meditate, he saw a caravan coming and a beautiful girl. Rebekah also noticed Isaac, she got down from the camel and asked the driver: “What kind of person is coming to meet us?” The driver replied: "This is my lord." Then Rebekah took the veil and covered herself with it. This is how the bride and groom met, Isaac and Rebekah, who later became husband and wife.

1. Where did Abraham decide to find a wife for his son Isaac?

2. What did he do?

3 What did Abraham's servant do when he arrived at the well?

4 What happened while the minister was praying?

5 What did Abraham's servant ask Rebekah to do?

6. Did Rebekah agree to his request?

7. How did Abraham's servant thank Rebekah?

8. What did he ask the girl about?

9 What was the response of Rebekah's family?

10. What did Rebekah say?

11. How did Rebekah and Isaac meet?

12. What happened to Isaac and Rebekah then?

moralizing

I. Abraham did not want to seek a wife for his son among the daughters of Canaan, but only among the girls of his people. Kindness of heart and piety are more precious than beauty and wealth.

II. Isaac married according to the will of his father. But before the wedding, he also learned about the choice of his bride. So you, when you get married, get the consent of your future spouse and the blessing of your parents.

Story 12

Of Isaac blessing his sons

Genesis, ch. 27

Isaac and Rebekah had two twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the first to emerge from his mother's womb, and Jacob the second. God revealed to Rebekah that the birthright, that is, the privilege of blessing the father, would belong to Jacob. Esau was a skilled hunter and often lived in the field. And meek and quiet Jacob loved God and lived in tents with Isaac and Rebekah.

Rebekah and Jacob. Genesis, ch. 25

One day, Esau returned from hunting and was very hungry. For bread and lentils, he was ready to sell his birthright to his brother Jacob, and he did so. “What is this birthright to me?” he thought. Esau received food and sold his birthright to Jacob.

Jacob is the first to serve food to Isaac. Genesis, ch. 27

Isaac loved Esau more, he cooked delicious dishes from game and treated his father to them. And Rebekah loved Jacob more because of his piety. When Isaac grew old and began to see poorly, he decided to bless his sons. Isaac ordered Esau to go hunting and prepare his favorite food from the prey he had caught. “When you come with refreshments,” the father said to Esau, “I will bless you.”

Rebekah heard what Isaac said to his son. She ordered Jacob to bring goats from the flock and prepared a meal from them, which her husband loved. She decided to replace her brothers. Jacob was supposed to impersonate Esau and, on his behalf, offer a treat to his father. Rebekah put Esau's clothes on Jacob, and wrapped the young man's arms and neck in the skin of goats (Esau's whole body was covered with hair). So Jacob, instead of his brother, went with a treat to his father.

Isaac asked his son as he entered, "Who are you?" Jacob replied that he was Esau and brought food prepared according to his order. It seemed to Isaac that Esau had returned too quickly from the hunt and prepared a feast. To make sure that it was really Esau, he ordered his son to come closer to him. Isaac touched Jacob's hands, which were wrapped in goat skins, and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, and the hands are the hands of Esau." Isaac asked Jacob again who he was, and Jacob replied that he was Esau. The father ate, drank wine, and then said: "Come near me and kiss me, my son." When Jacob approached, Isaac smelled Esau's clothes and said, blessing him: “This is the smell of my son, like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed. May God give you from the dew of heaven, and from the fatness of the earth, and plenty of bread and wine. May the nations serve you, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you; those who curse you are cursed; those who bless you are blessed!”

Shortly after Jacob left his father, Esau returned from hunting. He also prepared a meal for Isaac and went in to see him. Then he learned that Jacob had already been blessed by deceit. Esau wept and exclaimed in anger, “Do you really have one blessing, my father?” Isaac could not cancel the blessing given to Jacob, and thus answered Esau: “Behold, from the fruits of the ground will your dwelling be, and from the dew of heaven from above. And you will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother."

Isaac blesses Jacob. Being, ch. 27

The prophecy given to Rebekah, the mother of Esau and Jacob, when she was still pregnant, was fulfilled. But as soon as Esau found out about the blessing stolen from him, he hated his brother Jacob and decided to kill him.

1. How many children did Isaac and Rebekah have?

2. What can be said about the sons of Isaac, what kind of people they were?

3. What did Isaac decide to do before he died?

4 What did he tell Esau to do?

5 What did Rebekah do when she heard Isaac's words?

6 What did Jacob do?

7 What did Isaac ask Jacob?

8 What did Jacob say?

9 Did Isaac suspect that Jacob had deceived him?

10. What blessing did Isaac give to Jacob?

11. What happened next?

12. What blessing did Isaac give to Esau?

13. What was Esau thinking when he hated his brother Jacob because of the stolen blessing?

moralizing

I. We must strive to do everything for the blessing of God and be ready to sacrifice everything for His sake. Esau chose food over blessing and lost it.

II. Although Jacob was an imperfect man and, on the advice of his mother, received a blessing by deceit, God preferred him to Esau, who neglected His gift.

Story 13

About the ladder that Jacob saw in a dream

Genesis, ch. 27 and 28

Jacob knew that Esau's brother hated him and was about to kill him. The mother of both brothers, Rebekah, also knew about it. She was afraid that fratricide would happen and she would lose both her sons. Rebekah advised Jacob to go to Mesopotamia to her brother Laban and marry his daughter. Jacob's father, Isaac, gave a blessing to his son, and he set off on his journey.

Jacob stops for the night on the road to Haran. Genesis, ch. 28

Jacob walked for a long time, evening came, the sun set. He settled down on the ground, put a stone under his head and fell asleep. In a dream, Jacob saw a ladder. One end of it stood on the ground, and the other touched the sky. Angels of God ascended and descended on it. At the top of the ladder stood the Lord, He said to Jacob: “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. And your offspring will be like the sand of the earth, and it will spread to the sea, and to the east, and to the north, and towards noon. And all the families of the earth will be blessed in you. And behold, I am with you, and I will keep you wherever you go.”

Jacob's vision of the ladder. Genesis, ch. 28

Jacob woke up in fear. “Truly, this place,” he said, “is the House of God, here is the gate of heaven.” Jacob got up early in the morning, built a cairn of stones, and placed the stone that lay at his head on top. From above, he poured oil on the monument. Then Jacob made a vow: “If God returns me in peace to my father, then I will build a temple to God in this place and donate to him a tenth of all my possessions.”

1 How did Jacob feel in his father's house?

2. What was Rebekah afraid of?

3 What advice did she give Jacob?

4. How did Isaac feel about this?

5 What dream did Jacob have on the journey?

6. What did the Lord say at the top of the ladder?

7. What did Jacob say about the place where he had the dream?

8 What vow did Jacob make?

moralizing

I. Going on a long journey, it is very important to take a blessing from your parents. Jacob was blessed by Isaac and Rebekah, and he saw God in a dream.

II. Jacob left his brother who threatened him with death. This is how one should act: not to resist evil, but to evade it.

III. It is not time or place, but our own willingness and disposition that connects us to God. Jacob was able to see God at night on the road, and for many people this does not happen even in the sacred temple.

Story 14

About the marriage of Jacob

Genesis, ch. 29

Jacob walked for a long time and finally reached a well nearby and. from Haran. There were flocks of sheep around him. James I asked the shepherds why they didn't let their sheep drink? They answered that the mouth of the well was littered with a huge stone and they would be able to roll it off only when all the shepherds gathered together. Jacob asked them if they knew Laban, his mother's brother, and was he well? The shepherds said that Laban was alive and well, and then pointed to a beautiful girl walking with her sheep. It was Laban's daughter, Rachel.

Meeting of Jacob with Rachel. Genesis, ch. 29

Jacob saw Rachel and loved her with all his heart. He went to the well and rolled away the heavy stone that the shepherds could only move together. Then Jacob gave Rachel's sheep clean water to drink, kissed her and wept for joy. He said that he was related to her father and that he was Rebekah's son.

Meeting Jacob with Laban and his family. Genesis, ch. 29

Rachel ran and told about Jacob to her father - Laban, he hurried to meet Jacob, hugged, kissed him and brought him into his house. Soon Laban asked Jacob if he would like to work for him for pay. Jacob replied that he was ready to serve seven years for the youngest daughter of Laban, the beautiful Rachel. And Jacob served for Rachel for seven years, and these years seemed to him like a few days, so he loved her.

Laban, Jacob, Leah and Rachel. Genesis, ch. 29

When the time came, Laban invited the guests and made a feast, and then at night he brought into Jacob's tent instead of Rachel, Leah, his eldest daughter who was sick with her eyes. In the morning the deception was revealed. Jacob rushed to Laban to ask why he did this to him. Laban replied that it is not customary in this country younger daughters marry before the elders, and if he loves Rachel so much, then let him serve for her for another seven years. Jacob agreed and worked for Rachel for another seven years. When this time had passed, Jacob married Rachel. He loved her more than Leah, but Leah, by the grace of the Lord, gave birth to sons for him, and Rachel had no children at that time.

1 What did Jacob see at the well near Haran?

2 What did Jacob ask the shepherds about?

3. What did he then do?

4. What did he say to Rachel?

5. What did Laban offer to Jacob?

6. Did the seven years that Jacob served for Rachel pass quickly?

7. Did Laban give Rachel to Jacob?

8. How did Laban explain his action, and what did he suggest to Jacob?

9 How did Jacob accept Laban's offer?

10. How did God reward Leah?

moralizing

I. God does not give everything and does not take everything away: the Lord rewarded Rachel with beauty, but she had no children, and Leah was sick with her eyes, but gave birth to sons.

II. Jacob worked for Rachel for seven years and did not get bored, and sometimes we get bored for one hour to come to worship in the temple of God.

Story 15

About Jacob wrestling with God

Genesis, ch. 32 and 35

Jacob lived in Laban's house for more than twenty years, at first he worked for his wives: Leah and Rebekah, then he looked after Laban's flocks. One day the Lord appeared to him and commanded him to return to parental home. By this time Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter. Leah bore him six sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and a daughter, Dinah. Rachel gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin. Servant of Rachel Vala - two sons, Dan and Naphtali; and Leah's maid Zelf, two sons, Gad and Asher. All the children were born to Jacob in the house of Laban, except for Benjamin, the youngest son of Rachel.

Jacob gathered his children and their mothers, all the property that he had earned by hard work, all the herds of large and small livestock, camels, all his workers and set off in a large caravan to the house of father Isaac. Remembering the hatred and threats of Esau's brother, Jacob sent messengers to him asking him to be merciful and forgive him. But the messengers returned and reported that Esau was marching with his army to meet Jacob's caravan.

Fearing for the lives of his loved ones, Jacob turned with an ardent prayer to the Lord: “God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, Lord God, who said to me: “Return to your land, to your homeland, and I will do good to you!” I am unworthy of all the graces and all the good deeds that You did to Your servant, for I had only a staff when I crossed the Jordan River, and now I have children and flocks. Deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I am afraid that he will kill me and the mothers and children. The Lord heard his prayer. Jacob, hoping to propitiate Esau with meekness and humility, collected rich gifts and sent them to his brother as a gift.

Jacob wrestles with God. Genesis, ch. 32

The next night, Jacob was left alone, and until dawn a certain Man wrestled with him. Seeing that He could not overcome Jacob, He touched him and injured Jacob's thigh. And the One who wrestled said to Jacob thus: "Let me go, for the dawn has come." But Jacob replied, "I won't let you go until you bless me." Then the Struggler said: “From now on, your name will not be Jacob, but Israel, for you fought with God, and you will overcome men.” Jacob asked, "What is your name?" God replied, “Why are you asking about my name? It's wonderful." And he blessed Jacob, who understood that the Lord Himself was testing him that night.

God blesses Jacob and gives him the name Israel. Genesis, ch. 32

In the morning, Jacob again set off on his journey and soon saw his brother Esau in the distance, walking towards him with soldiers. Strengthened by God, Jacob-Israel, his wives and children - all bowed to Esau seven times to the ground. Esau threw himself on his brother's neck, hugged him, kissed him, and they both wept. The brothers parted peacefully, with love, and each went his own way.

1 How many children did Jacob have when he was about to return to his parents' house?

2. How many children did Leah have?

3. How many children did Rachel have?

4. What sons were born to maidservants?

5. Where were Jacob's children born?

6. What did the messengers sent to Esau say?

7 What did Jacob do when he received the disturbing news?

8 How did Jacob pray?

9. What happened the next night?

10. How long did Jacob fight, and what happened next?

11. How did Jacob know that the Man who fought with him was God?

12. Whom did Jacob see when he set off again?

13 What did Jacob do when Esau approached?

14. What happened next?

moralizing

I. We must always trust God and turn to Him with prayer every time, especially when danger threatens. This is exactly what Jacob did, fearing the wrath of Esau.

II. It is best to reconcile with your enemy by repaying him with goodness and humility for evil. So Jacob did, he sent gifts to his brother and bowed to him seven times to the ground along with his whole family.

Story 16

Of Joseph sold by his brothers

Genesis, ch. 37

Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons - he was born to his beloved wife Rachel when Israel was already old. Israel's love was so great that they gave Joseph colorful clothes. The brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than anyone, and they hated him.

One day Joseph said to his brothers: “Listen to the dream that I had: behold, we are knitting sheaves in the middle of the field; and my sheaf stood up straight; and your sheaves stood around and bowed to my sheaf.” “Will you reign over us? the brothers were surprised. “Will you own us?” And they hated him even more.

Another time, Joseph told his father and brothers the following dream: "I saw in a dream that the sun, the moon and eleven stars worship me." The father scolded the boy: “What is this dream that you had? Can it be that I, your mother and brothers will come to bow to you to the ground?

Soon Israel sent Joseph to visit the brothers, who at that time were shepherding the flock in Shechem, and to find out if they were healthy and if the cattle were intact. When the brothers saw Joseph approaching, they decided to kill him and throw him into the ditch. And the elder brother Reuben said: “Brothers, do not shed blood; throw him into a ditch in the wilderness, and lay no hands on him." He said this because he wanted to help Joseph out of the pit at night and take him to his father. The brothers did just that: they took off Joseph's multi-colored clothes and threw him into a dry deep ditch. Then the brothers sat down to eat the bread brought by Joseph.

Suddenly they saw a caravan of Ishmaelite merchants going through the desert, who were heading to Egypt. Then Judas said to his brothers: “What good is it if we kill our brother and hide his blood? Let's sell it to the Ishmaelites." The brothers agreed, and when the merchants approached, they pulled Joseph out of the ditch and sold them to them.

Joseph goes to Shechem to visit his brothers. Genesis, ch. 37

The Ishmaelites took Joseph to Egypt. At that moment, Brother Reuben was not around. When he came to the ditch, he saw that Joseph was not there. The brothers did not tell him the truth. Reuben wept, he thought that Joseph had been killed by wild beasts. And the brothers smeared Joseph's clothes with the blood of a slain goat, brought it to Israel and said that they had found it. Israel recognized the many-colored clothes of their beloved son and cried out: “These are the clothes of my son; right, predatory beast torn to pieces by Joseph!

The brothers throw Joseph into a deep ditch. Being, ch. 37

The brothers sell Joseph into slavery. Being, ch. 37

Israel mourned for a long time for his beloved son. All the children consoled him, but he did not want to listen to anything. Meanwhile, merchants brought Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the head of the Pharaoh's bodyguard.

1. Whom did Israel love most of her sons?

2. How did the brothers treat Joseph for this?

3. What did Joseph see in his first dream?

4. How did the brothers interpret this dream?

5. What did Joseph see in the second dream?

6. What did Joseph's father say about his second dream?

7. What did the brothers decide to do when they saw Joseph?

8. What kind of people were passing by them at that time?

9. What did Jude offer?

10. Did the brothers agree with him?

11. How did the unfortunate father grieve?

moralizing

I. Joseph's dreams came true in the future. Sometimes the Lord in dreams reveals what will happen to us later.

II. One sin leads to another. So Joseph's brothers first hated their brother, then sold him, and finally deceived their father.

III. Although it is said that a good tree bears good fruit, it also happens that the fruit of a good tree spoils and becomes useless. So, Israel was pious, but not all of his children inherited this quality from their father.

Story 17

About Joseph imprisoned

Genesis, ch. 39

In Egypt, the merchants sold Joseph to Potiphar, the courtier of the pharaoh, and the young man began to live in his house. The Lord kept Joseph, and Potiphar saw that the blessing of God was shining over his whole house, in which the servant Joseph worked. Then he entrusted Joseph to manage and manage not only the house, but also all his household.

Joseph is slandered by the wife of an Egyptian. Genesis, ch. 39

Joseph was remarkably handsome, and Potiphar's wife fell in love with him. Every day she spoke to the young man about her passion and was looking for a response, but Joseph said to her: “My Lord has given everything that he has into my hands; he allowed me everything except you, because you are his wife. If I commit this great evil, I will sin against God.”

Joseph is thrown into prison. Genesis, ch. 39

One day, Joseph entered the inner chambers of the house at a time when no one was there except Potiphar's wife. She grabbed him by the clothes and tried to force him to her. Joseph broke free, ran out, but left his outer dress in the woman's hands. Potiphar's wife decided to take revenge

Joseph for neglecting her love, she began to scream. When the family came running to the cry, she told them that the servant Joseph had attacked her and coveted her love, and when she screamed in indignation, Joseph fled. Like proof treacherous woman presented his clothes.

Joseph in the dungeon. Genesis, ch. 40

In the evening Potiphar came home, she deceived her husband too, slandering Joseph. Potiphar was angry and threw Joseph into the royal prison, where they kept state criminals. But the Lord was merciful to the young man, He gave Joseph the location of the head of the prison. And he made Joseph the manager of the dungeon and instructed him to be responsible for all the prisoners.

1. Who was Joseph in Egypt?

2. How were things going in Potiphar's house and household when Joseph was in charge?

3. What happened to Joseph during Potiphar's ministry?

4 What did Joseph say to Potiphar's wife?

5. What happened after that?

6 What did Potiphar's wife do?

7. What did Joseph do?

8 What did Potiphar's wife say to the assembled household in response to her cry?

9. What did the treacherous woman do when her husband came home?

10. What did Potiphar do?

11 What happened to Joseph in prison?

12. What did the governor of the prison do to Joseph?

moralizing

I. God never leaves the righteous, although sometimes he sends them great misfortunes: in prison, Joseph was under the protection of God, just as in freedom.

II. There is no sin that cannot be avoided if one truly has the fear of God in oneself. So Potiphar's wife could not force Joseph to sin either by caresses or threats.

III. We must seek the company and counsel of the righteous. God blessed the whole house of Potiphar at the time when the righteous Joseph ruled over it.

Story 18

On the release of Joseph from prison

Genesis, ch. 40 and 41

While Joseph was in prison, Pharaoh became angry with two of his courtiers, the chief butler and the chief baker, and ordered them to be imprisoned. Joseph was assigned to look after them. One morning he went in to these prisoners and saw that they were sad. Joseph asked: “Why do you have such sad faces?” The butler and the baker replied that they both had dreams at night, but they could not explain their meaning.

Pharaoh's dream about burrows. Genesis, ch. 41

Then the baker spoke: “I dreamed that I was holding three baskets of bread on my head, in the top there were cookies that decorate the pharaoh’s table, suddenly the birds flew in from all sides and pecked the bread from my head.” Joseph interpreted this dream: “Three baskets mean three days after which Pharaoh will order to cut off your head. Your body will be hung on the gallows, and the birds will peck it.” And so it happened: three days later, the pharaoh celebrated his birthday, he remembered his beloved cupbearer and returned him to his post, and ordered the baker to be hanged. But the butler forgot Joseph's request.

Two years later, the pharaoh himself had dreams. At first he dreamed that he was standing near a river, from which seven fat and beautiful cows suddenly emerged, then the same number of thin and ugly cows. At first they grazed together in the reeds, and then the thin cows ate the fat ones, but remained just as skinny and disgusting. Then the pharaoh had another dream: as if on one stalk seven ears of full and good grew, and then seven more ears of thin and dry were born, and the dry ones devoured the full ones. In the morning, getting out of bed, the pharaoh ordered all the Egyptian soothsayers and wise men to be called to interpret his dreams, but none of them could do this.

The pharaoh orders the wise men to unravel his dreams. Genesis, ch. 41

Then the chief butler came to Pharaoh, confessed his forgetfulness and told about Joseph and everything that happened to him in prison. Pharaoh immediately ordered Joseph to be brought to him. Upon learning of Pharaoh's order, Joseph cut his hair, changed his clothes, and went to the palace. Pharaoh explained to the young man that he was asking him for something that the wise men of Egypt could not do. To which Joseph replied: “This is not mine. God will give an answer for the good of Pharaoh.” He listened to the story of the pharaoh and interpreted his dreams as follows: seven cows and seven ears of good means seven fertile and abundant years, and the next seven skinny cows and seven ears of corn - seven years of crop failure.

Joseph is released from prison and taken to Pharaoh. Genesis, ch. 41

After praying to the Lord, Joseph advised Pharaoh to choose a wise and worthy husband, so that he would gather surplus wheat and all fruits in the royal storehouses in the coming years of abundance. There they will be preserved for the next famine lean years.

Pharaoh honors Joseph. Genesis, ch. 41

And Pharaoh said to his servants: "Will we find such a man as he, in whom would be the Spirit of God?" And Pharaoh put Joseph first after himself over all Egypt, entrusting him not only with all the treasuries and treasuries, but also with the purchase and distribution of wheat. Moreover, the king removed the ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's finger, he gave the young man expensive clothes and put a golden chain around his neck. Then Pharaoh ordered Joseph to get into the chariot, and ordered the heralds to run in front of her and shout: “Kneel!” So all the people of Egypt began to revere Joseph.

1 What happened in Pharaoh's court while Joseph was in prison?

2. What dream did the butler have?

3. How did Joseph interpret this dream?

4. What did Joseph ask the butler for?

5. What dream did the baker have?

6. How did Joseph interpret this dream?

7. Did Joseph's prediction come true?

8. What did Pharaoh see in his first dream?

9. What was Pharaoh's second dream?

10 Who was called to interpret Pharaoh's dreams?

11. How did Joseph interpret Pharaoh's dreams?

12. What honors did Pharaoh give to Joseph?

moralizing

I. Happy are those cities and countries that are ruled by wise and God-fearing people: how many people would have died of starvation in Egypt if Pharaoh had not entrusted Joseph with the preparation of bread for seven fertile years.

II. Do not waste money: how many Egyptians would have died of starvation if they had not saved bread for famine in the years of abundance.

History 19

Of Joseph's Brothers Who Arrived in Egypt

Genesis, ch. 42, 43

Seven harvest years have passed, and famine years have come. There was a crop failure in all countries. The famine also intensified in Canaan, where Israel lived with his family. Having learned that bread was sold in Egypt, Israel sent all their sons there, except for the youngest, Benjamin.

At this time, Joseph was the chief in Egypt, and he led the sale of bread. The brothers came to Joseph and bowed to him to the ground. Joseph recognized them and remembered his youthful dreams, but did not show them. He spoke to the brothers sternly, as if they were foreign spies. The brothers answered that they were not spies, but the children of one father, there were twelve of them, but the youngest remained with his father in Canaan, and one brother was no longer alive. Joseph replied that he would believe them and let them out of Egypt only when he saw his younger brother. He ordered everyone to be taken into custody for three days.

The brothers bow to Joseph. Genesis, ch. 42

On the third day, Joseph came to them and said: “This is what you do and stay alive, for I fear God: if you are honest people, then let one brother from you be kept in the house where you are imprisoned; and you go, take bread to your hungry relatives; bring your younger brother to me." So the brothers did. They said to each other: “The Lord punishes us for sin against our brother; we saw the suffering of his soul when he implored us, but did not listen to him; therefore this grief has befallen us.” Reuben answered them: “Did I not tell you not to sin against the lad, but you did not obey; Now it's payback time." So they talked among themselves, not knowing what standing next to Joseph understands their language.

Joseph kept his brother Simeon with him, and let the rest go. When the brothers arrived home and began to pour the wheat bought in Egypt into the store, each found in his bag a bundle of silver paid for this bread. It was Joseph who commanded the servants to secretly put the silver in bags. The brothers could not understand how this happened. They were quite surprised and frightened, because now they can be accused of stealing! When the brothers told Israel about everything that happened to them in Egypt, that Simeon remained a hostage there until they brought Benjamin to Egypt, Israel wept and did not agree to give their youngest son to their beloved Rachel.

Time passed, all the bread brought from Egypt ended. Then Israel again sent their sons to Egypt, but they resolutely refused to go without Benjamin. Judas promised to protect Benjamin especially and said that he was ready to sacrifice his life for him. Then Israel released the youngest son. The brothers arrived in Egypt and again bowed to Joseph to the ground. When he saw among them Benjamin, the son of his mother, he ordered the steward to bring them into the house and treat them to dinner.

The brothers returned to Israel in the land of Canaan. Being, ch. 42

In the meantime, the brothers asked the treasurer Joseph to explain to them how the silver paid for the wheat last time ended up in their bags. He asked them not to worry and said that it was God who gave them the treasure, since the payment for wheat was taken into account in the documents. Joseph came to dinner, and the brothers brought him gifts from Israel, their father, they again bowed to Joseph to the ground. He asked the brothers about his father's health, and when he received an answer, he said: "Blessed is this man from God." Then Joseph turned to his younger brother - Benjamin: "May the mercy of God be with you, my son!" Then Joseph hurried away, because his heart was seized with love for his brother, he went into his chambers and wept.

When Joseph calmed down, he went out and ordered: serve food. Joseph treated the brothers at a separate table, seating them in order of seniority. They were very surprised, because a stranger could not know which of them is older and which is younger. Treats were served from the table of Joseph, and Benjamin's share was five times the share of each of the brothers.

1 What did Israel do when the famine came to the land of Canaan?

2. What honor was given to Joseph by the brothers who came to him?

3. Did they recognize each other?

4. What did the brothers talk about among themselves?

5 Did the brothers know that Joseph understood their language?

6. How did Joseph feel as he listened to the brothers' conversation?

7. What did they find in the sacks of wheat when they arrived home?

8. How did the silver end up in their bags?

9. Did Israel allow Benjamin to be taken to Egypt?

10. What did Israel have to do when the purchased bread ran out?

11. Did Israel let Benjamin go?

12. How did Joseph receive the brothers?

moralizing

A person's conscience sometimes becomes dead, but the Lord revives it by sending misfortunes. So the brothers of Joseph, being in distress, said to each other: "It is as if we are being punished for sin against our brother." (Genesis, ch. 42, v. 21)

History 20

How Joseph revealed himself to his brothers

Genesis, ch. 44, 45

When the brothers were about to leave Egypt for the second time, Joseph ordered the treasurer to fill their bags with wheat and treats and secretly put there the silver they had brought. In the sack of his younger brother, Joseph commanded to put also a silver bowl. Suspecting nothing, the brothers mounted donkeys and set off with their luggage. Then Joseph summoned the treasurer and ordered him to catch up with the brothers and accuse them of stealing his beloved silver bowl.

The head of the house of Joseph finds a silver bowl in his brothers' bag with grain. Genesis, ch. 44

Knowing no guilt behind them, the brothers said to the treasurer: "Which of your servants has a cup, that death, and we will be servants of our master." The treasurer began a search and found a silver bowl in Benjamin's sack. The brothers screamed in shame and horror, tore their clothes, and in great grief returned to the city. Seeing Joseph, the brothers fell on their knees before him.

Judas promised his father that Benjamin would be safe and return to his father's house safe and sound. Judah was shocked, he told Joseph how Israel wept, parting with his beloved son. He passionately whispered to Joseph that if Benjamin did not return home now, then his father would die of grief. Judas was ready to remain Joseph's slave forever, if only he would let his younger brother go. His words were so sincere that Joseph could no longer restrain himself and shouted to the courtiers: “Leave us!” He sobbed loudly and confessed to the brothers that he was the same Joseph whom the brothers wanted to destroy, and then sold into slavery.

The brothers could not answer Joseph, they were speechless, as if deafened by thunder. Joseph began to persuade them not to be sad and not to grieve that they had sold him into slavery: “It was not you who sent me here, but God, who made me a father to Pharaoh and lord over all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Go quickly to my father and tell him the words of his son Joseph: “God made me master over all Egypt; come to me, do not delay!” He embraced Benjamin and burst into tears with him.

Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. Genesis, ch. 45

Joseph kissed all his brothers, wept and hugged them. By order of the pharaoh, he prepared chariots for them, gave each a change of clothes, and Benjamin five different expensive robes and three hundred pieces of silver. He also prepared rich gifts for his father Israel: ten donkeys and ten donkeys were loaded with golden Egyptian products and a supply of food for the journey of the family of Israel to Egypt. Releasing the brothers, Joseph asked them not to quarrel.

The sons of Israel returned home safely and told their father everything that had happened to them in Egypt. But the heart of Israel was troubled; he did not believe the words of his sons. “Look out the window,” the young men told him, “the Egyptian chariots are standing at our house.” When the brothers told their father the words of Joseph, and when Israel saw the chariots sent by Joseph, he believed his sons and said: “This is enough for me, my son Joseph is still alive; I will go and see him until I die.”

And Israel went in chariots with all his family, cattle and property to his son. He took with him all his sons, grandsons, daughters and granddaughters, and brought his entire family to Egypt. In total, not counting the wives of his sons, 66 people came with Israel to Egypt. Joseph, meanwhile, harnessed the chariot and rode towards his father. He fell on his neck and, embracing him, wept for a long time. Seeing Joseph, Israel said, "Now I will die when I see your face, for you are still alive." By order of Pharaoh, Joseph settled his family on best lands in the province of Goshen. And then Joseph presented his father to Pharaoh. He asked the elder: “How many years of your life?” “The days of my wandering are one hundred and thirty years,” Israel replied.

1 What did Joseph tell the treasurer when the brothers were about to leave Egypt for the second time?

2 What did Joseph tell the treasurer when they had already left?

3. What did the treasurer do next?

4. How did the sons of Israel respond?

5. What did Judas ask Joseph and what did he tell him?

6. What did Joseph do after these words?

7. What did he give to his brothers?

8 What did the brothers do when they got home?

9. What did Israel decide to do when they believed that their son Joseph was alive?

10. How many people went from Canaan to Egypt with Israel?

11. Did Joseph go to meet his father?

moralizing

I. God punishes people, as a rule, by what they have sinned. For example, the brothers sold Joseph into slavery, but later they suffered from him.

II. God cares for those who are faithful to Him, even in national calamities. So Israel with all their house was fed and fed during the general famine in Egypt.

III. The Lord sometimes turns the evil done to people for their good. So the evil done by the brothers to Joseph turned out to be good not only for Joseph, but also for the family of his father.

Story 21

On the work of the Egyptians and on the birth of Moses

Exodus, ch. 1 and 2

Joseph and all his brothers grew old and died. But the children of the tribe of Israel in Egypt every year became more and more. The new pharaoh did not know Joseph and his labors for the benefit of the Egyptians. Observing the strengthening of the people of Israel, the king feared that in the event of an enemy attack, the Israelites would arm themselves against the pharaoh, unite with his enemy and leave Egypt.

Pharaoh wears out the children of Israel with hard work. Exodus, ch. one

Pharaoh ordered the Jews to be cruelly treated wherever they worked. He ordered the construction of new cities and fortresses, and only Israelis to be involved in exhausting earthworks. Chiefs over them were appointed especially cruel people. But despite the hard slave labor, the people of Israel continued to increase. Then the king ordered the Jewish midwives to kill newborn boys. Women assisting in childbirth knew and feared God, so they did not follow orders. Then the pharaoh demanded that all newborn male babies be thrown into the river.

A woman from the tribe of Levi carries a basket with a child to the river. Exodus, ch. 2

At this terrible time, a boy was born in a Jewish family from the tribe of Levi, but his mother hid him and nursed him for three months. When it became impossible to hide the child, she made a basket of reeds, strengthened it with resin, and putting the baby in it, carried it to the river bank. The boy's sister remained in the distance to watch what would happen next.

Moses kills an Egyptian. Exodus, ch. 2

And so Pharaoh's daughter went out to the river with her maids. She bathed, and the maids walked along the shore. When the pharaoh's daughter heard the cry of the baby, she took pity on him, ordered the girls to find him in the reeds and bring him to her. The boy's sister went up to Pharaoh's daughter, bowed to her and said: "Shouldn't I go and call a Hebrew nurse to nurse your baby?" The pharaoh's daughter agreed. The girl went and called the baby's mother. The daughter of the pharaoh instructed the nurse to keep and raise the boy and promised to pay for the work.

When the child grew up, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him as a son and named him Moses (which means "taken from the water"). Moses grew up in the house of the king of Egypt, but often visited those places where people of his people lived and worked hard. One day he saw an Egyptian overseer severely beating a Jew. Moses, in a rage, killed the Egyptian and buried his body in the sand. The next day he met two fighting Jews, and he said to the offender: “Why are you beating your neighbor?” And he answered: “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?”

So Moses realized that many people knew about the murder he had committed, and, fearing the wrath of Pharaoh, he fled into the wilderness. He stopped in the Midian land, met the family of the priest Jethro, who invited the young man to live in his house. Moses soon married Zipporah, the priest's daughter.

1. How did the new king of Egypt deal with the Israelites?

2. What did Pharaoh command the midwives?

3. Did they obey the king's order?

4. What order did the pharaoh give to his subjects?

5. What happened at this time in one Jewish family?

6. Who saw and took the basket with the baby?

7. What then happened to the baby and what name was given to him?

8. What happened one day to the grown-up Moses?

moralizing

I. The benefits received are soon forgotten: so Egypt soon forgot Joseph, who saved him from famine. But God always remembers our good deeds.

II. You must always keep the commandments of God in your heart and obey Him more than man. So did the midwives, saving the lives of Jewish male babies, contrary to the order of the pharaoh.

III. God miraculously preserves those whom he predestinates to some great undertaking. Thus He preserved Moses, who was appointed to become the leader of the Israeli people and their liberator from the terrible Egyptian slavery.

History 22

About the Cruel Pharaoh and the Punishments God Sent to Egypt

Exodus, ch. 3-11

One day Moses was tending his father-in-law's flock of sheep near Mount Horeb. Suddenly he saw a burning bush - a thorn bush that burned with fire, but did not burn out. Moses was surprised and decided to come closer. When he approached the bush, a voice of God was heard from it: “I saw suffering and heard its cry from its attendants; I know his grief, and I go to deliver him from the hand of the Egyptians, and bring him out of this land. So, go: I will send you to Pharaoh king of Egypt; and bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."

Moses was afraid that the people in Egypt would not believe him. Then God told Moses to throw the rod on the ground and turned it into a snake. Moses got scared and ran away from him. “Take him by the tail,” said the Lord. And the serpent became a rod again. “This is to believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you,” Moses heard.

Then the Lord said to him: "Put your hand in your bosom." Moses obeyed, and his hand turned as white as snow from leprosy. And when he hid his hand again, it was healed. “If they do not believe you and do not listen to the voice of the first sign, they will believe the voice of another sign; but if they do not believe even these two signs, and do not listen to your voice, then take water from the river and pour it out on dry land; and the water taken from the river will become blood on dry land.”

God speaks to Moses from an unburned thorn bush. Exodus, ch. Z

Moses was frightened, he said that he was tongue-tied and not suitable for such a great work. Moses asked the Lord to send someone else to take his place. God got angry and asked Moses who he thinks gave him the stammer, was it the Lord? And God sent Moses as a companion his older brother, the pious Aaron. He was to express the thoughts given to Moses by God. Moses and Aaron first told the elders of Israel what had happened. Seeing the miracles performed by Moses, they believed that the Lord visited the children of Israel and saw their suffering. Then Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and demanded that their people be released: "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Let My people go, that they may make a feast for Me in the wilderness."

The transformation of the rod of Moses into a snake. Exodus, ch. four

Pharaoh answered: “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice and let the children of Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.” Moses and Aaron left, and Pharaoh summoned the guards to himself and ordered that the Jews not be given the straw needed to make bricks. “Let them collect straw themselves, idlers,” he said, “and demand the number of bricks from them, as before.”

The Israelis had to work day and night, and the bosses only beat them for not fulfilling the norm. Then Moses and Aaron performed a miracle before Pharaoh - they turned the staff into a snake. The king called the Magi (wise men) of Egypt, they managed to do the same with their charms, however, the rod thrown by Aaron devoured the rods of the Magi, but the king did not see a miracle of God in this event.

The transformation of water in the rivers of Egypt into blood. Exodus, ch. 7

To force Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go, the Lord, through His servant Moses, struck Egypt with ten plagues. First, Aaron struck the water with his rod, and all the water in the river turned to blood, the fish in the river died out, and there was no drinking water in Egypt. Pharaoh was frightened, at first he agreed to let the Israelites go, but then changed his mind.

The defeat of the whole land of Egypt by frogs. Exodus, ch. eight

Then, at the command of Aaron, poisonous frogs covered the whole land of Egypt. The pharaoh agreed again, and then changed his mind. At the word of the Lord, Aaron struck the ground with a rod, and a cloud of midges sucking blood arose and covered all living things in Egypt, people and cattle. The Magi of Egypt by witchcraft managed to repeat the miracles of the first two executions, but they could not call the midge and said to the pharaoh: "This is the finger of God." Again Pharaoh did not believe them, did not soften his heart, did not let the people of Israel go.

The defeat of the Egyptians and their cattle by inflammation with boils. Exodus, ch. 9

Then the Lord sent the Egyptians still greater punishments against the Egyptians: many flies with a sharp sting flew into the house of Pharaoh and over all the land of Egypt; then a pestilence struck all the cattle of the Egyptians; according to the word of the Lord, Moses threw the ashes from the stove to the sky, and all the Egyptians, from the pharaoh to the slave, became covered with festering sores. Then the Lord sent hail with fire, people, cattle, plants in the fields and trees suffered or died from it. Then the Lord called Eastern wind who brought so many locusts that they covered the whole earth and devoured everything that was left in the gardens and in the fields after the hail with fire.

The Lord sends hail to the land of Egypt. Exodus, ch. 9

By the will of God, Moses raised his hand to heaven, and for three days thick darkness fell on the land of Egypt. And the last tenth execution was the most terrible. At midnight, the Lord put to death all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner of the dungeon. And a great lamentation arose in Egypt. But after each punishment, the pharaoh assured that he would let the Israelites go, asked Moses and Aaron to pray to God for an end to the executions. But then, when the punishments stopped, he did not fulfill his promise under various pretexts.

1 What did Moses see one day when he was tending sheep?

2 What happened when Moses approached the bush?

3. What did Moses say to God?

4. Whom did God choose to be his comrade?

5 Who did the brothers speak to first?

6. Whom did they come to later?

7. What did Pharaoh say?

8 What did Moses and Aaron do after that?

9. What plagues did the Lord send to the Egyptians?

10. How did Pharaoh behave when God sent disaster to his people?

moralizing

I. When superiors show cruelty in their treatment of subordinates, the Lord intercedes for those who suffer and punishes the guilty. This was experienced by Pharaoh, who oppressed the sons of Israel.

II. The devil is not omnipotent: he can only do what the Lord allows him to do. So the magicians of Egypt with the power of the devil could not repeat all the miracles performed by Moses and Aaron.

Story 23

How Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt

Exodus, ch. 11, 13 and 14

When all the first-born died in Egypt, from babies to young animals, great grief befell the Egyptians. There was no house left in their land where there was no dead man. Pharaoh, who lost his heir, the eldest son, released the Israelites that same night, and the Egyptians begged them to leave as soon as possible, fearing that all the people of Egypt would die. The Egyptians even brought gold and silver objects, expensive clothes to the houses of the Israelites, so that the wanderers would not experience hunger and need on the way.

Moses, Aaron and the children of Israel leave Egypt. Exodus, ch. 12

The pharaoh sets off with his army in pursuit of the Israelites. Exodus, ch. fourteen

On the eve of the tenth plague, the Lord commanded the people of Israel, through Moses and Aaron, to take into each house a one-year-old tender male lamb, lamb or kid. If the family is small and cannot immediately eat the whole lamb, then let them invite as many neighbors as necessary. The lambs were to be sacrificed on the very evening when the Lord would lead his people out of Egypt. God commanded to anoint the doorposts and thresholds at the doors of the dwellings of the Jews with the blood of the lambs.

Moses said to the Israelites: “The Lord will go to strike Egypt, and he will see blood on the crossbar and on both jambs, and the Lord will pass by the door and will not let death into the house.” Then the Israelites were to bake and eat the lamb, standing with a traveling staff in their hand and with traveling shoes on their feet, and be ready to go. The Lord called the meal with the sacrificial lamb Passover.

The people of Israel left Egypt in a huge caravan, with herds and tents, and moved to the Red Sea. The Lord led the people, in the daytime in a pillar of cloud, at night in a pillar of fire. When Pharaoh heard that the people of Israel had fled from Egypt, he cried out, “What have we done? Why did they let the Israelis go so they wouldn't work for us? Let's get them back!" He gathered a great army, and the Egyptians rushed to catch up with the caravan of the people of Israel.

By day the way of the children of Israel is shown by a pillar of cloud, but by night by a pillar of fire. Exodus, ch. 13

The waters of the Red Sea part before the sons of Israel, and the Egyptians are swallowed up. Exodus, ch. 14, 15

When the chase approached the caravan, a pillar of cloud stood between the fugitives and the pursuers - so much so that they could not see each other. Then Moses, at the command of the Lord, raised his hand over the Red Sea. The water parted, and the Israelites with all their flocks walked along the bottom of the sea, as if on dry land. The sea water stood like two walls. When the Israelites reached the other side of the sea, the Egyptians did not see them, and the army of Egypt rushed in pursuit along the bottom of the sea. Then Moses, listening to God, again raised his hand over the sea, the water closed and swallowed up Pharaoh, thousands of chariots, commanders and horsemen.

Moses and all the Israelites sang a song of thanksgiving to the Lord God: “Let us sing to the Lord, gloriously be glorified, throwing the horse and rider into the sea ...” This song is still sung in the church in remembrance of the miracle of the Lord.

1. What happened after the defeat of the firstborn of Egypt?

2. What did God tell the Israelites to do before they left Egypt?

3. When should the lamb be sacrificed?

4. What should have been done with the blood of the lamb?

5. What did the Lord name the meal with the sacrificial lamb?

6 What did Pharaoh do when he learned that the people of Israel had left Egypt?

7. What did Moses do after that?

8 Where were the Egyptians when the Israelites came to the other side of the sea?

9. What then did Moses do?

moralizing

I. God remembers the insults inflicted on the innocent, and rewards for patience: so the Egyptians, at first, on the orders of the pharaoh, threw Jewish babies into the river, and then gave all their gold and silver to the same Israeli families.

II. If God is with us, no enemy is terrible. The pharaoh was cruel, like a predatory beast, but he died, unable to achieve the fulfillment of his ungodly plan.

History 24

On the giving of the Law by the Lord God to Moses on Mount Sinai

Exodus, ch. 19, 20, 24, 31, 32 and 34

After leaving Egypt, the people of Israel followed the Angel in a pillar of cloud for three months. They came to the Sinai desert and stopped at Mount Sinai. The Lord told Moses that he would appear to him in a thick cloud and people would hear how he would speak to Moses, they would no longer doubt that God was talking to Moses. Thunder rumbled in the morning, lightning cut through the sky, a cloud descended on the mountain, heavenly trumpets sounded, Mount Sinai swayed in smoke and fires. It was the Lord who descended to its summit. And God called Moses, and Moses went up to him.

Moses and Joshua on Mount Sinai. The Lord gives Moses the Tablets of the Covenant. Exodus, ch. 24

At the top of the mountain, God gave the Law of the Covenant to the people of Israel in the Ten Commandments:

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. May you have no other gods before Me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol or any image of what is in heaven above, and what is on the earth below, and what is in the water below the earth; do not worship them and do not serve them.

Do not pronounce the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave without punishment the one who pronounces His name in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy; six days you shall work and do all your works in them, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.

Honor your father and your mother, that you may be well and that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Dont kill.

Don't commit adultery.

Don't steal.

Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Do not covet your neighbor's house; Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his field, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any of his cattle, nor anything that is with your neighbor.

When people saw the flame and the smoking mountain, heard the thunder and the sound of the trumpet, they were afraid that they might die. The Israelites said to Moses: "You speak to us, and we will listen, but lest God speak to us, lest we die." And Moses said, “Don't be afraid; God has come to you to test you and to have His fear before your face, so that you do not sin.” And the children of Israel answered with one voice: "All that the Lord has said we will do and be obedient."

Then the Lord called Moses to the mountain to give him the tablets of stone, and the law, and the commandments that He had written. Moses went up the mountain and stood before the Face of the Lord for forty days and nights. The Lord gave him two stone tablets of revelation, on which he wrote with His finger.

Aaron collects gold at wives of the children of Israel, and casts a golden calf. Exodus, ch. 32

And the impatient Israelites meanwhile, without waiting for Moses, demanded that Aaron make them a god who would go before them. Aaron collected the gold earrings of his wives and daughters, melted them down and cast a golden calf. Then the people said, “Behold your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” Aaron set up an altar in front of the golden calf and declared a feast to the Lord. The next morning people made a sacrifice, began to feast and be merry.

And the Lord said to Moses: “Hurry to get out of here, for your people have been corrupted. Let My wrath be kindled against them, and I will destroy them, and I will make a great nation out of you.” Moses fell on his knees and sobbed, and begged God to have mercy, forgive and save the people of Israel. But if the people are punished for their sin, then let him, Moses, disappear from the Book of Life. The Lord had compassion, but said: "On the day of my visitation I will visit them for their sin."

Moses breaks the tablets and burns the golden calf in the fire. Exodus, ch. 32

Moses returns to the Lord and asks to forgive the sons of Israel. Exodus, ch. 32

Moses carefully descended from the mountain, carefully carrying the tablets of the Covenant. And towards him the sounds of songs and dances of the Israelites, drunk on wine, rushed. When Moses saw the golden calf and drunken, cheerful faces, his heart flared with anger, he threw the tablets of the Covenant under the mountain, and they broke into small pieces. Moses seized the golden calf, burned it, collected the ashes, dissolved it in water, and forced everyone to drink water with gold dust. And Moses hewed out two tablets of stone, similar to the former ones, and, rising early in the morning, again ascended Mount Sinai with them, as the Lord commanded him.

Again Moses stayed for forty days and forty nights with God, he did not eat bread and did not drink water. And when Moses came down from the mountain, he had two new tablets of the Covenant in his hands. But Moses did not know that after talking with God, his face began to shine with rays, like the sun. Aaron and all the children of Israel saw this and were afraid to approach Moses. Since then, when talking to the people, Moses covered his face with a veil.

1. Where did the Israelites go after a three-month journey?

2. Who appeared to them there?

3. How many commandments did the Lord God give to the people of Israel? Tell me about them.

4 Where did Moses go?

5. What did God give Moses at Mount Sinai?

6. What happened to the Israelites while Moses was with the Lord?

7. What did God say to Moses when he saw the Israelites feasting?

8 What did Moses say?

9. Did God promise punishment in the future?

10 What happened when Moses came down from the mountain?

11. What did Moses do with the golden calf?

12. Where did Moses go after this?

13. With what did Moses return from the mountain?

14. How did Moses change after talking with God?

moralizing

I. People become of little faith and sometimes even stop believing in God, not because they do not feel the love of God. The Israelites saw manifestations of Divine power and mercy many times, and this did not prevent them from shamelessly bowing to the golden calf.

II. The prayer of even one person has tremendous power. Moses by prayer kept God from exterminating the whole nation of Israel.

End of introductory segment.

The earth was originally waterless and empty (unsettled). Darkness was over the abyss; and the spirit of God hovered over the waters.

God gave order to the material world in six days by His Word.

And God said: “It is not good for a man to be alone; Let us make him a helper fit for him.”

God brought all the animals to man to give them names. The man named the animals, but for him there was no helper like him.

God blessed the husband and wife and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the beasts and over the birds of the air and over every livestock and over all the earth and over every living thing that creeps on the earth." And he appointed grass with seeds and fruits of trees as food for people, and herbs for animals, birds and reptiles.

Adam and his wife were naked and not ashamed. (.)

The sin of the forefathers and its consequences. Judgment of God and the promise of a Savior. Punishment for sin

The devil envied the bliss of people and wanted to destroy them. One day the wife was near the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The devil entered the serpent, which was more cunning than all animals, and said to her: “Did God really say: do not eat the fruit of any tree in paradise”? The wife answered: “we can eat fruits from trees; only the fruits of the tree that is in the midst of paradise, he said, do not eat or touch them, lest you die. The tempter said to his wife: “No, you will not die; but God knows that on the day you eat them, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil.” And the woman saw that this tree was good for food, and that it was pleasing to the eyes, and that this tree was attractive, because it gives knowledge, and she took its fruit and ate; also gave to her husband, and he ate. Then their eyes were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed together fig leaves and made themselves aprons.

When the evening coolness of the day came, they heard the voice of God walking in paradise, and hid among the trees. called out to Adam, "Where are you?" He answered: “I heard your voice in paradise, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” God asked him: “Who told you that you were naked? Have you not eaten from the tree from which I forbade you to eat? (God asked the man, as if ignorant, in order to incline him to repentance) Adam, thinking to put part of his guilt on his wife, even on God himself, said: “The wife that You gave me, she gave me the fruit from this tree, and I ate." God asked the wife: “What did you do?” The wife said, "The serpent seduced me and I ate."

So that people would no longer eat the fruits of the tree of life, he expelled them from the garden of Eden, put a Cherubim and a fiery reversing sword in his place to guard the path to the tree of life. (Ch.)

Having promised sinful people a Savior, he gradually began to prepare them to receive Him, and for their salvation people had to believe in the promised Savior and wait for Him. This preparation by God of people to receive the Savior and their salvation by faith and the Savior promised by God is called the Old Testament (the ancient, old union of God with people).

Orthodox since ancient times considers from the creation of the world to the birth of Christ 5508 years. This number of years from the creation of the world to the Nativity of Christ was accepted by the fathers of the fifth and sixth council (Acts Sob. vol. XVII, p. 123). This reckoning is based on the Greek translation of the Bible, made by 70 interpreters. Therefore, here the years from the creation of the world are counted according to the chronology of 70 interpreters, as it is indicated in the Russian translation of the Bible

Divine revelation tells us about the essence and essential properties of God the following concept: there is an eternal, immutable, omnipresent, omniscient, all-wise, all-good Spirit who gives everyone as much good as anyone can accept, all-righteous, all-powerful, all-satisfied and all-blessed. As the purest Spirit, God has no body and nothing material in Himself.

Heaven and earth taken together usually signify the whole creation of God. In this place under the sky, based on the interpretation of Blessed Augustine, St. Gregory the Theologian and St. John of Damascus, they mean the heavens of heaven, the invisible world, the spiritual world and the habitation of the blessed, and under the earth - the original substance, from which God later created the material world (Record. on M. F. Genesis, M. F. Inscribed Bib, Historical M. F. Dogm. The Theologian M. Macarius, § 64)

Earth is here called the substance of the visible world in general. This original earth, that is, the universal substance of the world, was, according to the testimony of the book of Genesis, formless and empty (according to the Russian translation), invisible and unorganized (according to the Slavic translation), there was something empty and insignificant, an amazing emptiness (according to some other translations). This means that the original substance of the world did not have certain qualities, types and forms. Further in the book of Genesis, this same substance is called the abyss, because it occupied an immense space, not delimited by a variety of things, and it is called water, because it did not have any hardness and permanent images, and in this respect approached the property of liquid substances. (Record on the book. Genesis. Inscription. Bib. Ist.)

It is believed that along with the creation of light, some movement followed in the primordial substance, similar to what is now noted in the celestial bodies, dividing the substance into many parts and separating the bright substance of the sun from the substance of the dark celestial bodies, that is, the planets. The first period of this movement, together with the darkness that preceded it, constituted what in Holy Scripture for the first time is called evening and morning, and not only the first day, but one, and, as it were, the only one. On the first day of the world, as well as on the next two days, those actions that the sun now produces were produced by the primordial unorganized light that occupied part of the heavenly space, that is, that mass of light substance from which the sun was created on the fourth day. (Draft. Bibl. Source. Record. on the book of Genesis M.F.)

On the second day he divided the waters with a firmament. It can be thought that these were waters that contained the substance of dark celestial bodies, that is, planets, which now, having formed more densely around their centers and being confined within constant boundaries, left a space more permeable to light, or firmament. For the holy writer, the firmament means not only the airy sky, which carries cloudy waters, but also the starry sky, on which, in the course of creation, the luminaries are placed and approved at certain distances from each other. (Draft. Bibl. East. M. F.) However, there are other interpretations of the narration of the book of Genesis about the first two days of the creation of the world. In view of the various interpretations of the biblical narrative of the creation of the world by God, it must be remembered that the creation of the world is a mystery, which, according to the words of the Apostle, we understand by faith (.), that the reliability of Holy Scripture extends beyond the limits of our understanding (Blessed Augustine)

Water, in its density and gravity, occupies the middle between air and earth, therefore, during the initial formation the globe, of course, had to cover the entire surface of it. But, according to the word of the Creator, some parts of the earth's surface went down, while others rose, as a result of which water collected in the low parts of the earth's surface, and the elevated parts of the earth's surface dried up.

Lower plant species that have neither leaves, nor flowers, nor fruits, which are: algae, lichen, mosses

Preface to the first edition

AT historical science at the present time an extraordinary movement is taking place, precisely thanks to those amazing discoveries that are being made on the forgotten ashes historical life ancient peoples of the east. Since that happy hour, when historians, not limited to the pen, took up spades and shovels and began to dig up the debris of the ruins in the valleys of the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates, as well as in other countries of the historical East, a whole world of new historical knowledge opened up before the eyes of researchers: pale and the meager pages of the history of ancient peoples were extremely animated and expanded, even the existence of new, hitherto completely unknown peoples and monarchies was discovered, knowledge of which shed New World for the whole fate of ancient mankind. But these extraordinary discoveries took on even more significance because they were in close relation to Biblical history, and not only shed much new light into it, clarifying its often darkest pages, but also provided an almost miraculous confirmation of many biblical events and facts. which hitherto could be criticized with impunity by skepticism. This circumstance has revived the interest in bible history , which has ceased to be a dry specialty of theologians, and now attracts the attention of both secular learned historians and the entire educated society of all civilized peoples. This interest is also noticeable in our country; but, unfortunately, in our country he has not yet gone beyond the narrow confines of the circle of specialists, and for our society, in fact, there is literally no such book in the public domain that could serve as a guide or introduction to this deeply interesting and highly instructive field of knowledge. The satisfaction of this, in our opinion, urgent need, is partly what the present book has in mind. In its main parts, it was compiled several years ago and was intended only as a summary for our personal office studies in contiguous with our specialty (“History of the Ancient World ”) areas of biblical-historical knowledge. But the consciousness of the deep need indicated above prompted us to process this abstract in such a way that it could satisfy this need in the slightest degree, precisely by giving a coherent and lively course of Biblical history, introducing into it the main features from the inexhaustible wealth of the latest biblical historical research. It is clear that within the framework that was outlined for this guide, the aforementioned studies could not find an independent place in it, and we really limited ourselves to only introducing some features from them; but we hope that readers will notice their presence at every more or less important biblical historical event, and will see for themselves how much light the latest discoveries shed in the field of history and how much fresh interest they give to the most well-known facts and events. We intend our "guide" for reading in general, but we would especially like it to find access to the environment of the student youth. It is our deep conviction that Biblical history can become an inexhaustible source of moral and higher historical education for any person more or less capable of a serious mental life. Every history is an educator of the mind and heart and a teacher of wisdom; but Biblical history in this respect stands above all other stories, because its subject matter is the central points of the spiritual life of mankind, and in it the deepest laws of world-historical development are revealed. It can most clearly show that in the history of peoples there is nothing accidental and arbitrary, that any attempt to "make history" is senseless and harmful, because everything awaits and demands the "fulfillment of times", which can neither be brought nearer nor put off. At the same time, it presents a series of profound everyday experiences. greatest characters who, by their virtues and no less by their vices, open wide the door to the very depths of a person's spiritual life and thereby teach the deepest lessons for anyone who possesses a sufficiently living moral sense in order to perceive such amazing experiences. Our “guide”, of course, has no pretensions to presenting Biblical history from this particular side: understanding this side in it presupposes a preliminary acquaintance with the rudiments of biblical-historical knowledge, and it is precisely these rudiments that we offer in our book, in the hope that it can serve as a guide to penetration into a deeper area of ​​​​knowledge. In a short time, a similar "Guide to the Biblical History of the New Testament" on December 31, 1887 will follow.

Preface to the second edition

OUR “Guide”, met with lively sympathy from the spiritual and secular press, not only Russian, but also abroad - Slavic (on Serbian language it was translated in full), despite a significant number of printed copies, sold out in a relatively short time and has not been available for sale for several years. Since the demands on it do not stop, we decided to make a second edition, which is offered to the favorable attention of readers. Without making any significant changes in it, we only carefully revised it and corrected it where necessary, and also supplemented it with a few notes and biblical quotations, enabling the reader to easily find the story of each event in the Bible itself, as the primary source. July 3, 1896