Gen 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
The second part of this verse begins with "in the day". Notice the heavens and earth have been made, but there is no mention of all the host of them. This is talking about a particular day in which both the heavens and the earth have been completed.
Gen 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
There was no plants yet (for there was no rain) and no man. Basicly all there was was the sold ground.
Gen 2:6-7 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
After the rain, the first thing God did was create flesh man (of the earth). This was before any plants were created.
Gen 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Here we have the first vegetation on the earth, planted in the garden of Eden. Next the man is placed in the Garden.
God makes Adam on the 3rd day, followed by the vegetation. God places him in the garden. Then God makes fish and animals on the 5th and 6th day. God brings them to Adam so he could name them. Then God makes man into the image of God.
There are no contradictions between Genesis 1 and 2. When put together, they complement one another... each filling in the details of the other.
Creation order:
1. Heavens, including sun, moon and stars.
2. Earth, the separation of the land and seas.
3. Hydrologic cycle begins, rain.
4. Flesh man created from the ground(in God's likeness).
5. Garden planted, vegetation. shelter for man.
6. Clouds break up, sun, moon and stars appear. time and direction for man.
7. Sea creatures and birds created.
8. Land animals created.
9. All the animals brought to Adam for naming.
10. Man made male and female, Eve created. Man made in the image of God. (note: there is a difference between image and likeness)
11. God rests, have you entered His rest? (There is no closing of day 7)
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