The Literal Genesis Account of Creation

You are completly misreading the text.Gen. 2:4 onward is dealing specifically with day six when man was created. This "history" is "before" any plant or herb had GROWN. It is somewhat a parenthetical. (qualifying info)The book of Genisis deals with 10 histories this is the first each one narrows its scope finally culminatinating in the creation of a nation through which God would bless the world - The Messiah.The intro so to speak is Ch 1 - 2:3.It not that difficult.

This passage obviously requires others to be present in the conversation. The question is then - who are they?I am not sure how familar you are with Divine Council studies but this is what this verse is about.Plainly put there are other real gods that exist but they were created by YHWH who alone is the Creator, some of these gods rebelled and others did not - hence Gen. 6 episode.As far as YHWH being the God of the Hebrews your right once again - famnous in DC studies is Deut. 32:8-9. This mistranlastion of "children of Israel" for DSS "sons of God" when Israel did not even exist at the time Moses is refering to is actually why we have a problem understanding this subject. God gave up the other nations to these gods and took Jacob for Himself - this was in order to bring to pass his purpose, plan, and promises given Abraham - culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ.By the way the characterization of YHWH in the bible does not change over time to assuume so would mean you have some other characterization by the Hebrews reguarding YHWH's ontology or character. Just because the bible recognizes other lesser gods does not speak less of YHWH - He is unique in that He alone is Creator worthy of worship. By the way this is not Monolatrism nor Henotheism.There is alot to deal with on this subject but basically some scribes were trying to protect monothesim by obfuscating other lesser gods. Of course there were many other verses (Psalms 82)as well as older manuscripts (DSS)that show what the text is saying. This has developed a fasle dichotomy that if your a monotheist you can not believe in any other real gods. Some call this strict momothesism. This was a problem when christians were using texts to prove the diety of Christ.This of course exasperated the problem with the Israelites who did not believe in Jesus as Messiah.There is too much to write about and explain but if someone wants more info I will try to post it. There are many works mostly scholarly, although there is a recent Phd. dissertation on the subject maybe with permission I can post it.Keep the Faith

ICANT saidThat would prove my point that the man in Genesis 2:7 would belong in Genesis 1:1.This proves that there was a creation in Genesis 1:1, and at a later date a re-creation in Genesis 1:2-Genesis 2:3.This does not prove jack!!!The only Gap is the one in your theory.Gen. 1:1 Is the first statment in the prologue. By the way there is no man mentioned in this verse.Gen. 1:2 This is the result - formless and void.Gen. 1:3-31 This is what God did to make it have form and be filled. By the way verses 26-27 are dealing with Mankind - male and female. Also Gen.5:1-2.Gen. 2:4 Is a parenthetical giving specifics about the day - Day 6. Verse 7 is talking about man - male and then how God created the female. In fact all of Ch.2 is day six.

ICANT you are seriously lacking understanding.Read the details: The first part of 2:4 is a restatement as to introduce the point that it will start from day six - hence the phrase "... before any plant ... and any herb of the field had grown" nor was there any "man to till the ground." Your observations of the text lack severly.You do realize the the entire book deals with 10 histories - each of which the focus tightens. This why when the next history is introduced it will often restate something by way of introduction.A parenthetical will often fill in the details of somthing that was generally stated earlier - that is day 6 and the creation of mankind (male and female)I can not believe you actualy think I thought the heavens and the earth were not created until the sixth day - I hope you were being sarcastic.

LOL "the day" in 2:4 is a phrase for the period of time it took (6 days) mentioned earlier in Ch 1:2-2:3. There is no qualifications on the word day like "eveing and moring...second day..." as in ch. 1:2-2:3. In 2:4 it is introducing the subject of how God made mankind (male first female second on day 6), in the day He created the heavens and the earth...before any...had grown.As for jar's point. The Hebrew is clear that 2:4 is the begining of a new section not the end of the first. Notice the phrase "This is the history of the heavens and the earth", this phrase and one s similar to it begin the other 9 histories in the Book of Genesis. Furthermore, the thought of verse 4 continues through the middle of verse 5The reason nothing had grown was not because he did not create it yet but because as verse 5 say it had not rained nor WAS THERE A MAN TO TILL THE GROUND - THEME THEME THEME HINT HINT HINT.A few Examples of the other histories - 5:1; 10:1; 11:10; ect; ect. These are natural divisons in the book.I dont want to be mean but you are really dense on this point.