Expert: Messianic Rabbi Yochanan Levine - 1/5/2010

Question
Hey there! :-)

As a part of my new years resolution, I have decided to read the Bible in its entirety and actually get any questions I have answered, instead of just letting them sit there (which I made the mistake of doing last year as part of a reading plan!). So I'm sorry to say that you might just be so unlikely to have to put up with a few more questions from me over the year! haha :) I'll be writing them all down in a book, (hopefully) along side their answers to make sure that I stick to it!

I've only recently gone from being a "Christian" who did his own thing to dedicating my life to Christ and getting stuck into his word, so I'm sorry if some of my questions come off as a bit silly! :)

The first ones for the year, (not so surprisingly I guess) comes from Genesis - it is the beginning after all!

In Genesis 1:11, it describes God producing all the plants of the earth, however in Genesis 2:4-5 it says that the earth has no plants. What am I missing here?

My second question comes from Genesis 4:15-17. Simply put, where did these people being described come from, specifically anybody who would want to kill Cain and all the sons' wives.

Thanks for all and any insight.

God Bless,
Chris

P.s. the link on your AllExperts link is broken. The Q in "questions" appears to need to be a capital letter :)

Answer
Hi Chris,
Sounds like a great resolution to make. I'll be happy to assist as I can.

--- In Genesis 1:11, it describes God producing all the plants of the earth, however in Genesis 2:4-5 it says that the earth has no plants. What am I missing here?

There are standard answers to this.
The most common is that general material is given first, then Moses goes over the same material in more depth the second time. This is the standard answer.

The other answer is that Genesis refers to two separate creations. This is not a widely held view, but it is a very old one with several adherents (including me). There are ancient tales of Adam and his first wife Lilith (before Eve). These speak of an earth before our earth that was destroyed, similar to the destruction with the flood. This view sees the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve as the beginning of this present earth age, but not the actual beginning. Adam was carried over, Lilith was destroyed. This view has support from Sumar, the Indian Vedas and other ancient texts and traditions. It also explains the age of the dinosaurs, carbon dating and so on.

--- My second question comes from Genesis 4:15-17. Simply put, where did these people being described come from, specifically anybody who would want to kill Cain and all the sons' wives.

Genesis 5:4 says: And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters.

Most of Adam's children are not named in the Bible. When read literally this is the answer. They were the other sons and daughters of Adam and Eve and their grand kids. Exactly what the mark of Cain was has been hotly debated for centuries as you doubtless know. Its one of histories mysteries. We do not know.

--- P.s. the link on your AllExperts link is broken. The Q in "questions" appears to need to be a capital letter :)

Ah thanks, I need to update my AllExperts profile. When I first began there I had intended to post all the Q & A's on my website but it soon became clear that there would be way too many of them to do that.

Peace, Love and Light,

~ John of AllFaith