The Condensed Word of God
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21. Sarah bore a son and called his name Isaac. On the day Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a great feast, and Sarah saw Ishmael mocking, so she asked Abraham to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael. This distressed him, but the Lord told Abraham that it is through Isaac that his offspring will be counted, but that Ishmael will also become a nation. Abraham then sent Hagar away with Ishmael, and Ishmael lived in the desert. Abimelech could see that God was with Abraham in everything that he did; so he asked Abraham to swear that he would not deal falsely with any of Abimelech’s descendants, and Abraham said, “I swear it.” An incident did occur when Abimelech’s servants seized a well that Abraham had dug, and Abraham gave Abimelech several animals to say that it was Abraham’s well. That place was called Beersheba.
22. God told Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. The next morning he cut wood for the offering and took Isaac and two servants and left for the place where God would show him. When Abraham saw the place, he left the two servants and took Isaac with the wood to the place for the offering. Isaac asked Abraham about not having a lamb for the offering, and he replied that God will provide the lamb. He arranged wood on the altar, tied Isaac and laid him on it, raising his knife to slay him. But an angel of the Lord told him not to slay Isaac saying, “Now I know that you fear God.” A ram was caught in the thicket, so Abraham offered it instead. The angel of the Lord also told Abraham that because he had not withheld his son, that the Lord would bless him and multiply his descendants.
23. Sarah died, being 127 years old, and Abraham bargained with the Hittites for a burial site. Ephron sold Abraham his cave of Machpelah for 400 shekels of silver. Also included in the purchase was the field near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
24. Abraham was old, and he told his servant to go to the land of Abraham’s relatives to get Isaac a wife; so his servant took ten camels loaded with gifts and went to the town of Nahor and sat by the well. He prayed that the correct maiden will be the one that if he asks her for a drink, she will reply, “Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.” Rebekah, the granddaughter of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came and when asked for a drink, she gave him water and said that she will draw for his camels too. She also said that he could lodge at her father’s house for the night; and Laban, her brother, came to invite them in. Before eating, the servant told the household the reason for his visit. Laban and Bethuel, Rebekah’s father, said that his errand was from the Lord, and for him to take Rebekah for Isaac. (See chart at Genesis 11.) When Abraham’s servant heard this, he gave jewelry and raiment to Rebekah and costly ornaments to her mother and brother. The next morning, Rebekah and her maids went with Abraham’s servant. Isaac was in the field when they arrived, and Rebekah got down from her camel and covered her face. She became Isaac’s wife, and he loved her.
Bible Genealogy from Adam to Jacob
Person Year born Age when son born Age when died Year died
Adam 0 130 930 930
Seth 130 105 912 1042
Enosh 235 90 905 1140
Kenan 325 70 910 1235
Mahalalel 395 65 895 1290
Jared 460 162 962 1422
Enoch 622 65 365 987
Methuselah 687 187 969 1656
Lamech 874 182 777 1651
Noah 1056 502 (Note #4) 950 2006
Shem 1558 100 600 2158
Arphaxad 1658 35 438 2096
Shelah 1693 30 433 2126
Eber 1723 34 464 2187
Peleg 1757 30 239 1996
Reu 1787 32 239 2026
Serug 1819 30 230 2049
Nahor 1849 29 148 1997
Terah 1878 70 205 2083
Abraham 1948 100 175 2123
Isaac 2048 60 180 2228
Jacob 2108 147 2375
Notes:
1. The year indicates number of years since creation of Adam.
2. “Age when son born” refers to the next son mentioned in chart.
3. Enoch did not live a long life for he walked with God, and God took him.
4. This table assumes Shem’s older brother to be the son born when Noah was 500 years old. Therefore, we assume Noah to be at least 502 when Shem was born.
5. The year of the flood by this chart is 1656.
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About the Book
The Condensed Word of God offers succinct summaries of the Bible’s books—chapter by chapter. These straightforwardly worded paragraphs, grouped by biblical book and numbered by chapter, give the reader a clear sense of each chapter in the Bible. These summaries can substitute for a sustained reading of the Bible or they can provide insights for one to use as guides for Bible reading. The one exception to this approach is Revelation. As the Introduction notes, Revelation 22:19 pronounces a judgment: “If anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city.” For this reason, The Condensed Word of God suggests reading this biblical book from one’s chosen translation.
Summaries naturally are shorter than their sources and set aside some of the sources’ details. Even so, The Condensed Word of God gives a clear sense of each chapter’s main points. This is clear when one compares the widely beloved Psalm 23 with the summary in The Condensed Word of God: “The Lord is my shepherd, and he takes care of me. He comforts me from death and from my enemies, and I shall dwell with him forever.”
Whether one desires a companion for one’s study of the full text of the Bible or one seeks an approachable distillation of the Bible’s main themes, The Condensed Word of God will meet one’s expectations, providing easy access to the Bible’s nearly innumerable high points.
About the Author
H. Arnold Alexander earned a bachelor of science degree at Davidson College, did postgraduate studies at Syracuse University, and earned his master of science degree at the University of Virginia. He and his wife have four children, whom they have taught to live Christian lives.