30 Days to Genesis

Most scholars agree that Genesis is organized around the phrase “these are the generations of.” The Hebrew word for generations is “toledoth.” As a result, this phrase has become known as a “toledoth formula.” There are ten of these statements throughout Genesis, which form eleven main sections of the book. These phrases represent transitions in Genesis which the author Moses used to organize his content. Below are the toledoth formulas in Genesis.

The Toledoth Formulas of Genesis

•Introduction and Creation 1:1-2:3
•Toledoth of the heavens and the earth 2:4-4:26
•Toledoth of Adam 5:1-6:8
•Toledoth of Noah 6:9-9:29
•Toledoth of the Sons of Noah 10:1-11:9
•Toledoth of Shem 11:10-26
•Toledoth of Terah 11:27-25:11
•Toledoth of Ishmael 25:12-18
•Toledoth of Isaac 25:19-35:29
•Toledoth of Esau 36:1-37:1
•Toledoth of Jacob 37:2-50:26

When we look at this list, we can see that the book of Genesis is a collection of family stories. As you proceed through the book, however, look for the way that God works through the lives of these families. God is the beginning and the end of this book. He is the main character; the one constant throughout the book. He creates, judges, promises, protects, calls, and guides the narrative of Genesis. As the families of the earth expand, God directs his focus toward one family—the family of Jacob. As a result, the toledoth of Jacob occupies more space than any other family story in Genesis except for Terah’s (Abraham’s father).
Genesis is divided into two main sections. Scholars have long noted that the first eleven chapters deal with man’s primeval history, while chapters 12-50 recount the stories of the biblical patriarchs. The devotions of this book will be loosely based upon the toledoths and this two-part structure of Genesis. While the daily readings will not openly stress them, those organizational structures will be the skeletal structure around which the devotions are formed. My prayer is that you will have a great thirty-day journey through Genesis.
One more thing . . . This book is part of a larger series of books that is being developed by Seed Publishing Group; it is called 30 Days to the Bible. Each year, several new books will be added to this series until all the books of the Bible have been covered. Renowned scholars and pastors from around the country will be writing books for this exciting, new series. So, if you like 30 Days to Genesis, keep your eyes open for the next books in the series: 30 Days to James, 30 Days to Acts, 30 Days to the Parables, 30 Days to John, and 30 Days to Colossians!
Finally, Seed Publishing Group (www.seed-publishing-group.com) is an independent publisher committed to bringing great resources to both individual Christians and the local church. As part of that commitment, they are partners with The Pillar Network for church planting (www.thepillarnetwork.com). $1 from each sale of 30 Days to Genesis goes directly to church plants throughout North America. Thank you for purchasing 30 Days to Genesis, and thank you for investing in church planting!

—Chet Roden, Ph.D.