In our study of the record of creation, as it is found in the Bible, we’ve come to what many conclude to be a “second” account of creation. Technically, however, this isn’t so. The second chapter of the Book of Genesis does mention some matters, as they existed, prior to the creation of things mentioned here, vis-à-vis some things in the first chapter are referred to again in the second. However, the second chapter is about mankind, our creation and how we developed into what we are today. The account in the second chapter isn’t interested in chronology, nor does it show much interest in the other things that were created in the first, such as the sun, moon and stars, the firmament, and the creation of other lifeforms, such as vegetation and animal life (collectively). The second chapter of the Book of Genesis is all about mankind, and the other things are mentioned only in reference to mankind.
Moreover, we are also introduced to spiritual matters in mankind’ relationship with God, who now introduces himself to us as Yahweh or as he is understood in some communities of believers, Jehovah (YHWH). His eternal name wasn’t recorded in chapter one, because there was no one to introduce himself to, until the end of the sixth day, when mankind was created (Genesis 1:26-31). So, this particular record mentions some events, which took place during creation week, but the record, itself, begins sometime after the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:1-3).
The new record begins, “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth…” In other words, it is an official record, a written recorded preserved by mankind for later generations. There are several records like this one which were preserved long enough to place into the hands of Moses: (cp. Genesis 5:1; 10:1; 11:10; 25:12, 19; 36:1, 9; 37:2). Who wrote them? Identifying their original authors would only be conjecture, but they are recorded here for our consideration.
The text mentions the day in which they were created (Genesis 2:4). This, however, refers to the time or season, when God created the heavens and the earth. The term in ancient history was used as it is today, to mention a calendar day or to mention a season: “he was the best all-around baseball player of his day!” Therefore, “…in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens” refers to the seven days of creation recorded in Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 2:3.
Thus, the phrase: “every plant… before it was in the earth, and every herb… before it grew, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there wasn’t a man to till the ground” (Genesis 2:5) concerns the time before their creation as fully mature plants and herbs etc. After they were created, their seeds were deposited automatically in the earth, and the cycle of life was begun for those species. Genesis 2:6 may refer to a different weather cycle that existed before the Genesis Flood. Certainly, according to the scriptures, the ancient earth appeared different from how it does today (cp. Genesis 2:10-14). So, if the earth looked a lot different at the time of creation than it does today, it isn’t unreasonable to presume the weather patterns were different as well.
We aren’t told much about the creation mankind in Genesis 1:26-30. The emphasis there is placed upon his being created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). It is mentioned further that he was commanded to fill the earth with his descendants and take authority not only over all the things God created on the earth but to also take authority over the earth, itself, learn about its power and dangers and cause it all to work for his good.
As for the record mentioned in Genesis 2:7, it states that God created mankind from the dust or clay of the earth; he breathed into mankind the breath of life, after which the man became a living soul. Several things could be mentioned at this point. First, the breath of life is the same breath of life each baby is caused to breath into his lungs at the moment he is taken from his mother (cp. Job 33:4). This same breath is what causes frost and freezes the waters (Job 37:10). It is the air we breathe in and breathe out from the moment of our birth. So, after the man was created from the ground, and although his heart was beating and his blood flowing throughout his adult body, he didn’t become a person, a living soul, until he began to breathe in the air around him (Genesis 2:7).
There is a second thing and a third thing that could be mentioned here that describes the man, as he was created, but I won’t speak of those two things here. I’ll describe the second later in chapter two, and I’ll end by mentioning the third in chapter three.
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