Dr. Sailhamer is one of the world's foremost Hebrew Scholar's. His scholarship is only surpassed by his devotion to the Biblical text. Dr. Sailhamer is committed both to the authority and the inerrancy of the original manuscripts. His book is an honest, in depth, scholarly study of the Biblical texts of creation geared toward the layman. He views the creation account as a literal, historical account and the days of creation as literal 24 hour days. The essence of Dr. Sailhamer's book is that Genesis 1:1 describes the creation of the universe during an indeterminate amount of time; Genesis 1:2-2:4a describe the preparation of the land (the Garden of Eden/Promised Land) over six literal days. This is NOT a variation on the GAP Theory, nor is it an attempt to twist the Scriptures into compliance with contemporary views of science. It is the attempt of a brilliant and godly man to wrestle with the Scriptures in order to gain a better understanding of the meaning of the text. His interpretation is always based on the Hebrew text, its grammar, syntax and, most important of all, its context. Any honest scholar will admit that no interpretation of the Genesis account is entirely satisfying; all are to a greater or lesser degree problematic. Dr. Sailhamer's work comes closest to providing a satisfying solution, a solution that is consistent with the context of Genesis 1:1-2:4a, as will as the context of the entire book of Genesis, the Pentateuch and the whole of the Scriptures. If you would like a more in depth study of Genesis I would highly recommend Sailhamer's commentary on Genesis in the "Expositor's Bible Commentary" and his book "Pentateuch as Narrative". Sailhamer's works on Genesis and the Pentateuch have replaced Umberto Cassuto's writings as my most valued secondary sources for the study of the Pentateuch.
