In this revised and expanded second edition, Spurrell provides detailed notes on the text of Genesis--helpful for both student and scholar. He keys his comments to the grammars of Gesenius, Davidson, Stade, and Olshausen, in addition to Driver's 'Hebrew Tenses' and Davidson's 'Hebrew Syntax'. Throughout the volume the author pays special attention to linguistic forms, syntax, grammar, and geography.

Spurrell also provides a detailed introduction in which he summarizes the views of several scholars on the sources of the Pentateuch: their vocabulary, formulas, and grammar. But more than that, he provides a brief history of Pentateuchal research. A concluding appendix discusses the divine names El, Elohim, and Yahweh.