Now we get into a very important term, recapitulation. Recapitulation is defined as “go over something again”. When the Bible “goes over something again” in gives an additional perspective or additional details not found within the first telling. In most instances recapitulation is used to fill in important details that the would not fit as well in the first narative. A great example of this is about to happen.
These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
-Genesis 2:4-7
Here is the first recapitulation found within the scriptures. We have an account of a nearly finished earth in which water comes up from the ground to water the whole earth, but man is not created yet. Sounds a lot like day six of creation, because it is. Then it moves on to the creation of man. This time it is specific about the mechanisms of mans creation: being formed out of the dirt, being breathed into through the nostrils, and receiving a soul. All of these are details not found within Genesis chapter 1 because Genesis chapter 1 was all about when man was created, what their purpose was, and what made them special in the eyes of God. This is telling us HOW they were created and shows how very personal God is with us, His creation.
We are then told about the first man being set in a garden planted just for him, Eden and how it was populated with every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. Finally we are told about two special trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The scriptures then continue to show how all the land around and the waters were good and full of everything one could want and here is where we will pick up the story.
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest therof thou shalt surely die.
-Genesis 2:15-17
The recapitulation continues as God still has not created woman, and we know that she is part of the 6th day per the first chapter of Genesis. Here we get details of the choice, the choice to follow God and do what He commands, or to go against those commandments, sin, and die. This is the main theme throughout all scripture, we are given a choice to obey or die. Obedience leads to life and sin(disobedience) leads to death. It should be noted that as of this time and while man is in the garden of Eden, there is no death and everything is an herbavore eating only plants.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to every beast fo the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
-Genesis 2:18-25
Here we have the final segment of the sixth day recapitulated in which the animals are created and brought to Adam to be named and Eve is created from Adam to become his helper (help meet). With all animals of the ground and air created and the first male and female created, we have the end of the recapitulation of day 6 of creation. This day ends, in this shifted perspective, reminding us that this was still a time of innocence before sin. It is in this sinless state that we will live in eternity with God, if only we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord God and Savior in faith and keep His commandments.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
-John 14:15-21 (Jesus’s words to His disciples before He was crucified)