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Introduction to

2200 B.C. 2100 2000 1900 1800 1700 1600 1500 1400

Creation, fall

The flood

The Tower of Babel

Abraham’s life (c. 2166–1991 B.C.)

Isaac’s life (c. 2066–1886 B.C.)

Jacob’s life (c. 2006–1859 B.C.)

Joseph’s life (c. 1915–1805 B.C.)

Book of Genesis written (c. 1446–1406 B.C.)

Genesis

A U T H O R , P L A C E  A N D  DAT E  O F W R I T I N G

Genesis is, strictly speaking, an anonymous work. Historical tradition, however, as well as Biblical attestation, assigns authorship to Moses

(see, e.g., Mk 12:26; Lk 24:27; Jn 1:45; Ro 10:5; 2Co 3:15). MosesÕ author ship would not have required him to write the entire book. In

fact, all of the Genesis events took place long before Moses was born, indicating that he must have used sources.We might view Moses

as an editor/historian who, in addition to receiving God’s direct and supernatural communication, drew together details of the family histories

of Abraham and his descendants, as they existed in the Israelite community in Egypt, into a single text.

Scholars who question Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch (Ge–Dt) generally support one or another variant of the Documentary

Hypothesis (see “The Documentary Hypothesis” on p. 15).

If Moses did indeed write/compile Genesis, he must have done so during the Israelites’ exodus wandering period, probably between

1440 and 1400 B.C. (see “The Store Cities of Pithom and Rameses” on p. 86, “The Pharaoh of the Exodus” on p. 98, “The Date of the Exodus”

on p. 106, “The Hyksos and the Old Testament” on p. 121 and “The Conquest of Canaan” on p. 310). Those scholars who suggest

that the Pentateuch was written as a single work during the exile typically place the date of authorship at about 550 B.C.

A U D I E N C E

Genesis records the stories of the creation, the fall into sin, the flood, the call of Abraham and the early history of the ancestors of Israel.

The Genesis stories were probably circulated among the Israelites living in Egypt, reminding them of their familial and spiritual heritage

and explaining their current situation. Genesis preserved individual stories (like those about Joseph) that could afford hope to God’s

enslaved people. Promises to Abraham about the future of his progeny (e.g., 15:1–7) also would have encouraged them. Later, Israelites

directly involved in the exodus, as well as their succeeding generations, no doubt read Genesis in order to understand this piece of the

great saga of their national origin. The fulfillment of God’s historical promises to the patriarchs served as a testimony to his continuing

faithfulness.

C U LT U R A L  FA C T S  A N D  H I G H L I G H T S

Genesis records the birth and early history of humankind. Not only did God create the physical world, but he also formed man and woman

in his own image and endowed them with the gift of free will. Over time changes took place, including humanity’s fall into sin and the

resultant great flood.

Tribes, cities and civilizations ebbed and flowed, rising and declining in a rhythm that has characterized human history ever since.

Centuries passed, and at some point God chose to concentrate his particular attention on one individual from an ordinary, idol-worshiping

family—who in his turn opted to listen and obey. From such unimpressive roots began the triumphant—if often temporarily tragic—

saga of redemption history.

T I M E L I N E

INTRODUCTION TO G E N E S I S 3

A S Y O U R E A D

Note how quickly and irreversibly the human race turned its back on Eden and on perfect fellowship with God (chs. 2–3) and how God

responded (chs. 4–8). Then, through the unlikely choice of a still-childless patriarch, God began to form the family from which the Israelite

nation would spring (chs. 11–30; 49). Study the life of Joseph, from his years of slavery to his meteoric rise to power in a strange land

to his revelation to his unsuspecting brothers (chs. 42–45). This book explains how and why the Israelites came to live in Egypt, setting

the stage for what would happen to this special people in Exodus and beyond.

D I D Y O U K N O W ?

• An individual in the ancient Near East could claim rights to a well on someone else’s land (21:25–30).

• The bride price paid by a husband’s family was to be held in trust to provide for the wife if she were to find herself abandoned or

widowed (31:14–16).

• A man’s seal, cord and staff were symbols of his individual and corporate identity—the ancient equivalent of an I.D. card or signature

(38:17–18).

• Both the Egyptians and the Babylonians compiled “dream books,” containing sample dreams with keys to their interpretation (40:8).

• The philosophy behind the Egyptian practice of embalming was a belief that the body was to be preserved as a repository for the soul

after death (50:2–3).

T H E M E S

Genesis, the book of beginnings, includes the following themes:

1. Creation. God created the world “very good” (1:31). There was wholeness and harmony between God and humanity, among humans

and between people and the rest of the created order.

2. Sin. Sin entered the world through one man, Adam (3:1–19; Ro 5:12). Unbelief, human conflict, sickness and environmental degradation

are its results.

3. The image of God. All human beings are created in the image of God; each person is God’s likeness as a personal, rational, creative,

moral being. Men and women were created equal.