1. Survey of the Old Testament
Chapter 4
Genesis

2. Moses: divinely-inspired editor
Gen 1-11: Primeval History
Similarities to ANE material reveal shared conceptual world or common source
Differences from ANE material reveal different theological emphases 
Gen 12-50: Patriarchal History
Founder stories, not journalistic history
Contain truthful historic information
Photo: The Sumerian King List traces kingship, beginning with ten kings who are credited with extraordinarily long reigns – averaging more than 24,000 years each. After the flood, 130 more kingships are recorded with reduced length. This pattern is somewhat reminiscent of the genealogy of Genesis 5 and the reduced life spans after the flood.

3. Purpose and Message
YHWH as the sole creator of the world who brings order and function out of chaos
Human begins, made in God’s image, created to be in relationship with God
Human sin alienates people from God
God re-establishes relationship through the family of Abraham
God preserves the covenant and the covenant family, in spite of numerous obstacles
Photo 1: This is a picture of the traditional hero figure in Mesopotamia.
Photo 2: The earliest known flood story is found in Sumerian literature, and Ziusudra, king of Shuruppak, is the flood hero. This is one of the tablets telling the story.

4. Structure and Organization
Creation (Gen 1:1-2:3)
Days 1-3: God establishes functions
Days 3-6: God fills the earth with functionaries and inhabitants 
Before the Patriarchs: Primeval History (Gen 2:4-11:26)
Introduction and spread of human sin
The Flood: God’s punishment of sin and gracious preservation of Noah and his family
The Tower of Babel: mankind attempts to coerce God’s presence on earth
Photo: The Gilgamesh story is one of the best-known in the ancient world. Here Gilgamesh and Enkidu successfully fight and slay the Bull of Heaven. As a consequence, the gods kill Enkidu, spurring Gilgamesh to go on a quest for immortality that leads him to flood survivor Utnapishtim, who tells him the story of the flood.

5. Structure and Organization (continued)
The Patriarchs in Palestine: Patriarchal Narratives (Gen 11:27-37:1)
God establishes the covenant with Abraham (chs )
God overcomes obstacles to the covenant, which come primarily in the form of famine and barrenness
The Patriarchs in Egypt: the Joseph Story (Gen 37:2-50:26)
Explains how the Israelites came to inhabit the land of Egypt
Through the family of Abraham, all the nations of the earth are blessed
Photo: This troupe of merchants arriving from Canaan in Egypt in the 20th century BC shows the colorful garments worn at that time.

6. Major Themes Covenant and Election Monotheism Sin Origins
God establishes a relationship with and reveals himself through Abraham’s family in the covenant, not because of their deserving, but simply because of his free choice
Monotheism
The belief in or worship of only one God 
Sin
The sin of Adam and Eve establishes a cycle of sin and punishment that is repeated throughout the OT
Even in judgment, God demonstrates his mercy and grace
Origins
Genesis affirms YHWH as the sole creator of the world, but does not tell us (in our scientific terms) how God created