Overview
Genesis begins with the creation of the heavens and the earth, recounts the fall of humanity, the flood, and the dispersion of the nations, and then records the history of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. The covenant God made with Abraham is presented as the starting point of the entire history of Israel. The book closes with the family of Jacob settled in Egypt.
Theme Creation and the fall, and the beginning of redemption through the covenant with Abraham
Historical background
The patriarchal period is generally dated to the first half of the second millennium BC, the Middle Bronze Age. The principal settings are Ur and Haran in Mesopotamia, Canaan, and Egypt, and the narratives reflect ancient Near Eastern customs of marriage, inheritance, and covenant. Genesis 1–11 is frequently studied in comparison with ancient Near Eastern creation and flood traditions.