4. Genesis as a Whole

The book of Genesis displays a remarkable unity of structure and purpose. Its structure is provided by a coherent and comprehensive plot line, as well as by the deliberate device of toledot introductory statements. The spiritual and moral themes of the book also engage the reader at a deeper level. It is no wonder that Genesis has fired the imagination of artists, writers, and theologians more than any other book of the Hebrew Bible.
The three literary sources of the Torah--the Yahwist narrative, the Elohist source, and the Priestly document--interweave to create the Ancestral Story. All three sources are well attested in Genesis 12-50 and make significant contributions. Elohist passages appear here in the Pentateuch for the first time.

For the literary sources of the Ancestral Story see Table 2.F. Table 2.G is an outline of the book of Genesis.

ToC | Reading the Old Testament . . . Chapter 2. Genesis 12-50 | ToC