Genesis

Genesis is the first book of the Bible and the first of the five books traditionally attributed to Moses. It tells the origin story of the world, of humanity, and of the family that becomes the nation of Israel. The book covers an enormous span of time, from creation itself to the death of Joseph in Egypt, somewhere in the second millennium BC.

The book divides into two parts. The first eleven chapters cover the early stories that explain how the world and human society came to be: the creation, the garden of Eden, the first murder, the flood and Noah, and the Tower of Babel. These chapters move quickly through generations and across the whole earth.

From chapter 12 onward, the focus narrows to one family. God makes a promise to Abraham. He will become a great nation, the land of Canaan will be given to his descendants, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through him. The rest of Genesis follows Abraham, his son Isaac, his grandson Jacob, and his great-grandson Joseph as the family grows, struggles with itself, and eventually settles in Egypt during a famine. The book ends with Joseph's death, leaving the family in Egypt and setting up the events of Exodus.