What is the writing date of Genesis? I. Overview of the Question The writing date of Genesis has been a point of discussion for centuries. Various historical, archaeological, and textual considerations help us pinpoint when Genesis was recorded in its final form. Timelines derived from biblical accounts, especially those found in the Pentateuch, along with external historical data, work together to suggest that Genesis was composed during the lifetime of Moses (traditionally dated around the 15th to 13th century BC). Below is a comprehensive survey of how scholars, ancient manuscripts, and contextual clues point to this conclusion. II. Mosaic Authorship and Biblical Evidence Genesis is the first book of the Pentateuch (the five books often attributed to Moses). While the events described in Genesis obviously precede Moses by centuries, the longstanding understanding—supported by Scripture—is that Moses compiled and wrote these accounts under divine guidance. One of many passages in Scripture implying Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch is found in Exodus 17:14, where it says, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua…’” Similarly, Deuteronomy 31:24 states, “When Moses had finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end…,” referencing the completion of the material attributed to him. Furthermore, in the New Testament, Jesus refers to “Moses” in connection with the Pentateuch. For example, John 5:46–47 records: “If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?” These verses indicate that Jesus and His contemporaries accepted that Moses was indeed the writer of the Torah, which would include Genesis. III. Historical and Cultural Context 1. Setting of Moses’ Lifetime Moses is traditionally dated to the 15th or 13th century BC, depending on the approach to the Exodus timeline. One key date often proposed is around 1446 BC for the Exodus, which situates Moses in the wilderness for forty years, concluding around 1406 BC. If Moses wrote Genesis within this time frame (between the Exodus and his death), the writing date would likely fall somewhere between the mid-15th and early-14th century BC. 2. Use of Written Records Genesis itself contains genealogies (Genesis 5, 10, and 11). It is plausible that Moses had access to oral traditions or even older written family records (clay tablets or scrolls) that he compiled. In the context of ancient Near Eastern societies, significant events were often recorded, making it likely he utilized existing records under divine inspiration to shape Genesis into the form we have today. 3. Comparisons to Other Ancient Texts Some have noted resemblance in structure (though not in theology) between Genesis creation accounts and other ancient Near Eastern texts such as the Enuma Elish. However, the biblical text’s unique consistency sets it apart. Scholars see these parallels not as evidence of borrowing from pagan myths but rather as an indication of a shared historical milieu, which Moses addressed accurately and theologically. IV. Archaeological and Manuscript Evidence 1. Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) Portions of Genesis found at Qumran (part of the Dead Sea Scrolls) date to around the 2nd century BC, confirming that the book existed in a form close to that used in later Hebrew manuscripts. Although these manuscripts are more recent than Moses’ day, they reliably preserve the same Hebrew text passed down through centuries. 2. Masoretic Text and Other Witnesses The Masoretic Text (MT), the traditional Hebrew text of the Old Testament, includes Genesis in virtually the same form found in ancient versions. Internal consistency across these manuscripts underscores that Genesis was not the product of a late editorial process but rather a carefully preserved document rooted in an earlier period. 3. External Historical References Ancient historians, such as Flavius Josephus (1st century AD), credit Moses with the authorship of the Pentateuch. Josephus’s “Antiquities of the Jews” draws attention to the trustworthiness of these early Hebrew writings, providing a historical witness to the longstanding tradition of Mosaic authorship and an early date for Genesis. V. Proposed Date Ranges 1. Early Date (15th Century BC) Those supporting an early Exodus (circa 1446 BC) often place the composition of Genesis between 1446 and 1406 BC, while the nation of Israel wandered in the wilderness. Genesis would be the foundational account of Israel’s origins, compiled to instruct the new generation about their identity, rooted in creation itself and the covenant promises given to Abraham. 2. Alternative Views Some suggest a later date (13th to 9th century BC) for the entirety of the Pentateuch. However, conservative scholarship, supported by internal textual cues, historical references, and the testimonies across Scripture, strongly favors the earlier Mosaic timeframe. VI. The Role of Genealogies and Chronologies 1. Genealogical Records Genesis 5 and 11 contain genealogies designed to show a continuous lineage from Adam to Abraham. They do not read as a vague mythic tradition but as intentional historical records, indicating that the original authors sought to present facts in a direct line of succession. 2. Biblical Chronology Biblical chronologies (anchored in genealogical data) place the events of Genesis thousands of years before Moses but show awareness of historical detail that Moses could have preserved through preexisting sources. This continuity suggests that the final editorial hand completed Genesis at roughly the same time the other four books of the Torah were written. VII. Internal Unity and Theological Emphasis 1. Prefiguration of Exodus Themes Throughout Genesis, readers see references that anticipate the Exodus (e.g., Genesis 15:13–14 [BSB]: “Then the LORD said to Abram, ‘Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land not their own...’”). Moses’ vantage point, knowing that promise was fulfilled, reinforces the idea that he authored Genesis with clear awareness of how events in earlier centuries fit into the overall redemptive storyline. 2. Consistent Theological Focus From the creation narrative (Genesis 1–2) onward, there is a unified theological emphasis on God’s sovereignty, human responsibility, the problem of sin, and the covenant promise. This thematic cohesion strongly supports the view that a single inspired compiler (with possible minor later editorial notes) shaped the book in a timeframe close to the Exodus era. VIII. Conclusion The writing date of Genesis, by conservative reckoning, falls roughly during the 15th century BC when Moses was active, likely between the time of the Exodus (c. 1446 BC) and his death (c. 1406 BC). Ancient witnesses like Josephus, the uniform testimony of Scripture, the Masoretic tradition, and archaeological discoveries (including the Dead Sea Scrolls) uphold this early date. Mosaic authorship is further corroborated by internal biblical evidence—including genealogies, direct divine instructions to Moses to record events, and corroborating New Testament references. This longstanding perspective maintains that Genesis—though it recounts events stretching back to the dawn of creation—was divinely entrusted to Moses to assemble and write for the instruction and edification of God’s people. Such a timeframe not only fits the consistent internal testimony of Scripture but also honors the historical and theological integrity of the text. |
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