families of the earth” (12:3), starting the family through which all humankind, which is now estranged from God, will come to know the true God. Once we recognize this, we also recognize that Genesis 1–11 is deliberately shaped with this purpose in mind. Many, for example, have noticed the way in which the garden of Eden becomes a pattern for describing the Israelite sanctuary, and even the land of Israel.42 That is to say, the Old Testament views Eden as the first sanctuary, where God is present