Chapters 1–11 form an introduction to both the book of Genesis and the Pentateuch as a whole. One should read these chapters with this dual purpose in mind. They set the stage for the narratives of the patriarchs (Ge 12–50) as well as provide the appropriate background for understanding the central topic of the Pentateuch: the Sinai covenant (Exodus-Deuteronomy). The author of the Pentateuch has carefully selected
Page 81