God's Amazing Gift To Adam

Thanks to the archaeological researches of P. J. Wiseman*, we now understand that Moses collated the book of Genesis from nearly a dozen volumes written earlier by the Patriarchs. Each volume in Genesis ends with a colophon incorporating the word toledoth (histories) and providing title and author/owner information. Contrary to the assertions of liberal scholars, the earliest records of God’s interaction with mankind were not passed down by “oral tradition” but were carefully written down -- probably by eyewitnesses --, and probably on cuneiform tablets (see the word written/book in Gen 5.1).

Amazingly, the first colophon appears in Gen 2.4, closing the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth. Who was around to witness and record this event? I propose that God Himself wrote Gen 1.1-2.4 on a tablet and gave it to Adam for safekeeping. But wait! Isn’t it preposterous to think God would condescend to write on an earthly tablet for mankind’s sake? Nope! Check out Exo 31.18.

*See P. J. Wiseman, Ancient Records and the Structure of Genesis, Thomas Nelson, 1985.