What is in the first eleven chapters of Genesis?

Answer 1

They are written in poetry, which is a sign to the reader that they are metaphorical stories or contemplations rather than factual history. They are a kind of Hebrew mythology on "how the world came to be."

First they tell the story of how the world was created, how sin began and how the human race became worse and worse. Then it tells the story of Noah's flood - and how even this did not solve the problem of sin, because Noah's descendants continued sinning. Finally it tells of the Judgment of Babel: how the human race was condemned to misunderstand one another, and why only some people were going to be saved.

Answer 2

The first five books are called the Pentateuch, also called the Torah by those of the Jewish faith. (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy). These five books describe the time when God turned his attention to the earth and converted it into a habitable planet and created land, sea, animals and humans. They continue with the history of early man and culminate with God choosing a nation that would produce the Messiah that would redeem mankind from the sin of the first human couple.

The next set of five books Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1st & 2nd Samuel continue on with the history of the Jewish nation as they enter the land that was promised to them, and the achievements (and failures) of the Israelites as they take over the land and become a mighty nation.

Answer 3

It is the book of beginnings called Genesis. It has a wide variety of events in its pages - Creation of all physical matter, renewal of the face of the Earth, physical flora and fauna as we know it today, the fall of man, the first murder, the worldwide flood, etc.

Answer 4

Genesis - God's creation of the universe, and the lives of the Israelite Patriarchs and their families. Exodus - God brings the Israelites out of Egypt and gives them the Torah.

Leviticus - Laws of the kohanim, the Temple, and more.

Numbers - Events in the wilderness.

Deuteronomy - preparing to enter the Holy Land, and relevant laws.

Joshua - The Israelites take the Holy Land.

Judges - Events in early Israelite history and battles that were fought.

Samuel - King Saul and King David.

Kings - King Solomon and the kings of Judea and Israel.

Isaiah - Prophecies of future events.

See also:

More about the Hebrew Bible

Answer 5

The creation of the Heavens and the Earth, and the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Flood, and the creation of the Tower of Babel.