Who was The Book of Genesis written to?

Answer 1

What a number of scholars have suggested, as Bible followers have always realized, is that Moses likely was the final editor or redactor of the Genesis material and in the case of the earliest records it is clear that there was an intention to preserve a record of the earliest events of earth history, which certainly explains the presence of the genealogical records as well as the record of the 'table of nations' and the Babel dispersion. There was also the intention to provide a record of the origin of the Hebrew nation which then gave them identity as they came out of Egypt. So Moses likely connected the events in terms of the nation in Egypt with the earlier records of the patriarchs. This was done in terms of chronology and so connected the nation of Israel about to leave Egypt with their patriarchal predecessors. In the setting suggested by what we know of Moses' chronology, and that the book of Genesis was indeed addressed to the fledgling nation of Israel.

Answer 2

to whom was the book of Genesis written?

Christian Opinion:

Genesis is an anthology written in different times and locations to meet different concerns of the covenant community of God.

Answer 3

A:

The Book of Genesis is not a book that one person simply sat down and wrote, so we should not try to understand why one such person would write the Book of Genesis.

Originally, there were two early written Hebrew traditions. The earliest came from the southern kingdom of Judah and was recorded by an anonymous source we now know as the Yahwist (or 'J Source'), writing around the ninth century BCE. The second tradition came from the northern kingdom of Israel and was recorded by an anonymous source we now know as the Elohist, writing up to a century later, but quite independently. Each was writing down the traditions known to him orally, for ease in instructing younger people.

After the destruction of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 BCE, large numbers of Israelite refugees fled south into Judah, taking their written traditions with them. Thus there existed in Judah, two somewhat similar but different sets of tradition, a circumstance that would probably work against integration and harmony in the kingdom. Probably at the direction of Hezekiah, king of Judah, the traditions were combined into a single book, now known as JE to indicate development from two separate sources. Most of the Elohist material was discarded because it either duplicated or contradicted the Yahwist material, which was to be primary. JE was not yet the Book of Genesis as we would recognise it, but it was beginning to take form.

The Babylonian Exile was a traumatic event in the history of Judah. The line of kings had come to an end and the priests stepped forward to fill the vacuum of Jewish leadership. To cement their political positions and to ensure obedience on both secular and theological issues, they needed to change history. Part of this exercise was for the anonymous source we know as the Priestly Source to add material to the JE book. This was now recognisably the Book of Genesis. All that remained was for the Redactor to edit the book into much the same format as we know today.

Answer 4

Tradition holds that the Book of Genesis was written by Moses during the wandering of the Israelites. On this view, the book would have been written to the Israelites under his charge.
However, many scholars believe that the Book of Genesis was not written by Moses, or even during his time. Instead, the Book of Genesis, as we know it, was compiled after the Babylonian Exile from the writings of several sources over a period of several centuries. In its final form, it was directed to the Jews who were returning to Judah after the Exile.

For more information, please visit:http://christianity.answers.com/bible/the-pentateuch-explained

Answer 5

The Book of the Covenant which Moses read to the Israelites, included all of Genesis (Rashi commentary, Exodus 24:7), which had been prophetically recorded and handed down by the Israelite forefathers. As stated explicitly (Deuteronomy 31:24), Moses finished writing the entire Torah before his death.

The Book of Genesis was written to the Israelites, since it consisted mostly of the lives of their ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

See also:

http://religion.answers.com/theory/debunking-the-jepd-documentary-hypothesis

Answer 6

The Book of Genesis was written to the ancient Israelites, serving as the first book of the Hebrew Bible. It aimed to explain the origins of the world and the Israelite people, as well as to establish the foundation of their religious beliefs.