The Genesis Site - Criticism

Genesis 7

One way to prove Genesis is dealing with untrue stories and non-existing persons is to question its origin. Did Moses write down the words of Genesis? Of course not, says modern criticism. Genesis was written during or after the exile. Let's say about 500 or 450 BC. The language, style and use of words of Genesis make it clear it was written by two persons. So this two (fictitious) persons were called the Jahwist (using the name Jahwe for God) and the Elohist (using the name El or Elohim) and each one had his own story. In fact there were more styles to discover, so a Priest and others came into being. In about 500 an editor (or a group of editors) compiled Genesis (and other books of the Old Testament) out of all the different stories.

Someone said Genesis 7 is a classic example of a book, compiled out of different stories. No doubt it is written in all kind of styles and with different words. So the origin of the flood-story and the flood itself became uncertain.

So far criticism. Let's take a look now at Genesis 7 (till 9). What does it tell us? Well, quite clear it is a detailed story of a worldwide disaster. Written by eyewitnesses, the only survivors. Days are counted of each period of the flood. Events are described belonging to each period. It looks like some persons kept a captains log! In fact I believe they did.
Do you remember what I said about the authors of Genesis? So now we see how the flood story was written by three persons. Genesis 10:1 says (and I take the translation "history" for the Hebrew word "tôl^edôth"):

These are the histories of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Perhaps each of them kept a log, perhaps they were writing in turn. However, they made a "classic example of a book, compiled out of different stories."
It is possible the story was completed some day after the flood, when they all three were together. Maybe it is even possible to trace this day. Each having their own version, they put their data in one book the day father Noah died. For as we see this is the last thing mentioned in their report:

After the flood Noah lived three hundred and fifty years. All the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died. This is the history of the sons of Noah, Shem, Cham and Japheth.

Three hundred and fifty years after the flood is about two hundred and fifty years after the confusion of tongues. Noah's sons went their own way when the dispersion of Babel took place. But when their father was dying they were called together. And on this occasion Genesis 6:9b-10:1a could have been written. In these days too Shem heard about the children and grandchildren of his brothers. So he could write the part we call now Genesis 10:1b-11:10a.
Illogical? I don't think so. It is an acceptable way to understand how this part of Genesis came to us. And it makes real human beings out of the leading characters, the authors of Genesis.

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