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Originally posted by Firelad
Genesis 1 and 2 are most probably two very different stories.
First of all, Genesis 1 and 2 were probably put to writing by different people. There are several stylistic differences, most notable of which is the use of "Elohim" in Genesis 1 as opposed to the use of the Name in Genesis 2. It was noticed that those two different, predominant styles exist throughout the Old Testament. This already gives us a starting point.
Second, there is the difference in the *roles* of man in the two chapters. Genesis 1:26-27(my own translation) : "And God did say, we shall make Adam in our image, like our (charachter or figure); And they will be lords of the fish of the sea and of the birds on the sky and the of beasts and of all the land....And God did create the Adam (Man, Adama being Earth or land by the way) in his image, in God's image He made him; Male and female he created them" - Here Man is created as a part of the whole story of Creation, but also as its pinnacle. Contrast to Genesis 2:7-8 :"And (NAME) God did create the Adam, dirt from the earth; And He did blow in his nose breath of life; And the Adam did become a living soul. And NAME God did plant a garden in Eden, in the east; and he did put there the Adam he created." Here Man is created apart from the rest of Creation (look at Genesis 2:4), probably after it. His purpose now is to be the gardener of Eden (Gen. 15: "And NAME God did take the Man and did put him in the Garden of Eden, to farm (for lack of a better word) and keep it.") He is also created alone.
Now, we've got the paired pinnacle of creation in contrast to the lonely servant of God and His gardener. Also, the first story (as is typical of the "Elohim", or God style) is very epic and sweeping, while the second (as is typical of the NAME style) is much more personal. If not for the important differences between the role of Man in the two stories it could be said that those are two different views of the same story. But you cannot ignore the difference of role. Also, in the first story Man is created from nothing; When it is written "And God said," it means that God has just created something where there was nothing before. The second man is made out of clay, so to speak. Another important difference. Also, much later (don't want to look it up
) there's the story of Kain. Why does he need the sign - who is he afraid of? Also, he and his son (or just his son, don't remember) found a city. Where did he get a son? Where did he get people to populate the city? It might be speculated that the Man of the first chapter has populated Earth long before Adam and Eve (By the way, the meaning of her name is Mother of all that lives) were banished from Eden, which seems to be located in the Persian gulf or something accord. to Gen.2:10-14, and so you have the whole deal explained.
Or maybe those were two different stories and the editor liked them so much that he included both, just in case.
Genesis 1 and 2 are most probably two very different stories.
First of all, Genesis 1 and 2 were probably put to writing by different people. There are several stylistic differences, most notable of which is the use of "Elohim" in Genesis 1 as opposed to the use of the Name in Genesis 2. It was noticed that those two different, predominant styles exist throughout the Old Testament. This already gives us a starting point.
Second, there is the difference in the *roles* of man in the two chapters. Genesis 1:26-27(my own translation) : "And God did say, we shall make Adam in our image, like our (charachter or figure); And they will be lords of the fish of the sea and of the birds on the sky and the of beasts and of all the land....And God did create the Adam (Man, Adama being Earth or land by the way) in his image, in God's image He made him; Male and female he created them" - Here Man is created as a part of the whole story of Creation, but also as its pinnacle. Contrast to Genesis 2:7-8 :"And (NAME) God did create the Adam, dirt from the earth; And He did blow in his nose breath of life; And the Adam did become a living soul. And NAME God did plant a garden in Eden, in the east; and he did put there the Adam he created." Here Man is created apart from the rest of Creation (look at Genesis 2:4), probably after it. His purpose now is to be the gardener of Eden (Gen. 15: "And NAME God did take the Man and did put him in the Garden of Eden, to farm (for lack of a better word) and keep it.") He is also created alone.
Now, we've got the paired pinnacle of creation in contrast to the lonely servant of God and His gardener. Also, the first story (as is typical of the "Elohim", or God style) is very epic and sweeping, while the second (as is typical of the NAME style) is much more personal. If not for the important differences between the role of Man in the two stories it could be said that those are two different views of the same story. But you cannot ignore the difference of role. Also, in the first story Man is created from nothing; When it is written "And God said," it means that God has just created something where there was nothing before. The second man is made out of clay, so to speak. Another important difference. Also, much later (don't want to look it up
) there's the story of Kain. Why does he need the sign - who is he afraid of? Also, he and his son (or just his son, don't remember) found a city. Where did he get a son? Where did he get people to populate the city? It might be speculated that the Man of the first chapter has populated Earth long before Adam and Eve (By the way, the meaning of her name is Mother of all that lives) were banished from Eden, which seems to be located in the Persian gulf or something accord. to Gen.2:10-14, and so you have the whole deal explained. Or maybe those were two different stories and the editor liked them so much that he included both, just in case.
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