GENESIS, the first book of the Old Testament, containing the history of the creation, and the lives of the first patriarchs.
The book of Genesis stands at the head of the Pentateuch. Its author is held to be Moses: it contains the relation of 2369 years, viz. from the beginning of the world to the death of Joseph. The Jews are forbidden to read the beginning of Genesis, and the beginning of Ezekiel, before 30 years of age.
The Hebrews call this book Bereschith, because it begins with that word, which in their language signifies in principio, or "in the beginning." The Greeks give it the name Genesis, γένεσις, q. d. production, generation, because it begins with the history of the production or generation of all beings.
This book, besides the history of the creation, contains an account of the original innocence and fall of man; the propagation of mankind; the rise of religion;
the general defection and corruption of the world; the deluge; the restoration of the world; the division and peopling of the earth; and the history of the first patriarchs to the death of Joseph. It was easy for Moses to be satisfied of the truth of what he delivers in this book, because it came down to him through a few hands; for from Adam to Noah there was one man, viz. Methuselah, who lived so long as to see them both: in like manner Shem conversed with Noah and Abraham; Isaac with Abraham and Joseph, from whom the records of this book might easily be conveyed to Moses by Amram, who was contemporary with Joseph.