The Book of Genesis is traditionally believed to have been written by Moses between 1440 and 1400 BC. This period corresponds to the 40 years after the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and before they entered the Promised Land. Moses' authorship is supported by biblical references and Jewish and Christian traditions, which regard Moses as the author of Genesis and the rest of the Pentateuch. However, modern biblical scholarship often views the Book of Genesis as a redacted literary work that reached its final form much later, possibly during or after the Babylonian captivity around the 5th century BC. This scholarly view is based on the documentary hypothesis, which suggests multiple authors and sources contributed to the text over time. Despite this, traditional views hold Moses wrote Genesis during the wilderness period around 1400 BC. In summary:
- Traditional view: Written by Moses between 1440-1400 BC
- Scholarly view: Final form composed post-Babylonian captivity, around the 5th century BC
Both views acknowledge earlier material but differ significantly on when the book was finalized and compiled into its present form.
