Which Biblical book was written first, Genesis or Psalms?

The question of which book of the Bible was written first, Genesis or Psalms, is one that has been debated by scholars for centuries. While there is no definitive answer, there is evidence to suggest that Genesis was likely written before Psalms.

Genesis is the first book of the Bible and is believed to have been written by Moses in the 15th century BC. The book contains a collection of stories and teachings about the creation of the world, the first humans, and the early history of humanity. The book is written in a narrative style that is consistent with the writing style of the time.

In contrast, Psalms is a collection of songs and poetry that was likely written over a period of several centuries. The book contains 150 individual psalms that cover a wide range of themes, including praise, prayer, and lament. While some of the psalms are attributed to specific authors, many are anonymous.

One piece of evidence that suggests Genesis was written before Psalms is the fact that many of the psalms reference events and characters from Genesis. For example, Psalm 104 describes the creation of the world in language that is reminiscent of Genesis 1. Other psalms, such as Psalm 22 and Psalm 89, reference the story of Abraham and the promises made to him by God.

Furthermore, the writing style of Genesis is consistent with the writing style of other ancient Near Eastern texts that date back to the second millennium BC. This suggests that Genesis was likely written during this time period, which is consistent with the traditional view that the book was written by Moses in the 15th century BC.