Who created the Book of Genesis?

Answer 1

Genesis is one of the Divinely-revealed and recorded books of man's Creator, called the Holy Bible. Therefore, it's:

"...inspired by God..." (II Tim.3:16 WEYWeymouth's New Testament)

In this world some people believe it... some don't... and the vast majority of mankind has never read it. Not just because many nations today ban The Bible... but also because many generations passed away before Moses was born; the one to whom credit is given for writing the first five books of the Bible, which includes Genesis.

God's Word [His Truth] began with the voice of God in the ears of the two people He made. And from there it was taught to their children and the succeeding generations... no doubt becoming twisted, perverted, embellished and altered as is the nature of "word-of-mouth."

Nevertheless, Moses is credited with the writing of Genesis. It's doubtful, however, that he did it without outside sources other than the "pure inspiration of God."

For instance... we hear and read of ancient writings from time to time... including one called the "Book of Enoch"... who is recorded in God's Word as a man of Faith [Heb.11:5]. And for, say, certain pre-flood genealogical information... Moses may have drawn from Enoch's writings... which Noah may well have carried across the flood in the ark; quite possibly with "inspired" writings of others, perhaps even Noah, himself [just a thought]. After all... he had a 120 year allotment of time to prepare the ark -- and he had plenty of time to gather and preserve certain vital things.

Like when people run from a burning building... if they have half a second to consider... they stop and grab up some things that are very important to them; often for sentimental reasons. Pictures, the family Bible, etc.

In any event... it's highly likely that Noah transported certain "written documentation" of the genealogies of the pre-flood world; as well as of the events recorded then, which we can still read about in the book of Genesis, today.

These saved, preserved documents would have found their way into the famous libraries of ancient Egypt of Moses' day; the most powerful government on earth at that time. God caused Moses to be adopted by the Pharaoh's daughter... and as such... Moses acquired a literary education and HAD ACCESS TO THE DOCUMENTS IN ENTIRE EGYPTIAN LIBRARY.

And when God liberated the Israelites from Egypt... the Israelites "took things from the Egyptians" for their hasty journey into the wilderness. Gold, silver, jewels, rich fabric... valuable, priceless things [much of which would go into the construction of the Tabernacle, later].

"And the people of Israel did AS MOSES HAD INSTRUCTED and asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. The LORD caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites WHATEVER THEY ASKED FOR. So, like a victorious army, THEY PLUNDERED THE EGYPTIANS!" (Ex.12:35-36 NLT New Living Translation)

So, this is just a thought [a logical thought] that: While the Israelites were plundering Egypt for certain items of value throughout the land to take with them, and God 'caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites' in their endeavor... might not Moses have plundered the libraries of Egypt for the "God-inspired" work he would have to do later on in the journey?

The book of Genesis was recorded by Moses [thanks to Moses' God-inspired royal education as Pharaoh's adopted son]... but that isn't to say that he didn't have other recorded documentation from the pre-flood world at hand, to assist him.

Answer 2

According to tradition, Moses wrote a scroll containing the narratives of Genesis, at God's command, before the formal Giving of the Torah (Rashi commentary, Exodus ch.24). It was this scroll which he read to the Israelites (Exodus 24:7) as an introduction to what God's covenant would entail. These narratives were not unknown to the Israelites, since they had carefully preserved the traditions of the events of the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Midrash, Shemot Rabbah 5:18 and 22).
The words of this scroll were soon incorporated in the complete Torah itself by God, including the ancient traditions of the Creation, the Flood etc. (These traditions had been known by mankind worldwide, except that among other nations [the idolaters] they had become garbled with idolatrous drivel.)At God's command and precise dictation (Deuteronomy 1:3), Moses penned the entire Torah (Deuteronomy 31:24) immediately before his death.

See also:

What is the history of the Hebrew Bible?

Some facts about Torah-scrolls