| abstract | - The Genesis creation narrative is the biblical account of the creation of the world contained in the first two chapters of the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. As a sacred narrative of the primeval history of the world (chapters 1–11), it is part of the biblical canons of Judaism and Christianity. It is a creation myth with similarities to several ancient Mesopotamian creation myths, while differing in its monotheistic outlook. Chapter one describes the creation of the world by Elohim (God), by means of divine fiat in six days and the designation of the seventh day as Sabbath, a holy (set apart) day of rest. Man and woman are created to be God's regents over his creation. Chapter two tells of YHWH-God creating the first man whom he forms from clay (or dust) and into whom he "breathes" the "breath of life". The first woman is formed from the side of the first man. God plants a garden "east of Eden" into which he places the first couple. Chapter two ends with a statement concerning why men and women are given into marriage. According to Old Testament scholars such as Gordon Wenham, this account bears the marks of a carefully contrived literary creation, written with a distinct theological agenda: the elevation of Yahweh, the god of Israel, over all other gods, and notably over Marduk, the god of Babylon. Christian bishop and theologian Augustine considered the creation narrative of the book of Genesis to be scripture par excellence. He wrote at least five sustained treatises on those chapters
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