GENESIS TABLET THEORY

The Tablet Theory or the Wiseman Hypothesis argues that Moses compiled and edited earlier written records that had been handed down from generation to generation through the line of the celebrated biblical patriarchs. A few of these patriarchs were Adam, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Terah, Abraham, and others who wrote down their account of major historical events, which had occurred in their lifetime. These primeval records were kept on tablets of stone or clay until they finally came into Moses’ possession, where he studied and memorize the information on these stone and clay tablets. He then selected the tablets that were relevant for historic preservation under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, and wrote in his own explanatory editorial commentary before compiling them into the literary masterpiece known as the Book of Genesis. A few literary analysts believe that these original documents can still be recognized by the key phrase: “These are the generations of . . .” The words “generation of” means either ancestor of or family of and they were translated from the Hebrew TOLEDOTH expression. Analysis of the book of Genesis identifies 11 these expressions, which are the historic division markers in Genesis:

“These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth” (Genesis 2:4).

“This is the book of the generations of Adam (Genesis 5:1).

“These are the generations of Noah” (Genesis 6:9).

“Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth” (Genesis 10:1).

“These are the generations of Shem” (Genesis 11:10).

“Now these are the generations of Terah” (Genesis 11:27).

“Now these are the generations of Ishmael” (Genesis 25:12).

“And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son” (Genesis 25:19).

“Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom” (Genesis 36:1).

“And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir” (Genesis 36:9).

“These are the generations of Jacob” (Genesis 37:2).

The tablet theory was presented by Percy J. Wiseman, who during a tour in Mesopotamia as an air commodore in the Royal Air Force, found an interest in studying ancient civilizations of the region. He visited a number of excavation sites and archeologists and collected cuneiform tablets and inscriptions while familiarizing himself with the writing conventions of the ancient Mesopotamians. He noted the correlation between the method of recording authorship in pre-Abraham clay tablets and the style of Genesis. Wiseman pointed out in his 1936 book that ancient tablets carried at the end the name of the scribe (or owner) as well as information on the author (or owner) and the date of the recording, much like the way in which newspaper reporters today provide that same information at the end of news articles. This pattern seemed to make sense of the outline of Genesis, which divides narratives with a statement on the central figure of the preceding text and then proceeds to list a series of generations to set up the following narrative. Despite his publication and his son’s updated edition printed in 1936, the Tablet Theory has not received much attention over the JEDP Documentary Hypothesis. However, if the Tablet Theory is correct, the Book of Genesis can be divided into ten main subdivisions as follows:

“The generations of the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1-2:4)

The first tablet, describes God’s creation of the universe during His work of the six days, but there was no human name attached to this tablet because no man or woman was present during the pre-human past when God created the universe from nothing. This part was probably written directly by God Himself and then given to Enoch by God when the prophet walked with God for 300 years. Enoch was also a descendant of Seth (the son Adam and Eve) and a son of Jared. Enoch is the father of Methuselah (Genesis 5:18-24; 1 Chronicles 1:3). He lived in such close relationship to God that he was taken to heaven without having died: “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, for God took him away” (Genesis 5:24). According to the book of Enoch, God taught Enoch how to write words, the Creator educated Enoch about the creation and cosmic origins, and He showed Enoch human history and destiny.

Other biblical scholars argue that God gave this tablet to Moses, while Moses was fasting atop Mt. Sinai. Moses was the leader of the Israelites in their exodus from Egyptian slavery and oppression, their journey through the wilderness with its threats in the form of hunger, thirst, and unpredictable enemies, and finally in their audience with God at Mount Sinai where the distinctive covenant, bonding Israel and God in a special treaty, became a reality. Nothing is known about Moses from sources outside the Hebrew Scriptures. To be sure, the name “Moses” doubtlessly appears in Egyptian history in compound names such as Tuthmoses III.

 “The book of the generations of Adam”(Genesis 5:1 )

The second tablet describes Adam’s experience in the Garden of Eden, Adam’s temptation and humanity’s fall, and Cain and Abel’s struggle. Adam was the first human being. He was the father of the humanity. Adam’s role in the Bible is helpful in understanding the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures. A study of Adam helps in understanding the meaning of salvation and Messiah Yeshua’s person and work. This tablet’s narrative may have been written by either Adam or Enoch. If Adam wrote portions of this tablet, then writing began with the creation of humankind. However, if writing was not invented during Adam’s generation, then Adam retold his experiences in the garden through the oral tradition until writing was invented by Enoch. Enoch was the logical person to record this primeval history because he walked with God many years. The use of the word “book” makes it clear to readers that these primeval records were actually written down, and not simply handed down by oral tradition. Secular archaeologists argue that the Sumerians invented writing around 3,500 BC, which is roughly the time of Enoch’s generation. Therefore, Enoch may have written the first two tablets and given them to Methuselah who later gave them to Noah.

“The generations of Noah”(Genesis 6:9)

The third tablet was written by the patriarch Noah; sometime before the actual coming of the global Flood, he compiled the records of the pre-flood patriarchs that lived before him. Noah was a righteous man who protected his faithful family from God’s judgment. He was the son of Lamech and the grandson of Methuselah, a descendant of Seth, the third son of Adam (Genesis 5:3-20). Lamech named his son Noah, a name that sounds like a Hebrew term that can mean “relief” or “comfort.” When Lamech gave him this name, he said, “He will bring us relief from the painful labor of farming this ground that the LORD has cursed” (Genesis 5:29).

According to the genealogical record in Genesis chapter five, Noah’s father, Lamech, had lived contemporaneously with all the patriarchs, including Adam. Noah himself had known all of patriarchs except Adam, Seth, and Enoch. Noah recorded his own observations of the rapid degeneracy of humanity during his generation and God’s determination to destroy them, mentioning; however, he found grace in God’s eyes because he was genetically and biologically perfect in his generation.

“The generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth ”(Genesis 10:1)

The fourth tablet was written by Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They took the responsibility of recording the preparations for the Flood, and then describing the Flood itself. They also recorded the immediate post-flood historic events, including Noah’s prophecy concerning themselves, and then later his death. We see that there were really three separate narratives that were combined by Moses, thousands of years later.  This joint authorship is shown in the TOLEDOTH phrase, found in Gen.10:1, “Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth:”

Shem was the oldest son of Noah (Genesis 5:32, 6:10, 7:13, 9:18, 23, 26-27, 11:10, 1 Chronicles 1:4, 1:17-27 and Luke 3:36) and the ancestor of the Jewish peoples (Genesis 10:1, 21-21). Shem lived six hundred years (11:10-11). In Hebrew, Shem means “name,” perhaps implying that Noah expected this son’s name to become great.  Ham was the second son of Noah (Genesis 5:32, 6:10, 7:13, 9:18, 22, Genesis 10:1, 20 and 1 Chronicles 1:8). Ham, then, is seen as the ancestor of the Egyptians, as well as the people in Africa, Southern Europe, Arabia, and Canaan.

Japheth was the youngest son of Noah (Genesis 5:32). Genesis 10:2 identifies Japheth’s sons as Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. One of the titans of Greek mythology had a similar name. These names point to Japheth as having been the progenitor of the Indo-European peoples who lived to the north and west of Israel, farthest from Israel. Genesis 9:27 pronounces God’s blessing on Japheth and his descendants, including living with Shem, thus getting to dwell in the land of promise, and being served by the Canaanites, thus sharing the position as God’s people. Here is an early indication of non-Israelites having a share with God’s people.

“The generations of Shem” (Genesis 11:10)

The fifth tablet was written by Shem and later given to Abraham: Shem lived from 98 years before the global flood and 150 years after Abraham’s birth. After Noah’s death, and after the dispersion at Babel, it seems that the three sons of Noah became separated, and Shem took the responsibility of keeping the records. He wrote about the confusion of languages at Babel and the post-Babel scattering of their families. He also recorded the names of Noah’s descendants down to the time of the scattering, found in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10. He appears to have lost track of the descendants of Ham and Japheth after the Tower of Babel event, even though he lived five hundred years after the Flood.

“The generations of Terah”(Genesis 11:27)

The sixth tablet was written by Terah. He was the father of Abraham, Nahor, and Haran. Along with a migration of people from Ur of the Chaldees, Terah moved his family, following the Euphrates River to Haran. He intended to continue from Haran into Canaan but died in Mesopotamia at the age of 205 years. A debate has centered on Terah’s religious practices apparently points to his family when it claims records that the father worshiped gods other than Yahweh. This is a very brief document, containing only the genealogies in the Semitic line, from Shem down to Terah and his three sons. However, it is important because it gives us the only possible basis for a chronology from the Flood to Abraham. In Genesis 10:21-31, Shem’s descendants are mentioned. Here the blood line is carried straight from Shem to Abraham, covering 10 generation (roughly 500 years).

 “Now these are the generations of Ishmael” (Genesis 25:12)

The seventh tablet was probably written by Ishmael. He was Abraham’s first son. His mother was Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian handmaid. Sarah, the wife of Abraham, herself suggested this action. God had promised to make a great nation of the childless Abraham (Genesis 12:2). God assured him that his son would be his heir (15:4). But Sarah was past seventy-five years old and still childless. Custom allowed a childless wife to give her maid to her husband as a secondary wife and then lay claim to the offspring of their union (16:1-2). When Hagar conceived, she was filled with contempt toward her mistress. With Abraham’s consent Sarah dealt harshly with her, and Hagar fled. An angel sent Hagar back to submit to her mistress. Hagar was promised a son named Ishmael, meaning “God hears” (16:9-11). The boy was born near Hebron when Abraham was eighty-six years old (13:18; 16:16).

“And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son” (Genesis 25:19)

The eighth tablet was probably written by Isaac. Isaac was the son of Abraham and Sarah, one of the patriarchs (fathers) of Israel. He was the father of Jacob and Esau. In the story of Isaac we see a man trying to please God yet suffering from many human weaknesses.

“Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom (Genesis 36:1)

The ninth tablet was probably written by either Jacob or Esau. Esau was Isaac’s son, and the older twin brother of Jacob. He was given his name because of the hair on his body at birth. Because the baby Esau had a reddish color, and because the color red was to play an important role in his life, he also became known by the name Edom, or “red.” The race of people known as the Edomites claimed to be Esau’s descendants, and even the name of their land, “Seir,” may come from the word sair, meaning “hairy.”

And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir” (Genesis 36:9)

The tenth tablet was probably written by either Jacob or Esau about the Edomites. Edom is the land on the high plateau to the south and southeast of the Dead Sea in Palestine. The Edomites are the descendants of Edom who settled there. The biblical term Edom, meaning “red,” denotes either the name of the land or the name of Esau. Esau was the son of Isaac who exchanged red pottage or stew for his birthright. Esau’s name was changed to Edom at that time (Genesis 25:30). The country of Edom was also known as Seir (Genesis 37:8).

These are the generations of Jacob” (Genesis 37:2)

The eleventh tablet was probably written by Jacob. He was a grandson of Abraham and a son of Isaac, Jacob was one of the great patriarchs (“fathers”) of the nation of Israel. In fact, the nation called itself by Jacob’s other name: “Israel.” But it is this man’s original name, Jacob, which gives us a clue to his character. The name means “deceiver.” Through the example of Jacob, we learn how God can use flawed but faithful people. Jacob may have been deceitful, but because the Lord worked in his life, he occupies an honored place in the history of the Jewish people.

Analysis: Tablet Theory

The original Genesis tablets have been lost to history; thus, scholars do not know what the tablets were like.  Their analysis is derived from textual evidence, not from archaeological remains. According to archaeological investigations from the ancient Nuzi library, clay tablets were commonly used and as far back as Abraham’s time (2100 BC).  These tablets have endured for over 4000 years, and are still readable, where they can be found in museums today.  Clay is good writing material for the early biblical tablets. However, when Jacob’s descendants left Egypt, around 1450 BC, God inscribed His 10 commandments upon stone tablets, while Moses was fasting atop Mount Sinai (Exodus 16).

Afterwards, scribes used papyrus and thin sheepskin to preserve their history, in Egypt and elsewhere.  Scrolls found in the Dead Sea caves in the late 1940s were one of these materials, where some of them lasted for over 2,100 years.  But scholars don’t know of any proof that these came into use before the middle of the second millennium B.C. The first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are known as the Books of Moses; he is quoted as being the author of the last four. However, nowhere does the Holy Scriptures say that Moses actually wrote Genesis, but it is certainly a reasonable and educated assumption that Moses was the compiler and editor of the Book of Genesis.

Finally, the book of Genesis is accurate history and not Hebrew mythology designed to teach lessons about the human condition.  This accuracy is assured by the inspiration of

God the Holy Spirit.  We assess that its details are best explained by the tablet theory, which offers a more excellent explanation for the historical roots of Genesis.  We believe that it concurs with the rest of the Hebrew Scripture because this theory demonstrates that Genesis was composed of eye-witness accounts.  We judge that its narrative speaks truth. Therefore, we would do well to embrace the exact teaching of God’s sacred and most Holy Scriptures.

Related Sources:

Bible Mysteries; Donald P. Ryan, Ph.D.; 2000.  Halley’s Bible Handbook; Henry H. Hally; 1965.  Rethinking Genesis; Duane Garrett; 2001. The Bible; Jim Bell and Campbell; 1999. The Complete Guide to the Bible; Stephen M. Miller; 2007.  The Complete Guide to Bible Prophecy; Stephen M. Miller; 2010.