The Book of Genesis

We are tracing Genesis back to its origins, beginning with a translation which reflects the text as it was over 2000 years ago. An original monograph by Dr. Robert Homsher, Biblical scholar and Harvard archaeologist, sheds further light for the contemporary reader, as he walks us through the complex history that gave rise to this monumental text.

Though tradition maintains that Moses was the author of Genesis, scholars have shown that within Genesis, one can discern four distinct authorial sources:

The Yahwist, The Elohist, The Priestly Source, The Redactor

For the first time in a fine edition, we are printing text of Genesis in four unique colors, each representing one of these sources. Understanding these sources is the key to understanding Genesis’ eccentricities, contradictions, and motivations. As Dr. Homsher so astutely remarks, “We are at the receiving end of a long, complex history of textual tradition, which was a very human process.” Thornwillow’s edition of Genesis honors this human process, while at the same time lending clarity to an otherwise opaque history and offering readers a unique window into the first book of the Bible. As the different colors indicate changes in source materials, readers will be empowered to identify and contextualize narrative shifts in the text that have historically caused confusion.

Like all Thornwillow books, The Book of Genesis features hand-binding and letterpress printing on heavy archival paper. It is available in four special bindings in a large [7 3/8" x 11 1/4"] design: letterpress paper wrapper, half-cloth and letterpress boards, half-leather and paste paper boards, and magnificent full-leather. All copies are printed letterpress, bound by hand, and individually numbered and signed by the publisher.