This re-examination of the text of Genesis 1-11 is based on a strongly positive valuation of the Septuagint as a reliable witness to the original Hebrew. This position is contrary to that taken in most existing studies of the text of Genesis, including some that constitute parts of standard editions and reference works. Nevertheless, Hendel shows, there is an accumulating mass of evidence showing that his position is correct. He presents his analysis as the first step towards an eclectic critical edition of the books of the Hebrew Bible.