Order of creation Here is the order
in the first
(Genesis 1), the
Priestly
tradition: Day 1: Sky, Earth,
light
Day 2: Water,
both in ocean
basins and above
the sky(!) Day 3: Plants
Day 4: Sun, Moon,
stars (as
calendrical and
navigational
aids) Day 5: Sea
monsters
(whales), fish,
birds, land
animals, creepy-
crawlies (reptiles, insects,
etc.)
Day 6: Humans
(apparently both
sexes at the
same time) Day 7: Nothing
(the Gods took
the first day off
anyone ever did) Note that there
are "days,"
"evenings," and
"mornings"
before the Sun
was created. Here, the Deity is
referred to as
"Elohim," which
is a plural, thus
the literal
translation, "the Gods." In this
tale, the Gods
seem satisfied
with what they
have done,
saying after each step that "it was
good." The second one
(Genesis 2), the
Yahwist
tradition, goes: Earth and
heavens (misty)
Adam, the first
man (on a
desolate Earth)
Plants Animals
Eve, the first
woman (from
Adam's rib)