One further note on the sequence of events stated in Gen 1:1 - 2:3 is exactly what science believes today. First the earth, then vegetation, then animals, and finally man. How would someone in ancient times predict this sequence?
Thats a little simplistic I would think. I'm no expert but I would think science shows vegetation and animals evolving side by side. The hierarchy shown in genesis seems like a sensible one to come up with however. Plants are the foundations of everything, sitting there minding their own business. Animals eat the plants, and humans eat the animals (and the plants). More tellingly I think it displays mans thoughts on the relative 'place' the different forms of life have. Plants being the lowest as they are far from human-like. Animals coming in the middle as they display anthropomorphic qualities, and man at the top as we are meant to be the guardians of the planet etc.
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