.. In this study, Lowery sets out to understand more accurately ancient Near Eastern language and claims about origins, specifically claims found in Gen 1-11. He uses Gen 4:17-22 as a test case representing the Hebrew tradition explaining how the world came to be civilized. Lowery observes that this passage serves a function within the larger narrative of Gen 1-11 akin to other ancient Near Eastern traditions of civilized beginnings. Moreover, it occupies a place in the overarching ""narrative of beginnings"" corresponding to what we find elsewhere throughout the ancient world... This study aims to demonstrate that much of the language of Gen 1-11 is similar in many ways to its Mesopotamian counterparts. More explicitly, here is an exploration of the nature of the language and terms of Gen 1-11 to ascertain what truths it communicates and how it communicates them. At its core, this is a study of the genre and generic claims of protohistory as found in Gen 1-11.