1 בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

2 וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם׃

1 ΕΝ ΑΡΧΗ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν.

1 In principio creavit Deus caelum et terram

רֵאשִׁ֖ית

הָרֵאשִׁ֖ית

בְּרֵאשִׁ֖יתּ

בָּרֵאשִׁ֖ית

1 בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
(ESV, NKJV, NASB, NRSV, CSB, LEB)
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
(CEB)
1 When God began to create the heavens and the earth,

Creation Ex Nihilo?
Psalm 33:6
Isaiah 44:24
John 1:3
Col 1:16
Rev 4:11

But what about 2 Peter 3:5?
Does it confirm ex nihilo or initial state?

Separating Filling
Day 1
Light from Darkness Day 4
Fills the day and night with sun/moon/stars
Day 2
Waters under expanse from waters above Day 5
Fills sky with birds and sea with fish
Day 3
Waters from waters and dry land appears Day 6
Fills land with animals and humans

What did this mean to Israel?
Who is on top of that mountain?
Israel spent 400 years in Egypt, a nation which worshipped a multitude of gods. Before Egypt, Abraham and his descendants lived in Canaan, a nation which worshipped a multitude of gods. Before Canaan, Abram came from Ur of the Chaldeans (also known as Babylon), a nation which worshipped a multitude of gods.

In the poetry and prophets Egypt is referred to in poetic imagery as chaotic waters, uncontrollable-stormy seas, or even a great sea monster/dragon (Psalm 87:4, 89:10, Isa. 30:7, 51:9, Jer. 46:8, Ezek. 29:3, 32:2).

When God called Israel out of Egypt, making them into a special nation that would be called by His name, this is where they came from – chaotic waters. When the Egyptian army was chasing Israel, God separated light from darkness, leading Israel in a pillar of cloud and fire and keeping the Egyptian army away (Ex. 14:13, parallel to Gen 1:4). When Israel ran through the sea, God separated the waters and made dry land appear (Ex. 14:21, parallel to Gen 1:9). These are the most obvious parallels, but with more time we could explore how the second three days of creation parallel to many of the laws given in Leviticus.

When the creation narrative was given to Israel, likely at Mt. Sinai, they would recognize it as their story. To Israel, Genesis 1 is not the story of how God made the world. It does not even come close to addressing so many of the debates we try to involve it in today. It has nothing to say about literal days, day-age theory, gap theory, theistic evolution, etc. This was the story about the scary cloud on top of the mountain that just led them out of Egypt.

It's not “this is how God created the world” but rather “this is the God who created the world, and He is about to do the same thing to you.” He is about to take something from the chaotic waters of the nations, bring peace and value to what was chaotic and valueless.

How did God bring about creation?
His Word
How did God bring about the creation of Israel?
His Word (the Torah)
How does God bring about making us a new creation?
His Word (that became flesh) 2 Cor 5:17

What does this mean for us in the context of what it meant for ancient Israel?
Who is on top of that mountain?

Matthew 13:44-45