Why are there two contradictory accounts for the creation of man in Genesis?

During the Babylonian exile there was story drift. You got a Babylonian exile version and the "stayed in Israel" version.

When the exile population returned the two versions were interleaved. You find twin versions of several stories.

The first creation story in Genesis 1 seems to imply that men and women were created at the same time. In the second version, starting in the 2nd chapter, the first woman is made from Adam's rib, so in this version, man came before woman.

The creation of humanity is central to the second creation story in Genesis. In this older narrative the first woman is created after the first man (Adam), from his body (Genesis 2:21-22), a situation which no doubt reflects the dominant position of males in a patriarchal society.

But the implied inferior status of women becomes explicit only after the fall from grace in Eden, when God tells the woman: "your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you" (Genesis 3:16).

Adam then gives his partner a name, Eve, an act that echoes his naming of the beasts, which expressed his dominion over animalkind.

However, this account stresses, even more strongly than the first story in Genesis, the unity of the sexes and their mutual need. God says: "It is not good that man shall be alone; I will make him a helper and a partner" (Genesis 2:18). Only woman proves suitable for this role.

Lets see if I can simplify this for you.

Genesis 2:19 - Now out of the ground the LORD God HAD formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and BROUGHT THEM to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name."

Genesis 2:2 we see everything was already done and God was resting.

Gen 2:18 is talking about creating Eve for Adam, not farm animals. You surely are just reaching here.

well first of all, I went to my sister in laws bible to see if what you said is true, and was shocked to see that those pages were missing... not torn out but missing.

it goes from page 3 genesis 2:15 and the other side of the page is Genesis 4:15 page 6....

it is KJV giant print reference bible 1994, published by Zondervan Publishing House.... so this PROVES that this can't be the 'correct' bible, and that man is imperfect...

There is no contradiction between Genesis 1 and 2. Genesis 1 is a detailed explanation of the six days of creation, day by day. Genesis two is a recap and a more detailed explanation of the sixth day, the day that Adam and Eve were made. The recap is stated in Gen. 2:4, "This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven." Then, Moses goes on to detail the creation of Adam and Eve as is seen in verses 7 thru 24 of Gen. 2. Proof that it is not a creative account is found in the fact that animals aren't even mentioned until after the creation of Adam. Why? Probably because their purpose was designated by Adam. They didn't need to be mentioned until after Adam was created.

http://carm.org/bible-difficulties/genesis-deutero...

I love to watch tap-dancing theists. It's fascinating how they all hear different tunes.

Well just like you and every one who see contradictions it is because you take it out of context. Verse 2:19 is a summation of what God did and how he did it. It is not stating that He created them right then and there. He just defines that the animals were created from the dust of the earth the same as Adam.

try again. As far as 2:18 I am not seeing a contradiction at all. You need to check your glasses.

No contradiction whatsoever..

EG: If my father took his guitar that he had as a child and gave it to me, he then asked me to name it for it is now mine..

Does this mean the guitar was made after I was born or before?..

As you can see, this supposed contradiction doesnt convince any believer.