Hamilton's study on the first 17 chapters of the Book of Genesis is part of The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Like its companion series on the New Testament, this commentary devotes consideable care to achieving a balance between technical information and homiletic-devotional interpretation.

Each commentary opens with an introduction to the biblical book, looking especially at questions concerning its background, authorship, date, purpose, structure, and theology. A select bibliography also points readers to resources fore their own study.