There is a way to answer this question extensively, but the basics would be that the Bible is a living document. Which is to say that the truth reveals itself over time. It hs less to do with our understanding than it does Gods truth surrounding a matter.
Here is an example:
Matthew 4:8-10
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Consider that Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the WORLD, not the neighborhood, regardless of the size of the kingdoms of the world at that time, you can’t physically see China from the Middle East. This was a spiritual manifestation.
Today we might call this the internet, satellite TV, cable etc.
The point is, we understand things in a snapshot of time with limited understanding. If you saw a plane fly in Jesus time you would think it something else, as well as a toilet with running water and plumbing. Any modern convenience would be foreign to those in antiquity. Today we are experimenting with driverless cars, when it becomes like star wars and people who commonly drive cars today will commonly fly planes like cars. Everyone is a pilot, how conceivable is that today?
Just because someone says something in antiquity, it does not make it a dated reality. Genesis is in play as much as every other chapter in the Bible is in play. Some things have happened already, some things are still being learned, others are yet to happen.
In my work with the University, many don’t believe in the reality of Solomon, some even dispute David as being a real person. But were are only now unearthing evidence of these truths. In 2012 archeologist unearthed a wall build and carbon dated to Solomon, in 2010 I was part of some research for National Geographic that unearthed the reality of Solomons temple, evidence found in Egypt not Jerusalem because people didn't want to use the Bible as an expeditional references. (December 2010 National Geographic - the Search for King David New discoveries in the Holy Land) We did and followed the Hitite Kings of Egypt and found some of Solomons stuff as the scripture described.
The ones who are out of step is us, not the history. We are late to understand and even later to appreciate all the scriptures reveal to us. With all the in fighting, relic grabbing, piracy, money and various religious dogmas that have developed over time, its no wonder it takes time to get to the whole of any matter.