Neo-Assyrian chronicles, like Genesis, claim that the origins of
their nation (Assyria) were kings who dwelt at first in tents,
whose succeeding generations settled down upon the land, building
cities. So Genesis' notion of a time when the ancestors were
nomadic tent dwellers reflects Assyria's historical notions. Did
Genesis draw from the Assyrian concept of kings who were tent
dwellers ?
Why not vice versa? Or more likely still, why are these not both
genuine historical memories? Of course, for "kings" read "chiefs of
nomadic bands".