The Book of Jasher (or “Book of the Upright”) is mentioned in Joshua 10:13, 2 Samuel 1:18, and 2 Timothy 3:8. It has never been discovered, but it appears to have been a collection of some of God’s great works among His people.
Bryan E. Beyer, Columbia International University Seminary, Ph.D. Hebrew Union College – Holman Study Bible, NKJV, study notes for 2 Samuel 1:18
Got Questions. Your questions. Biblical answers.
Also known as the “Book of the Upright One” in the Greek Septuagint and the “Book of the Just Ones” in the Latin Vulgate, the Book of Jasher was probably a collection or compilation of ancient Hebrew songs and poems praising the heroes of Israel and their exploits in battle.
There is a book called “The Book of Jasher” today, although it is not the same book as mentioned in the Old Testament. It is an eighteenth-century forgery that alleges to be a translation of the “lost” Book of Jasher by Alcuin, an eighth-century English scholar.
Book of Jasher | Massachusetts Bible Society
We don’t have the Book of Jasher in our Bibles because the book has never been discovered. There are two books called the Book of Jasher in existence today, one is a forgery from the 18th century that claims to be the lost book and the other a Hebrew midrash from the 16th century.
Christianity.com
What Do We Know about the Book of Jasher?
The Book of Jasher, otherwise known as the Book of Just Ones, has likely, in its original form, been lost to time. We do have a number of translations (including a very false one created in the 1700s), but we don’t truly know if the copy we have now reflects the original writing.
But from what we do have, the Book of Jasher, similar to other apocryphal books, covers the events from the Creation through the death of Joshua. In essence, the books of the Pentateuch and a little beyond, with some contradictions and variations.
We don’t know who wrote the Book of Jasher.
Why Don’t We Include Jasher in Our Bibles?
Some Bibles do include the Book of Jasher such as the Latin Vulgate Bible. But it appears the Catholic church removed the book from the Biblical canon at one point.
However, because we don’t have the original copy, and only a suspect “translation” was created in the 1700s, we don’t know exactly what the Book of Jasher originally said. Therefore, scholars left it out of the Scriptural canon.
For example, the Book of Jasher makes mention of snow pre-Flood, even though the earth had never seen precipitation until the time of Noah (Genesis 7), and several other issues of the chronology of what happens in the Bible, versus what the Book of Jasher says.
We have to approach apocryphal and extra-biblical writings with caution. As the Book of Jasher, and other apocalyptic writing, contain suspect authors, dates, and even contradictions with Scripture.
We Are Hebrew
Here’s some history about the book of Jasher…
- The authentic version of the book of Jasher was presented in 1840, and sold to a New York Jewish publisher in 1887.
- The name of the New York publisher was Mordecai Manuel Noah, apparently popular at the time.
- The book was printed in 1887 by Hyrum Parry Printing Company of Salt Lake City after they obtained rights to the New York edition of 1840.
The Book of Jasher by Rabbi David Rosenfeld
The most famous work by that name – and the one you are undoubtedly referring to – is a Midrashic one authored sometime in the Middle Ages. It retells the stories of the Torah until the beginning of the period of the Judges, incorporating much Midrashic material, most of which appears elsewhere but some parts unique.
In terms of the reliability of the book, for the most part it is consistent with other similar works. Much of its material appears in the Talmud or in better-known works on the Midrash. It provides detailed accounts of some little-known episodes which are not widely discussed elsewhere, such as Moses’s experiences in the land of Cush and Jacob’s battles with the tribes surrounding Shechem. Some parts, however, are more obscure and may be based on non-Jewish sources. It also contains minor errors, such as lifespans inconsistent with the Torah’s account (such as that Methuselah lived until 960 instead of 969).
Although most of its material is known to be authentic, no one can vouch for the parts which are not.
Parsontom
Faithfully translated (1840)
FROM THE ORIGINAL HEBREW INTO ENGLISH
Consider how Josephus described the Book of Jasher. He said “by this book are to be understood certain records kept in some safe place on purpose, giving an account of what happened among the Hebrews from year to year, and called Jasher or the upright, on account of the fidelity of the annals.” There could be no better description of the book you see before you. The bottom line is that you, as the reader, will have to answer the question of legitimacy for yourself.
Jasher Chapter 7
- And these are the names of the sons of Noah: Japheth, Ham and Shem; and children were born to them after the flood, for they had taken wives before the flood.
- These are the sons of Japheth; Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras, seven sons.
- And the sons of Gomer were Askinaz, Rephath and Tegarmah.
- And the sons of Magog were Elichanaf and Lubal.
- And the children of Madai were Achon, Zeelo, Chazoni and Lot.
- And the sons of Javan were Elisha, Tarshish, Chittim and Dudonim.
- And the sons of Tubal were Ariphi, Kesed and Taari.
- And the sons of Meshech were Dedon, Zaron and Shebashni.
- And the sons of Tiras were Benib, Gera, Lupirion and Gilak; these are the sons of Japheth according to their families, and their numbers in those days were about four hundred and sixty men.
- And these are the sons of Ham; Cush, Mitzraim, Phut and Canaan, four sons; and the sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama and Satecha, and the sons of Raama were Sheba and Dedan
- And the sons of Mitzraim were Lud, Anom and Pathros, Chasloth and Chaphtor.
- And the sons of Phut were Gebul, Hadan, Benah and Adan.
- And the sons of Canaan were Zidon, Heth, Amori, Gergashi, Hivi, Arkee, Seni, Arodi, Zimodi and Chamothi.
- These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, and their numbers in those days were about seven hundred and thirty men.
- And these are the sons of Shem; Elam, Ashur, Arpachshad, Lud and Aram, five sons; and the sons of Elam were Shushan, Machul and Harmon.
- And the sons of Ashar were Mirus and Mokil, and the sons of Arpachshad were Shelach, Anar and Ashcol.
- And the sons of Lud were Pethor and Bizayon, and the sons of Aram were Uz, Chul, Gather and Mash.
- These are the sons of Shem, according to their families; and their numbers in those days were about three hundred men.
- These are the generations of Shem; Shem begat Arpachshad and Arpachshad begat Shelach, and Shelach begat Eber and to Eber were born two children, the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the sons of men were divided, and in the latter days, the earth was divided.
- And the name of the second was Yoktan, meaning that in his day the lives of the sons of men were diminished and lessened.
- These are the sons of Yoktan; Almodad, Shelaf, Chazarmoveth, Yerach, Hadurom, Ozel, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah and Jobab; all these are the sons of Yoktan.
- And Peleg his brother begat Yen, and Yen begat Serug, and Serug begat Nahor and Nahor begat Terah, and Terah was thirty-eight years old, and he begat Haran and Nahor.
- And Cush the son of Ham, the son of Noah, took a wife in those days in his old age, and she bare a son, and they called his name Nimrod, saying, At that time the sons of men again began to rebel and transgress against God, and the child grew up, and his father loved him exceedingly, for he was the son of his old age.
- And the garments of skin which God made for Adam and his wife, when they went out of the garden, were given to Cush.
- For after the death of Adam and his wife, the garments were given to Enoch, the son of Jared, and when Enoch was taken up to God, he gave them to Methuselah, his son.
- And at the death of Methuselah, Noah took them and brought them to the ark, and they were with him until he went out of the ark.
- And in their going out, Ham stole those garments from Noah his father, and he took them and hid them from his brothers.
- And when Ham begat his first born Cush, he gave him the garments in secret, and they were with Cush many days.
- And Cush also concealed them from his sons and brothers, and when Cush had begotten Nimrod, he gave him those garments through his love for him, and Nimrod grew up, and when he was twenty years old he put on those garments.
- And Nimrod became strong when he put on the garments, and God gave him might and strength, and he was a mighty hunter in the earth, yea, he was a mighty hunter in the field, and he hunted the animals and he built altars, and he offered upon them the animals before the Lord.
- And Nimrod strengthened himself, and he rose up from amongst his brethren, and he fought the battles of his brethren against all their enemies round about.
- And the Lord delivered all the enemies of his brethren in his hands, and God prospered him from time to time in his battles, and he reigned upon earth.
- Therefore it became current in those days, when a man ushered forth those that he had trained up for battle, he would say to them, Like God did to Nimrod, who was a mighty hunter in the earth, and who succeeded in the battles that prevailed against his brethren, that he delivered them from the hands of their enemies, so may God strengthen us and deliver us this day.
- And when Nimrod was forty years old, at that time there was a war between his brethren and the children of Japheth, so that they were in the power of their enemies.
- And Nimrod went forth at that time, and he assembled all the sons of Cush and their families, about four hundred and sixty men, and he hired also from some of his friends and acquaintances about eighty men, and be gave them their hire, and he went with them to battle, and when he was on the road, Nimrod strengthened the hearts of the people that went with him.
- And he said to them, Do not fear, neither be alarmed, for all our enemies will be delivered into our hands, and you may do with them as you please.
- And all the men that went were about five hundred, and they fought against their enemies, and they destroyed them, and subdued them, and Nimrod placed standing officers over them in their respective places.
- And he took some of their children as security, and they were all servants to Nimrod and to his brethren, and Nimrod and all the people that were with him turned homeward.
- And when Nimrod had joyfully returned from battle, after having conquered his enemies, all his brethren, together with those who knew him before, assembled to make him king over them, and they placed the regal crown upon his head.
- And he set over his subjects and people, princes, judges, and rulers, as is the custom amongst kings.
- 41. And he placed Terah the son of Nahor the prince of his host, and he dignified him and elevated him above all his princes.
Midrashic sources provide deeper insight into Terah’s life. Chabod.org – Who was Terah?
42. And whilst he was reigning according to his heart’s desire, after having conquered all his enemies around, he advised with his counselors to build a city for his palace, and they did so.
- 43. And they found a large valley opposite to the east, and they built him a large and extensive city, and Nimrod called the name of the city that he built Shinar, for the Lord had vehemently shaken his enemies and destroyed them.
- 44. And Nimrod dwelt in Shinar, and he reigned securely, and he fought with his enemies and he subdued them, and he prospered in all his battles, and his kingdom became very great.
- 45. And all nations and tongues heard of his fame, and they gathered themselves to him, and they bowed down to the earth, and they brought him offerings, and he became their lord and king, and they all dwelt with him in the city at Shinar, and Nimrod reigned in the earth over all the sons of Noah, and they were all under his power and counsel.
- 46. And all the earth was of one tongue and words of union, but Nimrod did not go in the ways of the Lord, and he was more wicked than all the men that were before him, from the days of the flood until those days.
- 47. And he made gods of wood and stone, and he bowed down to them, and he rebelled against the Lord, and taught all his subjects and the people of the earth his wicked ways; and Mardon his son was more wicked than his father.
- 48. And every one that heard of the acts of Mardon the son of Nimrod would say, concerning him, From the wicked goeth forth wickedness; therefore it became a proverb in the whole earth, saying, From the wicked goeth forth wickedness, and it was current in the words of men from that time to this.
- 49. And Terah the son of Nahor, prince of Nimrod’s host, was in those days very great in the sight of the king and his subjects, and the king and princes loved him, and they elevated him very high.
- 50. And Terah took a wife and her name was Amthelo the daughter of Cornebo; and the wife of Terah conceived and bare him a son in those days.
- 51. Terah was seventy years old when he begat him, and Terah called the name of his son that was born to him Abram, because the king had raised him in those days, and dignified him above all his princes that were with him.
Faithfully translated (1840) from the Original Hebrew into English. A Reprint of Photo Lithographic Reprint of Exact Edition Published by J.H. Parry & Co., Salt Lake City: 1887]
To receive a free copy of the following handout The 70 Weeks of Daniel Explained and Tribulation Order of Events—smoking or non-smoking you choose — Join My Mailing List