Product Description

The authenticity of "The Book of Jasher" is debated by religious scholars. The book is referenced in Second Samuel, which some scholars point to as validation of its authentic origin. The author, Jasher, is supposedly the son of Caleb, a lieutenant of Moses and the book is believed by some to be one of the first books of the bible. "The Book of Jasher" recounts the biblical history from creation up to the time of Jasher. Regardless of its true origin, "The Book of Jasher" makes for interesting consideration amongst the other biblical scriptures.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #441253 in Books
• Published on: 1988-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Hebrew

From the Publisher

From the Back Cover
Believed by some to have been the original beginning of the Old Testament, The Book of Jasher has been suppressed and rediscovered numerous times since its initial translation from the Hebrew in AD 800.

Referred to in Joshua and Second Samuel, this apocryphal book of the Bible expands upon some of the stories we know so well: we meet Cain and Abel's three sisters, are privy to a more detailed account of the awful circumstances of the Great Flood and Noah's conduct toward the multitudes who assembled before his ark, and learn more about the women of the Bible.

Jasher's version of the story of Abraham is considered by many to be the most beautiful as this new perspective on the Old Testament will inspire believers and intrigue readers of ancient literature.

Customer Reviews

Get the right one
Make sure you get the right copy of the Book of Jasher as there are several different ones out there. The one I reviewed and recommended is orange and translated in 1840. The title is "The Book of Jasher referred to in Joshua and Second Samuel" and is published by Artisan Publishers. There is another version out there that has was first published in London and is a completely different book.

This is one of the best ancient books I've read!
Jasher covers the historical account of the Old Testament from Adam to Joshua often with more detail than does the O.T. For example, it covers the first 55 years of Abraham's life, which Genesis skips. On the other hand, it leaves out the Mosaic Law material, which make it easier to read than the O.T. It reads more like a novel. It furnishes dates and much pertinent information about the early Israelites which is missing in the O.T. While Josephus claims that the Israelites were in Egypt for 215 years, the Book of Jasher claims it was 210 years. Because of the detail given in Jasher, I was able to double check the author's math. I think he made a mistake of 5 years, making Josephus correct. However, Josephus makes his claim of 215 years without supplying his evidence. Some people don't accept this ancient manuscript (Jasher), because it contains miracles, special talents and/or abilities or the twelve sons of Israel, and what they call other unbelievable materials, especially what appear at times to be exaggerated facts and figures. Whether or not there is any exaggeration on the part of the author is difficult to determine. As for the miracles, well anyone who can accept the miracles of the Bible, ought to be able to accept the miracles recorded in Jasher. All things considered, I feel that Jasher makes a very valuable contribution to the study of Israel, Egypt, and the Middle East during the period of the Old Testament.

from the book...
Jasher is referred to in Joshua and second Samuel. Its Name in Hebrew literally means "the upright" or "book of record", and not the name of a prophet or one of the judges of Israel, as has been mistakenly understood by some who are unfamiliar with the Hebrew language.

Regarding the authenticity of the book, in his preface the translator says the following:
The printed Hebrew copy, in the hands of the translator, is without points. During his first perusal of it, some perplexities and doubts rose up in his mind respecting its authenticity; but the more closely he studied it, the more its irresistable evidence satisfied him, that it contained a treasure of information concerning those earlier times, upon which the history of other nations are either silent, or cast not a single ray of real life; and he was more especially delighted to find that the evidence of the whole of its contents went to illustrate and confirm the great and inestimable truths which are recorded in divine history, down to a few years later than the death of Joshua, at which period the book closes.
The most important value of this book is the large quantity of additional detail it gives to various accounts in the Old Testament than our current translations. For instance, the translator states in his preface:
This book contains a more detailed account of the awful circumstances attending the commencement of the flood, and of the conduct of Noah toward the terrified multitude who had assembled about the ark, when the fatal moment had arrived, and their doom was irrevocably fixed.

. . . Connected with this period of the history is given an account of Nimrod; in which is strikingly depicted the arbitrary and violent character and conduct of his government. . . .

. . . From this book we learn that Noah and Abraham were contemporaries. How beautiul the contemplation of the meeting between these two Patriarchs, the one being a monument of God's mercy, the other having the promise of the favor and grace of God, not only to himself, but to his seed after him.

. . . The history of Joseph has always been considered one of the most admirable and interesting on record. . . . This history, in Jasher, enters more into detail concerning the affairs of Pontiphar's wife Zelicah; Joseph's magnificent procession through the cities of Egypt, on coming into power; the pomp with which he was attended by Pharaoh's chariots, officers and people, when he went up to meet his father; the affecting scene which then took place, together with other remarkable incidents. . . .
Following the preface of the book are certificates of endorsement from four noted religious scholars of the day, their statements all dated in April 1840, the year it was first published, each one giving his endorsement to the correctness and reliability of the translation.

*This "Jasher" has been one of the most popular for years by Amazon readers.
Paperback
255 pages