The Book of Jasher

The Book of Jasher (also spelled Jashar; Hebrew: סֵפֶר הַיׇּשׇׁר Sēfer haYyāšār), which means the Book of the Upright or the Book of the Just Man, is a lost book mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, often interpreted as a lost non-canonical book. Numerous forgeries purporting to be rediscovered copies of this lost book have been written. A different interpretation identifies it as a reference to the Pentateuch, specifically the Book of Genesis, an interpretation which is notably favored by the Jewish scholar Rashi in his commentary on the Hebrew Bible (see below his commentary on Joshua).

The title "Book of the Just Man" is the traditional Greek and Latin translation.

Biblical references

The book is mentioned twice in the Hebrew Bible. A possible third reference exists with a variant spelling.

In Joshua

According to the Book of Joshua, while Joshua was winning a battle against Adonizedek (king of Jerusalem) and his allies, Joshua prayed for the sun and moon to stand still.[1] Joshua 10:13 then states:

And the Sun stood still, and the Moon stayed,
until the people had avenged themselves on their enemies.
Is this not written in Sefer HaYashar?

— Joshua 10:13

The presence of this event in a book of poetry has been interpreted as a poetic description of the prolonged battle.[2]

According to the medieval Jewish scholar Rashi, "Sefer HaYashar" in this verse refers to the Pentateuch: Jacob's prophecy regarding Joshua's ancestor Ephraim—"His seed will fill the nations"[3]—was fulfilled when Joshua's victory gave him renown among the various nations who heard of the victory.[4]

In Samuel

According to the Book of Samuel, when David spoke his lament over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, he began as follows:

To teach the sons of Judah [the use of] the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.

— 2 Samuel 1:18

The King James Version of the English Bible includes the words "the use of" in italics, material which its translator(s) added in order to render the text into what they considered understandable and comfortable English. According to some other translations such as the English Standard Version "The Bow" (Hebrew: קָ֑שֶׁת, romanized: qāšeṯ) which David taught is hypothesised as a poetic lament over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan.[5] According to this interpretation, this "Bow" refers to a lament or a tune in the Book of Jashar which that book also says was taught to the Israelites.

The Septuagint translation renders Sefer haYashar in both cases as the "Book of the Just". It also misses the reference to "the bow". It reads:

καὶ εἶπεν τοῦ διδάξαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ιουδα ἰδοὺ γέγραπται ἐπὶ βιβλίου τοῦ εὐθοῦς[6]
And he gave orders to teach it to the sons of Judah: behold, it is written in the book of the just.

— 2 Samuel 1:18, Septuagint

In Kings

A possible third reference appears in 1 Kings 8. In the Septuagint (though not in the Hebrew text or most translations), verse 8:53 says that the preceding prayer of Solomon is written "in the book of song" (ἐν βιβλίῳ τῆς ᾠδῆς). The Hebrew version of "book of song" could be ספר השיר (Sefer haShir), which is the same as Sefer HaYashar with two letters transposed. According to Alexander Rofeh, this suggests that the name Sefer HaYashar could be related to its function as a hymnal, and the second word might have originally been שיר (shir, "song") or ישיר (yashir, "he will sing").[7][better source needed]

See also

• Book of Jasher (Pseudo-Jasher) – an 18th-century literary forgery which purports to be an English translation of the lost Book of Jasher
• Non-canonical books referenced in the Bible
• Sefer haYashar (midrash) – a Hebrew midrash, also known as The Book of Jasher, named after the lost Book of Jasher
• Yehimilk inscription – uses the same or cognate word: YŠR, upright

References

1. Joshua 10:12
2. Harry Whittaker. Bible Studies. Cannock: Biblia. pp. 72–73. 'The sun stood still.'
3. Genesis 48:19
4. "Yehoshua – Joshua – Chapter 10". The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary. The Judaica Press.
5. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV): Containing the Old and New Testaments. Wheaton: Crossway. 2007.
   ESV 2 Samuel 1:17–18 text reads: "And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said: …."
   ESV 2 Samuel 1:18 footnote 1, at "he said it," reads: "Septuagint; Hebrew the Bow, which may be the name of the lament's tune."
6. Blue Letter Bible, LXX 2 Sam. 1:18, accessed 14 January 2014.
7. Rofeh, Alexander. "Yehoshua bin Nun beToldot Hamesoret Hamikrait: 8". Archived from the original on 2022-12-31. Retrieved 2024-08-15.

-Wiki-

What Is the Book of Jasher and Why Is It Not in the Bible?

One significant factor may be its late authorship. The versions of the Book of Jasher that survive today were composed during the medieval period, long after the events described within them. This temporal gap raises questions about their historical accuracy and fidelity to Jewish traditions.

The Book of Jasher, translated from the Hebrew title "Sefer HaYashar," literally means "Book of the Upright" or "Book of the Just." This text is thought to have been a collection of ancient writings that chronicled important events from biblical history, including the lives of significant figures such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses. Its primary purpose appears to have been to offer a more detailed account of these prominent narratives, frequently supplementing information that is only briefly mentioned in the canonical scriptures.

The references to the Book of Jasher in scripture can be found in Joshua 10:13, where it describes how the sun stood still at the command of Joshua, and in 2 Samuel 1:18, which mentions that David instructed the sons of Judah to teach the "Song of the Bow," which is believed to be part of the content within the Book of Jasher.

These references imply that the text was regarded as authoritative during certain periods of biblical history, leading to further questions about its significance and the reasons for its eventual omission from the canon.

Textual Versions of the Book of Jasher

While the original Book of Jasher is lost to history, several works bearing its name have emerged over the centuries. The most notable versions include a medieval text written in Hebrew, published in the 18th century, and an English translation that followed. Although these texts claim to represent the original content, scholars widely regard them as later compositions that were likely influenced by existing biblical narratives.

The Hebrew version reportedly contains elaborations on biblical stories, offering vivid descriptions and additional dialogue not found in the canonical texts. However, the authenticity and accuracy of these versions are subject to debate, as they were written many centuries after the events they describe. As a result, the significance of the Book of Jasher and its relevance to biblical history remain contentious issues within scholarly circles.

Reasons for Exclusion from the Bible

The primary reason the Book of Jasher is not included in the Bible lies in the criteria established by the Jewish and Christian traditions for canonicity. The process of canonization was complex, requiring texts to meet specific standards regarding authorship, historical accuracy, theological consistency, and communal acceptance. The Book of Jasher likely did not meet these criteria for several reasons.

One significant factor may be its late authorship. The versions of the Book of Jasher that survive today were composed during the medieval period, long after the events described within them. This temporal gap raises questions about their historical accuracy and fidelity to Jewish traditions. Furthermore, the theological themes present in the Book of Jasher may not align with those of the canonical books, leading to doubts about its spiritual authority.

Moreover, the Book of Jasher was not widely recognized by Jewish scholars in the same way that other apocryphal texts were, causing it to lose traction in both Jewish and Christian traditions. The lack of manuscript evidence in the early centuries of Christianity further diminished its chances of acceptance into the biblical canon.

Modern Interpretations and Cultural Impact

Despite its exclusion from the biblical canon, the Book of Jasher continues to inspire interest and debate. Some modern readers view it as a valuable resource for understanding biblical narratives and providing cultural and historical context that enriches their faith. Others regard it as a curiosity—an artifact of a bygone era of biblical interpretation that offers insight into ancient thought.

In contemporary discourse, the Book of Jasher is often cited in discussions about the Apocrypha, a collection of texts that were excluded from the Protestant and Catholic Bibles. It serves as a reminder of the complex history of the biblical canon and the diverse beliefs and practices that have shaped religious traditions throughout the centuries.

-bibleanalysis.org-

(((The counter perspective in response to the text above must rest in the fact that many Books that was rejected in the ambitious attempt to unify the Christian Catholic Church at the Council of Nicaea 325 AD had a strong bias to create an institution for control and power. Teachings and interpretations that would threaten or undermine such a manmade controlling and regulating intermediate institution, were automatically rejected on those grounds. Officially the reasons for rejection were in many cases vaguely argumented with the same arguments that could question the validity of any book deemed as canon - The Council of Nicaea 325 AD was a perfect opportunity for any Emperor to create the very tool for population control that would preserve and expand it´s own power structure - But on the other hand, there was the risk that many of the Gnostic writings, which were written after the death of Jesus and the people who were contemporaries of Jesus, were posthumous constructions and did not bear the authentic fingerprints of these people..)))

.....

1. The Book of Jasher Part 1 Creation to Abraham. Audio & Text. Christopher Glyn - 2022.

https://youtu.be/rBekRkTvdEA?si=3OphRqT_yYuvwjfP

2. The Book of Jasher Part 2 Lot,Abraham, Isaac. Audio & Text. Christopher Glyn - 2022.

https://youtu.be/E8j8CVKv6u4?si=W2pw_TpJwNien33W

3. Excerpts from the Book of Jasher. Night Psalms. Audio - 2026.

https://youtu.be/ZOEdWK7XJmk?si=hbxDiq5FPCzmfvdM

4.