Allow me to first make an observation as to the way we all write things. This will help lay the foundation as to how I look at the contents of the Book of Jasher. To begin with, we must understand how historical writings differentiate from spiritual and literal writings. Mind you I am one who loves to use outside sources to buttress my investigation into Christian commentaries I write about. However, only in as much as those secular writings can help me in areas related to customs, politics, secular history, popular culture etc. etc. etc.. However, in all the studies I do for sermons, Bible studies, or commentaries , I have used anything outside of the Scriptures to prove a theological point I am trying to make about what the Scriptures I'm explaining. I may use an example to enlighten one's mind in a parable sort of way, but not to prove a theological point.
First off, for an event in history to be considered Historical, it must have provable historical facts, with no embellishment added by the author, just because he doesn't like the narrative of the facts. Otherwise it will be considered a work of fiction. One cannot make up dates and incidents that do not match the records of archeology, and human genealogy that are codified historical facts without problems inevitably coming into play. Unless they can prove the facts used are wrong. ie.. Mount St Helens did not erupt 350,000 years ago, regardless of the radiometric dating of a solidified volcanic rock found atop of Mt St Helens two years after it exploded in 1980. Thus to change the timeline of the 1980 eruption to an incorrect date given by the tests is ridiculous. Just as ridiculous as it is to use the flawed theory of evolution to prove the account of Genisis 1 is wrong.
Secondly, for something to be considered Spiritual, regardless of what religion it is written about, it must adhere to the teachings handed down by those who claim to be the arbitrators of said religion. Whether that religion be Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, or Christianity. Regardless of the religion the writer is covering, it must follow the historical precepts that particular religion is based upon. Again, like a historic document, if a spiritual document does not adhere to the teachings of the religion it is written about, it would be a work of fiction.
Allow me to clarify that I do not argue that false religions are true, but those who believe and live by the teachings of that false religion is all that matters for the criteria to be considered factual about that religion. Thus if the truths of said religion does not follow the facts of that religion then the writing cannot, and should not, be used as a reference in any study of that religion.
As for literary writing. This category is defined as a creation of a new work that has not before been created. Novels and poems are prime candidates for literary work. Although Literary works are not fact, they can and most times do contain factual information. Gone With The Wind, is a prime example of a literary work. While it used historical events, dates, and places, and characters, it embellished the facts by adding fictitious characters with a story that was fictitious. Thus we have a work of fiction that cannot, and should not be used as a reference to prove actual historical events, or dates. In a history class, you would not see any honest professor pull out the book, “Gone With The Wind”, and start using it as ancillary evidence of dates, people, or events for the Civil War. Regardless of facts used to weave the story so that it's palatable for the reader.
Now onto the reason the Book of Jasher is fake.
What follows is the evidence I have gathered that proves the book of Jasher is not only a fraudulent document, but rather poor one at that. However, first you will need to understand what a Jewish Mishnah is, because I will be using that word throughout this commentary. If you get confused, please forgive me, I am hoping to keep this commentary as short as possible while still offering enough evidence to make my point. Yet there is much to follow, so even in my attempt to keep it short, it will still be lengthy.
The Mishnahs are edited collections of oral traditions collected together by Scribes to help interpret the Law of Moses, better known as the Torah. Originally Scribes only read from the Law of Moses, but after the Jews returned from captivity the priest Ezra changed the roll of the Scribe. The change came about when the Jews were authorized by Cyrus the Great to rebuild Jerusalem and their Temple in order to restore worship of God. In order to do so, the spirit of the people had to be built up spiritually, and educated, on the Law of Moses. To accomplish this task, they built a pulpit for Ezra to stand upon so he could read and explain the Law so the people could understand.
Thus was the beginning of the ministry of the Scribes. What began as a good thing, soon escalated into rules and traditions created by men who's hearts were not as pure as Ezra's. Eventually their traditions would override the Laws of Moses with rules and regulations never intended by GOD. The Scribes even became the authoritative interpreters of the Law, which led to a group of legalistic, self-righteous teachers the Gospels introduce us to. The era of these writings are dated from about 270 BC to 200 AD. The writings called Mishnahs, but you never read of Jesus quoting from them,. That's because HE is GOD, and thus knew they were unreliable sources of information. Sometime after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE they were officially collected and published.
I offered a lot information on Mishnahs, but it was needed to understand that anyone using the Mishnahs as proof of authenticity for ancient documents, in fact discredits it's authenticity. This is why, in my studies, I only use the writings of Mishnahs as a guide to understand customs and some history of the times just as I do the writings of Josephus. However, I never use them for clarification of the Scriptures. Now onto the book of Jasher.
There are actually two books of Jasher, which are sometimes referred to as the, “lost biblical book of Jasher.” Jasher is the transliterated form of the Hebrew Yashar, which means “upright” or “just.” So an English translation of Sefer HaYashar would be the “Book of the Upright” or the “Book of the Just.” Neither of these books are the same “Book of Jasher” which is mentioned in the Bible since, that book has never been found.
The first "Book Of Jasher" was written in the Middle Ages Masoretic Hebrew Text, which was derived out of the later Hebrew alphabet created around the 11th Century A.D. This knowledge is why we know the book is no older than 1050 AD. While the original author is unknown, it was translated into English by Moses Samuel in 1840. The book, which is a skillful mixture of Hebrew Midrash, Jewish Mishnah, Greek mythology, and ancient legends all woven together to tell the early biblical stories, beginning with the events leading up to Cain’s murder of his brother Abel, and ending with the death of Joshua.
Another way we know that the first Book of Jasher is a later rabbinic invention is that is contains anachronisms. For instance, in Jasher 10, where the author describes where the descendants of Noah settled, he included European names from cultures that didn't exist until many centuries after the time of Messiah. It also has many direct contradictions with the actual Greek Texts that , neither Christian, Jewish, or secular scholars agree with. All respected scholars are in agreement that the first book of Jasher as translated by Samuel are nothing more than clever figments of the authors desire to create something out fairy tales and legends.
Along with contradicting the Scriptures, the first "Book of Jashser" also contains problematic teachings where the author credits the wrong characters in Scriptural history for accomplishing things that well documented history proves others did. What follows is a list of examples that can only put into question the credibility of “The Book Of Jasher” that was translated by Moses Samuel and published in 1840.
Jasher 13:5says that Abram went to the land of Canaan at the age of 50 then back to Haran and back to Canaan at age 75, Yet Genesis 12:4states that Abram was 75 when he departed Haran.
Jasher 18:9states that one of the angels tells Abraham that Sarah will have a son, but Genesis 17:16says that God told Abraham.
Jasher 22:44-45says the Lord got the idea of presenting Isaac as an offering from Isaac boasting to Ishmael. This is a serious error to invade GOD's own sovereign choice of telling Abraham to sacrifice his only son. Consider the ramifications of such an error, if it were even true? After all, Christ was to be the sacrificial LAMB from before time began, so that we could be saved from eternal damnation in hell. To claim that it was an afterthought over an incident that took place between Ismail and Issac is downright blasphemous. All of Christendom knows the story, yet the author removes it from GOD's predetermined plan? A plan played out for future generations when in Genesis 22:1-20HE HIMSELF decided to test Abraham. It was not just a test of Abraham's willingness to obey GOD, but it was also setting up the prophetic works of GOD that would one day be carried out by HIS Son, Jesus Christ. More on this in my final statement.
Jasher 29:11says that Jacob fled to the house of Eber and hid from Esau here for 14 years. Genesis 28:5clearly states that Isaac sent Jacob to Padan-aram where Laban lived.
Jasher 32:1-40claims Esau comes to harm Jacob but angels of the Lord scare Esau, Jasher 32:55Esau fears Jacob.
Genesis 33:3Jacob bows seven times to Esau out of fear for his life.
In Jasher 42:30-41, Rachel talks to Joseph from the grave. This is of course necromancy and is an abomination unto the Lord Deuteronomy 18:11-12. However, there are quite a few Jewish Mishnahs that tell of stories where the dead spoke to GOD's people. They did so, because of the time Saul spoke to Samuel in 1Samuel chapter 28. Yet this incident took place over 500 years before Saul was even born. So it was not common yet for any Israelite to even consider speaking to the dead as Saul did. This goes to the heart of the time Jasher was originally write, and it gives credence to the fact that the author used Jewish Mishnahs for much of his information. Just one of the many reasons so many Jewish Mishnahs are not considered trustworthy and why so many believe that the Book of Jasher is a compilation of Jewish Mishnahs written after the return from captivity.
There was quite a bit of heretical writings produced in the ensuing years from the return of captivity up through the time of the destruction of Herod's Temple in 70 A.D. It is writings like these that led the Sadducees to disbelieve in the Resurrection. As an aside, there are also Jewish apocalyptic texts and Jewish Mishnahs, where some actually refer to humans observing or imitating that type of worship. Looking through the Mishnahs, you will find the phrase, “worship of angels” in some.
In Jasher 51:37, the author claims Simeon could not be bound: "And Joseph went out from them and came into the chamber, and wept a great weeping, for his pity was excited for them, and he washed his face, and returned to them again, and he took Simeon from them and ordered him to be bound, but Simeon was not willing to be done so, for he was a very powerful man and they could not bind him". The Bible says otherwise: "And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes" Genesis 42:24.
In Jasher 53:18-22we read that Benjamin used a “map or chart of stars” to find Joseph. Deuteronomy 18:10 forbids this. It is an abomination to be “an observer of times” While we know Jacob's sons did some pretty horrendous things, one thing Jacob was true to, and that was his faith in GOD. Nowhere in the Scriptures do we ever read of anything that would lead to Benjamin dabbling in astrology.
Judah threatens Joseph in Jasher 54:1-68 with annulations but Genesis 44:14-34is a plea for Benjamin's release;
Jasher chapter 71states that Moses was 18 years old when he left Egypt, which sounds like a Rabbinical tradition. He didn't go to Midian but instead went to Cush. Jasher 72:34-36It goes on to claim that Moses eventually became king over Cush, and was king for forty years Jasher 73:2. Afterwards He goes to Midian where Reuel puts him in prison for 10 years because Reuel thinks Moses is wanted by the Cushites. In the book of Acts 7:23-30Stephen, inspired by the Holy Spirit, stated the Moses was in Egypt for 40 Years before going to Midian for another 40 years.
Jasher 80:2-51lists 15 plagues on the Egyptians, where as the Bible tells us there were 10 plagues Exodus 7-12.
Jasher 81:38“And the Waters of the sea were divided into twelve parts.”Exodus 14:22“And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left.”
Jasher 81:40-41says that all but Pharaoh perished in the Red Sea, and that Pharaoh thanks the Lord. Then it states that the Lord sends an angel who casts him upon the land of Nineveh where Pharaoh reigned for a long time. Some translations say of Exodus 14:23-28states all perished. (There are translations that are unclear if Pharaoh was part of the army that drowned or not. Thus this is provable either way, yet history is not on the authors side.)
What follows next are embellishments that are clearly not covered anywhere in Scriptures. These portions of the book seem to come from the imagination of the writer. Like Gone With The Wind, the author decided to add things to God's history that are neither provable, nor logical, just to make his literary work sound more interesting. As if the Bible is not already interesting.
In Jasher 7:24-30the writer claims that the skins that Yahweh made for Adam and his wife went to Enoch after their death, then to Methuselah, then to Noah, then Ham stole them and gave them to Cush. They were then passed to Nimrod who became incredibly strong when he put on the 'magic' garments. Then the writer claims in Jasher 27:1-11that Esau killed Nimrod and took Adams' skins. At this point it begins to sound a lot like the teachings of Joseph Smith with magical Temple garments'. (Magic Underwear) You can understand why Mormons are so fond of the Book of Jasher.
Joseph Smith even quoted from the book of Jasher in his 19th-century Latter Day Saint newspaper, "Times and Seasons." Stating that The Book of Jasher is authentic, as it contains many specific details which are in agreement with Smith's own revelation, "The Book of Moses." which is part of the Scriptural canon for the Latter Day Saints.
I find it interesting that Joseph Smith was supposedly visited by an angel named Moroni who guided him to some golden plates buried on a hill near to where he lived. Joseph apparently collected the plates, took them home, and subsequently translated them into the Book of Mormon which he then published in 1830. Just 10 years before Moses Samuel published his translation of the Book Of Jasher. Today the Mormon Church uses Samuel's Jasher translation with commentary notes by Joseph Smith.
In Jasher 36:30-35he writes about 120 terrible animals from the wilderness who were half human and half animal.
Later the writer again writes in Jasher 61:15of Zepho killing a half man and half animal beast. This is clearly influenced by Greek pagan mythology. Not something one would expect to see in anything considered worthy of comparison to the Holy Scriptures, let alone anything one would use in the study of the Word.
Then in Jasher 67:8-52Balaam, Job, and Reuel are in Egypt at the same time. Reuel takes Joseph's stick and returns to Midian; Job was a contemporary of Abraham, who was most likely long dead by then.
In Jasher 70:1-33 we read that at the age of 3, Moses puts Pharaoh's crown on his head;
In Jasher 73King Moses of Cush raises storks to devour serpents that guard the city;
In Jasher 77:26-51After being released from the dungeon, Moses found a sapphire stick also mentioned in Jasher 67:41in the garden of Reuel with the name of Yahweh-Elohim on the stick. This same stick supposedly was Adam's stick from the Garden of Eden, and eventually handed down to Noah, then to Shem, then to Abraham then to Isaac, and Jacob took it then in Egypt and he gave it to Joseph. After Joseph died Reuel took it and planted it. So we graduate from magical underpants to magical sticks. One wonders if this account is also incorporated in any of the Mormon ceremonial practices.
Those who wish to defend the Book of Jasher as inspired have an impossible task on their hands, quite apart from the fact that there are many editions of it. To defend this book, one must decide if they want to be on the side of the Mormon Church in accepting it with all the errors included. By doing so, one must also understand that you then put in question the integrity of the Bible, something I do not feel inclined to do.
Both the Book of Jasher and the Bible cannot both be right. God does not lie Titus 1:2, nor and does HE contradict Himself 1Corinthians 14:33. The evidence for the truth of the Bible is abundant. There is no evidence for the Book of Jasher's origin or imaginative claims. The only time the Book of Jasher appears to get things right is when it manages to follow what the Bible already says, but like most works of men, people have trouble leaving the truth alone and so errors are introduced.
Probably my biggest problem with the book of Jasher, is it's attempt to undermine the belief of the Scriptures by adding to them. While it is not Scripture, it is presented as such for a reason. It seems to me that the author purposely wanted to create doubt over the Word of GOD. It is anti-Scriptural books like this that has already led millions into believing the Scriptures are fallible. If fallible, then so is GOD. If GOD is fallible, then HE is not WHO HE claims to be. If so, then we are all lost for we have no reason to believe anything written in the Scriptures.
I have the same take on the Book of Jasher, as I do the many books written about the story of creation being wrong. Many Christians today actually adhere to the belief that GOD used evolution to create the World, and that it took place over millions of years instead of 7 physical 24 hour days. We do not use books on evolution to teach the Creation story just because a confused Christian may have made it sound plausible. It's my opinion that when we use texts like the book of Jasher, one puts in jeopardy the very nature of the way GOD used man to weave HIS Story which leads up to the birth of Jesus, His death on the cross, His Resurrection, and His prophesied inevitable return.
My personal belief about the book of Jasher is that it was created to lead men away from GOD, not for the purpose of illuminating HIS Word. Like the passage of Jasher 22:44-45, where the author contradicts GOD's sovereign prophecy taught as a lesson for coming generations as to how HE would save mankind. That passage is tantamount to removing the poisonous snakes from amongst the people while still putting the snake up on the pole. Numbers 21:4-7. It was a lesson for HIS chosen people to remember. One they did not heed, but a lesson and a prophecy just the same. So too was the moment GOD decided to test Abraham. In the authors attempt to remove a prophetic lesson, we also see him twisting the facts so that Isaac becomes the taunter, when in reality we know from Genesis 21:9that Ishmael was the taunter. GOD did not tell Abraham to sacrifice his son, his only son, because his son was being braggadocios.
Mind you Ishmael taunting Isaac led to him and his mother, Hagar, being banished from the community. That was a very pivotal moment in GOD's plan that Isaac would be the heir apparent, and thus a man of pure Semitic blood, instead of Egyptian blood. Or put in another way, one was of pure Shemite blood, (Shem) the other was a mix of Shemite and Hamatic blood. (Ham) For the author of Jasher to twist a pivotal moment of Genesis by making Isaac a taunter and thus the reason for his almost being sacrificed instead of GOD's grand plan from the beginning really shows the authors animosity towards God's chosen ones.
This is an important question that one must ask themselves, why was the author so bent on twisting Scriptures as he did time and time again? To the point of changing history on Moses from his early childhood all the way to the point of his going down to Cush for many years before going to Midian. Then once in Midian, his father-in-law puts him in a dungeon for 10 years without food. Why would a book that twisted and changed the facts so much ever be considered worthy of being used to understand the Holy Scriptures is beyond me.
At the end of Revelation we are admonished by Christ;
Now this warning I believe pertains specifically to the prophecies of Revelations, but it should also reinstate in each and every Christian's heart and soul about the importance of GOD's Word. Whether it be in the Bible, or written in a commentary, we who would be teachers of HIS Word, will be held to a higher standard of judgment one day. Nothing puts more fear in me than this warning from James.
Totalitarians throughout history have murdered billions of humans since the fall of mankind, yet all the murderers from Cain to today have only taken a life. Now compare the destruction of the souls of men over an errant teaching about GOD's Word, and you can see it is as Jesus said,
Let me say that, “The Book Of Jasher”, is a literary work that uses historical facts and dates to create a work of fiction. However, as for it being a useful tool for Bible study, there are numerous examples in the book that destroy it's own credibility, by embellishing stories of real historical characters. As I stated before, I am one who loves using outside sources to buttress my investigation in things I plan on writing about and teaching upon. I readily admit that I use secular non-Biblical writings to help me understand situations when the Bible is silent. I find it helpful, as long as the information I gather for the customs, geography, foods, weather, politics, and historical records do not effect the Scriptures integrity of GOD's Word.
Thus I can only state that this book clouds GOD's Word. It does not expound upon it, nor does it open one's eyes to anything helpful in a study of the Scriptures. After doing my research, I can comfortably say that it is a great work of literature, but it is still just that, a literary work. Looking at all the evidence I uncovered proves that “The Book Of Jasher”, as translated by Moses Samuel, is a good read for entertainment, but has no more business being part of a study on GOD’s Word than the book “Gone With The Wind” does for a study on the Civil War.
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