THE BOOK Of JASHER

by snowbird 7 Replies latest jw friends

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  snowbird

  I'm beginning to tackle the Book of Jasher. It's mentioned twice in the Bible - Joshua and 2 Samuel - so I decided to check it out. While it may not be considered to be inspired in the traditional sense, it fills a lot of gaps in the Bible narrative. For instance, I've often marveled at the outstanding faith of Abraham. The Book of Jasher sheds some light on this by showing that Abraham was taught the Way by none other than the venerable Shem. In fact it states that Shem and Melchizedek are one and the same!

  It's like I'm reading the Bible again for the first time. Just thought I would share this with my cyber friends.

  Snowbird
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  Hortensia

  here's what wikipedia says about it:

  Sefer haYashar

  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  Sefer haYashar, Hebrew ??? ???? (also transliterated Seper haiYašar), "Book of the Upright", often only half-translated into English as Book of Jasher or as Book of Jashar.

  There are a number of works with this name:
  • Sefer haYashar (Biblical references): A book mentioned in Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18.
  • Rabbinical Treatises:
    • Sefer haYashar (Amoraim): A collection of sayings of the sages from the Amoraim period (1st and 2nd centuries) mentioned by Seymour J. Cohen in the introduction to Rabbi Zerahiah's Sefer Hayasher. Not known to be still in existence.
    • Sefer haYashar (Ibn Ezra): A commentary on the Pentateuch by the 12th century Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra.
    • Sefer haYashar (Rabbenu Tam): A famous 12th century treatise on Jewish ritual and ethics by Rabbeinu Tam.
    • Sefer haYashar (Rabbi Levita): The title of a moral treatise written by Rabbi Shabbatai Carmuz Levita in 1391 and preserved in a Vatican manuscript according to Edgar J. Goodspeed (in Modern Apocrypha, Famous Biblical Hoaxes [The Beacon Press, Boston, 1956])
    • Sefer haYashar (Rabbi Zerahiah ha-Yevani): A moral treatise of the 13th century published as Ha-Yewani Zerahiah, Sefer Hayashar, The Book of the Righteous, ed. and transl. by Seymour J. Cohen (New York, 1973).
    • Sefer haYashar (Rabbi Jonah ben Abraham): A 14th century work by Rabbi Jonah ben Abraham of Gerona mentioned by Seymour J. Cohen in his Sefer Hayashar. Not known to be still in existence.
  • Sefer haYashar (midrash): A book of Jewish legends covering the period from the creation of man to the first wave of the conquest of Canaan, not certain to have existed before 1625.
  • Book of Jasher (Pseudo-Jasher): An 18th century forgery alleging to be a translation of the lost book of Jasher by Alcuin.
  • Book of Jashar by Benjamin Rosenbaum. A fictional translation of the supposed Book of Jasher mentioned in 2 Samuel.
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  jaguarbass

  Back in my bible reading days, I thought about reading the so called lost books. But I got to tangled in the main book and then just burned out on it all.

  But if you ever figure out whats going on be sure to let us know.
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  *lost*

  bumped
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  Band on the Run

  If I recall correctly, wikipedia stated that almost all scholars consider these "lost" books forgeries from a much later date. Some are of very recent vintage. I am not checking the article. My impression from reading the article was that they are lost. Losst as in no known authentic versions.

  Perhaps I am confused.
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  Dis-Member

  If you trust Wikipedia as your final authoritative source and stop your research there than yes you are in trouble. I think they call that 'lazy mind'.
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  Pistoff

  " I think they call that 'lazy mind'."

  No need for insults; can you provide some deeper research instead of name-calling?
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  Dis-Member

  First of all I don't recall addressing you.. and second if you think the term 'lazy mind' is an insult then perhaps you also have problems. I will not bow to your exaggerated sense of fragility. Stop trying to create problems where there are none. Grow up.

  I shan't be doing your homework for you either.