Customer Reviews

Book of Jasher: Referred to in Joshua & II Samuel - Complete Exhaustive 1840 J.H. Parry - Sefer Yahshar

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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.

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.

This book, read by a searcher for truth, is convincing as only the Lord God of Heaven can inspire. It fills out many of the Biblical stories from Creation to the end of the days of Joshua, and brings comfort with its truth. It gives greater enlightenment on the relationship, and working together (or not as the case may be) of many well-known individuals both before and after the flood. (ie: Methuselah & Noah; Noah, Shem, & Abraham; Nimrod & the Tower of Babel; Nimrod & Terah, the father of Abraham, and the baby Abraham) .

This book is referred to in both Joshua and 2nd Samuel, and reading it reveals its high value. The translator in the Preface warns of a another copy of Jasher, one that was printed by the London Courier in the middle 1800's. It had no proper identification of printer, editior, or publisher - probably because it was translated by a skeptic. Be careful. The author of the true book of Jasher was not Jasher. The term is a Hebrew idiom understood by those who understand the Hebrew language, and literally meaning "the upright or correct record". Read the book; you will not be disappointed. Comments or questions back are welcome at "ctronix@concentric.net"

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.
2010 Complete Exhaustive edition Artisan Publishers Paperback
288 pages

The Book of Jasher translated in 1840 (such as the copy by publisher Artisan)is the most likely candidate we have for the book mentioned in the Bible.... The Book of Jasher (1840) is a wonderful book and expands upon the stories of the pentateuch...all of the familar early bible stories are there, but told in much more detail. I found nothing in it to suggest that it was not sincere and true-- but even if it is a forgery, it won't hurt to read it since it follows the Biblical story from start to end.

The book reviewed here is the orange paperback some of the other reviewers mentioned.
This book comes off quite bizarre in some of the added details to OT Scripture.
One example is "Adonizek King of Jerusalem,the same was Shem." (Chapter 16:11). This Adonizek sounds a lot like Melchizedek of Hebrews 7:1-3. The setting is identical,following Abram's victory in Genesis 14. I have heard the theory that this King/High Priest was Shem. The problem with this is that Shem has a genealogy(Gen.6:10) while Melchizedek doesn't(Heb.7:2-3).
There is a lot more information in this book regarding Nimrod and his death,the death of Og King of Bashan,the life of Enoch,and the sons of Jacob.
This book purports to give more details to the Old Testament,but are these additions fact or fiction? The answer is probably a bit of both with some passages being exaggerations of fact.
I am sure that there was indeed a "Book of Jasher" as mentioned in the Bible. Is this it? I am not convinced that this book is the genuine article.

Jasher is mentioned twice in the Old Testament, famous prayer this very interesting
period of the history is given an account of Nimrod & the hunting skin from Adam yes interesting story Jasher is mentioned twice in the Old Testament, in the books of Joshua and Samuel I like this Book one considered a part of the inspired canon of the scripture, the Book of Jasher mirrors many historical accounts in the Old testament
Book I Give this Bible 5 star Good translation

This book covers the timeframe covered in Genesis and part of Exodus. While not (necessarily) considered "Scripture" it has immense historical value.

Highly recommended.

Having my Masters in Scripture, I was wondering why I did not know that this book existed since it was mentioned in the Old Testament and I had learned that it was a lost book of antiquity. To say the least I was suspicious when I got this book as a gift. I was right to be suspicious because it is not authentic. It is a forged work of the late 1700s or early 1800s - (even an internet search will point this out). It may be amusing but just remember that it is not based in any real historical work.

There are two completely different versions of the "Book of Jasher," and several editions currently on the market. The edition that I am reviewing is published by Artisan Sales, has no author or editor listed, and is a bright orange paperback with "Book of Jasher--1840" on the spine. The Book of Jasher, from the Hebrew Sefer Yashar, literally means "the Complete and Upright Record" or "Book of the Righetous." Jasher is mentioned twice in the Old Testament, in the books of Joshua and Samuel, and in that context it would appear as a text that supplements parts of the Old Testament in more detail than in the Bible. This "Jasher" here is described as being an English translation from a Hebrew document discovered in the earlier half of the 19th century. The Jasher described in the Bible was most likely a real text that was lost to memory and never preserved in the annals of ancient Israel, but there is a strong possibility that this book is a forgery. "Jasher" supplements the Biblical texts of the Pentateuch and Joshua, but its additions are for the most part bizarre and quaint exaggerations on the stories of various Biblical episodes, with an emphasis on increased violence and wars. Overall, though, the teaching and outlook towards God is in the same vein as the Old Testament itself. The legends in "Jasher" are inspired by various Rabbinical texts and commentaries on Scripture narratives, such as the curious extra-Biblical accounts of the patriarchs contained in the Midrash. Curiously, this edition of "Jasher" is published by a Christian Identity think-tank (Artisan) and appears in various Identity catalouges. The Hebrew patriarchs are portrayed as a mighty super-human warrior race , similar to Hercules and the gods of pagan mythology, which may explain "Jasher's" appeal in that theological camp. "Jasher" may not a true revelation of God, but it makes a droll read for anyone interested in esoteric aspects of religion.