The Book of Jasher [Paperback]

W. Jeffrey Marsh (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2006

The Book of Jasher, reprinted for the first time in several years and with a new introduction by popular author W. Jeffrey Marsh, offers Bible readers interesting and important insights into the first two thousand years of biblical history.

The Book of Jasher follows the biblical accounts in Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. It reads like the Bible but includes interpolations and elaborations not found in the Bible. In addition, it sheds light on Bible stories from the time of Adam and Eve, the ministry of Enoch, and the account of the great Deluge during the days of Noah to the Tower of Babel, nefarious Nimrod, and faithful Abraham and his descendants.

As Moredecai M. Noah wrote in his introduction to the 1840 English translation: "Without giving it to the world as a work of Divine inspiration, or assuming the responsibility to say that it is not an inspired book, I have no hesitation in pronouncing it a work of great antiquity and interest, and a work that is entitled, even regarding it as a literary curiosity, to a great circulation among those who take pleasure in studying the scriptures."

Product Details

• Paperback: 271 pages
• Publisher: Cedar Fort (January 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555179193
• ISBN-13: 978-1555179199
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #296,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Study guide material, June 29, 2008

By 

Michael Evans - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Jasher (Paperback)

I am doing a comprehensive study of the Bible and am very grateful to have picked up this book.

First let me say, this is not scripture. This is a secular history book. It deals with the history between the creation and up to Joshua. Actually just after Joshua. Some may question some of the accuracies in the book, but like all ancient manuscripts there are some questionable material. Still, it reads very easy and gives some insights into several of the stories in Genesis.

Very good book, and its nice to read something of antiquity versus reading a modern interpretation on history from some guy 4-6 thousand years removed from the time of the first 5 books of the Bible. IE, ancient texts have more validity than old opinionated professors with agendas. Read the book and formulate your own mind.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Book of Jasher, August 3, 2008

By 

Timothy B. Janes (Bomaderry, New South Wales, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Book of Jasher (Paperback)

I found the Book of Jasher absolutely facsinating. It fills in many, of the perhaps unnecesary, details in Old Testament stories.
I found it exteremely credible except for the story related by Anah in Chap 30:20-33 which sound like Greek mythology. However it may truly record the report of Anah irrespective of whether Anah was telling the truth.
I find the explanation of Melchezidec epecially confirminmg as I had graphed in timeline the longevities of the patriarchs and knew through that study that Noah and Shem lived at the same time as Abraham.
I am still thorougly enjoying this book.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RE: the comment "Don't be misled, this is a Morman Rendition", August 1, 2009

By 

Quinn Rousell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Book of Jasher (Paperback)

Actually, there is nothing "Mormon" about this "rendition" whatsoever. The publisher and the introduction by Jeffrey Marsh are mormon but the rendition itself is not. This English rendition was first published in 1840 by a non-Mormon publisher. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism said a favorable comment about it and then a mormon publishing company(J.H.Parry) acquired the copyright to it and republished it in 1887. The 1840 edition was actually published by a Jew and point in fact this is the only "book of Jasher" that has any possibility of being the actual lost book of the bible, that is actually based on a Hebrew text. The English rendering is actually a very good translation of the Hebrew. This Hebrew text does exist and is available (I have 4 Hebrew copies of it myself). The oldest copy of the Hebrew text that is now known to exist was printed in 1625. Needless to say, this is long before the Mormon religion came on the scene. So no, this is not a Mormon rendition, and no, it really is based on a Hebrew original. Is it folklore? Lets just let one decide that for themself but please lets not be so hasty. There is a vast amount of parallels with Jasher and other ancient literature, such as the Talmud and other Jewish writings. But there are not only Jewish parallels! There are also great similarities with other ancient literature such as greek mythology(which may be based on a seed of truth), and the Koran. Actually, there are many reasons to believe that this book dates much farther back than 1625 and may in fact be the book mentioned twice by the Bible. So please dont just pass up this book based on the comments of people who really shouldnt be trying to educate others on things in which they are ignorant. Check it out for yourself. I find the book of Jasher to be exciting, informative and inspiring! But there are publishers and versions that you might find more informative(...sorry Jeffrey, but the middle paragraph on page X of your introduction "smack"s too close to plagiarism of "Appendix A" of Wayne Simpsons version. I can handle your Mormon views but simply copying anothers work is not fair to the original author).