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Book of Jubilees: From the Ethiopic (Little Genesis)

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The Book of Jubilees is a interesting read because it is a book that many New Testament authors were familiar with and perhaps influenced by. The book tells the entire Old Testament over again from the perspective of the authors of the time (Helenistic Jews) and includes many elements not mentioned in the actual Bible or not elaborated on extensively in the actual Bible. The book relies heavily upon the work known as the Book of Enoch which also had heavy influence on the authors of the New Testament particularly the authors of Revelation and Jude. If you want to understand the Jewish thought of the time of Jesus this is a great book to read.

George H. Schodde Translation

This translation by George H. Schodde from the Ethiopic Text gives a better understanding of the work and teachings of both Christ and His disciples, as also the writings of the latter, their doctrines, beliefs and the spirit of New Testament Judaism.

This first century commentary on portions of Genesis and Exodus, said to be the oldest of all the Midrashim, is representative of how the learned contempories of Christ made use of the Biblical books for their own peculiar purposes and objective. It gives an extensive account of the fall of the angels and the dire consequences of their sins with the daughters of men. Time is counted in jubilees.

The central principle of Jewish orthodoxy was the nomistic principle, that obedience to the law in all its real and imagined ramification must be the basis for acceptance before God. Thus there was an impassable gulf fixed between the theological system of the Jews and that of Christ and his disciples.

The full contribution of the Book of Jubilees to the New Testament can only be secured through a careful and patient study of every chapter and verse. In order to enable scholars who are not acquainted with the Ethiopic to do this work, this present translation is offered.

The Book of Jubilees parallels Genesis for the most part.Where it gets interesting is the deviation from Genesis.There are a lot more names of the Patriarchs' wives listed.Some other notable differences:animals spoke prior to the expulsion from Eden;Adam & Eve went from Eden to the land of "Elda";Sabbaths were followed before Moses'time;details of Cain's death,the origin of some wives.
This book is from an Ethiopic text.There are references to the "Book of Enoch" which is also of Ethiopic origin.
This book is worthy of a read.Is it accurate and truthful? A lot of the passages are plausible. Ultimately, the individual reader will have to decide that.

On the whole, this book is not very fun to read, much like the Bible, BUT IT MUST BE READ. JUBILEES was written as an exposition of the Mosaic Law, and it gives examples of sin and transgression from Genesis in order to justify the Law that was revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai. It does indeed draw upon the Book of ENOCH and JUBILEES itself is found in the Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church along with ENOCH. In fact chapter IV, 16-19 of JUBILEES eulogizes Enoch, crediting him with being the first one to learn the gift of writing and to write a testimony.

All the classical doctrines are found in JUBILEES. One is of predestination and the eternity of the Word. Rev. George Schode writes, "He [the author of JUBILEES] again and again maintains the Thesis that the law existed from eternity, although revealed in full through Moses; that even in heaven, before the creation, the angels observed the festivals, services and ceremonies of the law; that throughout thier lives the patriarchs all strictly carried out its behests. All these things were written on the 'tablet in heaven,' and were gradually introduced among the pious fathers as occasion offered an oppurtunity, and the teachings concerning them were laid down in writing at the very beginning."

Indeed the idea that God DETERMINED who is redeemed and who is not is elucidated here XV, 22-23: "...and he chose Israel [Christians] to be his people. And he sanctified it and and collected it from among all the children of men, for there are many nations and many peoples, and all are his, and OVER ALL HE HAS APPOINTED SPIRITS TO RULE, that they should LEAD THEM ASTRAY FROM HIM, but over Israel he did not appoint any ruler, neither an angel or spirit, but HE ALONE IS THEIR RULER, and he contends for them against the hands of his angels and his spirits and all; and they shall keep his commandments..."

The reader will also find of interest the comments on the behavior of the Patriarchs of Genesis, where they are condemned in JUBILEES whereas their sins are not condemned in the Bible.

If you are searching for the best translation of The Book of Jubilees, you might want to consider purchasing the 1888 translation by Rev. George H. Schodde, Ph.D., offered by Artisan Publishers. This book, recommended by top Bible scholars, affords a direct translation from the best Ethiopic text, along with the best aids at the translator's command. Rev. Schodde not only adopted the use of chapter divisions instituted by the German translator, Dillmann, known as the "prince of Ethiopic scholars" of that century, but further divided the chapters into verses, which facilitates the reading of the translation. A must addition to every Bible student's library!

This is a wonderful retelling of the stories found in Genesis (and parts of Exodus) with some of the blanks filled in (like who Cain's wife was) and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a believer in God Almighty to add to their biblical knowledge.

I also was quite pleased to be introduced to the publishers website which offers a "different" take on Christianity than what the mainstream church teaching is acustomed too.

This is also a wonderful companion to Artisan Publishings "1 Enoch" edition. The two fit nicely with any standard size KJV Bible and Apocrypha to make a more "complete" Bible.

The book is translated pretty well and understandable. It is a good addition to my library of other biblical literature for review and study.