Proof of the Ancient Origin of the Book of Jasher

A Break Through in Book of Jasher Research
Proof of the Ancient Origin of the Book of Jasher

By James Trimm

One major stumbling block in Book of Jasher research has been the lack of real evidence that the Book of Jasher (the one that we have) is truly ancient. There has been no hard evidence to prove that this Book of Jasher existed prior to 1625.

But now the proof has been found!

In the Masoretic Text and Septuagint of Gen. 5:18 has "And Jared lived one hundred and sixty two years". But the Book of Jasher 2:37 has "And Jared lived sixty two years". Amazingly this agrees with the Samaritan Pentateuch of Gen. 5:18.

How could the Book of Jasher and the Samaritan Pentateuch share the same scribal error? How could this reading have made its way into the Book of Jasher? If the Book of Jasher were a late compilation made in the Middle Ages, it would certainly have simply copied from the Masoretic Text. Surely a Jewish writer in Europe in the Middle Ages would not have copied data from the Samaritan Pentateuch. This is clear evidence for the ancient origin of the Book of Jasher.

There is also a similar scribal error in Jasher 5:13 where Methuselah begets Lamech at eighty seven. In the Masoretic Text this number is given as one hundred and eighty seven. In the Septuagint it is given as one hundred and sixty seven, and in the Samaritan Pentateuch as sixty seven.

Here the reading agrees with the Samaritan Pentateuch in omitting “one hundred” but agrees with the Masoretic Text in reading “eighty seven”. The Book of Jasher is clearly part of the ancient textual tradition here, and not simply borrowing from the Masoretic Text.


I recently came across a Midrash which may be the key to the truth
or falsehood of the Book of Jasher.

The Midrash appears in:

THE TALMUD; SELECTIONS FROM THE CONTENTS OF THAT ANCIENT BOOK, ITS
COMMENTARIES, TEACHINGS, POETRY, AND LEGENDS by H. Polano

Not all of the material in this book is actually from the Talmud,
some of it appears to come from the Midrashim.

It includes a midrash about Jacob's words to the patriarchs from his
deathbed. In this Midrash (Polano does not name the source) Jacob's
words to Judah are:

"Thou, my son, art stronger than all thy brethren,
and from thy loins will kings arise. Teach thy children
how they may protect themselves from enemies and evil-doers"

This is similar but not identical to Jasher 56:8-9 which has:

8 And Jacob said unto Judah, I know my son that thou art a mighty
man for thy brethren; reign over them, and thy sons shall reign over
their sons forever.
9 Only teach thy sons the bow and all the weapons of war, in order
that they may fight the battles of their brother who will rule over
his enemies.

Which answers to 2Sam. 1:18 and the teaching of the sons of
Judah "the bow".

Only in the Midrash the "bow" is not specified.

Something interesting along this line:

Rashi on 2Sam. 1:18

18. And he said to teach the sons of Judah the bow. Behold it is written in the
book of the just [Sefer HaYashar].
And he said to teach the sons of Judah the bow: And David said, Since the heroes
of Israel have fallen, the sons of Judah must teach them (to wage) war and to
draw the bow. :
Behold, it is written in the book of the just: In the Book of Gen., which is the
book of the just: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Now, where is it implied?"Your hand
be on the nape of your enemies." (Gen. 49:8) What type of warfare is it wherein
one directs his hand against his forehead which is opposite his nape? We must
say that this is the bow.

Finally we have the proof that the Book of Jasher that we have is of ancient origin!

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