The Book of Jasher (also spelled Jashar; Hebrew: סֵפֶר הַיׇּשׇׁרsēfer hayyāšār), which means the Book of the Upright or the Book of the Just Man, is a lost book mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, often interpreted as a lost non-canonical book. Numerous forgeries purporting to be rediscovered copies of this lost book have been written. A different interpretation identifies it as a reference to the Pentateuch, specifically the Book of Genesis, an interpretation which is notably favored by the Jewish scholar Rashi in his commentary on the Hebrew Bible (see here-below his commentary on Joshua).
The translation "Book of the Just Man" is the traditional Greek and Latin translation, while the transliterated form "Jasher" is found in the Apocrypha section of the King James Bible, 1611.
The book is mentioned twice in the Hebrew Bible. A possible third reference exists with a variant spelling.
In Joshuaedit
According to the Book of Joshua, while Joshua was winning a battle against Adonizedek (king of Jerusalem) and his allies, Joshua prayed for the sun and moon to stand still.[1] Joshua 10:13 then states:
And the Sun stood still, and the Moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves on their enemies. Is this not written in Sefer HaYashar?
— Joshua 10:13
The presence of this event in a book of poetry has been interpreted as a poetic description of the prolonged battle.[2]
According to the medieval Jewish scholar Rashi, "Sefer HaYashar" in this verse refers to the Pentateuch: Jacob's prophecy regarding Joshua's ancestor Ephraim—"His seed will fill the nations"[3]—was fulfilled when Joshua's victory gave him renown among the various nations who heard of the victory.[4]
To teach the sons of Judah [the use of] the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.
— 2 Samuel 1:18
The King James Version of the English Bible includes the words "the use of" in italics, material which its translator(s) added in order to render the text into what they considered understandable and comfortable English. According to some other translations (such as the English Standard Version), David taught his Judahites "The Bow" (Hebrew: קָ֑שֶׁת, romanized: qāšeṯ), which they hypothesize was a poetic lament of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan.[5] According to this interpretation, this "Bow" was a lament or a tune contained in the Book of Jashar which that book also says was taught to the Israelites.
The Septuagint translation renders sefer hayashar in both cases as the 'book of the just'. It also misses the reference to the bow. It reads:
καὶ εἶπεν τοῦ διδάξαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ιουδα ἰδοὺ γέγραπται ἐπὶ βιβλίου τοῦ εὐθοῦς[6] And he gave orders to teach it to the sons of Judah: behold, it is written in the book of the just.
— 2 Samuel 1:18, Septuagint
In Kingsedit
A possible third reference appears in 1 Kings 8. In the Septuagint (though not in the Hebrew text or in most translations), verse 8:53 says that the preceding prayer of Solomon is written "in the book of song" (ἐν βιβλίῳ τῆς ᾠδῆς). The Hebrew version of "book of song" could be ספר השיר (sefer ha-shir), which is the same as "Sefer HaYashar" with two letters transposed. According to Alexander Rofeh, this suggests that the name of "Sefer HaYashar" could be related to its function as a book of song, and the second word of "Sefer HaYashar" might have originally been שיר (shir, "song") or ישיר (yashir, "he will sing").[7]
^"Yehoshua - Joshua - Chapter 10". The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary. The Judaica Press.
^The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV): Containing the Old and New Testaments. Wheaton: Crossway. 2007. ESV 2 Samuel 1:17-18 text reads: "And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said: …." ESV 2 Samuel 1:18 footnote 1, at "he said it," reads: "Septuagint; Hebrew the Bow, which may be the name of the lament's tune."
^Blue Letter Bible, LXX 2 Sam. 1:18, accessed 14 January 2014.
^Rofeh, Alexander. "Yehoshua bin Nun beToldot Hamesoret Hamikrait: 8".
January 01, 1970
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The Book of Jasher also spelled Jashar Hebrew ס פ ר ה י ש ר sefer hayyasar which means the Book of the Upright or the Book of the Just Man is a lost book mentioned in the Hebrew Bible often interpreted as a lost non canonical book Numerous forgeries purporting to be rediscovered copies of this lost book have been written A different interpretation identifies it as a reference to the Pentateuch specifically the Book of Genesis an interpretation which is notably favored by the Jewish scholar Rashi in his commentary on the Hebrew Bible see here below his commentary on Joshua The translation Book of the Just Man is the traditional Greek and Latin translation while the transliterated form Jasher is found in the Apocrypha section of the King James Bible 1611 Contents 1 Biblical references 1 1 In Joshua 1 2 In Samuel 1 3 In Kings 2 See also 3 ReferencesBiblical references editThe book is mentioned twice in the Hebrew Bible A possible third reference exists with a variant spelling In Joshua edit According to the Book of Joshua while Joshua was winning a battle against Adonizedek king of Jerusalem and his allies Joshua prayed for the sun and moon to stand still 1 Joshua 10 13 then states And the Sun stood still and the Moon stayed until the people had avenged themselves on their enemies Is this not written in Sefer HaYashar Joshua 10 13 The presence of this event in a book of poetry has been interpreted as a poetic description of the prolonged battle 2 According to the medieval Jewish scholar Rashi Sefer HaYashar in this verse refers to the Pentateuch Jacob s prophecy regarding Joshua s ancestor Ephraim His seed will fill the nations 3 was fulfilled when Joshua s victory gave him renown among the various nations who heard of the victory 4 In Samuel edit According to the Book of Samuel when David spoke his lament over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan he began as follows To teach the sons of Judah the use of the bow Behold it is written in the book of Jasher 2 Samuel 1 18 The King James Version of the English Bible includes the words the use of in italics material which its translator s added in order to render the text into what they considered understandable and comfortable English According to some other translations such as the English Standard Version David taught his Judahites The Bow Hebrew ק ש ת romanized qaseṯ which they hypothesize was a poetic lament of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan 5 According to this interpretation this Bow was a lament or a tune contained in the Book of Jashar which that book also says was taught to the Israelites The Septuagint translation renders sefer hayashar in both cases as the book of the just It also misses the reference to the bow It reads kaὶ eἶpen toῦ dida3ai toὺs yἱoὺs Ioyda ἰdoὺ gegraptai ἐpὶ biblioy toῦ eὐ8oῦs 6 And he gave orders to teach it to the sons of Judah behold it is written in the book of the just 2 Samuel 1 18 Septuagint In Kings edit A possible third reference appears in 1 Kings 8 In the Septuagint though not in the Hebrew text or in most translations verse 8 53 says that the preceding prayer of Solomon is written in the book of song ἐn bibliῳ tῆs ᾠdῆs The Hebrew version of book of song could be ספר השיר sefer ha shir which is the same as Sefer HaYashar with two letters transposed According to Alexander Rofeh this suggests that the name of Sefer HaYashar could be related to its function as a book of song and the second word of Sefer HaYashar might have originally been שיר shir song or ישיר yashir he will sing 7 See also editBook of Jasher Pseudo Jasher an 18th century literary forgery which purports to be an English translation of the lost Book of Jasher Non canonical books referenced in the Bible Sefer haYashar midrash a Hebrew midrash also known as The Book of Jasher named after the lost Book of Jasher Yehimilk inscription uses the same or cognate word YSR uprightReferences edit Joshua 10 12 Harry Whittaker Bible Studies Cannock Biblia pp 72 73 The sun stood still Genesis 48 19 Yehoshua Joshua Chapter 10 The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary The Judaica Press The Holy Bible English Standard Version ESV Containing the Old and New Testaments Wheaton Crossway 2007 ESV 2 Samuel 1 17 18 text reads And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah behold it is written in the Book of Jashar He said ESV 2 Samuel 1 18 footnote 1 at he said it reads Septuagint Hebrew the Bow which may be the name of the lament s tune Blue Letter Bible LXX 2 Sam 1 18 accessed 14 January 2014 Rofeh Alexander Yehoshua bin Nun beToldot Hamesoret Hamikrait 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Book of Jasher biblical book amp oldid 1222363222, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
