Jashar, Book of
What Was the Book of Jashar?
The Book of Jashar (Hebrew: sēfer hayyāšār, 'Book of the Upright' or 'Book of the Righteous') was an ancient, non-canonical collection of Hebrew poetry and songs. It is explicitly mentioned twice in the Old Testament as a source for quoted material. The book itself has not survived, making these biblical citations our only direct evidence of its content. Its title suggests it may have contained songs celebrating the deeds of Israel's righteous heroes and leaders, possibly compiled over time as a national anthology.
Biblical References and Content
The Old Testament directly quotes from the Book of Jashar in two places. The first is in Joshua 10:12-14, which records Joshua's famous command, 'Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.' The passage concludes by stating, 'Is this not written in the Book of Jashar?' This indicates the poem celebrating this divine intervention was part of that collection.
The second quotation is in 2 Samuel 1:18-27, introducing David's profound lament over the deaths of King Saul and his son Jonathan: 'and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.' This elegy, known as 'the Song of the Bow,' is a masterpiece of Hebrew poetry expressing personal grief and national loss.
Some scholars propose a third, more debated connection. 1 Kings 8:12-13 records Solomon's words at the temple dedication. The ancient Greek translation (the Septuagint) introduces this with a phrase that could be read as 'written in the book of the song,' which might be a textual corruption of 'in the book of Jashar.' While intriguing, this remains speculative.
Composition and Possible Contents
Based on its references, the Book of Jashar was likely a compilation of victory songs, laments, and poems that celebrated key events and figures in Israel's early national history. Scholars conjecture it may have included other early poems now preserved within the biblical text. Potential candidates include the Song of Deborah (Judges 5), the Blessing of Jacob (Genesis 49), the Song of Moses (Exodus 15), and the Oracle of Balaam (Numbers 23-24). These poems share a similar epic and celebratory tone, honoring God's acts of deliverance and the leaders through whom He worked.
The book was evidently well-known and authoritative enough for the biblical writers to cite it. Its loss is a significant gap in our understanding of ancient Israel's literary culture, reminding us that the biblical books were composed within a rich tapestry of other writings.
Later Interpretations and a Modern Forgery
Over centuries, Jewish and Christian scholars have speculated about the book's identity. Some rabbis suggested it was a name for the Book of Genesis or the entire Torah. In the 18th and 19th centuries, several forged works appeared claiming to be the long-lost Book of Jashar. The most famous, published in English in 1751 and again in 1840, is a pseudo-historical narrative from creation to the judges. This work is universally recognized by scholars as a medieval or early modern fabrication and not the ancient text cited in Scripture. The real Book of Jashar remains one of the lost literary treasures of the ancient world.
Biblical Context
The Book of Jashar appears in the historical books of the Old Testament. It is cited as the source document for the poetic passage describing Joshua's command to the celestial bodies during the battle at Gibeon (Joshua 10:12-14) and for David's lament 'the Song of the Bow' after the deaths of Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:18-27). A possible third reference in 1 Kings 8:12-13 is noted in the Septuagint. Its role is that of a recognized, authoritative source from which the biblical authors drew specific poetic material to include in their historical narratives.
Theological Significance
The citations of the Book of Jashar demonstrate that the inspired biblical authors sometimes used existing, non-canonical sources under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to compose Scripture. This affirms the doctrine of inspiration as applying to the selection and editing of materials, not merely to dictation. The book's content—celebrating God's intervention in battle and mourning national tragedy—highlights themes of divine sovereignty, human leadership, covenant loyalty, and righteous lament, all integral to Israel's understanding of their relationship with Yahweh. Its lost status also serves as a reminder that God perfectly preserved the writings necessary for His redemptive revelation, while other valuable historical documents were allowed to fade.
Historical Background
The Book of Jashar was an authentic document known in ancient Israel, likely compiled during or shortly after the united monarchy (c. 11th-10th centuries BC). It fits a known pattern in the ancient Near East of collecting national epic poetry. Similar anthologies are known from other cultures, such as Mesopotamian king lists and victory hymns. No fragments of the Hebrew Book of Jashar have been identified among the Dead Sea Scrolls or other archaeological discoveries. All modern publications titled 'Book of Jasher' are later forgeries, primarily from the 18th century, with no connection to the ancient text.