The Book ^OF JflSHER SappRESsED Book THfiT wfis Removed from the Bible, Referred TO IN Josiiafi mo Second SfiMUEi Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924088174754 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 088 THE BOOK OF JASHER; REFERRED TO IN JOSHUA AND SECOND SAMUEL. FAITBPDI,I.T TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL HEBREW INTO ENGLISH. Published 2000 The Book Tree Escondido, CA NEW YORK : PUBLISHED BY M. M. NOAH & A. S. GOULD, AT 144 NASSAU-STREET. 1840. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and forty, by Morde- cai M. Noah it Alexander S. Gould, in the oflico of the Clerk of the Southern District of New-York. 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Call (800) 700-TREE for our FREE BOOK TREE CATALOG or visit our website at www.theboo ktree.com for more information. INTRODUCTION According to some sources, this book was once tiie original start of the Bible. Whether that was true or not, we do know that it was once contained in the Bible, being referred to in Joshua and Second Samuel. It states, "Is not this written in the Book of Jasher?" in Joshua 10:13; and "Behold, it is written in the Book of Jasher," in 2 Samuel 1:18. These references have puzzled Bible students and scholars for centuries. Many versions of this book have appeared over the years and were proven to be forgeries. Therefore this version, which seems to be the clear and legitimate one, is often dismissed due to those many "pretenders" in the past. According to the translator (in his Preface), the reference to Jasher in Second Samuel is one place that authenticates this book, stating how it clears up an otherwise vague Biblical reference. At the same time he admits that some things seem to have been added to the book over the years, but that has happened to other works and, according to him, should not change the overall legitimacy found here. Not being experts in ancient Hebrew, we can only provide this rare work to the world and let those who read it be the judges as to its legitimacy and value. It's been claimed that the fable of creation in the Bible was compiled from this one book, in greatly altered form. Although we are not entirely sure, careful study of this book may in fact prove the claim to be true. The story behind The Book of Jasher is an interesting one. The Jewish priest named Esdras, or Ezra, was among the able-bodied men taken to Babylon as prisoners after Nebuchadnezzer captured Jerusalem in 587 BC. While there, Esdras studied holy Chaldean scrolls that dealt with the Creation. He condensed these works into scrolls that later became the Pentateuch, according to some, and they were then attributed to Moses. These scrolls later became part of the library at Alexandria. Around 389 AD the custodian at the library was informed of a plot to burn it down, so quickly gathered some of the more valuable scrolls together and sent them to Arabia for safe-keeping. One of them was The Book of Jasher. The library was indeed burned down, but Jasher, among only a few other valuable works, was saved. A man named Albinus Alcuin discovered this work and did the original translation of it from the Hebrew in 800 AD. It was later suppressed but finally rediscovered in 1829, when it was once again suppressed. Only now has it reemerged and we hope, for the first time, that it will become widely available and be judged properly for its value, whatever that might be. Paul Tice PREFACE. It is wilh pleasure that I am able lo present to the American public the translation of the Book of Jashcr, as referred to in Joshua and Second Samuel, which, after several years' negotiation witli the owner and trans- lator of the work in England, I have succeeded in obtaining. There are many books named in the Old Testament, which are now classed among the missing books, or books supposed to have been lost amidst the many revolutions which have occurred in Judea. These books are not included in the Jewish Canons, and it is questionable whether there are any missing of what were considered as emanating from inspired writers ; for, when the works enumerated in the Bible could not be found after the most diligent search, the inference was, that the names applied to other books, or that they were different versions of the same work. Thus, the Book of the Covenant, (Exodus xxiv. 7.) was a mere collec- tion of the injunctions and institutions delivered by the Almighty to Moses. So it might also be said of the Book of the Law, (Deut. xxxi. 9.) The Book of the wars of the Lord (Numbers xxi. 14.) cannot be found, and is every where spoken of as one of the missing books. Dr. Lightfoot, in his Chronicles, thinks that Moses refers to a book of his own compos- ing, written by command of God, (Exodus xvii. 14.) We think, however, that the Book of Judges is the one referred to as the Book of the wars of the Lord ; because, in that book we have all the exploits of the Hebrews detailed at length. We find in Chronicles and Kings a nunlbcr of books IT PREFACE. named, which arc not to be found. The acts of David the King, written in the Book of Samuel the Seer, also hi the Book of Nathan the Prophet, and also in th6 Book of Gad the Seer ; the acts of Solomon are in the Book of Nathan the Prophet, and also in the Book of Abijah the Shulam- ite ; the acts of Rehoboam in the Book of Shemaiah the Prophet ; the acts of Jehoshaphat in the Book of Jehu. The journals of the kings of Judah and Israel ; the three thousand and five songs, and a treatise on botany and annnated nature, by this learned king, are lost ; so also are the "Acts of Manasseh." These works, not having been found by Ezra, could not have been inserted in the Old Testament, ana consequently cannot be con- sidered as having been written by divine inspiration. Nevertheless, it would be assuming more than is required or necessary, to say that there were no other books in the time of Ezra, than those considered as divinely inspired. St. Austin says, " The penmen of the Sacred Scripture writ some things as they are, men with historical lore and diligence : other things they writ as prophets, by inspiration from God." We thus have a classification of their labors, both as historians and as prophets. The ne- gligence of the Jews in ancient days, and their constant transition from one country to another, occasioned many losses of the sacred writings. The Book of Deuteronomy was lost for a long time. There were many books rejected by the Canons which are still objects of curiosity, and venerable for their antiquity. The prayer of King Manasseh, Bel and the Dragon, the two Books of Esdras, the Book of the Maccabees, and the Book of Enoch, recently found and translated from the Ethiopic. The Book of Jasher, referred to in Joshua and Second Samuel, has been long an objecfof great curiosity. Some of the Hebrew writers contend that it was the lives and acts of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and other patriarchs, who were called Jasherim, the Just. Dr. Lightfoot thinks it is the Book of the Wars of God, and so the reader may think in perusing the various battles it recounts'. Grotius calls it a triumphal poem. Jose- phus says, " That by this book are to be understood certain records kept in some safe place on purpose, giving an account of what happened among the Hebrews from year to year, and called Jasher, or the upright, on ac- count of the fidelity of the annals." PREFACE. V It is known that such have been the curiosity and anxiety to discover this missing book, that several forgeries under tiiat name have appeared from time to time ; and the Rev. Mr. Home, in his Introduction to the Study of the Scripture, has been at some pains to collect a history of the various fabrications of Jasher; the most remarkable of vrhich was origi- nally published in England, in the year 1750, by a person called Illivc, and purported to be a translation from a Hebrew work of that name, found in Persia by Alcuin. It was republished in Bristol in the year 1829, and a copy is now in my possession. It is a miserable fabrication, occupying but sixty two and a half pages, with copious notes, making out Jasher to be one of the Judges, whereas the translation of the word is the upright, or the upright record. In the same work of Dr. Home, a slight reference is made to the Book of Jasher, written in Rab- binical Hebrew, said to have been discovered in Jerusalem at its capture under Titus, and printed in Venice in 1613. This is the book now trans- lated into English for the first time. Long prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, the Jews had established themselves in various parts of Spain and Italy ; they traded to the bay of Gibraltar, as historians aflirm, in the earliest periods of history; and Basnage mentions that in Sagunto, a town in Spain, a tombstone was discovered, bearing the following inscription in the Hebrew language : " T7tis is the tomb of Adoniram, an officer of King Solomon, who came to collect the tribute, and died the day," &c. There can be no doubt that Spain, probably France and Italy, were tributary to Solomon. It is, however, certain, that the Jews carried with them into Spain, on their dispersion, an immense number of manuscripts and sacred rolls, where they remained many years, and were, in the eleventh century, placed in their great college at Cordova, and from thence were conveyed to Venice on the first discovery of printing. The printer's Hebrew preface to Jasher shows that it was a painful transcript from a. very old and almost illegible Hebrew record, and printed by and with the consent of the great Consistory of Rabbins at Venice, who alone had the power of publishing such works from the Hebrew records as they deemed authentic. From the Venice edition of Jasher, another edi- v; PREFACE. tion was many years subsequently published, in Lemberg, in Gallicia. Both editions, in J-Icbrcw, arc now in my possession ; and the Royal Asi- atic Society, liaving found a copy of Jasher in Calcutta, gave orders to have it translated, whicli order was countcrinandcd when it was ascer- tained that considerable progress had been made in England in this trans- lation. The following copy of a letter from the secretary to the trans- lator, shows the estimate which that learned Society placed upon the work. Royal Asiatic Society House. Grafton St., Bond St., London, Sept. 2, 1831, Dear Sir : I am extremely obliged by your having favored me with the sight of Mr. Noah's letter, and in reply to your letter, mention that the Oriental Translation Committee does not consider that it has any claims on your work, and if that ever the Rev, Mr. Adams translates the Book of Jasher, it will not be in the lapse of several years. Hoping that your praiseworthy and valuable labors in that interesting work will soon, in one shape or other, be presented to the public, I remain, Dear Sir, Your obliged and ob't Serv't, Wm. Huttman. Whatever may have been written and published by commentators, re- lative to the fabrications of Jasher, I am persuaded they had no reference to this work, although this is the work slightly touched upon by Dr. Home, as the publication in Venice, on the first discovery of printing; but of its origin and history he knew nothing beyond the rumor that it had originally been brought from Jerusalem. There are some events recorded in Jasher, that are found in thr Talmud, no doubt copied from Jasher; for although we find in tlie Talmud, the Mishnah, and Gemarrah, many parables and fanciful tales, to effect moral and religious purposes, yet evprv thing that we have in Jasher we find recorded in the Bible, with this ditfercncc, that in Jasher the occurrences of the Bible are amplified and detailed at length. Tlie celebrated philosopher, Mendelsohn, expresses a PREFACE. V„ high opinion of this work. There are, nev«rthcless, some events wliich are recorded in Jasher, which may create surprise, particularly a detail of the rape of the Sabines, which, at the first glance, I'vfds disposed to con- sider as an interpolation ; but a little reflection satisfied me that it was an event placed in proper chronological order. Pizron, in his Revolution of Empires, or Antiquities of Nations, says, (page 164,) " It is therefore like- ly from what I have said, that several of the Titans, in the reign of Ura- nus, or, at least, in that of Saturn, staying and fixing themselves in that part of Italy which is adjacent to the Tiber and the Appenines, were after- ward called Umbrians. If such were the case, as it seems it was, the settlement of the Titans in Italy was made about the lime of the calling of Abraham, that is, when he left Chaldea, to-go and dwell in the land of Canaan." Page 175, "Now, if all this came to pass, it must have hap- pened about the time Deucalion reigned in Greece, or some years after the deluge that happened under that prince." If as Pizron says, the sepa- ration of the Sabines from the Umbrians took place 1500 years before Christ, it will not be far distant from the time at which Jasher places the rape of the Sabine women, in the 91st year of the life of Abraham. The following is the translator's preface, and with all his admitted learning and ability, he has been unable to do justice to the beauty, gran-, deur, and alike the simplicity of the original Hebrew. I also subjoin a translation of the Hebrew preface and a translation of the printer's pre- face, being all the documents in my possession. Without giving it to the world as a work of Divine inspiration, or as- suming 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. M. M. Noah. New York, April, 1839. TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. The age in which we live has been, and continues to be, particularly distinguished by a laudable desire in the minds of men, to inquire into the various states of knowledge, and of the arts, as they existed in times an- terior to the Christian era ; animated with these noble and elevated views, a considerable number of individuals, greatly distinguished for their genius and learning, have in succession turned their attention to the East — to those celebrated countries, in which the arts of civilization and the lights of sci- ence first dawned upon, enlightened, and embellished human society. The magnificent and unequalled remains of the arts in Egypt, Babylonia, Assyria, Palestine, and Persia, have, from time to time, been visited and explored ; and it has been amidst these fallen monuments of human gran- deur, that the adventurous and enlightened traveller has found himself amply rewarded for his laborious and hazardous undertakings ; for, amidst these wrecks of human greatness, he has succeeded in gathering ample evidence, in confirmation of many of the most important truths recorded in sacred history. Profane histories have, indeed, conveyed down to us some account of these kingdoms, and of the mighty monarchs who, during a long succes- sion of ages, ruled over them ; but the events which they relate are evi- dently so mixed up with exaggeration, and so adulterated with fable, that, however celebrated their authors might have been, and however fascinating may be the style of their composition, the religious and philosophic student turns from them with dissatisfaction, to the divinely authenticated annals of the Hebrews ; because, it is from these alone that he can derive true information concerning the rise, the splendour, the decline, and the real causes of the ruin of those celebrated empires. In the sacred history we are presented with the only authentic, and, of course, the only valuable information concerning the origin of the universe, — K>f men and all other animated creatures, — of the gradual jncrease of the human race, — of the flood in the year A. M. 1656, of which mighty event there are existing evidences to the present day ; evidences, so universal and so ponderous, that all the ingenuity of the sceptical geologists will never be able to remove them in order to make room for their plausible hypotheses. X TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. The ever mcmoiable events and transactions recorded in Scripture are with many others of the most interesting nature, comprehended in the Book of Jashcr ; and tliey are all arrayed in that style of simple, unadorned majesty and precision, which so peculiarly distinguishes the genius of the Hebrew language ; and this, together with other numerous internal evi- dences, it is presumed will go far to convince the Hebrew scholar that the book is, with the exception of some doubtful parts, a venerable monument of antiquity ; and that, notwithstanding some few additions may have been made to it in comparatively modern times, it still retains sufficient to prove it a copy of the book referred to in Joshua, ch, x., and 2 Samuel, ch. i. There are not more than seven or eight words in the whole book that by construction can be derived from the Chaldean language. The printed Hebrew copy, in the hands of the translator, is without points. During his first perusal of it, some perplexities and doubts rose up in his mind respecting its authenticity : but the more closely he studied it, the more its irresistible evidence satisfied him, that it contained a trea- sure of information concerning those early times, upon which the histories of other nations are either silent, or cast not a single ray of real light ; and he was more especially delighted to find that the evidence of the whole of its contents went to illustrate and confirm the great and inestimable truths which are recorded in divine history, down to a few years later than the death of Joshua, at which period the book closes. In this extraordinary book, the reader will meet with models of the most sublime virtue, devotion and magnanimity, that cannot fail to raise his admiration, and, at the same time, to excite a generous feeling of emula- tion to follow the glorious examples set before him. With these preliminary observations, the translator now respectfully proceeds to lay before the readers a few remarks upon the contents of the book. The title ']tff^J^ 1£3D is literally, " the upright or correct record ;" but because the book was not known, it was tlierefore termed the " Book of Jasher ;" this has caused some persons, who are ignorant of the He- brew language, to suppose that Jasher was the name of a prophet, or of one of the Judges of Israel ; an instance of which appears in a publication which came from the press abont the middle of the last century, and which purported to have been a translation into English of the Hebrew manu- script of Jasher, found at Gazna in Persia ; which translation nnly was said to have been thence brought by Alcuin. When the translator wrote to the Editor of the London Courier, in November last, he was not aware that the copy of Jasher, announced in the Bristol Gazette as an TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. XI important discovery, had reference to that fictitious book, which, through the kindness of a friend, he had previously obtained a sight of, and was soon convinced tliat the whole book was the work of sonin sceptic in England, in imitation of the language of Scripture, as it was sent forth from the press without the name of printer, bookseller, editor or pub- lisher ; and it is evident that those who were concerned in getting it up, in making Jasher the name of a Judge of Israel were ignorant of the very rudiments of the language, from which they pretended to have translated it, as it is well known, even to a tyro in the Hebrew language, that the definite article, H is never prefixed to proper names. The important transactions which are narrated with so remarkable a brevity in the Bible, are, in Jasher, more circumstantially detailed ; as in the instance of the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, a particular ac- count is given of the disagreement which preceded it, and of the pretext which Cain sought for the commission of the crime. It appears, also, that when the divine judgment condemned him to wander upon the earth, his wife accompanied him, not to the land of Nod, for no such place is mentioned ; but, from this book it appears that the y/oxd-Nod, in the Scrip- ture, has been given for the participle of the verb "nj " to move or wander about. Jasher has it thus : y: -jSn • Dcr n^n itya oipon p m,T 'jaSo a^nn nva j'p n'H'^ h "itrx hy\ xin py ra-tp pxn -nui " And at that time Cain went forth from the presence of the Lord, from the place where he was ; and he went moving and wandering in the land at the east of Eden, he and all belonging to him." In the passage respecting the birth of Cain and Abel, three daughters are also mentioned. According to Jasher, the art of writing appears to have been known and practised from the earliest periods ; it is stated that Oaman was informed beforehand by God, of the intended destruction of mankind by the flood, which he engraved upon tablets of stone, and preserved amongst his treasures. This book contains a more detailed account-of the awfot circumstances attending the commencement of the flood, and of the conduct of Noah to- ward the. terrified multitude who had assembled about the ark, when the fatal moment had arrived, and their doom was irrevocably fixed. A particular delineation of the life and character of Enoch is given, showing, that by his wisdom he reigned over the sons of men, continually in structing them in truth, righteousness, and a knowledge of the Most High. Xii TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. Jasher informs us, that in the days of Peleg, not only the families "of the human race were separated and spread abroad, but that the earth itself was divided ; and of both these facts, it may be presumed, there are suffi- cient existing evidences, even at this day. This book gives, also, a more de- tailed account of the genealogies of the descendants of Japheth, Shem, and Ham, and rf the various parts of the earth which were colonized by them. Connected with this period of the history is given an account of Nim- rod ; in which is strikingly depicted the arbitrary and violent character of his conduct and government. The contested point, as to whether Nimrod was the foinder of the Assyrian Empire, is here decided. The cause of ihe dispute amongst commentators proceeded from the word llB't^ in Gen. chapter x. ver. 11, signifying either the name of a man, or the name of the 1; nd of Assyria. Jasher lias it thus : " And Asher, the son of Shem, went forth, he and his sons, and the children of his hoasehold, &c., and they there built four cities." Jasher cleaily elucidates a number of genealogical and chronological difficultibs, which occur in the Bible ; an instance is here adduced of the genealogy of Seir, the Horite, upon which the Bible is silent. The learned commentator, Ab«n Ezra, remarks, IDIfT lii^T K7 "1*)?B' '" Seir, his genealogy we do not know ;" and the word nnn is supposed to come from lin a noble ; but Jasher gives us the descent of Seir, (which accounts for his being called the Horite,) ifl the following words : fW3 p m p Tin p y};tif ^'jm " And Seir, the son of Hur, the son of Hivi, the son of Canaan, went," &c. ; hence he was called the Horite, from Hur, his father. The character of Abraham, for piety, true dignity and hospitality, ap- pears to stand unrivalled ; but the most affecting and beauulul account in this book, is-that of Abraham oflFering up his son Isaac. The mutual affection of the father and son, and their willing devotion and obedience to the commands of their Maker, are so exquisitely described, that the heart of him who can peruse the narrative without being deeply affected, must be callous indeed. The conduct of Sarah, as connected with this unexampled and glorious event, was altogether worthy of the wife of Abraham, and the mother of Isaac. At this time Sarah died at Kireath-arba. Her funeral is described as having been magnificent ; and it is expressly mentioned, that it was attended by Shem, the son of Noah, Eber his son, king Abimelech, together with 'Anar, Ashcol and M amre, and other great people of the land. TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. XIII In the Bible, Sarah is the only woman whose age is given at her death ; but it may be interesting to the reader to know, that Jasher generally states the ages of all the women who are particularly mentioned in the course of the history. From this book we learn that Noah and Abraham were contemporaries. How beautiful the contemplation of the meeting of these two Patriarchs, the one being a monument of God's mercy, and the other having the pro- mise of the favour and grace of God, not only to himself, but to his seed after him. This fact might be proved from Scripture ; but from the 32d verse in the Uth chapter of Genesis, most of the Christian commentators have erroneously dated the birth of Abraham 60 years later than it actually took place ; as it is generally stated that he was born A.M. 2008, whereas the regular calculation in the Bible leads us to 60 years earlier, viz. 1948. The only cause of this error has been that Abraham's departure from Haran, at the age of 75, is recorded close to the description of the death of Terah, at the age of 205, in Gen. ch. xi. v. 32. Although this is the frequent manner of Scripture, to record events out of the regular order of succession, (an instance of which we find in Isaac, whose death is recorded in Gen. xxxv. 29, when we know from the calculations given us in Scripture, that Isaac's death, must have taken place when Joseph was about 29 years old ; and the description given in Jasher, of Isaac's coming from Hebron to comfort Jacob upon the loss of Joseph, is beautiful,) it is of great im- portance, in its making a difference of 60 years in the chronology of the world. This book gives a particular account of the instruction received by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, from Shem and Eber, through which they became so excellent in piety and wisdom, their tutors in learning having lived to so ^eat an age ; and Shem particularly, who, being acquainted with all that was known before the flood, could therefore strengthen his precepts of virtue, the true worship of God, and the necessary dependance upon him alone, by recording the awful events which he had seen. The history of Joseph has always been considered one of the most admirable and interesting on record. It is composed in a style of simple aad artless eloquence, which touches every feeling heart. A judicious critic has observed, that he considers it a perfect composition. This history, in Jasher, enters more into detail concerning the affairs of Potiphar's wife, Zelicah ; Joseph's magnificent procession through the cities of Egypt, on coming into power ; the pomp with which he was attended by Pharaoh's chariots, officers, and people, when he went up to meet his father ; the XIV TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. affecting scene which then took place, together with other remarkable incidents. This beautiful narrative might justly be entitled, the triumph of virtue and piety ; and it is presumed that few can peruse it, unmoved by sentiments of the highest admiration, mixed with the deepest feelings of sympathy. The history of the Israelites during their sojourning in Egypt, contains an account of many interesting particulars not noticed in tlie Bible. Toward the latter end of this period, Balaam, Job, Jannes, and Jambrcs, appear to have acted their respective parts in some memorable transactions. This book clears up the reference in 2 Samuel, ch, i., by showing that David, in the commencement of his beautiful elegy on the death of Saul and Jonathan, revived an injunction given by Jacob in his dying charge to his son Judah, contained in Jasher in these words : " But teach, I pray thee, thy children the use of the bow, and all in- struments of war," &c. This goes far to prove the authenticity of the book, as it bea\itifully clears up what was always considered obscure. If commentators upon the holy Scriptures have sought for illustrations in the works of Homer, Pliny, Herodotus, and other profane writers ; if they have anxiously caught at glimmerings among the absurdities of Pa- ganism, and the obscurities of Heathen fables, the translator humbly and respectfully hopes that they will now grant a favorable reception to evi- dence of an entirely opposite character, which is presented in the Book of Jasher. He does not recommend it to their notice as a work of inspiration, but as a monument of history, comparatively covered with the ivy of the re- motest ages ; as a work possessing, in its language, all the characteristic simplicity of patriarchal times ; and as such, he conceives it pecuharly calculated to illustrate and confirm the sacred truths handed down to us in the Scriptures. But in making these observations, he is far from offering it as a perfect record. Like all other ancient writings, (except the inspired volume,) it has in some respects suffered from the consuming hand of time ; and there is reason to believe ♦hat some additions have been made to it. In fine, it contains a history -Of the lives and memorable transactions of all the illus- trious characters recorded in sacred history, from Adam down to the time of the Elders, who immediately succeeded Joshua. TRANSLATION OF THE HEBREW PREFACE. THIS BOOK IS THAT WHICH IS CALLED THE UPRIGHT BOOK. It has at this time been ascertained by us that when tiie holy city Je- rusalem was destroyed by Titus, all the military heads went in to rob and plunder, and that amongst the officers* of Titus was one whose name was Sidrus, who went in to search, and found in Jerusalem a house of great extent, and took away all the spoils which he found there ; when he wished to go out of the house, he looked at the wall and fancied that he saw trea- sures there, so he broke down the wall and the building and found a cask full of various books of the Law, the Prophets, and the Hagiographa,f also books of the kings of Israel, and of the kings of other nations, as well as many other books of Israel, together with the books of the Mishnah adopted and established ; many rolls were also lying there ; he also found there all sorts of provision and wine in abundance, anu uiscovered an old man sitting there, who was reading in those books. When the officer saw this great sight he was greatly astonished, and said to the old man, why dost thou sit alone in this place, without any person remaining with thee ? So the old man answered, for many years past was I aware of this second destruction of Jerusalem, so I built this house and made for myself a bal- cony ,j: and I brought with me these books to read, and I brought also sufficient provision, thinking thereby to|| save my life. And God caused the old man to find favor in the eyes of the officer, who brought him forth with respect with all his books, and they went from city to city and from country to country until they reached Sevilia ; and the officer found that this old man was possessed of wisdom and understand- ing and acquainted with various kinds of science, upon discovering which he raised and honored him, was constantly in his house and was taught by him all sorts of wisdom, and they built for themselves a lofty and capacious house in the suburbs of Sevilia and placed there all those books. This house is yet in Sevilia unto this day, and they wrote there all the events that would hereafter take place amongst the kings of the world unto the coming of our Messiah. * pD^in Buxton gives this word " episcopus" which, besides a bishop, means also a lieu- tenant, overseer, superintendant. See Arach. t Psalms, Proverbs, &c. t nniD3K or porch, a Talmudical word derived from the Greek. Sec .\rack. II See Jeremiah 33 3, the same e.iprcasion. jjyi HEBREW PREFACE. And it came to pass that when God carried* us away with a mighty captivity by the hands of the kings of Edom, from city to city and from country to country in bitter anxiety, this book, called " The Generations of Adam" together with other books came into our hands, for they came from that house in Sevilia, and they came afterward to our city Napuli, which city is under the sway of the king of Spain, (whose glory may be exalted.) And when we saw these books, that they were books of all wisdom, we resolved in our minds to print them like all the books that came to our hands. Now this book is the best and most valuable of all, and of this book twelve copies have reached us, and we searched in them and found them all of one copy, there was no difference, nothing added and nothing deficient, nor any alteration in letters, words or events, for they were all alike as it were of one copy. Since, therefore, we saw in this book great merit urging us to this re- solve, we are determined to print it — and it is found written that this book is called the Book Jasher, because all its transactions are in that order as they had taken place m the world as regards priority and succession, for thou wilt not find in this book any postponement of events that were anterior, or priority of those that were posterior, but every thing is re- corded in its place and time. Thou wilt thus find that it relates the death of such a one at the particu- lar time of the life of another and thus throughout. Owing to this it was called Sepher Hajashar, but it is customary to call it the Generations of Adam, the reason of which is that they call it by that with which it coni- mences, but the chief name thereof is the book " Jasher" owing to the reasons we have assigned. Now it is found that this book is translated into Greek, entitled " Lo lihris de los divitiis" It is also found written in the book of the A.smonean9 which has come down to VIS, that in the days of Ptolemy king of Egypt, he ordered his servants to go and gather all the books of laws, and all the books of Chronicles which they could find in the world, so that he might become wi.se through them, and by examining them become acquainted with the subjects and events of the world, and to compile from them a book in all matters of jurisdiction regarding the aflfairs of life, thereby to c-sercise pure justice. So they went and collected for him nine hundred and sixty five books and brought to him, when he commanded them to go again -and seek to coraplcte the number of a thousand books, and they did so. After this, some oi the persecutors of Israel stood up before him and said, O king, why wilt thou trouble thyself in this manner? Send to the Jews in Jerusalem that they shall bring unto thee the book of their law which was written for them trom the mouth of the Lord by their Propliets, from which thou mayest become wise, and regulate all judgments and laws ac- cording to thy desire ; so the king hearkened to their words, and sent to the Jews upon this matter, who sent to him this book, for they could not give unto him the book of the Lord, for they said, we cannot give the law * See same expression, Isaiah 2S. 17. HEBEEW PREFACE. XVII of the Lord to a stranger. Now when this book came to the hands of Ptolemy he read it and it pleased him greatly, and he searched therein in his wisdom, and he examined it and found therein what he had desired, and he neglected all the other books which they had collected for him, and he blessed Jiim who had advised him to this thing. After some time the persecutors of Israel became aware of this, that the Israelites had not sent the book of the law to the king, and they came and said unto him, king, the Israelites have treated thee with con- tempt, for they did not spnd to thee the book of the law which we had mentioned to thee, but they sent lo thee another book which they had in their hands, therefore send to them thai they may forward unto thee the book of their law, for from that book tbou wilt obtain thy desire much more than from the book which they have sent to thee ; so when the king heard their words he became exceedingly wroth against the Israelites, and his anger burned within him until he sent again to them for them to for- ward to him the book of the law. Fearing that they might still continue to scorn him, he acted prudently with them and sent to seventy of their elders and placed them in seventy houses, that each should write the book of the law, so that no alteration might be found in them, and the divine spirit rested upon them, and they wrote for him seventy books and they were all of one version, without addition or diminution. At this the king rejoiced greatly and he honored the elders, together with all the Jews, and he sent offerings and gifts to Jenisalem as it is written there.* At his death, the Israelites acted cunningly with his son and took- from his treasures the book of the law, but left this book there and took it not away, in order tliat every future king might know the wonders of the Lord, blessed be his name, and that 'he had chosen Israel from all nations, and that there is no God beside him. This book is therefore in Egypt unto this day, and from that time it became circulated throughout the earth, until it readied us in our captivity this day in the city of Napuli, which is under the rule of the king of Spain. Now thou wilt find in this book that some of the kings of Edom, of Chit- tim and the kings of Africa who were in those days, are mentioned, although it might appear that such was not the aim or intent of this book ; but the reason of this was to show to every person obtaining this book* the contrast between the wars of Israel and the wars of the Gentiles, for the conquest of Gentile kings one over the other was by accident, which is not so in the conquest of the kings of Israel over the Gentiles, which is by a miracle from our blessed Lord as long as the Israelites trust in his exalted name. Now the uses of this book are many, all of which lead us to confidence in God, (whose name be exalted,) and to our adherence unto him and his ways. The first use is the additional information it affords us upon the sub- jects of the creation of man and the deluge, recording also the years of the twenty generations and their misdeeds ; also at what period they were * In the book of the Asmoneans mentioned above. B XVIIl HEBREW PREFACE, bom, and when they died, by which means, our hearts may be inclined to adhere to the Lord, when we see the mighty works which he per- formed in days of old. The second use is in the additional account respecting the birth of Abra- ham and how it was that he cleaved to the Lord, and the transactions that took place between him and Nimrod ; and thus also of the account of the builders of the tower of Babel,* how that the Lord drove them to the four corners of the earth, and how they established the countries and lands called after their names unto this day, by which means we may draw nigh to our Creator. The third use is the explanation it gives us how the patriarchs adhered to the Lord, and of their transactions which convince us of their fear of God., The fourth use is, in what it records of the affairs of Sodom and the iniquities of its people, and in what consisted their sins, as well as their punishment, by which means we may refrain from all evil doings. The fifth use is in the account of the faith of Isaac and Jacob in the Lord, and the prayers and weeping of Sarah at the binding of Isaac /or a sacrifice, which is of great use in in- clining our hearts to the service of the Lord. The sixth use is in the in- formation it affords us upon the subject of the wars of the sons of Jacob with the people of Shechem and the seven cities of the Amorites. This will rouse our hearts to faith in our God ; for how could ten men destroy seven cities, if their hearts tiad not been impressed with faith in the Lord ? The seventh use is, in the information it gives us of all the events that happened to Joseph in Egypt, with Potiphar and his wife and with the king of Egypt, for this will also rouse our hearts to the fear of the Lord, and to remove ourselves from all sin, so that it may be well with us in the latter end. The eighth use is in the account it furnishes us of what happened to Moses in Cush and in Midian, by which we may understand the wonders of the Lord which he performs for the- righteous, and that we may thereby adhere to him. The ninth use is in its recording what had happened to the Israelites in Egypt, and when the commencement of their servitude took place, and how they served the Egyptians in all manner of hard work, and to what purpose all this tended — how after this God was favorable to them through their trusting in him, and there is no doubt of this that he who reads the events of Egypt from this book on the nights of the Pass- over, will receive a great reward, as our Rabbins of blessed memory say, he that is occupied in relating the exit from.Egypt is to be praised, in which this book is included, for this is the true narration which ought to be read after the Hagadah, for such person (reading this) may be assured that he will be greatly rewarded ; we do so this day in our captivity in the countries of Spain, after having finished reading the Hagadah, we com- mence reading in this book the whole affair of Egypt, from the Israelites going down to Egypt unto their exit, for in this book a person ought to * Called nhon yn because the earth wai then divided. HEBREW PREFACE. XIX read. The eleventh* use is, that some of the comments of our Rabbles and of other commentators who have explained the law, thou wilt find illustrated in this book, such as the account of the messengers who met Jacob! when he came from Mesopotamia after they had gone to Esau, also the account of Gabriel who taught Joseph seventy languages, also the illustration it affords of himf who smote Midian in the fields of Moab, and the like. The twelfth use is, that every person lecturing in public may bring forward in his discourse, subjects from this book, which the commentators have not explained, by which means he may make an im- pression upon the hearts of his audience. The thirteenth use is, that «11 merchants and travellers, who have an opportunity to study the law, may read this book and receive their reward, for therein is the reward of the soul as well as the delight of the body, in the discovery of new matter not recorded in any other book, and by these means will man understand to know the Lord and cleave unto him. Now because we have seen the merit of this book, and the great use- fulness thereof, we have undertaken to print it without addition or diminu- tion, and from this time we have commenced to print it in a book, that such books may be in the hands of the members of our covenant, the men of our captivity in order that it may be farther circulated throughout every generation, and every city, family and country, so that they may under- stand the wonders of the Lord which he performed for our ancestors, and his bounties toward them from the days of old, and that he chose us from all nations. May they who devote their hearts to the fear of the Lord, be rendered meritorious by studying therein whilst we confide in the I