Introduction:
The Book of Jasher, also referred to as the "Book of the Upright" or "Book of the Just," is a non-canonical text mentioned in the Old Testament. It is cited in two specific passages, leading to curiosity and speculation about its content and significance. The references to Jasher in the Bible suggest it was a historical work known to the ancient Israelites.

Biblical References:
1. Joshua 10:13 : "So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day."

This passage describes a miraculous event during the conquest of Canaan, where Joshua commands the sun and moon to stand still. The reference to the Book of Jasher suggests it contained accounts of significant historical and miraculous events in Israel's history.

2. 2 Samuel 1:18 : "and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar:"

Here, the Book of Jasher is mentioned in the context of David's lament over Saul and Jonathan. The "Song of the Bow" is a poetic tribute, and its inclusion in Jasher indicates the book may have contained songs, poems, or other literary forms celebrating Israel's heroes and significant events.

Nature and Content:
The exact nature and content of the Book of Jasher remain unknown, as the original text has not survived. The references in Joshua and 2 Samuel suggest it was a collection of historical records, possibly including songs, poems, and accounts of Israel's leaders and battles. It may have served as a national chronicle, preserving the memory of God's interventions and the valor of Israel's warriors.

Historical and Scholarly Perspectives:
Throughout history, various texts have claimed to be the Book of Jasher, but none have been universally accepted as authentic. Some of these texts are medieval forgeries or later compositions that attempt to fill the gap left by the lost original. Scholars generally agree that the original Book of Jasher was an ancient document, but its precise form and content remain speculative.

Theological Significance:
The mention of the Book of Jasher in the Bible underscores the importance of historical memory and the recording of God's mighty acts among His people. It highlights the value placed on preserving the accounts of faith, courage, and divine intervention. While the original text is lost, the references in Scripture remind believers of the rich tapestry of history that undergirds the biblical narrative.

Conclusion:
The Book of Jasher, though lost to history, is a testament to the ancient Israelites' commitment to recording and remembering their history and God's work among them. Its mention in the Bible invites reflection on the importance of historical records in understanding and appreciating the unfolding of God's plan through time.Jasher

righteous; upright

Jasher

(upright),Book of ("the book of the upright"), alluded to in two passages only of the Old Testament. (Joshua 10:13) and 2Sam 1:18 It was probably written in verse; and it has been conjectured that it was a collection of ancient records of honored men or noble deeds. It is wholly lost.

Jasher

THE BOOK OF, that is, the book of the upright, or of the excellent, noble-minded. This work is mentioned in Joshua 10:13, and 2 Samuel 1:18, and would seem to have been a collection of national, historical, triumphal, and elegiac songs, which was still extant in the time of David. Josephus speaks of a book of Jasher as then existing in the temple, but nothing is known respecting it. The books now published under this name are gross forgeries.

Upright. "The Book of Jasher," rendered in the LXX. "the Book of the Upright One," by the Vulgate "the Book of Just Ones," was probably a kind of national sacred song-book, a collection of songs in praise of the heroes of Israel, a "book of golden deeds," a national anthology. We have only two specimens from the book, (1) the words of Joshua which he spake to the Lord at the crisis of the battle of Beth-horon (Joshua 10:12, 13); and (2) "the Song of the Bow," that beautiful and touching mournful elegy which David composed on the occasion of the death of Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:18-27). JASHER, BOOK OF

ja'-sher, jash'-er: the King James Version for JASHAR (which see), and see BETH-HORON, THE BATTLE OF.

3477. yashar -- straight, right
... From yashar; straight (literally or figuratively) -- convenient, equity, Jasher,
just, meet(-est), + pleased well right(-eous), straight, (most) upright(-ly ...
/hebrew/3477.htm - 6k

The Historical Books.
... The only apparent indication of a still later composition of the book is that
found in the reference to the book of Jasher, chap.10:13. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

A Look into the Hebrew Bible.
... In Joshua 10:13, the story of the sun standing still over Gibeon is said to have
been quoted from "The Book of Jasher," and in 2 Samuel 1:18, the beautiful ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter i a look into.htm

The Mysteries of the Brazen Serpent
... Moses had taught them the use of the bow, as it is written in the book of Jasher,
but these were thing, against which the arrow could not prevail. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the mysteries of the brazen.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... In the mean thee, the fact itself was mentioned in the book of Jasher, now lost,
Joshua 10:13, and is confirmed by Isaiah, 28:21, Habakkuk, 3:11, and by the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

Index of Subjects.
... doctrine of justification, 491. Jasher, book of, 243. Jason, his five books,
360. Jeremiah, sketch of his life, 310. Jeremiah, book of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barrows/companion to the bible/index of subjects.htm

Subjects of Study. Home Education in Israel; Female Education. ...
... we are told of copies of the law (Deuteronomy 17:18, 28:58, etc.), while in Joshua
10:13 we have a reference to a work called "the book of Jasher." In Joshua 18 ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 8 subjects of study.htm

Five Kings in a Cave
... And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves
upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/five kings in a cave.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Jasher (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Upright. "The Book of Jasher," rendered in the LXX.
"the ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. JASHER, BOOK OF. ja ...
/j/jasher.htm - 8k

Jashobeam (3 Occurrences)

/j/jashobeam.htm - 10k

Jashar (2 Occurrences)
... ja'-shar, jash'-ar (cepher ha-yashar; the King James Version Book of Jasher, margin
"the book of the upright"): The title of an ancient Hebrew national song ...
/j/jashar.htm - 9k

Jashen (1 Occurrence)

/j/jashen.htm - 8k

Book (211 Occurrences)
... The book of the wars of the Lord (Numbers 21:14), the book of Jasher (Joshua
10:13), and the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah and Israel (2 ...
/b/book.htm - 101k

Joshua (211 Occurrences)
... The record of it occurs in Joshua's impassioned prayer of faith, as quoted
(Joshua 10:12-15) from the "Book of Jasher" (qv). There ...
/j/joshua.htm - 101k

David (1052 Occurrences)
... might be preserved among them. "Behold, it is written in the book of Jasher"
(qv). David king over Judah. David and his men now ...
/d/david.htm - 93k

Libraries
... the ark. Moreover, the Books of Jasher, the Wars of Yahweh, etc., imply
a literature which in turn implies libraries. Whenever or ...
/l/libraries.htm - 38k

Hasted (35 Occurrences)
... Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst
of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. ...
/h/hasted.htm - 17k

What is the Book of Jasher and should it be in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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