Mentioned in the Old Testament, the Book of Jasher, (also spelled Jashar in some text) is considered to be part of the biblical canon. The Bible canon refers to the collection of books that are considered to be divinely inspired and therefore, authoritative and binding for the Christian faith. The canon of the Old Testament consists of 39 books, while the canon of the New Testament consists of 27 books. The 39 books of the Old Testament are divided into four main sections: the Pentateuch, the Historical Books, the Wisdom Books, and the Prophets. Written over a period of about 1,000 years. The exact time of the 27 Books of the New Testament and when they were written is difficult to determine with complete accuracy but most scholars believe between approximately 50-AD and 100-AD. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, were likely written, although still debated by scholars, after the death of Jesus. It is worth noting that while the books were written after the death of Jesus, they are based on HIS teachings of, and events surrounding, HIS life. The Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles or letters, and the Book of Revelation, which narrates the history of the early Christian Church, was most likely written in the early 60’s-AD. Revelation is considered to be apocalyptic literature, was probably written during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian in the late 1st Century, around 95-AD. The dating of each book is still debated by scholars and some may have been revised or edited over time.
The New Testament were carefully selected and accepted by the early Christian Church based on their authenticity, orthodoxy, and apostolicity. The canonization took several centuries and different Christian denominations have slightly different canons. It is not clear who wrote the Book of Jasher or whether the individual was a prophet. Scholars have speculated that it was compiled during the Second Temple period in Israel, but there is no definitive evidence to support this theory. Jasher’s identity or the author of the Book of Jasher is unknown. Some believe that someone named Jasher; others believe it was written by multiple authors and compiled over time.
But the Book of Jasher provides an account of the history of the Israelites from the Creation, to the conquest of Canaan, to the time of king David. Other Scriptures that provide information about this time period are found in Genesis and Exodus. The Book of Genesis tells the story of Creation in the first two chapters. The Book of Exodus recounts the story of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt, their deliverance from slavery, and their journey to Mount Sinai where they received the Ten Commandments. The Book of Leviticus provides detailed instructions for the Israelites on how to worship God and maintain ritual purity. The Book of Numbers documents the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness and their journey to the Promised Land. The Book of Deuteronomy contains Moses’ final speeches to the children of Israel before they enter the Promised Land. The Book of Joshua describes the conquest of Canaan by Joshua and the Israelites. The Book of Jashar and Jasher refer to the same ancient Jewish text that is mentioned in the Bible and is also referred to as “Sefer HaYashar”, which means, “The Book of the Upright”.
Genesis 1:1-2
New International Version
The Beginning
1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
Genesis 1:1-2
King James Version
1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
Genesis 1:1-2
Living Bible
1 “When God began creating the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a shapeless, chaotic mass, with the Spirit of God brooding over the dark vapors”.
Numbers 13:1-2
New International Version
Exploring Canaan
13 “The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” ”
Numbers 13:1-2
King James Version
13 “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.”
Numbers 13:1-2
Living Bible
13 “Jehovah now instructed Moses, 2 “Send spies into the land of Canaan—the land I am giving to Israel; send one leader from each tribe.” ”
Joshua 10:13
New International Version
13 “So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies,
as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.”
Joshua 10:13
King James Version
13 “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? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.”
Joshua 10:13
Living Bible
13 “And the sun and the moon didn’t move until the Israeli army had finished the destruction of its enemies! This is described in greater detail in The Book of Jashar. So the sun stopped in the heavens and stayed there for almost twenty-four hours!”