Lawrence DeMetrius

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The Book of Jasher
An Intimate Review
Pt 1 – Covering Chapters 1-17
By Lawrence DeMetrius

Quite simply, The Book of Jasher gives insight into the ancient world of Old Testament Patriarchs like Adam, Enoch, Noah and Abraham. It provides details into why and how famous world events noted in Old Testament Times occurred. The Book of Jasher takes nothing away from the knowledge provisioned in The Holy Bible. Rather, it enhances such knowledge with details about life in Old Testament times. All 91 Chapters of The Book of Jasher are filled with incredible insight that strengthens faith in Christ, His Teaching and of all Prophets and Scribes of Yahweh who came before and after His First Advent. Let it be clear that The Book of Jasher is referred to by Old Testament Patriarchs Joshua and Samuel. [Jos 10:13; II Sam 1:18] In that The Book of Jasher is noted by such Biblical characters, it should be considered worthy of diligent study under guidance of the Holy Ghost. This intimate review does not entail verbatim reading of The Book of Jasher but does touch on major events noted in The Holy Bible.
Chapter 1 notes that the sin of Adam and Eve was that they disobeyed Yahweh by hearkening to the word of another thereby discarding that of Yahweh, their FATHER.
The curse they inherited was dismissal from the most blessed domain and mode of living on earth and eventually mortal death. Also noted is that the sin of their firstborn son Cain was that he failed to offer Yahweh the very best of fruit yielded per his productivity. [vs 16] The chapter also notes that Enoch was ironically a direct descendent of Cain. [vs 34, 36; 2:37]
Chapter 2 notes that the practice of idol worship and Yahweh’s initial response to it began in the days of Enosh the son of Seth. [vs 1-5]
It notes that the earth itself became corrupt due to the sins of mortals. [vs 9] Apostle Paul mentions how the earth anticipates the manifestation and works of Yahweh’s spiritually born-again offspring. [Rm 8:19-23; St Jn 1:11-13] Cainan the son of Enosh and grandson of Seth also wrote and taught divine wisdom by which he ruled over demons and evil spirits. Thus, he was indeed one of Yahweh’s earliest Prophets and Scribes. [vs 10-14; Dan 12:3, 10] Also noted is that Cain who killed his brother Abel was accidentally killed by Lamech his grandson, who also accidently killed Cain’s great grandson Cain Tubal per divine intervention. This was Cain’s reaping for the murder of Abel. [vs 26-36] This incident is noted in The Book of Jubilees as Cain dying as a result his HOUSE falling on him. One’s HOUSE is figurative of his HOUSEHOLD, family, kindred and blood relatives. [BOJ 4:31, 32]
Chapter 3 introduces Enoch who after many years of studious devotion to Yahweh, was commissioned to share what he learned of Yahweh with all who desired such knowledge. It is clear that whoever truly desires divine insight will seek out and receive it through righteous people who are anointed of Yahweh to impart such knowledge to them. [vs 1-8; SofS 1:8; Mt 5:14-16, 19; 7:7-11; Lk 4:18, 19; Acts 1:8; Rm 10:13-18; Eph 4:7, 8, 11-13] Not only was Enoch a Scribe and Prophet of Yahweh, but he was a King and Peacemaker as are all Sons of God, as noted in the New Testament by the Lord Jesus Christ and Apostle John. [vs 10-12; Mt 5:9; Rev 1:5, 6] Chapter 3 also verifies that Adam the Son of God died when he was 930 years old and only because he ate the forbidden fruit per Yahweh’s word. [Gen 2:9, 17] Noah’s father Lamech was 56 years old at the time of Adam’s death. In fact, two of Adams immediate sons, along with Enoch and his son Methuselah, buried him with great pomp as at the burial of kings in a cave appointed by Yahweh. [vs 14-16] The chapter ends with information regarding Enoch’s final seven days on earth prior to his deathless ascension into immortality. This happened shortly after Adam’s death. [vs 17-38]
Chapter 4 informs that Enoch’s son Methuselah reined as King in his stead after his ascension. Sadly, people began to again lose interest in divine worship opting to worship idols created by their own hands.
It tells of Noah’s birth and destiny and that Methuselah instructed his son Lamech to name his son Noah. [vs 13-15, 21] The writer discloses that idol worship as all works of evil is taught. [vs 16, 17] It speaks of how some in power forced adultery and fornication upon their subjects, and practiced the science of mutation by mixing the seed of various species to provoke Yahweh. [vs 18] It denotes how THE LORD spares the righteous from suffering punishment only purposed for the unrighteous. [vs 20]
Chapter 5 reiterates that all the righteous except for Noah and his immediate household died prior to The Great Flood. Yahweh has always acknowledged the righteous and kept them from destruction meant only for the unrighteous. [vs 5, 6, 21, 36; II Tim 2:19; II Pet 2:9; Rev 3:7, 8, 10] Yahweh forewarned the unrighteous and gave them 120 YEARS TO REPENT. If they did The Great Flood would not have happened. However, they ignored HIS warning invoking The Flood upon themselves. [vs 7-9, 21-25] Discouraged about the destruction of the world Noah determined not to begat children. But Yahweh assured that he and his children were destined to live and repopulate the world after the flood. Thus, Noah agreed to take a wife then begat children, which gives credence to the idea of marriage before child rearing.
It also reiterates that successful child rearing involves one teaching their children righteous principles as taught by Yahweh. [vs 12-18] Per The Book Of Jasher it was Noah who built the Ark in just five years. [vs 34] After he completed the Ark is when his Grandfather Methuselah died at 960 years old instead of 969 as noted in Moses’s account. [Gen 5:25, 27] The point is that Methuselah was the last of the righteous who died prior to The Flood other than Noah and his household. [vs 36]
Chapter 6 clarifies that it has always been idolatry and blatant disregard of Yahweh that leads mortals to certain destruction. [vs 15-25]
Chapter 7 teaches that Yahweh pre-readied mortals to be represented as various nationalities and ultimately did so by languages per the fall of The Tower of Babel, which is noted in Moses’ account. [vs 45-48; Gen 11] This is also when THE LORD determined that the mortal lifetime would be shortened to approximately 120 years, which is also noted in Moses’ account. [Gen 6:3] Per Apostle Paul, the primary reason for Yahweh doing this was to help guide mortals back into favorable relationship with HIM. [Acts 17:26, 27] This chapter gives the history of Nimrod the son of Cush and Grandson of Ham the son of Noah. Per The Book of Jasher, Nimrod inherited a certain power of influence in the land when he inherited The Garments of Adam.
So much so that he became King and reigned quite successfully until he embraced and began to teach practices of idolatry. This was prior to The Tower of Babel, at which time all people spoke one language on earth. [vs 45-48] Chapter 7 ends with the birth of Abram the son of Terah who was the prince of Nimrod’s hosts. This means that Abram later known as Abraham was born into a family of high political prestige and was not a common citizen.
Chapter 8 foretells the destiny and calling of Abraham the father of Israel. Per the report of celestial star activity at his birth and prophecy concerning his destiny, Abraham was a type of Christ in his time. Nimrod offered to purchase Abram from Terah for silver and gold in order that he might kill him, and prevent him from fulfilling his destiny, which of course Terah rejected with a crafty parable. In the end, another child’s life was sacrificed to save Abram’s. This reiterates that no matter how determined an enemy seeks to kill and destroy one of God’s chosen, he cannot do it when THE LORD intervenes.
Chapter 9 tells of the birth of Lot the son of Haran who was the eldest son of Terah and Abram’s oldest brother. Sarai who later became Sarah and wife of Abram, was the daughter of Haran, which makes her Abram’s niece. [vs 1-3]

SARAI was also considered Abram’s sister because his father Terah adopted her and her brother Lot, when their father Haran, Terah’s eldest son and Abram’s eldest brother died in Ur. [Gen 11:23-32] Noted in this chapter is that Abram received his initial training in the Word and Ways of THE LORD through Noah and Shem. [vs 5, 6] Unfortunately, Terah with Nimrod were gross idolators. [vs 7-10] Until Abram fully understood that idol worship was vain, he looked to celestial bodies like the moon, sun, and stars briefly considering that they may be GOD until Yahweh revealed HIMSELF to him. As it is in every generation, Yahweh gave Abram the mind to realize that HE indeed is the only SUPREME GOD and that all idol worship is vain. [vs 12-19] Again, the writer reiterates that all people on earth during Nimrod’s reign spoke one language. It also clarifies the real intent behind the people building The Tower of Babel. This wicked intent initiated the city’s fall, scattering of all peoples throughout the mainland, and origination of nationalities by language. The people who led this revolt were the descendants of Ham. [vs 20-25, 31, 37] The chapter also explains the sin of inordinate affection, which is later expounded upon by Apostle Paul in his letter to the Saints at Rome. [vs 28-31; Rm 1:26, 31]
Chapter 10 tells that government was established by Noah’s descendants.
Chapters 11 and 12 tells of how Abram lobbies against idol worship in his city, for which he was sentenced to capital punishment, which then was death by fire. [11; 12:5] Haran was reported to be a secret lover of Yahweh i.e., he was doubleminded, for which he died in the same fire that Abram was cast into but survived by divine providence. [12:18, 26] Again, Abram’s life was sought due to a prophecy of ill fate toward Nimrod the King, which he escaped a second time by divine intervention.
Chapter 13 indicates that Abram’s good character and repute as a righteous person inspired others to practice divine worship. [vs 2] This is reiterated by Christ in the epistle of Apostle Matthew. [Mt 5:14-16, 19] THE LORD informs Abram that if he obeyed HIM, he would inherit divine protection and a blessed posterity. [vs 3, 4] In this is confirmed that there were indeed divine laws and statutes in the land prior to those of Moses, which were given through Cainan and Enoch. [vs 4; 2:10-14; 3:6-12] It was Yahweh WHO instructed Abram to go to Canaan. [vs 6] In the third year of his tenure in Canaan, when Abram was 58 years old, Noah died at the age of 950. [vs 9] However, in Moses’s account Noah was 955 when he died. [Gen 9:29]
Chapter 14 gives the origin of the epithet Pharoah which began with a wise man of Shinar by the name of Rikyon and was maintained in the land of Egypt since that time. [vs 27, 32, 33]
Chapters 15 and 16 notes as, does Moses, that Abram feared the loss of his life while journeying through Egypt on account of Sarai’s beauty and instructed her to be acknowledged as his sister instead of his wife. As mentioned earlier in the text, she was his sister by adoption because Terah his father adopted her when her father Haran, Terah’s eldest son, died in Ur. [15: 4; 9:1-3; 12:5, 18, 26; Gen 11:23-32] It notes that the tithe was a 10% tax customarily given to the kings i.e., Pharoahs of Egypt. [15: 8, 11] This is likely why Abram readily gave a tithe of all his booty to Melchizedek the King of Jebu, Canaan and priest of Yahweh, when he returned from The Battle of Kings as noted in Moses’s account. [Gen 14] Per The Book Of Jasher this King who blessed Abram after this same event is named Adonizedek. He too is identified as a High Priest of Yahweh and King of Jerusalem formerly named Salem, which was the name of the capitol city of Jebu in Canaan. Per The Book of Jasher this man was actually Shem, the son of Noah. [16:11, 12; Gen 5:32]
Chapter 17 notes that Yahweh gave the promise of a great posterity to Abram when he was 99 years old, at which time HE changed his name to Abraham. [vs 16-20]
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