The Book of Jubilees: R. H. Charles

by R.H. Charles

The Book of Jubilees, sometimes called Lesser Genesis, is an ancient Jewish religious work of 50 chapters, considered canonical by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as well as Ethiopian Jews, where it is known as the Book of Division. Jubilees is considered one of the pseudepigrapha by Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Genres: Religion, Theology, Christian, History, Nonfiction, Judaism, Mythology

138 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 101

About the author

Robert Henry Charles (1855–1931) was an Irish biblical scholar and theologian. He left parochial work in 1889 to devote himself to biblical research and became the greatest authority of his time in matters of Jewish eschatology and apocrypha. He became a canon at Westminster Abbey in 1913 and archdeacon there in 1919. His books include Eschatology (1913, 2nd ed), Between the Old and New Testaments (1914), and his edition of The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament. (1913). He is known particularly for English translations of apocryphal and pseudepigraphal works, and editions including Jubilees (1895), the Book of Enoch (1906), and the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs (1908) which have been widely used. Among his other publications are The Apocalypse (1920), Divorce and Nullity (1927), and The Resurrection of Man (1930). He was educated at the Belfast Academy, Queen's College, Belfast and Trinity College, Dublin. He gained a D.D. and became Professor of Biblical Greek at Trinity College.

Reviews

[DJ Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to read books that have been omitted from the Bible. With the exception of The Book of Enoch , The Book of Jubilees is my favorite lost book that I think should have been included in the finalized text. My opinion as to why it was left out is due to its largely fantastic and somewhat unrealistic storylines, true or false.

The Book of Enoch and The Book of Jubilees are really companion books. The Book of Enoch tells us the flood was primarily to get rid of the fallen ones and their descendants, however; The Book of Jubilees tells us that God allowed some of the fallen to return after the flood to test humanity, preparing them for judgement. In the Book of Jubilees, there are numerous references to angels, good and evil. The good angels are servants of God, whereas the evil angels oppose God and seek to lead human beings astray.

A dominant theme in the Book of Jubilees is that of God as righteous judge. Also, The Law is a central focus in the book. It defines what is good and evil for all of creation and serves as the basis of God’s judgment. In addition, it addresses that even though God as righteous judge gives each human freedom of choice, they must suffer the consequences of their choices, but God is merciful and is willing to remove the guilt resulting from sin.

Jerusalem is said to be one of the three holy places on earth, the other two being the Garden of Eden and Mt. Sinai. Zion is called the navel of the earth, which in the context seems to mean the culture center of the earth.

Many people may be offended by the insistence the book tends to make toward maintaining racial purity and national identity.

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[Joseph Burk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat fanciful at times, but overall pretty interesting. Cain's wife is mentioned (one of his sisters, apparently). It also makes the assertion that animals talked in the garden of Eden, then lost that ability after the fall. It goes into more details of fallen angels, too. If you're interested in Jewish history/myths this is a must read. I read it online here: http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/jub/i...
This should not be regarded as literal history, as it's not inspired by God though the Ethiopian Orthodox church and Egyptian Copts recognize it as such.

[Shannon Baas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book that covers Genesis and some of Exodus. It goes into a lot more detail than the bible does. I would recommend the book to any Christian.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting. This filled in some gaps that were not explained in the Bible.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book interesting. I do not recommend this because I know few people who would enjoy this. I took Old Testament theology from a Jewish rabbi at a Catholic university and acquired an interest in the Pentatuch. This book looks at Genesis and Exodusodus. It was one of the books that did not earn inclusion in the Bible, probably because of the redundancy.

[Fede Boccacci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una de las obras pseudo epigráficas (o apócrifas) del Antiguo Testamento más importantes, de lengua de origen hebrea (aunque solo la versión etiópica se conserva completa), y compuesta alrededor del 130 a.C. Es un midrash haggádico de Génesis y Éxodo, en el que Moisés recibe las tablas de la Ley y el relato de los orígenes de la alianza de Dios con el pueblo israelita.

Su postura teológica consiste en presentar una escatología definida, en la que la estricta observancia de una ley eterna, grabada por Dios en tablas de piedra, es la única vía de salvación y una casi ilimitada exaltación del pueblo y la fe de Israel (y por contraposición un rechazo de todo pueblo extranjero). Desde esta perspectiva se reinterpretan todas las sagas de los libros de los que depende, en los que todos los patriarcas son fieles observantes de la ley: Adán, Noé, Abrahám, Isaac, Jacob, José y luego Moisés.

El autor posiblemente fue un sacerdote protoesenio, es decir que participaba de la mentalidad religiosa que luego dio al cisma esenio, y que fue anterior a este.

Un libro interesante para conocer un poco más de la mentalidad de la época.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great addition of information and pairs well with the Genesis. It's one of three books that help fill in the world of ancient times. The book contains a timeline type of storytelling rather than the traditional storytelling of Genesis so it's more complex to read but when paired with Genesis it makes a more complete picture.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting account!

I thoroughly enjoyed this account of what happened as far as the history of the ones involved from the Bible.

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not comfortable giving a ranking to apocryphal writings, but I did learn some new and interesting tid-bits which enhanced the Biblical stories in Genesis. For example, Genesis doesn't say anything about "Leah" after Rachel dies, but the Book of the Jubilees states that upon her death Jacob mourned, missed her terribly, and that he'd never heard her speak a harsh word. She also outlived Bilhah and Jacob's only daughter Dinah. No earth-shattering revelations here, but just some interesting details that were not mentioned in the Bible (that I remember).

[M Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jubilees is essentially a reworking of Genesis and Exodus from about 150 BCE. It was immensely popular with the Essenes and with the hardline moralists of the Early Church, primarily because of its black/white approach to both ideas and people and its stress on sexual immorality as THE besetting sin of humankind. Interesting to help get some perspective on Early Christianity and for some of its more outrageous fables. Certainly not necessary (or perhaps wise) reading for those not well versed in more orthodox Jewish and Christian theology.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

translated from ethiopic; loaded with ancient practices from all the times before and up to moses;
difficult to read but very informative

[Victoria]

So far I love it. It is really filling in the gaps in Genesis, although some of the vocabulary requires a Bible Dictionary.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I would have known about The Book of Jubilees a long time ago.

[Frankie Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, but a lot was left out.

To learn more
e about Abraham and what was in Jubliees time.
I wish the author did more on what all took place.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.goodreads.com/book?ref=na...

[Dennis Napier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biblically Corrective and Mentally Stimulating

I think that this book is a very important book of history. I don’t accept nor would I advise you to accept the writings in this book to be historically correct or complete. However, it do point to various errors within the so-called accepted holy writings of the Bible. The Bible clearly is a book of plagiarized excerpts from various belief systems of that day. The times and dates certainly do not add up, or the names assigned were names not originally created by the people that they were so-called naming. The names in the Bible are barbaric names or better said names given to a people by barbaric people which were basically the European nations. Unfortunately, the Greek so-called conquerors but better described as nothing more than invaders and thieves, they overcame and conquered the people that are written about in the Bible. And that’s where the air comes in because the perspective is not from the people of the lands in which they are so-called writing about. So it really is impossible to determine who are these people these invaders or the so-called Hebrew people what were they and where they come from. Supposedly they went into the land with a few numbers of people and they clearly intermarried with these so-called Egyptian people which is a Greek name. it’s not the name of the peoples of that land who the names given to. Its clear that the names given to the people of the land the so called Egypt was created by an invasive body of peoples. And then so-called enslavement eventually came about but we must consider that prior to that enslavement the natural peoples of these lands clearly accepted them. That enslavement is not acceptable nor explainable if appled to the natiralbody of people of this land. Except to consider that these lands were being occupied by an invasivebody of people. there are these other people’s from these other lands which are invasive and they basically started interfering and ruling over the lands in which these so-called Hebrew people were enslaved. You should study the book though because it really do cause you to think about the so-called Canon of the Bible and bring you to question the legitimacy of the so-called God’s word. The Bible clearly is not God’s word it’s merely referencing a wicked and barbaric people with references to God’s reactions and God’s rejection!

[Sharon Dorival · Rating 5 out of 5]

Translated by R.H. Charles, "The Book of Jubilees" is an ancient Jewish text that offers a unique perspective on the early history of humanity, from creation to the early days of the Israelites. This book is a treasure trove of theological, historical, and cultural insights, providing a fascinating glimpse into the thought world of ancient Judaism.

Content and Structure

The Book of Jubilees is presented as a revelation from God to Moses, detailing the history of the world from creation to the early days of the Israelites. The book is divided into 50 chapters, each representing a "jubilee" period of 49 years. The text covers a range of topics, including creation, the early descendants of Adam, the lives of the patriarchs, and the early history of the Israelites.

Theological and Historical Significance

The Book of Jubilees offers a distinctive perspective on several key theological and historical issues. One of the most striking aspects of the book is its emphasis on the importance of observing the Sabbath and other Jewish festivals. The text also provides a fascinating insight into the development of Jewish angelology and demonology, featuring a complex hierarchy of angels and demons.

Translation and Scholarship

R.H. Charles' translation of "The Book of Jubilees" is widely regarded as a classic of biblical scholarship. Charles' introduction provides a comprehensive overview of the book's historical and theological context, while his translation is clear, readable, and faithful to the original text.

Conclusion

"The Book of Jubilees" is a fascinating and enigmatic ancient text that offers a unique perspective on the early history of humanity. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in ancient Judaism, biblical studies, or the history of theology. While some readers may find the text challenging due to its complex theological and historical concepts, Charles' translation and introduction provide a helpful guide for navigating the book's complexities.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Recommendation: This book is highly recommended for scholars, students, and enthusiasts of biblical studies, ancient Judaism, and the history of theology.

[Zachary Bemrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book of Jubilees is believed to be a second temple text and is considered pseudepigrapha . The book of Jubilees (also know as “Little Genesis”) is a book that is shrouded in controversy. Rejected as canon by Christians and Jews alike. It is however part of the Ethiopic Bible. It presents itself as a devine revelation bestowed upon Moses during his initial forty-day sojourn atop Mount Sinai. Essentially, the book of Jubilees is a rewriting of Genesis and the first half of Exodus. However it makes several changes to the calendar year, canonical doctrine, expands on stories found in Scripture, and introduces the festival of weeks.

I believe this book is worth reading from a historical perspective but it should not be given the same status as Scripture. There are several reasons for this but the main reason being that is contradicts Scripture, especially with its negative attitude towards Gentiles. In the Canonical Bible we see God’s heart for the Gentiles and his desire to be in communion with them. The Book of Jubilees would have us believe quite the opposite going as far as placing a prohibition on fellowship with Gentiles and tells us that God sends spirits to lead them astray. Jesus Christ’s ministry debunks this book perspective as well as the great commission.

Read this ancient text with a grain of salt and know that it is not inspired but is worthwhile to read in order to get an understanding of early Jewish literiture.

Godspeed,

Z

[Troy Labbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. Has a lot of the same accounts, as the book of Genesis, but with some interesting details. Like Cain's wife's name, and other wives names. Kind of runs along the same style as the book of Enoch. Gives names to fallen angels and demons. It does give you an idea on how things were prior to the flood, and during Abrahams time. One major flaw I did pick up is the account of Esau. Genesis records them coming together peaceably, whereas this book records them going to war and Jacob killing Esau. Definitely a fun read that can give an idea of how things could have been, but would not consider it canon by any means.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels strange to rate a near-biblical text, but regardless this is incredibly relative and has much good to add to Genesis.

Much here helps me bridge the OT and the NT, especially the reverence for the Patriarchs that seems reflected in 1&2 Peter and the Orthodox tradition. When Genesis says that Jacob was “blameless,” and we try to cover that up in translation, Jubilees goes out of its ways to show his perfection. The righteousness of the line of Christ is beautiful to see, especially the additions to the life of Noah.

A lot of fantastic revelation of spiritual pattern here, and really cool to meditate on cosmic seasons as I enter a new season of life.

[Ostilio Portillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent material if you're looking for additional information associated with the book of Genesis. It provides many details of events mentioned in the Bible, but which unfortunately does not go into details as the Book of Jubilees does.

I wonder why this book (although mentioned in the All Testament) was never taken into consideration for canonical purposes since it is neither present in the King James Bible nor in the Vulgata Latina (Catholic Bible) translated into many languages. Despite all this, I still highly recommend this publication.

[Crystal Swafford · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seems like less of a commentary than a concatenation of Old Testament passages—like the cliff’s notes of the Torah around 100 BC. The blessings are beautiful. The organization gives context to the order in which information was actually received from God; it brings Jewish tradition directly to the event source. It does attempt to explain some answers that aren’t explained in the Bible, so that is interesting. It’s unclear why there were some omissions from Genesis. The translation reads like king James.

[Danielle Zwissler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Jubilees is a must read for any bible enthusiast. This shows us the years (Jubilees) from the beginning of the biblical era all the way to the Exodus of the Jews out of Egypt. I really enjoyed this book as it filled in a lot of blanks for me. I really do feel like the KJV is a basic cliff notes version of the real story. This book should definitely be included.

If you'd like to read any of my notes of this book or any of my blog on the bible and other books, please check out my blog at: 144Judah.blogspot.com

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a review copy of this audiobook.

Lumpkin provides a valuable introduction to this apocryphal book. He provides less in the way of helpful commentary than some of his other volumes.

The book itself essentially tells the combined stories of Genesis & Exodus from the perspective of an angel revealing them to Moses, occasionally explaining away details that are inconvenient or embarrassing to faithful Israelites.

[charles. Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book is very Important and Educational I Love It.I plan to acquire more of these great Books for Educational purposes. This Book have given me great knowledge and Understanding I gave it the highest Rating because I Love it.It gives me a good understanding of God's will for all of us today.

This is a great book of learning and Understanding of how the world began and how people of today such live according to God's Word.

[Edwin Notw]

We find out about the daughters of Adam and Eve. Always knew Cain and Seth married their sisters. Who else would it have been. There’s a discrepancy regarding Jacob and Esau though. Genesis says he was killed by Jacob’s grandson after Jacob died but Jubilees states that he was killed by Jacob himself.

[Santiago González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una especie de reescritura del Génesis desde un punto de vista más legalista y puritano, con un énfasis en lo sexual , censurando y modificando algunos hechos (principalmente moralmente discutibles) realizados por patriarcas y detallando otras que no se narran. Muy curioso que sea escritura para etíopes y eritreos.

[Carolyn Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book of Jubilees

I felt this book authentic to the Hebrew teachings elsewhere. What I liked was the celebrations were together in one book.
I recommend to those who intend to keep God's laws and observe the celebrations.

[Karl Prison · Rating 5 out of 5]

An alternative textual tradition for the Book of Genesis that emphasizes the origins of the liturgical calendar in the beginnings of the world. If you don't care about that, it also includes many events and insights that the mainline Genesis tradition does not. Every Christian should read this.

[John Mace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads like you asked for class notes on the First Five Books of the Bible from your friend who didn’t do the reading but just skimmed and didn’t understand what he read. I don’t understand why this book was written.