Today, we're diving into one of those: a chapter from the Book of Jasher.
Now, the Book of Jasher isn't part of the Tanakh. Its authenticity and origins are disputed by scholars. But it's a fascinating text nonetheless, a kind of midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) (interpretive) retelling of biblical events that expands on the original narratives. Think of it as historical fiction, filling in gaps and offering interesting perspectives.
Our story begins with Abraham and Sarah journeying to the land of the Philistines, specifically to Gerar. This takes place, according to Jasher, in the twenty-fifth year of Abraham's stay in Canaan, and his hundredth year of life. Immediately, we see a familiar theme: Abraham, fearing for his life because of Sarah's beauty, asks her to say she's his sister. We see this in Genesis, too.
"Say thou art my sister," he tells her, "to any one that shall ask thee, in order that we may escape the evil of the inhabitants of the land."
Sure enough, Sarah's beauty catches the eye of Abimelech, the king of the Philistines. His servants report to him about this stunning woman, and Abimelech, naturally, has her brought to his house. He asks her about Abraham, and she repeats the lie: "He is my brother." Abimelech, believing this, offers Abraham land and honor, intending to elevate him because of his (supposed) relationship to Sarah.
But here's where the Book of Jasher really kicks things up a notch.
That night, Abimelech has a terrifying dream. An angel of the Lord appears to him with a drawn sword, ready to strike him down! The angel reveals the truth: Sarah is a married woman, Abraham's wife, and Abimelech is in grave danger for taking her. "Behold thou diest on account of the woman which thou didst yesternight bring to thy house, for she is a married woman... now therefore return that man his wife; and shouldst thou not return her, know that thou wilt surely die, thou and all belonging to thee."
And it doesn't stop there. According to the Book of Jasher, the entire land of the Philistines is thrown into chaos. The inhabitants see the angel with the sword, and he begins to smite them! It's a night of great outcry and confusion. Even more dramatically, "every womb was closed, and all their issues," meaning no one could conceive. Talk about divine intervention! This plague falls upon them specifically “on account of Sarah, wife of Abraham, whom Abimelech had taken.”
The next morning, Abimelech is understandably shaken. He calls his servants, recounts his dream, and the people are terrified. One of his servants recalls a similar incident with Pharaoh in Egypt – a direct parallel to the Genesis story. He advises Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham immediately, lest they suffer the same fate as Pharaoh and his people.
Abimelech wastes no time. He summons Sarah and Abraham and confronts them: "What is this work you have been doing in saying you are brother and sister, and I took this woman for a wife?" Abraham, again, pleads that he feared for his life.
Abimelech, now knowing the truth and terrified of divine retribution, showers Abraham with gifts – flocks, herds, servants, and a thousand pieces of silver – and returns Sarah to him. He even offers them any part of his land to dwell in. Abraham and Sarah leave with honor, but the plague continues to afflict the Philistines.
Desperate, Abimelech sends for Abraham again and begs him to pray to his God to lift the plague. Abraham does so, and the Lord hears his prayer, healing Abimelech and his subjects.
So, what do we make of this expanded version of the story? The Book of Jasher amps up the drama, adding vivid details like the angel with the drawn sword and the widespread plague of infertility. It emphasizes the power and protection of God, highlighting the consequences of deception and the importance of honoring marital bonds. It also gives us a glimpse into the fears and anxieties of Abraham, who, despite his faith, repeatedly resorts to deception to protect himself.
Ultimately, this chapter from the Book of Jasher invites us to consider how different retellings can enrich and complicate our understanding of familiar narratives, offering new perspectives on the characters, their motivations, and the divine forces at play. It reminds us that even the most well-known stories can be seen in a new light, prompting us to ask: What else might be hidden within the ancient texts?
Sacred-texts Apocrypha Index Previous Next Book of Jasher, Chapter 20 1 And at that time Abraham journeyed from the plain of Mamre, and he went to the land of the Philistines, and he dwelt in Gerar; it was in the twenty-fifth year of Abraham's being in the land of Canaan, and the hundredth year of the life of Abraham, that he came to Gerar in the land of the Philistines. 2 And when they entered the land he said to Sarah his wife, Say thou art my sister, to any one that shall ask thee, in order that we may escape the evil of the inhabitants of the land. 3 And as Abraham was dwelling in the land of the Philistines, the servants of Abimelech, king of the Philistines, saw that Sarah was exceedingly beautiful, and they asked Abraham concerning her, and he said, She is my sister. 4 And the servants of Abimelech went to Abimelech, saying, A man from the land of Canaan is come to dwell in the land, and he has a sister that is exceeding fair. 5 And Abimelech heard the words of his servants who praised Sarah to him, and Abimelech sent his officers, and they brought Sarah to the king. 6 And Sarah came to the house of Abimelech, and the king saw that Sarah was beautiful, and she pleased him exceedingly. 7 And he approached her and said to her, What is that man to thee with whom thou didst come to our land? and Sarah answered and said He is my brother, and we came from the land of Canaan to dwell wherever we could find a place. 8 And Abimelech said to Sarah, Behold my land is before thee, place thy brother in any part of this land that pleases thee, and it will be our duty to exalt and elevate him above all the people of the land since he is thy brother. 9 And Abimelech sent for Abraham, and Abraham came to Abimelech. 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, Behold I have given orders that thou shalt be honored as thou desirest on account of thy sister Sarah. 11 And Abraham went forth from the king, and the king's present followed him. 12 As at evening time, before men lie down to rest, the king was sitting upon his throne, and a deep sleep fell upon him, and he lay upon the throne and slept till morning. 13 And he dreamed that an angel of the Lord came to him with a drawn sword in his hand, and the angel stood over Abimelech, and wished to slay him with the sword, and the king was terrified in his dream, and said to the angel, In what have I sinned against thee that thou comest to slay me with thy sword? 52 14 And the angel answered and said to Abimelech, Behold thou diest on account of the woman which thou didst yesternight bring to thy house, for she is a married woman, the wife of Abraham who came to thy house; now therefore return that man his wife, for she is his wife; and shouldst thou not return her, know that thou wilt surely die, thou and all belonging to thee. 15 And on that night there was a great outcry in the land of the Philistines, and the inhabitants of the land saw the figure of a man standing with a drawn sword in his hand, and he smote the inhabitants of the land with the sword, yea he continued to smite them. 16 And the angel of the Lord smote the whole land of the Philistines on that night, and there was a great confusion on that night and on the following morning. 17 And every womb was closed, and all their issues, and the hand of the Lord was upon them on account of Sarah, wife of Abraham, whom Abimelech had taken. 18 And in the morning Abimelech rose with terror and confusion and with a great dread, and he sent and had his servants called in, and he related his dream to them, and the people were greatly afraid. 19 And one man standing amongst the servants of the king answered the king, saying, O sovereign king, restore this woman to her husband, for he is her husband, for the like happened to the king of Egypt when this man came to Egypt. 20 And he said concerning his wife, She is my sister, for such is his manner of doing when he cometh to dwell in the land in which he is a stranger. 21 And Pharaoh sent and took this woman for a wife and the Lord brought upon him grievous plagues until he returned the woman to her husband. 22 Now therefore, O sovereign king, know what happened yesternight to the whole land, for there was a very great consternation and great pain and lamentation, and we know that it was on account of the woman which thou didst take. 23 Now, therefore, restore this woman to her husband, lest it should befall us as it did to Pharaoh king of Egypt and his subjects, and that we may not die; and Abimelech hastened and called and had Sarah called for, and she came before him, and he had Abraham called for, and he came before him. 24 And Abimelech said to them, What is this work you have been doing in saying you are brother and sister, and I took this woman for a wife? 25 And Abraham said, Because I thought I should suffer death on account of my wife; and Abimelech took flocks and herds, and men servants and maid servants, and a thousand pieces of silver, and he gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah to him. 26 And Abimelech said to Abraham, Behold the whole land is before thee, dwell in it wherever thou shalt choose. 27 And Abraham and Sarah, his wife, went forth from the king's presence with honor and respect, and they dwelt in the land, even in Gerar. 28 And all the inhabitants of the land of the Philistines and the king's servants were still in pain, through the plague which the angel had inflicted upon them the whole night on account of Sarah. 29 And Abimelech sent for Abraham, saying, Pray now for thy servants to the Lord thy God, that he may put away this mortality from amongst us. 30 And Abraham prayed on account of Abimelech and his subjects, and the Lord heard the prayer of Abraham, and he healed Abimelech and all his subjects. 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