The Book of Jasher, an ancient text referenced in the Bible itself (Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18), offers us a glimpse into just that – a world of expanded tales and alternative perspectives. Let's dive into Chapter 66 and see what unfolds.
The chapter opens with a shift in power. Hadad, the king of Edom, passes away, and Samlah from Mesrekah takes the throne. Now, this Samlah, in the thirteenth year of Pharaoh's reign in Egypt (and a significant year for the Israelites, being the 125th since their descent into Egypt), finds himself facing a dilemma. He hears that Zepho, son of Eliphaz, and the children of Chittim (often associated with Cyprus or other Mediterranean regions) have attacked Angeas, the king of Africa. Samlah gathers his forces, intending to intervene.
But – and here's where things get interesting – the children of Esau stop him! They remind Samlah that Zepho is their brother. Blood is thicker than water, even when politics are involved. Samlah listens and turns back to Edom.
Pharaoh, however, gets wind of Samlah's initial plan. He fears that after dealing with the Chittim, Samlah might turn his attention to Egypt. And what does Pharaoh do? He increases the burden on the Israelites. He figures if they're exhausted, they won't be able to help Edom, who he believes might attack Egypt on behalf of the Israelites.
The Egyptians tell the Israelites to work harder, to fortify the land, because the "children of Esau your brethren" might come against them! Irony, isn't it? The Egyptians are using the Israelites' supposed kinship with Esau as a reason to oppress them further.
But here's the thing – oppression often backfires. The more the Egyptians make the Israelites work, the more they multiply. As we find in Exodus 1:7, "the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them." The Egyptians' plan isn't working.
In fact, it's making things worse! All the elders and wise men of Egypt gather before Pharaoh. They acknowledge that their initial strategy has failed miserably. The Israelites are thriving despite the increased labor. They plead with the king to come up with a new plan to diminish or destroy the Israelites.
Pharaoh, desperate, asks for advice. And who steps forward? An officer named Job, from Mesopotamia, in the land of Uz. Yes, that Job. The one from the famous Book of Job.
Job suggests a horrifying solution: a royal decree to kill every newborn Israelite male. "Let a royal decree go forth, and let it be written in the laws of Egypt which shall not be revoked, that every male child born to the Israelites, his blood shall be spilled upon the ground." By eliminating the male children, Job argues, the threat of war from the Israelites will eventually disappear.
Pharaoh and his princes agree. They summon the Hebrew midwives, Shephrah and Puah. Pharaoh commands them to kill every male Hebrew child at birth. But if it's a girl? Let her live.
But Shephrah and Puah, these brave women, fear God more than they fear Pharaoh. They disobey the king's orders. They let the male children live.
When Pharaoh confronts them, they offer a clever excuse. They claim that Hebrew women are so strong and healthy that they give birth before the midwives even arrive! Pharaoh, surprisingly, believes them. The midwives are spared, and "God dealt well with them," and the people continue to multiply.
What a story! What can we take away from this chapter of Jasher? It shows us the escalating oppression of the Israelites, the horrifying schemes concocted to control them, and the incredible courage of two midwives who defied a king to save lives. It's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, humanity and resistance can prevail. And it sets the stage for the even greater drama that is to come.