The Book of Jasher, an ancient text referenced in the Bible itself (Joshua 10:13, 2 Samuel 1:18), offers some fascinating glimpses. Let's dive into Chapter 90 and see what's unfolding.
The chapter opens by setting the stage: It's about five years after the Israelites have crossed the Jordan and settled after their initial conflicts. And what's this? War erupts between Edom and the Children of Chittim. Who are the Chittim? Well, generally, they are understood to represent the people of Kittim, often associated with Cyprus and other Mediterranean regions.
Abianus, king of Chittim, leads a massive force against Edom. The clash is fierce. Hadad, the King of Edom, goes out to fight, but—disaster! The Chittim utterly defeat Edom, slaying twenty-two thousand men! Hadad himself is captured and, tragically, put to death by Abianus.
And the consequences are dire. According to the narrative, Edom falls under the control of the Chittim. "They could no more lift up their heads," the text says, and Edom essentially becomes part of the Chittim kingdom. Abianus installs his own officers, and Edom becomes a tributary state.
But what's happening back with the Israelites?
Well, we learn that Joshua is now quite old. Remember, God commanded Joshua to divide the land amongst the tribes. This he does, carefully allocating territories. However, the tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe, receives no specific land inheritance. Instead, their inheritance is "the offerings of the Lord," as God had instructed through Moses.
And remember Caleb? He gets Mount Hebron, a special portion above his brethren, just as the Lord had promised. The land is divided by lots, ensuring fairness, and cities are given to the Levites from the other tribes' inheritances. The Israelites also grant Joshua his own city, Timnath-serach, in Mount Ephraim.
The narrative emphasizes that the Lord gave the Israelites rest from their enemies. They possessed the land, just as promised to their ancestors. Joshua, acting as a leader and elder statesman, blesses the people, commands them to serve the Lord, and sends them to their respective inheritances.
But time marches on. Abianus, King of Chittim, dies and is succeeded by Latinus. Latinus continues the Chittim's expansionist policies, even attacking Britannia and Kernania (possibly referring to Britain and Cornwall). When Edom tries to revolt, Latinus swiftly crushes the rebellion, solidifying Chittim's control.
Here's a curious detail: the text notes that for many years, Edom has no king of its own, its government absorbed into the Chittim's structure.
Meanwhile, back in Israel, Joshua is getting very old – 108 years old, to be precise, 26 years after the crossing of the Jordan, that is the sixty-sixth year after the Exodus. He gathers the elders, judges, and officers of Israel. He reminds them of God's faithfulness, urging them to adhere strictly to the Law of Moses. He cautions them against associating with the remaining nations in the land, warning against even mentioning the names of their gods.
Joshua implores them to cleave to the Lord, and the people respond with a resounding declaration: "We will serve the Lord our God all our days!" A covenant is made, and Joshua sends them back to their inheritances.
A touching detail follows: the Israelites bury the coffins of their ancestors, the twelve sons of Jacob, each in the inheritance of his respective tribe. Reuben and Gad are buried on the east side of the Jordan. Simeon and Levi find their rest in the city of Mauda. Judah is buried near Bethlehem. And so on, each son finding his final resting place within the land promised to his descendants. Joseph, of course, is buried in Shechem, in the plot of land Jacob had bought from Hamor.
Finally, the chapter draws to a close with the death of Joshua at the age of 110. He had judged Israel for twenty-eight years. The text tells us that his deeds, battles, and exhortations are written in the "book of the words of Joshua" and the "book of the wars of the Lord." Joshua is buried in Timnath-serach.
And lastly, Elazar, the son of Aaron, also dies and is buried in a hill belonging to his son Phineas.
So, what do we take away from all this? This chapter of Jasher gives us a sense of the broader historical landscape, showing us that even as the Israelites were settling into their land, empires rose and fell, and battles raged in distant lands. It also underscores the importance of remembering one's roots, honoring ancestors, and remaining faithful to the covenant. It’s a reminder that history is a tapestry woven with many threads, and the story of Israel is just one part of a much larger, more complex picture.