The Book of Jashar

A lost book quoted twice in Scripture — not a person.

The Book of Jashar is a book, not a man. Scripture quotes it twice and never again: Joshua 10:13 cites it for the day the sun stood still over Gibeon, and 2 Samuel 1:18 cites it for David's lament over Saul and Jonathan. Both times the writer points to it as a source his readers already knew, so it was evidently a collection of Israelite poetry or war songs. No copy survives, and the Bible tells us nothing else about who compiled it. People sometimes meet the name "Jashar" in a genealogy list and take it for a person; it is not.

Everyone in this list

Oil-painting style portrait of David

David

King of Israel who defeated Goliath and established the Davidic dynasty

Oil-painting style portrait of Jonathan, Son of King Saul

Jonathan, Son of King Saul

Prince of Israel and loyal friend of David who died at Mount Gilboa

Oil-painting style portrait of Joshua, Son of Nun

Joshua, Son of Nun

Successor of Moses who led the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan

Oil-painting style portrait of Saul

Saul

King of Israel who was the first to rule the United Monarchy before being rejected by God

Related lists