Bible Dictionary
Jasher
The Book of Jasher, or Book of the Upright, was a lost collection of songs or records honoring Israel’s heroes. The Old Testament cites it in connection with Joshua’s battle and David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan.
Definition
The Book of Jasher, or Book of the Upright, was probably a national collection of songs or records honoring Israel’s heroes and noble deeds. It is wholly lost, and only two passages are identified as specimens from it.
Biblical Usage
The Old Testament refers to the Book of Jasher in connection with Joshua’s words during the battle of Beth-horon and David’s lament, or Song of the Bow, for Saul and Jonathan.
Historical Background
The work was probably written in verse and functioned as a national sacred songbook or anthology of ancient records. The supplied material does not identify any surviving copy.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Upright. “The Book of Jasher,” rendered in the LXX. “the Book of the Upright One,” by the Vulgate “the Book of Just Ones,” was probably a kind of national sacred song-book, a collection of songs in praise of the heroes of Israel, a “book of golden deeds,” a national anthology. We have only two specimens from the book, (1) the words of Joshua which he spake to the Lord at the crisis of the battle of Beth-horon (Josh. 10:12, 13); and (2) “the Song of the Bow,” that beautiful and touching mournful elegy which David composed on the occasion of the death of Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam. 1:18-27).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(upright),Book of (“the book of the upright”), alluded to in two passages only of the Old Testament. (Joshua 10:13) and 2Sam 1:18 It was probably written in verse; and it has been conjectured that it was a collection of ancient records of honored men or noble deeds. It is wholly lost.