Skeptical
In an ancient world rife with idolatry, Haran, the eldest son of Terah, fathers two daughters, Milca and Sarai, unaware of the monumental destinies they hold. As Abram grows under the wise tutelage of Noah and Shem, he rejects the hollow idol worship of his people. His remarkable feat of repelling ravens from the crops at fourteen earns him reverence, while his innovations in farming revolutionize his homeland. Haran’s wife bears a son, Lot, adding another piece to this divine puzzle.
Amidst rising tensions, Abram boldly confronts his father Terah about the futility of idol worship, sparking anger and fear within his family. As the world succumbs to the worship of lifeless gods, Abram continues his solitary quest for truth. Mistakenly venerating the sun and moon, he finally recognizes the true Creator’s hand in the universe, setting him on a path of unwavering faith. Despite the widespread rebellion and idol worship of his generation, Abram’s devotion becomes a beacon of hope and transformation, forever altering the fate of his lineage and the world.
This saga, filled with divine revelations, familial conflict, and steadfast faith, chronicles the rise of Abram from a seeker of truth to a paragon of devotion. It is a tale of one man’s journey against a backdrop of widespread spiritual darkness, where his unwavering belief lights the way for future generations.
Major Characters
Minor Characters
Insignificant Characters
Watch an explainer video for the Skeptical chapter:
Genesis
3%
Jasher
50%
Jubilees
47%
Exposition
Jubilee: 40
Year: 1956
Haran marries
Jasher 9:1-2a
Jubilees 12:10a
Year: 1959
Milca and Sarai born
Jasher 9:3
Rising Action
Abram separates himself from his father and learns from Noah and Shem
Jasher 9:4-5
Jubilees 11:15-21
Year: 1960
Lot born
Genesis 11:27b
Jasher 9:2b
Jubilees 12:10b
Jubilee: 41
Year: 1964
Abram teaches how to overcome the devouring birds
Jubilees 11:22-23
Climax
Year: 1977
Abram questions his father’s idolatry
Jubilees 12:1-8
Falling Action
Year: 1979
Abram attempts idol worship
Jasher 9:6b-18
Resolution
Abram understands the foolishness of idolatry
Jasher 9:19
Jubilee: 40
Year: 1956
Haran marries i
Jasher 9:1-2a
1 And Haran, the son of Terah, Abram’s oldest brother, took a wife in those days.
2a Haran was thirty-nine years old when he took her;
Jubilees 12:10a
10a And Haran, his brother, took to himself a wife in the third year of the third week, [1928 A.M.]
Year: 1959
Milca and Sarai born
Jasher 9:3
3 And she conceived again and bare a daughter, and she called her name Milca; and she again conceived and bare a daughter, and she called her name Sarai.
Abram separates himself from his father and learns from Noah and Shem ii
Jasher 9:4-5
4 Haran was forty-two years old when he begat Sarai, which was in the tenth year of the life of Abram; and in those days Abram and his mother and nurse went out from the cave, as the king and his subjects had forgotten the affair of Abram.
5 And when Abram came out from the cave, he went to Noah and his son Shem, and he remained with them to learn the instruction of the Lord and his ways, and no man knew where Abram was, and Abram served Noah and Shem his son for a long time.
Jubilees 11:15-21
15 And the child began to understand the errors of the earth that all went astray after graven images and after uncleanness, and his father taught him writing, and he was two weeks of years old, [1890 A.M.] and he separated himself from his father, that he might not worship idols with him.
16 And he began to pray to the Creator of all things that He might save him from the errors of the children of men, and that his portion should not fall into error after uncleanness and vileness.
17 And the seed time came for the sowing of seed upon the land, and they all went forth together to protect their seed against the ravens, and Abram went forth with those that went, and the child was a lad of fourteen years.
18 And a cloud of ravens came to devour the seed, and Abram ran to meet them before they settled on the ground, and cried to them before they settled on the ground to devour the seed, and said, ‘ Descend not: return to the place whence ye came,’ and they proceeded to turn back.
19 And he caused the clouds of ravens to turn back that day seventy times, and of all the ravens throughout all the land where Abram was there settled there not so much as one.
20 And all who were with him throughout all the land saw him cry out, and all the ravens turn back, and his name became great in all the land of the Chaldees.
21 And there came to him this year all those that wished to sow, and he went with them until the time of sowing ceased: and they sowed their land, and that year they brought enough grain home and eat and were satisfied.
Year: 1960
Lot born iii
Genesis 11:27b
27b and Haran begat Lot.
Jasher 9:2b
2b and the wife of Haran conceived and bare a son, and he called his name Lot.
Jubilees 12:10b
10b and she bare him a son in the seventh year of this week, [1932 A.M.] and he called his name Lot.
Jubilee: 41
Year: 1964
Abram teaches how to overcome the devouring birds
Jubilees 11:22-23
22 And in the first year of the fifth week [1891 A.M.] Abram taught those who made implements for oxen, the artificers in wood, and they made a vessel above the ground, facing the frame of the plough, in order to put the seed thereon, and the seed fell down therefrom upon the share of the plough, and was hidden in the earth, and they no longer feared the ravens.
23 And after this manner they made (vessels) above the ground on all the frames of the ploughs, and they sowed and tilled all the land, according as Abram commanded them, and they no longer feared the birds.
Year: 1977
Abram questions his father's idolatry
Jubilees 12:1-8
1 And it came to pass in the sixth week, in the seventh year thereof, [1904 A.M.] that Abram said to Terah his father, saying, ‘Father!’
2 And he said, ‘Behold, here am I, my son.’ And he said, ‘What help and profit have we from those idols which thou dost worship, And before which thou dost bow thyself?
3 For there is no spirit in them, For they are dumb forms, and a misleading of the heart. Worship them not:
4 Worship the God of heaven, Who causes the rain and the dew to descend on the earth And does everything upon the earth, And has created everything by His word, And all life is from before His face.
5 Why do ye worship things that have no spirit in them? For they are the work of (men’s) hands, And on your shoulders do ye bear them, And ye have no help from them, But they are a great cause of shame to those who make them, And a misleading of the heart to those who worship them: Worship them not.’
6 And his father said unto him, I also know it, my son, but what shall I do with a people who have made me to serve before them?
7 And if I tell them the truth, they will slay me; for their soul cleaves to them to worship them and honour them.
8 Keep silent, my son, lest they slay thee.’ And these words he spake to his two brothers, and they were angry with him and he kept silent.
Year: 1979
Abram attempts idol worship iv
Jasher 9:6b-18
6b and all the sons of the earth in those days greatly transgressed against the Lord, and they rebelled against him and they served other gods, and they forgot the Lord who had created them in the earth; and the inhabitants of the earth made unto themselves, at that time, every man his god; gods of wood and stone which could neither speak, hear, nor deliver, and the sons of men served them and they became their gods.
7 And the king and all his servants, and Terah with all his household were then the first of those that served gods of wood and stone.
8 And Terah had twelve gods of large size, made of wood and stone, after the twelve months of the year, and he served each one monthly, and every month Terah would bring his meat offering and drink offering to his gods; thus did Terah all the days.
9 And all that generation were wicked in the sight of the Lord, and they thus made every man his god, but they forsook the Lord who had created them.
10 And there was not a man found in those days in the whole earth, who knew the Lord (for they served each man his own God) except Noah and his household, and all those who were under his counsel knew the Lord in those days.
11 And Abram the son of Terah was waxing great in those days in the house of Noah, and no man knew it, and the Lord was with him.
12 And the Lord gave Abram an understanding heart, and he knew all the works of that generation were vain, and that all their gods were vain and were of no avail.
13 And Abram saw the sun shining upon the earth, and Abram said unto himself Surely now this sun that shines upon the earth is God, and him will I serve.
14 And Abram served the sun in that day and he prayed to him, and when evening came the sun set as usual, and Abram said within himself, Surely this cannot be God?
15 And Abram still continued to speak within himself, Who is he who made the heavens and the earth? who created upon earth? where is he?
16 And night darkened over him, and he lifted up his eyes toward the west, north, south, and east, and he saw that the sun had vanished from the earth, and the day became dark.
17 And Abram saw the stars and moon before him, and he said, Surely this is the God who created the whole earth as well as man, and behold these his servants are gods around him: and Abram served the moon and prayed to it all that night.
18 And in the morning when it was light and the sun shone upon the earth as usual, Abram saw all the things that the Lord God had made upon earth.
Abram understands the foolishness of idolatry
Jasher 9:19
19 And Abram said unto himself Surely these are not gods that made the earth and all mankind, but these are the servants of God, and Abram remained in the house of Noah and there knew the Lord and his ways’ and he served the Lord all the days of his life, and all that generation forgot the Lord, and served other gods of wood and stone, and rebelled all their days.
Notes
i
Jubilees 12:10 places Haran’s marriage in 1928 which is 45 years after Jasher places it. It seems like Jubilees should have placed this in 1883.
ii
According to Jubilees 11:15, Abram was 14 when he left his father’s house. According to Jasher 9:4-5, Abram was 10 when Sarai was born and it was ‘in those days’ that he left the cave and stayed with Noah and Shem. This phrase could indicate that Abram was 14 when he separated himself from his father, however, Jasher 9:6 says that Abram stayed with Noah and Shem for 39 years and Jasher 11:13 says that Abram left Noah’s house when he was 50, so Abram must have been 10, not 14.
iii
Jubilees 12:10 places Lot’s birth 4 years after Haran’s marriage.
iv
The text does not indicate when this event occurred. I placed it just after Abram’s encounter with his father about idol worship.
Exposition
Jubilee: 40
Year: 1956
Haran marries
Jasher 9:1-2a
Jubilees 12:10a
Haran, the son of Terah and Abram’s oldest brother, took a wife in the 3rd year of the 3rd week. He was 39 years old when he married her.
Year: 1959
Milca and Sarai born
Jasher 9:3
She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, and named her Milca. She conceived once more and had another daughter, naming her Sarai.
Rising Action
Abram separates himself from his father and learns from Noah and Shem
Jasher 9:4-5
Jubilees 11:15-21
Haran was 42 years old when Sarai was born, which happened in the 10th year of Abram’s life. Around that time, Abram, along with his mother and nurse, came out of the cave, as the king and his people had forgotten the matter of Abram.
After leaving the cave, Abram went to Noah and his son Shem, staying with them to learn the ways and teachings of the Lord. No one knew where Abram was, and he served Noah and Shem for many years.
As Abram grew, he began to understand the errors of the world, how people had gone astray, following carved idols and acts of impurity. His father taught him how to write, and when Abram was 14 years old, he separated himself from his father so that he wouldn’t join in idol worship. He began praying to the Creator of all things, asking to be saved from the corrupt ways of humankind and to be kept from falling into uncleanness and wickedness.
When the time came for planting, everyone went out together to guard their seed from the ravens, and Abram joined them. He was 14 years old. A cloud of ravens came to eat the seed, but Abram ran out ahead of them before they could land, and called out, “Don’t come down! Return to the place you came from,” and the ravens turned back.
That day, he drove the ravens away 70 times. Not a single raven landed in the entire region where Abram was. Everyone present saw him cry out, and all the ravens turned back. His name became well-known throughout the land of the Chaldees.
That year, everyone who wanted to sow came to him, and he went with them until the planting season was over. They planted their fields, harvested plenty of grain, ate, and were satisfied.
Year: 1960
Lot born
Genesis 11:27b
Jasher 9:2b
Jubilees 12:10b
In the 7th year of that week, Haran’s wife gave birth to a son, and he named him Lot.
Jubilee: 41
Year: 1964
Abram teaches how to overcome the devouring birds
Jubilees 11:22-23
In the 1st year of the 5th week, Abram taught the makers of oxen tools—those who worked with wood. They built a structure above the ground that attached to the front of the plow, where the seed would be placed. The seed would then drop from the plowshare and be covered by the soil, hidden from the birds. From then on, they weren’t afraid of the ravens anymore.
They made these seed containers on all their plows, and followed Abram’s instructions to sow and work the land. And because of that, they no longer feared the birds.
Climax
Year: 1977
Abram questions his father’s idolatry
Jubilees 12:1-8
In the 6th week, during the 7th year, Abram said to his father Terah, “Father!”
And Terah replied, “Here I am, my son.”
Abram said, “What benefit or profit do we get from these idols that you worship and bow down to? They have no spirit in them. They’re just lifeless shapes and lead people’s hearts astray. Don’t worship them—worship the God of heaven, who sends rain and dew upon the earth, who does everything on the earth, who created all things by His word, and from whose presence all life comes. Why would you worship things that have no spirit? They are made by human hands—you carry them on your shoulders, but they can’t help you. They only bring shame to those who make them and deceive those who worship them. Do not worship them.”
His father answered, “I know this too, my son. But what can I do with the people who’ve made me serve these idols? If I tell them the truth, they’ll kill me. They’re so attached to them, they insist on worshiping and honoring them. Keep quiet, my son, or they may kill you too.”
Abram also spoke these words to his 2 brothers, but they were angry with him, so he stayed silent.
Falling Action
Year: 1979
Abram attempts idol worship
Jasher 9:6b-18
During those days, all the people of the earth sinned greatly against the Lord. They rebelled against Him and served other gods, forgetting the Lord who had created them. Everyone made their own god—idols of wood and stone that couldn’t speak, hear, or help them. People served these idols, and they became their gods.
The king and all his officials, along with Terah and his entire household, were among the first to serve these wooden and stone gods. Terah had 12 large idols made of wood and stone, representing the 12 months of the year. Each month, he served a different one, bringing meat and drink offerings to his gods. This is what Terah did all his life.
That whole generation was wicked in the Lord’s eyes. Every person made his own god and abandoned the Lord who had created them. In all the earth, no one was found who knew the Lord—except Noah and his household. Everyone under Noah’s guidance still knew the Lord in those days.
Meanwhile, Abram, the son of Terah, grew strong in Noah’s house, and no one knew it. The Lord was with him.
God gave Abram a wise and understanding heart, and he realized that everything his generation did was meaningless, and that all their gods were worthless and powerless.
One day, Abram saw the sun shining on the earth and thought to himself, “Surely this sun that shines on the earth must be God, and I will worship him.”
So that day, Abram worshiped the sun and prayed to it. But when evening came and the sun set as usual, Abram said to himself, “Surely this can’t be God.”
He continued questioning, “Who is the one who made the heavens and the earth? Who created all things on the earth? Where is He?”
As night fell, Abram looked west, north, south, and east, and saw that the sun had disappeared and darkness had taken over. Then he saw the stars and the moon and said, “Surely this is the God who created the whole earth and mankind, and these must be His servants around Him.”
That night, Abram worshiped the moon and prayed to it.
Resolution
Abram attempts idol worship
Jasher 9:19
But in the morning, when daylight came and the sun rose again, Abram saw all the things that the Lord God had made on the earth.
Then Abram said to himself, “Surely these are not gods that created the earth and all mankind. These must be the servants of God.” From that time on, Abram stayed in Noah’s house, came to know the Lord and His ways, and served Him for the rest of his life. But that whole generation forgot the Lord, served other gods made of wood and stone, and continued in rebellion all their days.