Separation
In the sweeping saga of Abram’s journey, the narrative unfolds with gripping intensity and divine revelation. It begins with Terah, guided by a celestial call, leading his family and followers from the bustling city of Ur Casdim towards the promised land of Canaan. Along the way, they pause in the fertile plains of Haran, where Abram’s righteousness and connection to God captivate the locals, drawing them to abandon their old lives and join his spiritual journey.
In a pivotal moment beneath the starry heavens, Abram, now deeply attuned to divine will, contemplates the cosmic order and the insignificance of mortal predictions compared to God’s omnipotence. He offers fervent prayers, seeking protection from dark forces and guidance on whether to return to his homeland or forge ahead into the unknown.
Abram’s faith is tested and ultimately strengthened when the Lord appears, promising prosperity, protection, and a destiny entwined with the rise of nations. Empowered by divine revelation, Abram learns the ancient language of Hebrew and delves into the sacred texts of his forefathers. His resolve solidifies as he prepares to journey to Canaan, guided by familial blessings and the promise of God’s eternal covenant.
With his wife Sarai and all his possessions in tow, Abram sets forth into Canaan, pitching his tent among its inhabitants. There, the Lord appears once more, affirming the land as Abram’s eternal inheritance and promising descendants as numerous as the stars above. In a profound act of worship, Abram builds an altar, marking the beginning of his legacy and the foundation of a divine covenant that will shape the course of history.
In each episode of this epic narrative, Abram’s journey unfolds with spiritual depth and dramatic tension, portraying a man chosen by God to lead his people through trials and triumphs toward a destiny of profound significance.
Major Characters
Minor Characters
Insignificant Characters
GENESIS
14%
JASHER
28%
JUBILEES
58%
Exposition
J: 41 | Y: 2001 | Terah and family move from Ur to Haran
Genesis 11:31, Jasher 13:1-2, Jubilees 12:15
Rising Action
Y: 2004 | M: 7 | D: 1 | Abram prays to YHWH
Jubilees 12:16-21
Climax
YHWH tells Abram to leave from Haran to Canaan
Genesis 12:1-3, Jasher 13:3-5a, Jubilees 12:22-24
Falling Action
YHWH teaches Abram Hebrew
Jubilees 12:25-27
Abram speaks with Terah about leaving
Jubilees 12:28-31
Resolution
Abram leaves from Haran to Canaan and builds an altar
Jasher 13:5b-8
Jubilee: 41
Year: 2001
Terah and family move from Ur to HaranI
Genesis 11:31
31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
Jasher 13:1
1 And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, the wife of his son Abram, and all the souls of his household and went with them from Ur Casdim to go to the land of Canaan. And when they came as far as the land of Haran they remained there, for it was exceedingly good land for pasture, and of sufficient extent for those who accompanied them.
Jubilees 12:15
15 And Terah went forth from Ur of the Chaldees, he and his sons, to go into the land of Lebanon and into the land of Canaan, and he dwelt in the land of Haran, and Abram dwelt with Terah his father in Haran two weeks of years.
Jasher 13:2
2 And the people of the land of Haran saw that Abram was good and upright with God and men, and that the Lord his God was with him, and some of the people of the land of Haran came and joined Abram, and he taught them the instruction of the Lord and his ways; and these men remained with Abram in his house and they adhered to him.
Year: 2004
Month: 7
Day: 1
Abram prays to YHWHii
Jubilees 12:16-21
16 And in the sixth week, in the fifth year thereof, [1951 A.M.] Abram sat up throughout the night on the new moon of the seventh month to observe the stars from the evening to the morning, in order to see what would be the character of the year with regard to the rains, and he was alone as he sat and observed.
17 And a word came into his heart and he said: All the signs of the stars, and the signs of the moon and of the sun are all in the hand of the Lord. Why do I search (them) out?
18 If He desires, He causes it to rain, morning and evening; And if He desires, He withholds it, And all things are in his hand.’
19 And he prayed that night and said, ‘My God, God Most High, Thou alone art my God, And Thee and Thy dominion have I chosen. And Thou hast created all things, And all things that are the work of thy hands.
20 Deliver me from the hands of evil spirits who have dominion over the thoughts of men’s hearts, And let them not lead me astray from Thee, my God. And stablish Thou me and my seed for ever That we go not astray from henceforth and for evermore.’
21 And he said, ‘Shall I return unto Ur of the Chaldees who seek my face that I may return to them, am I to remain here in this place? The right path before Thee prosper it in the hands of Thy servant that he may fulfil (it) and that I may not walk in the deceitfulness of my heart, O my God.’
YHWH tells Abram to leave from Haran to Canaan
Jasher 13:3-4
3 And Abram remained in the land three years, and at the expiration of three years the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him; I am the Lord who brought thee forth from Ur Casdim, and delivered thee from the hands of all thine enemies.
4 And now therefore if thou wilt hearken to my voice and keep my commandments, my statutes and my laws, then will I cause thy enemies to fall before thee, and I will multiply thy seed like the stars of heaven, and I will send my blessing upon all the works of thy hands, and thou shalt lack nothing.
Genesis 12:1-2
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Jasher 13:5a
5a Arise now, take thy wife and all belonging to thee and go to the land of Canaan and remain there, and I will there be unto thee for a God, and I will bless thee.
Jubilees 12:22
22 And he made an end of speaking and praying, and behold the word of the Lord was sent to him through me, saying: ‘Get thee up from thy country, and from thy kindred and from the house of thy father unto a land which I will show thee, and I shall make thee a great and numerous nation.
Genesis 12:3
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Jubilees 12:23
23 And I will bless thee And I will make thy name great, And thou shalt be blessed in the earth, And in Thee shall all families of the earth be blessed, And I will bless them that bless thee, And curse them that curse thee.
Jubilees 12:24
24 And I will be a God to thee and thy son, and to thy son’s son, and to all thy seed: fear not, from henceforth and unto all generations of the earth I am thy God.’
YHWH teaches Abram Hebrew
Jubilees 12:25-27
25 And the Lord God said: ‘Open his mouth and his ears, that he may hear and speak with his mouth, with the language which has been revealed’; for it had ceased from the mouths of all the children of men from the day of the overthrow (of Babel).
26 And I opened his mouth, and his ears and his lips, and I began to speak with him in Hebrew in the tongue of the creation.
27 And he took the books of his fathers, and these were written in Hebrew, and he transcribed them, and he began from henceforth to study them, and I made known to him that which he could not (understand), and he studied them during the six rainy months.
Abram speaks with Terah about leavingiii
Jubilees 12:28-31
28 And it came to pass in the seventh year of the sixth week [1953 A.M.] that he spoke to his father and informed him, that he would leave Haran to go into the land of Canaan to see it and return to him.
29 And Terah his father said unto him; Go in peace: May the eternal God make thy path straight. And the Lord [(be) with thee, and] protect thee from all evil, And grant unto thee grace, mercy and favour before those who see thee, And may none of the children of men have power over thee to harm thee; Go in peace.
30 And if thou seest a land pleasant to thy eyes to dwell in, then arise and take me to thee and take Lot with thee, the son of Haran thy brother as thine own son: the Lord be with thee.
31 And Nahor thy brother leave with me till thou returnest in peace, and we go with thee all together.’
Abram leaves from Haran to Canaan and builds an altariv
Jasher 13:5b-8
5b And Abram rose and took his wife and all belonging to him, and he went to the land of Canaan as the Lord had told him; and Abram was fifty years old when he went from Haran.
6 And Abram came to the land of Canaan and dwelt in the midst of the city, and he there pitched his tent amongst the children of Canaan, inhabitants of the land.
7 And the Lord appeared to Abram when he came to the land of Canaan, and said to him, This is the land which I gave unto thee and to thy seed after thee forever, and I will make thy seed like the stars of heaven, and I will give unto thy seed for an inheritance all the lands which thou seest.
8 And Abram built an altar in the place where God had spoken to him, and Abram there called upon the name of the Lord.
i. Jubilees 12:12 indicates that Abram was 60 years old when this happened, however, it seems more likely that he was 52 according to Jasher 12:45.
ii. Jasher 13:5 states that Abram was 50 when he left Haran which can’t be true since Jasher 11:13 states Abram was 50 years old when he destroyed his father’s idols and married Sarai. He had to have been 55 at this time. Jubilees 12:16 states that 15 years have passed since Jubilees 12:12 when he destroyed his father’s idols and that Abram is now 75 when he left for Haran, but that’s not true either.
iii. Jubilees 12:28 indicates that Abram left Haran 2 years after YHWH told Abram to leave while Jasher 13:5 has him leaving immediately.
iv. Jasher 13:5b states that Abram was 50 years old, but he was more than likely 55 years old. Cross-reference with Jasher 13:22 where YHWH says that he spoke with Abram 20 years ago and Jasher 13:26 which states that Abram was 75.
Exposition
J: 41 | Y: 2001 | Terah and family move from Ur to Haran
Genesis 11:31, Jasher 13:1-2, Jubilees 12:15
And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, the wife of his son Abram, and all the souls of his household and went with them from Ur Casdim to go to the land of Canaan. And when they came as far as the land of Haran they remained there, for it was exceedingly good land for pasture, and of sufficient extent for those who accompanied them.
And the people of the land of Haran saw that Abram was good and upright with God and men and that the Lord his God was with him, and some of the people of the land of Haran came and joined Abram, and he taught them the instruction of the Lord and his ways, and these men remained with Abram in his house and they adhered to him.
Rising Action
Y: 2004 | M: 7 | D: 1 | Abram prays to YHWH
Jubilees 12:16-21
And in the 6th week, in the 5th year, Abram sat up throughout the night on the new moon of the 7th month to observe the stars from the evening to the morning, to see what would be the character of the year about the rains, and he was alone as he sat and observed. And a word came into his heart and he said: “All the signs of the stars, and the signs of the moon and the sun are all in the hand of the Lord. Why do I search them out? If He desires, He causes it to rain, morning and evening; And if He desires, He withholds it, And all things are in his hand.”
And he prayed that night and said, “My God, God Most High, You alone are my God, And You and Your dominion have I chosen. And You have created all things and all things that are the work of your hands. Deliver me from the hands of evil spirits who have dominion over the thoughts of men’s hearts, and let them not lead me astray from You, my God. And establish me and my seed forever that we go not astray from henceforth and for evermore.”
And he said, “Shall I return to Ur of the Chaldees who seek my face that I may return to them, am I to remain here in this place? The right path before You prosper it in the hands of Your servant that he may fulfill it and that I may not walk in the deceitfulness of my heart, O my God.”
Climax
YHWH tells Abram to leave from Haran to Canaan
Genesis 12:1-3, Jasher 13:3-5a, Jubilees 12:22-24
And Abram remained in the land 3 years, and at the expiration of 3 years the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you forth from Ur Casdim and delivered you from the hands of all your enemies. And now therefore if you will listen to my voice and keep my commandments, my statutes, and my laws, then will I cause your enemies to fall before you, and I will multiply your seed like the stars of heaven, and I will send my blessing upon all the works of your hands, and you will lack nothing.”
Now the Lord had said to Abram, “Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you: and I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, and you will be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curse you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed. And I will be a God to you and your son, and to your son’s son, and to all your seed. Fear not, from henceforth and to all generations of the earth, I am your God.”
Falling Action
YHWH teaches Abram Hebrew
Jubilees 12:25-27
And the Lord God said, “Open his mouth and his ears, that he may hear and speak with his mouth, with the language which has been revealed.” For it had ceased from the mouths of all the children of men from the day of the overthrow of Babel.
And I opened his mouth, and his ears and his lips, and I began to speak with him in Hebrew in the tongue of the creation. And he took the books of his fathers, and these were written in Hebrew, and he transcribed them, and he began from henceforth to study them, and I made known to him that which he could not understand, and he studied them during the 6 rainy months.
Abram speaks with Terah about leaving
Jubilees 12:28-31
And it came to pass in the 7th year of the 6th week that he spoke to his father and informed him, that he would leave Haran to go into the land of Canaan to see it and return to him. And Terah his father said to him, “Go in peace: May the eternal God make your path straight. And the Lord be with you, and protect you from all evil, and grant to you grace, mercy, and favor before those who see you, and may none of the children of men have power over you to harm you; Go in peace. And if you see a land pleasant to your eyes to dwell in, then arise and take me to you and take Lot with you, the son of Haran your brother as your own son: the Lord be with you. And Nahor your brother leave with me until you return in peace, and we go with you altogether.”
Resolution
Abram leaves from Haran to Canaan and builds an altar
Jasher 13:5b-8
And Abram rose and took his wife and all belonging to him, and he went to the land of Canaan as the Lord had told him, and Abram was 50 years old when he went from Haran. And Abram came to the land of Canaan and dwelt in the midst of the city, and he there pitched his tent among the children of Canaan, inhabitants of the land.
And the Lord appeared to Abram when he came to the land of Canaan, and said to him, “This is the land which I gave to you and to your seed after you forever, and I will make your seed like the stars of heaven, and I will give to your seed for an inheritance all the lands which you see.”
And Abram built an altar in the place where God had spoken to him, and Abram there called upon the name of the Lord.
This chart shows who was alive in years 2001-2024.
Years with question marks are estimates.