Discrepancies


In any complex text, there can be moments where differing interpretations or perspectives lead to varying understandings. Below is a list of discrepancies that have been identified, highlighting areas where interpretations may diverge or details may not align seamlessly. These points invite further exploration and discussion, offering an opportunity to deepen our engagement with the text.

What did Cain use to kill Abel?

Jasher 1:25

25 And Cain hastened and rose up, and took the iron part of his ploughing instrument, with which he suddenly smote his brother and he slew him, and Cain spilt the blood of his brother Abel upon the earth, and the blood of Abel streamed upon the earth before the flock.

Jubilees 4:31-32

31 At the close of this jubilee Cain was killed after him in the same year; for his house fell upon him and he died in the midst of his house, and he was killed by its stones; for with a stone he had killed Abel, and by a stone was he killed in righteous judgment.
32 For this reason it was ordained on the heavenly tablets: With the instrument with which a man kills his neighbour with the same shall he be killed; after the manner that he wounded him, in like manner shall they deal with him.’

Jasher 1:25 (3. Rejection) states that Cain killed Abel with the iron part of his plowing instrument and Jubilees 4:31 (8. Ascension) states that Abel was killed with a stone.


How did Cain die?

Jasher 2:27-28

27 And Tubal Cain told his father to draw his bow, and with the arrows he smote Cain, who was yet far off, and he slew him, for he appeared to them to be an animal.
28 And the arrows entered Cain’s body although he was distant from them, and he fell to the ground and died.

Jubilees 4:31-32

31 At the close of this jubilee Cain was killed after him in the same year; for his house fell upon him and he died in the midst of his house, and he was killed by its stones; for with a stone he had killed Abel, and by a stone was he killed in righteous judgment.
32 For this reason it was ordained on the heavenly tablets: With the instrument with which a man kills his neighbour with the same shall he be killed; after the manner that he wounded him, in like manner shall they deal with him.’

From the account in the book of Jasher (7. Death), Lamech shot an arrow at Cain thinking he was a beast and killed him. From the account in the book of Jubilees (8. Ascension), Cain was killed by his own house falling on him.


Who is Rake'el?

Jasher 5:15-16

15 And thou shalt raise up seed, and thy children with thee, in the midst of the earth; and Noah went and took a wife, and he chose Naamah the daughter of Enoch, and she was five hundred and eighty years old.

Jubilees 4:33

33 And in the twenty-fifth [1205 A.M.] jubilee Noah took to himself a wife, and her name was `Emzârâ, the daughter of Râkê’êl, the daughter of his father’s brother, in the first year in the fifth week [1207 A.M.]: and in the third year thereof she bare him Shem, in the fifth year thereof [1209 A.M.] she bare him Ham, and in the first year in the sixth week [1212 A.M.] she bare him Japheth.

If Emzara is Naamah, then that would mean that Rake’el is Enoch (10. Pleading). However, this seems strange since earlier in Jubilees 4:16 and 4:22 Enoch is not associated as Rake’el. It’s possible that Rake’el is a title associated with Enoch since it means, “Only for God”, or “Pure before God” which is fitting to his character. It’s also interesting to note that Naamah (7. Death), the daughter of Lamech from Cain’s line is born around the same time as Enoch’s daughter Naamah is born.


What is the birth order of Noah's sons?

Genesis 5:32, 6:10

32 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Jasher 5:17-18

17 And Naamah conceived and bare a son, and he called his name Japheth, saying, God has enlarged me in the earth; and she conceived again and bare a son, and he called his name Shem, saying, God has made me a remnant, to raise up seed in the midst of the earth.
18 And Noah was five hundred and two years old when Naamah bare Ham and the boys grew up and went in the ways of the Lord, in all that Methuselah and Noah their father taught them.

Jubilees 4:33

33 And in the twenty-fifth [1205 A.M.] jubilee Noah took to himself a wife, and her name was `Emzârâ, the daughter of Râkê’êl, the daughter of his father’s brother, in the first year in the fifth week [1207 A.M.]: and in the third year thereof she bare him Shem, in the fifth year thereof [1209 A.M.] she bare him Ham, and in the first year in the sixth week [1212 A.M.] she bare him Japheth.

In Genesis, Jasher, and Jubilees (10. Pleading), Ham is the secondborn. However, there is a difference in Jasher which says that Japheth was firstborn and Ham was thirdborn. Because the order in Jubilees matches with Genesis, I went with that order.


How was the tower of Babel destroyed?

Jasher 9:38

38 And as to the tower which the sons of men built, the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up one third part thereof, and a fire also descended from heaven and burned another third, and the other third is left to this day, and it is of that part which was aloft, and its circumference is three days’ walk.

Jubilees 10:26

26 And the Lord sent a mighty wind against the tower and overthrew it upon the earth, and behold it was between Asshur and Babylon in the land of Shinar, and they called its name ‘Overthrow’.

The book of Jasher gives a detailed account of YHWH using a sinkhole to destroy 1/3rd of the tower, fire from heaven to destroy another 1/3rd of the tower, and the last 1/3rd remains. The book of Jubilees just states that a mighty wind overthrew the tower.


How did Haran die?

Jasher 12:22-26

22 And the king’s servants took Abram and his brother, and they stripped them of all their clothes excepting their lower garments which were upon them.
23 And they bound their hands and feet with linen cords, and the servants of the king lifted them up and cast them both into the furnace.
24 And the Lord loved Abram and he had compassion over him, and the Lord came down and delivered Abram from the fire and he was not burned.
25 But all the cords with which they bound him were burned, while Abram remained and walked about in the fire.
26 And Haran died when they had cast him into the fire, and he was burned to ashes, for his heart was not perfect with the Lord; and those men who cast him into the fire, the flame of the fire spread over them, and they were burned, and twelve men of them died.

Jubilees 12:12-14

12 And in the sixtieth year of the life of Abram, that is, in the fourth week, in the fourth year thereof, [1936 A.M.] Abram arose by night, and burned the house of the idols, and he burned all that was in the house and no man knew it.
13 And they arose in the night and sought to save their gods from the midst of the fire.
14 And Haran hasted to save them, but the fire flamed over him, and he was burnt in the fire, and he died in Ur of the Chaldees before Terah his father, and they buried him in Ur of the Chaldees.

In the book of Jasher (19. Fire), Haran died when he was thrown into a furnace with Abram. In the book of Jubilees, Haran died when he entered a burning building to save his idols.


Whose sister is Timna?

Genesis 36:22

22 And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna.

Jasher 36:27

27 And the children of Lotan were Hori, Heman and their sister Timna, that is Timna who came to Jacob and his sons, and they would not give ear to her, and she went and became a concubine to Eliphaz the son of Esau, and she bare to him Amalek.

Jasher 36:27 (42. Hybrid Heist) is more ambiguous as to whether Timna is the sister to Lotan or his daughter, however, Genesis 36:22 says Timna was Lotan’s sister.


Did Jacob dwell in Shechem or Succoth first?

Genesis 33:17-19

17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.
19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.

Jasher 33:1-4

1 And in some time after Jacob went away from the borders of the land, and he came to the land of Shalem, that is the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, and he rested in front of the city.
2 And he bought a parcel of the field which was there, from the children of Hamor the people of the land, for five shekels.
3 And Jacob there built himself a house, and he pitched his tent there, and he made booths for his cattle, therefore he called the name of that place Succoth.
4 And Jacob remained in Succoth a year and six months.

Jasher 33:1-2 (56. Wrestling) has Jacob in Shalem first and Succoth second in Jasher 33:3-4. Genesis 33:17-19 has it in reverse so I’m going with the Genesis account. Jasher 33:4 says that Jacob remained in Succoth for 18 months which is difficult to reconcile with Jubilees 30:1 so I’m placing this event before Jacob goes to Shalem which is how Genesis has it.


Why is Duke Korah listed as a son of Eliphaz?

Genesis 36:11-12, 15-16

11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.

15 These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,
16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.

Jasher 36:23a

23a These are the children of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan; and the sons of Eliphaz the son of Esau were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz and Amalex,

It seems like Duke Korah doesn’t belong in the Genesis 36:16 (62. Uncovered) list.


How long did the peace treaty last with the Canaanites?

Jasher 40:52

52 And there was peace from that day forward between the sons of Jacob and the kings of the Canaanites, until the children of Israel came to inherit the land of Canaan.

Jubilees 34:9

9 And he returned in peace, and made peace with them, and they became his servants, until the day that he and his sons went down into Egypt.

Jasher 40:52 (63. Carnage) indicates that the peace treaty lasts until the Israelites enter the Promised Land in the book of Joshua. Jubilees 34:9 indicates that the peace treaty lasts until the Israelites enter Egypt which is at the end of the book of Genesis.


When did Dinah die?

Jasher 45:2, 54:84

2 And Eliuram the wife of Reuben conceived and bare him Hanoch, Palu, Chetzron and Carmi, four sons; and Simeon his brother took his sister Dinah for a wife, and she bare unto him Memuel, Yamin, Ohad, Jachin and Zochar, five sons.

84 And he sent to his sister Dinah garments of silver and gold, and frankincense and myrrh, and aloes and women’s ornaments in great plenty, and he sent the same from the wives of Pharaoh to the wives of Benjamin.

Jubilees 34:15

15 And on that day Bilhah heard that Joseph had perished, and she died mourning him, and she was living in Qafratef, and Dinah also, his daughter, died after Joseph had perished.

Jubilees 34:15 (64. Sold) seems to indicate that Dinah died in the same year that Joseph “died”, her being 17 at the time, however, Jasher 45:2 (65. Overseer) says that Simeon married Dinah this year and had 5 sons. Also in 21 years, Joseph gives Dinah provisions (75. Divulge). Though her death is not mentioned in any other place, we could assume that she died of natural causes at the age of 123.


When did Esau die?

Jasher 56:63-64

63 And Chushim was dumb and deaf, still he understood the voice of consternation amongst men.
64 And he asked, saying, Why do you not bury the dead, and what is this great consternation? and they answered him the words of Esau and his sons; and he ran to Esau in the midst of the battle, and he slew Esau with a sword, and he cut off his head, and it sprang to a distance, and Esau fell amongst the people of the battle.

Jubilees 38:2

2 Then Jacob bent his bow and sent forth the arrow and struck Esau, his brother (on his right breast) and slew him.

If Jubilees 38:2 (67. Oath Breakers) is correct, then Esau died when he was 120 years old and all the following events involving him didn’t happen. However, if Jasher 56:63-64 (78. Dispossession) is correct, Esau would have died during the same year as Jacob at the age of 150.


Did Esau appoint his wife Aholibamah as Duke?

Genesis 36:40-43

40 And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth,
41 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
42 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
43 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.

Jasher 36:24-25

24 And the sons of Jeush were Timnah, Alvah, Jetheth; and the sons of Yaalam were Alah, Phinor and Kenaz.
25 And the sons of Korah were Teman, Mibzar, Magdiel and Eram; these are the families of the sons of Esau according to their dukedoms in the land of Seir.

Duke Aholibamah is missing from the list in Jasher (69. Dreams). Aholibamah is the 4th wife of Esau and the mother of Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah (51. Relocation). Did Esau appoint his wife as a Duke?


Did Joseph gather food for the famine the year Isaac died?

Jubilees 40:12-13

12 And in that year Isaac died. And it came to pass as Joseph had said in the interpretation of his two dreams, according as he had said it, there were seven years of plenty over all the land of Egypt, and the land of Egypt abundantly produced, one measure (producing) eighteen hundred measures.
13 And Joseph gathered food into every city until they were full of corn until they could no longer count and measure it for its multitude.

Jubilees 40:12 (71. Domination) states Joseph gathered during the year Isaac died which is impossible because Joseph was 24 when Isaac was 180, not 30. Genesis 41:46, Jasher 49:38, and Jubilees 40:11 (70. Diligence) state that Joseph was 30 years old and Jubilees 46:3 (80. Disaster) states Joseph was in prison for 3 years meaning he got out of prison at age 30.


Who is the mother of Simeon's children?

Jasher 45:2b-3, 59:8

2b and Simeon his brother took his sister Dinah for a wife, and she bare unto him Memuel, Yamin, Ohad, Jachin and Zochar, five sons.
3 And he afterward came to Bunah the Canaanitish woman, the same is Bunah whom Simeon took captive from the city of Shechem, and Bunah was before Dinah and attended upon her, and Simeon came to her, and she bare unto him Saul.

8 And the sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zochar and Saul, the son of the Canaanitish woman.

Concerning Simeon’s children in Jasher 59:8 (80. Disaster), Jasher 45:2-3 (65. Overseer) says that Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zochar were born from Dinah and that Saul was born from Bunah, the Canaanitish woman.