The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-02-11

THE BIBLE. 1t is stated in the English
papers, that an interesting discovery has
been made in Persia, of the Book of Jasher,
mentioned IN Joshua. The manuscript was
procured at great expense, and 1t was sup
posed that it had been preserved in Persia
since the return of the Jews from the Baby
lonish captivity. 1t contains minute ac-
count of the battle of Gideon, when the Sun
miraculously stood still in the mid heaven.
The New York Enquirer remarks that
there ale yet many interesting biblical dis
coveries to be made, and that it is evident
they will be made in Persia, for the Jews,
after their 20 years. captivity, left several
of their sacred books in Persia, which were
preserved by that portion of their brethren
who were content with the administration
of Cyrus, and preferred remaining in Baby
lon. The permission granted by that mon
arch, and confirmed by Darius, permitting
them to return to their native land, was so
promptly accepted, that many religious
works were left behind. There are, at
least, eight or ten Books referred to in the
Bible, of which no traces have beenfound.
They are I" Book of the Acts of Solomon"
"Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of
JUDAH" " Book of Samuel the Seer, /" Book
of Nathan the Prophet" Book of Cad the
Seer" "The Visions of lido the Seer"
Book of Shemiah the Prophet" " Book of
JChu.''
The recovery of these would throw great
light upon many important facts, and ex-
plain points upon which there exists the
most contradictory opinions.
We shall doubtless find many of the miss
ing books in Persia, and no place more like
ly than Echatana, the ancient Shushan, the
city in which the Jews enjoyed the greatest
privileges after their escape from Hannah.
Boston .4duertiSer.
On publication of the discovery above men,
toned. NJ Samuel "a Jew, we presume, by the
name,) addressed letter to the Editor of the
London Courier, informing him that he was in
possession of the Book of Jasher in the Hebrew
language, brought from Barbary BY an Israelite,
which he was translating into English, and
would shortly publish it both in English and
Hebrew. He adds:
" 1t is written in that plain beautiful style
that will sufficiently testify its great anti
putty, and which is the chief cause of my
publishing it, with the Hebrew text attach
ed to it; and however much venerate the
sacred Scripture, and however infinite l
consider the distance between this Book
and the inspired Volume which we possess,
| am still bold to declare that its language
is equally beautiful, and throughout 100
pages it keeps up the same chaste, elegant,
and historical style as that much admired
part of the Scripture-the history of Joseph
1t commences with the creation of man,
containing very cODious accounts of Jewish
records, not at all mentioned in the Scrip
ture, and reaches as far as Joshua. The
two places in Scripture wherein the Book
of Jasher is mentioned, are beautifully
cleared up throughout this Book, particu-
larly that in 2 Samuel, chap. l, v, xviii.
"Also, he babe them to teach the children
of Judah the use of the bow, behold it is
written in the Book of Jasher." 1t also
elucidates many other parts of Scripture.
u In -. -;cLt --~~ &c III I--r1~-.
ing parts of chronology.