Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-02-12
FrOm tho London Courier.
THE BOOK OF JASHFR.


SIR Having seen in your paper of
the SIT instant, paragraph extracted
from the Bristol Gazette, announcing
that an Important and interesting dis
covery in biblical literature has been
recently obtained. which will excite the
attention of the Christian AID man Of
letteFs, viz: the Sock of .sssher. men,
toned IN Joshua, chap 10 AID Samu
al. chapi, and thatit was procured al
AN Immense expense hy Alcusin, the
most emlns nt man of his time. from tho
city oi Gazan. in Persia beg leave
10 inform YOU, for the satisfaction Of
those biblical students who NAV read
your paper, whether jews or Chflsti
ans, that am 10 possession ofthe Book
OF Jasher in the Hebrew lauaasge.
~hict did not procure at az immense
expense, but accident threw ii IN my
way IA meeting with an isfaelite from
8arhary, who presented cue with it.,
without knowing It's value, and ! am
new trsnsating il INTO English, and il
will be pubiishe d shortly, with the He-
brew on one side and the English on the
other with notes critical aud historical
- and what is rather extraordinary
was this day buslly engaged in trensla-
ton, when glance al your paper ri
Veted my attention 10 tots singular and
unexpected paragraph, as | had made
msuy rreyioss Inquiries concerning il
Go my literary trends and they had nev
er heard OF its existence. This Book, it
seems has been preserved by the Jews
IN the tAst, and some few copies were
printed in Poland twenty years age
tits written ia thai pIsin aud heanti
ful style that viii sufficiently testify its
great Antiquity, and which is the chief
cause o: my publishing it, with tie i!e-
brew text attached 10 it.; and however
much venerate the sacred Scripture,
and however infinite | consider tie dis
tance between this Book aud tbe iaspir-
ed Volume which we possess, sm snIl
bold to declare that its language 10 q.
qually beautiful, and throughout one
hundred and sixty pages il keeps up
the same chaste, elegant. and historical
style as that much admired par. OF
Scripture the history of Joseph II
commences with the creation of man,
containing very eopious accounts OF
Jewish records, not at all mentioned in
Scripture. and reaches as far as Joshua
The two places in Scripture wherein
he Book of Jasher is mentioned, are
beautifully cleared up throughout this
Book, particularly that in Samuel,
chap I v xviii. also, be babe them
teach the children o. Judah tie use Of
the bow; behold is written in the Book
OF Jashsr." /, also elucidstes many
ther parts of Scripture, and will sci r.ght
some Of the most peVplexing parts OF
chronology.
| But do not suppose that il has come
/ down 10 us as pure as the sacred vol
/ ume s---a aud have not the least doubt
that some few parts oft are of latter
/ date than the body OF the book: but
ven these comparatively modern parts
hespeak an antiquity OF upwards of two
thousand years. | have already trans
lated one bali OF the Book, having been
encouraged 10 the task by some Chris
tian friends, who possess a fervent yea
| for thu House of Israel, and an attach
ment TO Hebrew literature. When
return to Liverpool, which will be short
ly. | shall issue forth the prospectus Q
the work, and it viii be published By
subscription | should therefore b'
glad to hear something more about Tn
copy Alcurin obtained, and whether j
be in the Persian or Hebrew language
Respectfully yours
! 81. SAMUEL,
| OF io4 st James street Liverpool
| Kslso, Novenber IA, 1928.
| nTPrice of Flour in Baltimore on Monda,