The Book of Jubilees, also known as the Little Genesis, is an ancient Jewish text that claims to be a revelation given to Moses regarding the division of the days, weeks, months, and Jubilees of the Law. It is considered one of the pseudepigrapha, as it is attributed to a biblical character although modern scholars do not believe it was actually written by that person. The Book of Jubilees covers much of the same narrative as Genesis, elaborating on details such as the creation of the world, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Noah’s flood, and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The Book of Jubilees states that it contains revelations given to Moses by angels while he was on Mount Sinai, writing down “the account of the division of days of the Law and the testimony” (Jubilees 1:5). It claims that these revelations provide greater clarity regarding biblical events and also predicts the future. The text covers the biblical history from creation to the giving of the Law on Sinai, structuring the material based on jubilee periods of 49 years. Each jubilee year, the Israelites were instructed to let the land rest and return property to its original owners (Leviticus 25). The Book of Jubilees uses this concept to divide early history into periods of 49 years from creation to Moses.
Some key details and themes covered in the Book of Jubilees include:
- God created the world in seven periods of seven days, totaling 49 days of creation rather than seven. The angels of presence, angels of holiness, and angels of the face were created on the first day (Jubilees 2:2).
- Adam and Eve were initially unaware that they were naked and only realized this after sinning. Their children were born with the evil inclination (Jubilees 3:8-12).
- The fallen angels or “Watchers” are condemned for their sins of lusting after human women and teaching wickedness to mankind (Jubilees 5:1-11).
- Mastema, the chief of the demons, requests that God allow demons to retain 10% power to corrupt mankind. Many biblical sins and punishments are attributed to Mastema’s influence (Jubilees 10:7-14).
- Noah’s flood was intended to destroy the descendants of the Watchers and the wickedness they introduced. Animals were not corrupted, so did not need to be destroyed (Jubilees 5:2-3).
- Circumcision was practiced from the time of Adam, and the prohibition against eating blood has been in effect since the creation (Jubilees 15:25-34).
- The patriarchs observed the entire Mosaic law long before it was given to Moses, including Sabbath observance and appointed festivals (Jubilees 6:17-38).
The Book of Jubilees claims that this instruction was always known but became corrupted, so needed reinforcing through Moses. It presents the biblical patriarchs such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as model observers of the law who knew revelation that would later be lost until revealed again to Moses.
Authorship and Dating of the Book of Jubilees
The Book of Jubilees does not name an author, but the narrative voice is Moses. Scholars widely agree the book was not written by Moses or in the Mosaic era. Based on the errors regarding biblical history, it was clearly written by someone removed from the actual events.
Dating the text is difficult, but scholars generally date it to the mid-2nd century to 1st century BC. A fragment of Jubilees discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls has been dated to between 125-100 BC. The book refers to the pagan persecution of Jews during the Maccabean revolt in the 2nd century BC, indicating it was authored after these events.
The Book of Jubilees demonstrates knowledge of the biblical books and prophets up through Ezra, indicating it was written after this time. But it does not seem to be aware of Greek influence, suggesting it originated prior to the late 2nd century BC. A 2nd century BC date of authorship seems most plausible based on the available evidence.
Reception History and Influence
The Book of Jubilees had significance among both Jews and Christians for centuries. It was well known among the Jews of Palestine and Galilee in the 2nd century BC and remained popular through the Middle Ages. The discovery of copies among the Dead Sea Scrolls shows its use at Qumran. Early Christian writers were also familiar with Jubilees, and some incorporated details and themes from it into their own works. However, it was never accepted into the Jewish canon or the canon of the wider church.
The major reason Jubilees was rejected from biblical canon was its espousal of a solar calendar of 364 days rather than the lunar-based calendar dominating Judaism. The Qumran community did embrace this solar calendar, aligning with the Book of Jubilees in contrast to wider Judaism. Jubilees condemns the lunar calendar as the cause of all sin because it disrupts the perfect 364-day solar count (Jubilees 6:36-37). This polemic against the mainstream Jewish calendar prevented its acceptance as scripture.
While popular in some segments of Judaism, the Book of Jubilees faced criticism from major Jewish scholars. Notable detractors included Saadia Gaon (10th century AD) and Moses Maimonides (12th century AD). Saadia claimed Jubilees contained fables spreading ignorance, while Maimonides condemned the book as apocryphal nonsense.
The Book of Jubilees exerted influence on later apocryphal and mystical Jewish writings. These include the Apocalypse of Abraham, the Vision of Ezra, and various midrashim. Christian writers such as Epiphanius, John Malalas, and George Syncellus incorporated details and chronologies from Jubilees into their own works.
The Ethiopic Church canonized the Book of Jubilees, keeping it alongside biblical books. Ethiopian Christians continue to regard it as canonical, providing the complete surviving text preserved in Ge’ez. However, Jubilees is considered apocryphal and non-canonical in all other major Christian traditions.
Content and Theology
The Book of Jubilees heavily emphasizes the eternal validity of the Law revealed to Moses on Sinai. It insists the patriarchs perfectly kept these laws centuries before they were actually given. In Jubilees, the biblical forefathers have expansive knowledge of the Law and prophesy the future.
Jubilees insists God predetermined all of Israel’s sacred times and festivals. These cannot be altered or moved from their set times, unlike the mainstream Jewish calendar. Any deviation from this schedule brings judgment.
Major themes in Jubilees include:
- Absolute predestination – All times and events are predetermined by God.
- Angelology – Angels play a larger role, while demonic beings introduce sin.
- Dualism – Mankind struggles against the spirits of error and deceit.
- Eschatology – The text predicts punishments and blessings regarding the nation of Israel.
- Solar calendar – Observance of this schedule is vital and the lunar calendar causes sin.
While expanding on biblical details, Jubilees does not explicitly contradict Genesis or the Pentateuch. However, it does promote perspectives contrary to mainstream Judaism through its polemics against the lunar calendar and celebration of extra-biblical traditions supposedly given as revelations to Moses.
Should the Book of Jubilees be in the Bible?
When examining the question of whether Jubilees should be included within the biblical canon, several factors lead to a negative conclusion:
- The book was not included in the Jewish canon formed during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Authoritative Jewish voices rejected it.
- The content and outlook opposes mainstream Jewish thought, especially the solar calendar polemic. This likely contributed to its exclusion.
- No segments of the early church accepted Jubilees into their canon, except the isolated Ethiopian church. It does not belong to the majority Christian canon.
- Jubilees makes significant errors regarding biblical history and chronology that contradict the accepted scriptures.
- The claim of Mosaic authorship is pseudonymous, written long after Moses’ death. This makes its revelations and expansions doubtful.
- While interesting and influential within certain Jewish circles, Jubilees lacks the hallmarks of inspiration and authority expected for biblical canonicity.
Based on these deficiencies, few scholars argue that the Book of Jubilees deserves canonical status. It provides an important window into Jewish thought during the 2nd century BC, but does not bear the true authority of divine scripture. While missing the canon, this apocryphal book still provides useful insights when read with discretion.
The canonical books approved through the processes of Judaism and the early church do not represent the totality of valuable ancient writings. But the canon does represent those texts determined to be inspired and authoritative for defining doctrine and practice. Based on the assessments of Jews and Christians closest to its origin, the Book of Jubilees falls short of this status.
Interested readers can still benefit from studying Jubilees just as they can potentially benefit from other Jewish pseudepigraphal works like 1 Enoch, the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, and certain Dead Sea Scrolls. The early church father George Syncellus made an important distinction concerning such books. He described them as “not in the canon, but appointed by the Fathers to be read by those who newly join us, and who wish for instruction in the word of righteousness.” This seems an appropriate approach towards the Book of Jubilees – useful for historical understanding but not canonical scripture.
The Book of Jubilees provides an intriguing window into Jewish belief between the Old and New Testaments, especially among the Qumran sectarians. But it lacks the authority, consistency, and acceptance to warrant Biblical canon. Christians should consider the Book of Jubilees and other apocryphal works in this light – interesting but not inspired – as they deepen their understanding of the biblical world.