Midrash

Sefer haYashar

Book of the Correct Record

Midrash Sefer haYashar, is a medieval Hebrew midrash, also known as the Toledot Adam and Divrei haYamim heArukh. The Hebrew title “Sefer haYashar” might be translated as the “Book of the Correct Record” – but it is known in English translation mostly as The Book of Jasher following English tradition. Its author is unknown.The book covers biblical history from the creation of Adam and Eve until a summary of the initial Israelite conquest of Canaan in the beginning of the book of Judges.
The facts have been handed down to us by tradition and they have been proven to be a certainty even in our days, that at the time when our holy city of Jerusalem had been given to destruction by Titus, all the captains of the victorious armies were permitted to enter the city to plunder it and to rob it. And among the captains of Titus, was one by the name of Sidror, who on his predatory search saw a mansion high and stately, and he entered it and appropriated all that was to be found therein. And while about to leave the premises he observed something unusual and suspicious in the construction of a certain wall, which led him to believe that there must be some treasure hidden away in a secret receptacle. The wall was accordingly torn down as also the entire building, whereupon Sidror discovered a secret passage, which he followed up and reached an underground chamber filled with a great many books, to-wit: Books of the Law, the Prophets and the Hagiography, as also histories of the kings of Israel and of the kings of other nations, and numerous other books concerning the people of Israel, with the authorized and accepted books of the Mishnah. Sidror saw there also lying around many manuscripts in scrolls. Outside of all these things the chamber contained rich stores of eatables and an abundant supply of wine. And in the midst of these books and supplies Sidror found an old man, deeply imbrued in study over some of the books. The soldier seeing that strange sight was greatly astonished, and addressed himself to the old man saying: What causeth thee to make thy abode in this place, and at that alone without anybody to attend thee? And the old man replied saying: It is now many days, years and seasons that I knew of the second destruction of Jerusalem to come, and therefore I had built unto myself this house with its subterranean chamber, and I have brought along with me these books to read in them, and I also took along a sufficient store of supplies to sustain my life, and I said: perhaps my soul might escape destruction by these means.

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