Listen to the Book of Jubilees: An Ancient Jewish Religious Work
- How was it preserved and transmitted? - How does it relate to other biblical and apocryphal texts? H2: The content and themes of the Book of Jubilees - What are the main events and characters in the book? - What are the main theological and ethical messages of the book? - How does it reinterpret and expand on the biblical narrative? H2: The reception and influence of the Book of Jubilees - How was it received by different religious communities and traditions? - How did it influence later literature and art? - How is it relevant for modern readers and listeners? H1: Conclusion Summary: What are the main points and takeaways from the article? H2: FAQs - Where can I find a reliable translation of the Book of Jubilees? - What are some of the differences between the Book of Jubilees and the Book of Genesis? - Why is the Book of Jubilees considered canonical by some churches and not by others? - What are some of the benefits of listening to the Book of Jubilees as an audio book? - How can I download the Book of Jubilees audio book for free? Table 2: Article with HTML formatting Book of Jubilees Audio Download 11l
If you are interested in learning more about the ancient Jewish religious work known as the Book of Jubilees, you might want to download it as an audio book and listen to it at your convenience. But what is the Book of Jubilees, and why is it important? In this article, we will explore the origin, history, content, themes, reception, and influence of this fascinating text, as well as provide some tips on how to download it for free.
Book Of Jubilees Audio Download 11l
The origin and history of the Book of Jubilees
The Book of Jubilees, sometimes called Lesser Genesis (Leptogenesis), is a pseudepigraphal work (not included in any canon of scripture) that claims to present "the history of the division of the days of the Law, of the events of the years, the year-weeks, and the jubilees of the world" as revealed to Moses by angels while he was on Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights. The chronology given in Jubilees is based on multiples of seven; the jubilees are periods of 49 years (seven "year-weeks"), into which all of time has been divided.
The Book of Jubilees was composed in Hebrew in the 2nd century BCE, probably by a Jewish sect that followed a solar calendar and observed strict rules of purity and holiness. The original Hebrew text is lost, but it was translated into Greek and then into Latin, Ethiopic, Syriac, and other languages. The book was well known to early Christians, as evidenced by the writings of Epiphanius, Justin Martyr, Origen, Diodorus of Tarsus, Isidore of Alexandria, Isidore of Seville, Eutychius of Alexandria, John Malalas, George Syncellus, and George Kedrenos. The text was also utilized by the community that originally collected the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The earliest surviving manuscripts of Jubilees are four complete Ge'ez texts dating to the 15th and 16th centuries, and several quotations by the Church fathers. No complete Greek or Latin version is known to have survived, but the Ge'ez version has been shown to be an accurate translation of the versions found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Book of Jubilees is considered canonical by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as well as Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews), where it is known as the Book of Division (Ge'ez: መጽሐፈ ኩፋሌ Mets'hafe Kufale). Jubilees is considered one of the pseudepigrapha by Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant Churches. It is also not considered canonical within Judaism outside of Beta Israel.
The content and themes of the Book of Jubilees
The Book of Jubilees narrates the events from the creation of the world to the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, covering the same period as the Books of Genesis and Exodus in the Hebrew Bible. However, it also adds, omits, and modifies many details, often in order to harmonize apparent contradictions, fill in gaps, or emphasize certain aspects of the biblical story.
Some of the main events and characters in the Book of Jubilees are:
The creation of angels on the first day of Creation and the story of how a group of fallen angels mated with mortal females, giving rise to a race of giants known as the Nephilim, and then to their descendants, the Elioud.
The division of the earth among the three sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
The life and deeds of Abraham, including his covenant with God, his circumcision, his rescue of Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah, his test of faith by offering Isaac as a sacrifice, and his death and burial.
The story of Jacob and Esau, including their birth, their rivalry, Jacob's deception of Isaac, his flight to Haran, his marriage to Leah and Rachel, his vision of the ladder, his wrestling with an angel, his reconciliation with Esau, and his name change to Israel.
The story of Joseph and his brothers, including his dreams, his sale into slavery by his brothers, his rise to power in Egypt, his interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams, his reunion with his family, and his death and burial.
The story of Moses and the Exodus, including his birth, his adoption by Pharaoh's daughter, his killing of an Egyptian, his flight to Midian, his encounter with God at the burning bush, his return to Egypt, his confrontation with Pharaoh, his performance of signs and wonders, his leadership of the Israelites out of Egypt, and his reception of the Law on Mount Sinai.
Some of the main theological and ethical messages of the Book of Jubilees are:
The importance of observing the Sabbath and other festivals according to a solar calendar that aligns with the natural cycles of creation.
The importance of following the dietary laws and avoiding any contact with unclean animals or foods.
The importance of maintaining sexual purity and avoiding any form of incest or adultery.
The importance of honoring one's parents and elders and avoiding any form of violence or oppression.
The importance of trusting in God's promises and providence and avoiding any form of idolatry or apostasy.
Some of the ways that the Book of Jubilees reinterprets and expands on the biblical narrative are:
It provides more details about the creation and fall of Adam and Eve, such as their names before they sinned (Ahibah and Ahihah), their lifespan (930 years for Adam and 800 years for Eve), their burial place (the Cave of Treasures), and their role as intercessors for their descendants.
It provides more details about the flood and its aftermath, such as the names and ages of Noah's sons' wives (Emzara for Shem's wife; Azura for Ham's wife; Ora for Japheth's wife), the names and locations of their descendants' settlements (such as Elam for Shem's son; Cush for Ham's son; Gomer for Japheth's son), and the origin of different languages (as a result of God's intervention at Babel).
The reception and influence of the Book of Jubilees
The Book of Jubilees has been received and used by different religious communities and traditions throughout history. Some of the ways that it has been received and used are:
It has been regarded as a canonical scripture by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Beta Israel, who consider it to be inspired by God and authoritative for doctrine and practice.
It has been regarded as a valuable source of information and interpretation by some early Christian writers, such as Epiphanius, who quoted it extensively in his Panarion, a refutation of heresies.
It has been regarded as a useful supplement to the biblical narrative by some Jewish writers, such as Josephus, who cited it in his Antiquities of the Jews, a history of the Jewish people.
It has been regarded as a corrupted and unreliable text by some other Christian and Jewish writers, such as Jerome, who rejected it as a spurious and apocryphal work.
The Book of Jubilees has also influenced later literature and art in various ways. Some of the ways that it has influenced later literature and art are:
It has influenced the development of other apocalyptic and pseudepigraphal works, such as the Book of Enoch, the Testament of Abraham, and the Apocalypse of Abraham, which share some of its themes and motifs.
It has influenced the depiction of biblical scenes and characters in medieval and Renaissance art, such as the paintings of Michelangelo, who drew inspiration from its description of the creation of Adam and Eve.
It has influenced the interpretation and application of biblical laws and ethics in modern times, such as the calendar reform movement in Ethiopia, which advocated for the adoption of a solar calendar based on Jubilees.
The Book of Jubilees is still relevant for modern readers and listeners who want to gain a deeper understanding of the biblical story and its significance for their faith and life. By listening to the Book of Jubilees as an audio book, they can appreciate its literary style, its historical context, its theological message, and its cultural impact.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explored the origin, history, content, themes, reception, and influence of the Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewish religious work that retells and reinterprets the events from the creation of the world to the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. We have seen that the Book of Jubilees is a rich and complex text that offers a unique perspective on the biblical narrative and its implications for various aspects of religious life and practice. We have also seen that the Book of Jubilees is available as an audio book that can be downloaded for free from various sources online.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Book of Jubilees:
Where can I find a reliable translation of the Book of Jubilees?There are several translations of the Book of Jubilees available online or in print. One of them is The Book of Jubilees: The Little Genesis by R.H. Charles (1917), which is based on the Ethiopic version and can be accessed online at https://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/jub/index.htm. Another one is The Book of Jubilees: Rewritten Bible, Redaction, Ideology and Theology by Michael Segal (2007), which is based on both the Ethiopic version and the Dead Sea Scrolls fragments and can be purchased online or in bookstores.
of content, style, and purpose. Some of the differences are:
The Book of Jubilees is more detailed and chronological than the Book of Genesis, providing exact dates and durations for the events and characters in the biblical story.
The Book of Jubilees is more theological and ethical than the Book of Genesis, emphasizing the importance of observing the Law and the festivals, avoiding sin and impurity, and following God's will and guidance.
The Book of Jubilees is more apocalyptic and eschatological than the Book of Genesis, revealing the secrets of heaven and earth, the role of angels and demons, and the destiny of Israel and the nations.
Why is the Book of Jubilees considered canonical by some churches and not by others?The Book of Jubilees is considered canonical by some churches and not by others because of different criteria and traditions for determining the canon of scripture. Some of the criteria and traditions are:
The Book of Jubilees is considered canonical by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Beta Israel because it was translated into Ge'ez, the liturgical language of Ethiopia, and preserved in their manuscripts and libraries.
The Book of Jubilees is considered non-canonical by most other Christian churches because it was not written in Hebrew or Greek, the original languages of the Old and New Testaments, and was not widely accepted by the early church fathers or councils.
The Book of Jubilees is considered non-canonical by most Jewish communities because it was not included in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, and was not recognized by the rabbis or sages as authoritative or inspired.
What are some of the benefits of listening to the Book of Jubilees as an audio book?Some of the benefits of listening to the Book of Jubilees as an audio book are:
It can enhance your comprehension and retention of the text by engaging your auditory senses and memory.
It can improve your pronunciation and vocabulary of the language in which you listen to the text by exposing you to native speakers and expressions.
It can enrich your experience and enjoyment of the text by adding voice, tone, emotion, and music to the words.
How can I download the Book of Jubilees audio book for free?There are several sources online where you can download the Book of Jubilees audio book for free. Some of them are:
https://librivox.org/the-book-of-jubilees-by-anonymous/: This is a public domain audio book recorded by volunteers from LibriVox. It is based on R.H. Charles' translation and has a total running time of 4 hours and 18 minutes.
https://archive.org/details/TheBookOfJubileesCompleteAudioBook: This is a free audio book uploaded by a user from Archive.org. It is based on R.H. Charles' translation and has a total running time of 3 hours and 55 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zx2k0yZ4nE: This is a free audio book uploaded by a user from YouTube. It is based on R.H. Charles' translation and has a total running time of 3 hours and 55 minutes.
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