Jubilees, Jasher, and Enoch: What the Removed Books Actually Talk About

In many Hebrew-roots conversations you’ll hear:

“Enoch says…”

“Jubilees explains…”

“Jasher fills in the gaps…”

For some, these books sound like:

Pure myth

Fringe material

Random internet buzzwords

But historically, these writings:

Have ancient roots

Were preserved for a reason

Deeply shaped how many early believers thought

Let’s zoom out and ask one simple question:

“What do these books actually talk about?”

1. Enoch: The Days of Noah and the Watchers

“1 Enoch” (often what people mean by “Enoch”) includes:

Stories of Watchers (heavenly beings) who fell into sin.

Descriptions of giants and corruption in the earth.

Heavy emphasis on judgment, especially in the days of Noah.

Prophetic visions of the Son of Man and final judgment.

Some early believers respected and quoted Enoch. One part is even referenced directly in the Book of Yehudah (Jude).

Why many find it important:

It expands on the cryptic “sons of Elohiym” in Bereshith (Genesis) 6.

It gives background to New Testament language about:

Chains of darkness

Spirits in prison

Days of Noah and end times

2. Jubilees: Timeline, Covenant, and Calendar

Jubilees is sometimes called:

“Little Genesis”

It:

Retells early Genesis stories

Structures history into jubilees and weeks

Emphasizes:

The set-apartness of Israel

The Feasts and appointed times

A specific understanding of the calendar

Why it matters:

It shows how some ancient communities saw time, covenant, and law.

It sheds light on calendar wars and feast understanding in Second Temple times.

It helps explain certain patterns and emphases seen later in Scripture.

3. Jasher: Filling Narrative Gaps

The “Book of Jasher” mentioned in Scripture:

Is referenced in places like Yehoshua (Joshua) 10 and 2 Samuel 1 as a source.

The version we have today is a later Hebrew work that claims to preserve that tradition.

It:

Retells many biblical events with added detail.

Expands on the lives of:

The patriarchs

Early kings

Conflicts and journeys

Why some value it:

It gives narrative color to familiar stories.

It sometimes preserves traditions that help explain cryptic verses.

Caution:

Different editions exist—compare prefaces, history, and scholarly discussion about authenticity and transmission.

Why These Writings Were Marginalized

Reasons vary by tradition, but include:

Questions about authorship and date.

Theological concerns (what they say about angels, giants, or law).

Desire to tighten and standardize the canon.

Suspicion of texts that support interpretations outside dominant church frameworks.

But marginalized does not always mean worthless.

Where to Study These Yourself

You can:

Get editions of:

1 Enoch

Jubilees

Jasher

in collections of “pseudepigrapha” or as stand-alone translations.

Look for:

Introductions that explain manuscript history (like Ethiopic or Hebrew sources).

Notes that highlight how these books were used in early communities.

Read:

Scholarly overviews of “Second Temple literature” which often cover Enoch and Jubilees.

Articles that discuss how these books shaped New Testament thought.

Helpful search terms:

“1 Enoch Second Temple literature”

“Book of Jubilees calendar and law”

“Book of Jasher history of text”

Always:

Compare what you read back to the main body of Scripture.

Don’t let secondary texts replace the measuring line of Torah, prophets, and the words of YAHUSHA.

Final Call

You don’t honor YAHUAH by being afraid of books your ancestors copied and preserved. You honor Him by:

Reading with discernment

Testing everything

Holding fast to what is good

Jubilees, Jasher, and Enoch don’t replace Scripture. But for many, they have become highlighters— making certain passages and patterns shine with more context.

Study. Test. Don’t fear the footnotes of history.

Jubilees, Jasher, and Enoch: What the Removed Books Actually Talk About