The Book of Jasher is one of the few Jewish apocryphal documents that Joseph Smith may have had access to in his lifetime, and indeed, there are some parallels between it and the Book of Abraham. Therefore, some critics characteristically contend that Joseph Smith simply took the material about Abraham in the Book of Jasher to write the Book of Abraham. It is no surprise to any Latter-day Saint that there are parallels between the two books - the BofA seems to be linked to many Jewish apocryphal documents. However, I find the critics' charge of plagiarism ridiculous. What makes me so sure? The one sure way to test such a claim is to consult both documents and compare them to see what material is common in both of the books, and what material is different. As it turns out, the two texts are nowhere close to the same! Let us examine the evidence.

Book of Jasher

• Has Nimrod as Pharoah
• Abraham thrown in the fire

Book of Abraham

• Not once mentions Nimrod
• No fire mentioned at all; An altar, yes

Proper names found in Jasher:

• Milca
• Nimrod
• Anuki
• Ur Casdim
• Mardon
• Arioch, King of Elasar
• Chedorlaomer
• Tidal, King of Goyim
• Rikayon
• Oswiris
• Anom
• Shinab
• Shemeber
• Bera
• Bersha
• Bela
• Valley of Siddim

Proper names found in BofA

• Mahmackrah
• Korash
• Elkenah
• Libnah
• Shaumau
• Egyptus
• Plain of Moreh
• Shagreel
• Onitah
• Potiphar's Hill
• Kolob
• Shinehah
• Kokaubeam
• Jah-oh-eh
• Oliblish
• Enish-go-on-dosh
• Kae-e-vanrash
• Kli-flos-is-es
• Floeese

• The explanation in Jasher about HOW the Pharoahs came to be called Pharoahs (the Rikayon episode - ch. XIV) is nowhere in the BofA.
• In Jasher Abraham's birth is heralded by a star in the east. NOTHING like this is in BofA.
• In Jasher Abraham was concealed in a cave for years during his childhood. NOTHING like this is in BofA.
• In Jasher Abraham destroys his father's idols by smashing them and putting the hammer in the hands of the one idol. When Terah comes home he is furious at Abraham, but Abraham said his father's idols fought among themselves. NOTHING like this is in the BofA.
• In Jasher Abraham is cast into a furnace with some others. While they died in the fire, Abraham roamed around in it for a while. The King's servants tried to approach the fire, but were burned to death due to its extreme heat. NOTHING like this is in the BofA.
• In Jasher Nimrod is Abraham's antagonist. Nimrod is NEVER mentioned in the BofA as Abraham's rival.
• In Jasher Rikayon, the wise man, is given entire chapters, and eventually called Pharoah. (Ch. XIV) NOTHING like this is in the BofA.
• In Jasher the explanation is given as to WHY the name Pharoah was started and why it was given to Rikayon, and how it continued in the land. NOTHING like this is in the BofA.
• In Jasher an angel delivers Sarah, not Abraham. In the BofA the OPPOSITE takes place.
• In Jasher it tells of Nimrod's very interesting dream. (ch. XII). NOTHING like this is in the BofA.
• The overconcern about the Fathers in Abr. 1 is NOWHERE in Jasher.
• The sacrificing of royal virgins in Abr. (1:11) is NOWHERE in Jasher.
• Abr. referring to pictures of deities for our benefit (Abr.1:14) is NOWHERE in Jasher.

Now note the important elements of the BofA that are nowhere to be found in Jasher:

• Egypt being discovered by a woman when it was under water in BofA (1:23f), is NOWHERE mentioned in Jasher.
• The Lord identifying himself to Abraham as Jehovah is nowhere mentioned in Jasher.
• The Patriarchal Priesthood being denied to Pharoah because his rule was through the matriarchal line (Abr. 1:25-27) is NOWHERE discussed or mentioned or hinted at in Jasher.
• And of course, the most GLARING DIFFERENCE in the two records is the three facsimiles with their explanations - this is ABSOLUTELY FOREIGN to Jasher.
• The discussion of the Premortal existence in Abr. 3 is ABSOLUTELY FOREIGN to and NOWHERE mentioned or hinted at in Jasher.

So, pray tell, how is Jasher a source for Smith's BofA if Smith has apparently failed in every instance to capitalize on some of the rather interesting EXTRABIBLICAL information in Jasher??? Critics say Smith used Jasher... It is up to them to prove that assertion. It is not up to us... We claim Smith didn't use it, even though it may have been in his hands, and indeed he fails miserably to consider ANYTHING in Jasher in his own book. If there is NOTHING similar in the two books, except what could have been gleaned from the Bible anyway, how can critics say Smith obviously used one of them to get information for the other? The case is extremely weak.

Kerry A. Shirts

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