The Book of Jubilees

The Book of Jubilees is an anonymous religious text written around the 100th century BC.

It is one of the most important apocryphal works of the Old Testament, along with the Book of Enoch. In spite of its Hebrew origin, only the Ethiopic version, composed around 130 AD, has survived to our days.

The book covers Genesis and part of the Exodus and its central theme is the Law. It defines what aspects are considered good or bad for God's judgment. As a just judge, he allows each person to have free will and freedom of choice even though they have to suffer the consequences of their actions. But in the end, God is merciful and is willing to eliminate sin.

Angels, both good and evil, are also very present. While the good ones are servants of God, the bad ones oppose him and try to lead man astray.

This is a very important reading, beyond its religious validity, because it is an important historical document and it allows us to know the thinking of that time.

This edition of The Book of Jubilees is based on R. H. Charles's translation.

"And He said: "Incline thine heart to every word which I shall speak to thee on this Mount, and write them in a book in order that their generations may see how I have not forsaken them for all the evil which they have wrought in transgressing the covenant which I establish between Me and thee for their generations this day on Mount Sinai."