Book of the Wars of the Lord
TheBook of the Wars of the Lord(סֵפֶר מִלְחֲמֹת יהוה) is one of severalnon-canonical books referenced in the Biblewhich have now beencompletely lost.[1]It is mentioned inNumbers21:13–14, which reads:
From there they set out and camped on the other side of theArnon,which is in the desert and bounding theAmoriteterritory. For Arnon is the border ofMoab,between Moab and the Amorites. That is why the Book of the Wars of the LORDsays: '... Waheb in Suphah and the ravines of Arnon, and at the stream of the ravines that lead to the dwelling of Ar, which lies along the border of Moab.'
— Numbers 21:13–14[2]
David Rosenbergsuggests inThe Book of Davidthat it was written in 1100 BC or thereabouts. TheologianJoseph Barber Lightfootsuggested that it was merely another title for the mysteriousbiblical Book of Jasher.
The Book of the Wars of the Lord is cited inthe medieval Book of Jasheras being a collaborative record written byMoses,Joshua,and thechildren of Israel.[3]It was likely a collection of victory songs written about Israel's military conquest ofCanaan.[4]
A notable reference to an unnamed book is found in Exodus 17:14, where God commandedMosesto inscribe anIsraelitemilitary victory over theAmalekitesin a book and recount it later in the hearing of his successorJoshua.[5]The book is not specifically mentioned by name. However, someTorahscholars such asMoses ibn Ezrahave suggested this book may refer to the Book of the Wars of the Lord.
See also
[edit]- Bible
- Lost work
- Books of the Bible
- Milhamoth ha-Shem(the title of several Hebrew polemical texts)
References
[edit]- ^Student, Gil. On the Authorship of the Torah. (Aishdas.org)The author writes: "So far, we have seen the talmudic and midrashic evidence that the forefathers, including Moshe, wrote books other than the Torah that were maintained and studied. However, there is also much internal evidence that there were other books written. Consider the following verses," after which the author cites as examples of lost booksExodus 17:14(words written in remembrance of the destruction of Amalek),Exodus 24:7(Book of the Covenant),Numbers 11:26(recorded ones),Numbers 21:14(Book of the Wars of the LORD), andNumbers 33:2(Journeys).
- ^Numbers 21:13–14
- ^Book of Jasher90:48
- ^"Book of Wars of the Lord - Encyclopedia of The Bible - Bible Gateway".www.biblegateway.com.Retrieved2023-11-15.
- ^Exodus 17:14
External links
[edit]- Encyclopedia Judaica: Book of the Wars of the Lord
- Jewish Encyclopedia: Book of the Wars of the Lord
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