I have been reading an interesting book entitled \”The Satan: How God’s Executioner Became the Enemy\” by Ryan E. Stokes. In the current chapter, the book of Jubilees was talked about. Having heard of it, but not really familiar with it, I expected it to be included in the Apocrypha but was surprised to find out it wasn\’t. Logos has an AI feature, and I wanted to ask it to help explain why it\’s not included. Below is the Logos AI\’s response.
The Book of Jubilees, while sharing some features with apocalyptic literature, is not typically included in the Apocrypha due to its complex literary character and content. Unlike traditional apocalypses, Jubilees lacks revelatory visions and heavenly journeys[1]. It primarily functions as an expansive paraphrase of Genesis and Exodus, incorporating additional stories and legal precepts[2]. While it contains some apocalyptic elements, particularly in chapters 1 and 23, these are not dominant throughout the work[1][3]. The book\’s focus on halakah (Jewish law) and its extensive reinterpretation of biblical narratives set it apart from typical apocalyptic texts[1]. Additionally, Jubilees\’ composition date, estimated around 100 BCE, places it in a period when Jewish awareness of a closed canon was growing[2][4]. This timing, along with its obvious derivation from earlier biblical texts, likely contributed to its exclusion from the more authoritative collections of Jewish scripture[4]. The Dead Sea Scrolls community at Qumran valued Jubilees highly, but this esteem did not extend to its inclusion in the broader Jewish canon[2][4].
[1] Matthias Henze, “Daniel and Jubilees,” in Enoch and the Mosaic Torah: The Evidence of Jubilees, ed. Gabriele Boccaccini et al. (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 56.
[2] Encyclopædia Britannica, in Encyclopedia Britannica (Chicago, IL: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2016).
[3] John J. Collins, “The Jewish Apocalypses,” Semeia, ed. John Joseph Collins 14 (1979): 32.
[4] David A. deSilva, Introducing the Apocrypha: Message, Context, and Significance, Second Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2018), 20.