Ishmael and Isaac grow. Hagar and Ishmael are sent away. Abraham is tested repeatedly, and Mastema — not God directly — instigates the supreme test: the binding of Isaac. Prince Mastema challenges God, claiming that Abraham loves Isaac more than God. God permits the test.
The Mastema framing of the Aqedah (binding of Isaac) is Jubilees' most significant theological innovation. In Genesis 22:1, 'God tested Abraham.' In Jubilees 17:16, Mastema provokes the test, exactly as Satan provokes God regarding Job (Job 1:9-11). This transforms the Aqedah from a divine test into a cosmic courtroom drama where Abraham must prove his loyalty before an adversary. The parallel to Job is exact and deliberate.
Making Mastema the instigator raises the question of whether God is responding to a demonic challenge rather than acting on his own initiative. The text seems comfortable with divine-demonic interaction at this level.
Genesis 22:1-2 (the binding of Isaac begins); Job 1:6-12, 2:1-6 (Satan's challenge to God); Zechariah 3:1-2 (the Accuser before God); 1 Chronicles 21:1 vs. 2 Samuel 24:1 (Satan vs. God inciting David); Hebrews 11:17-19 (faith of Abraham); James 2:21-23 (Abraham justified by works).
Ge'ez
In the first year of the fifth week, Isaac was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast in the third month on the day his son Isaac was weaned.
REF And in the first year of the fifth week Isaac was weaned and Abraham made a great banquet in the third month, on the day that his son Isaac was weaned.
Ge'ez
Ishmael, the son of Hagar the Egyptian, was there before his father Abraham in his place. Abraham rejoiced and blessed God because he had seen his sons and had not died childless.
REF And Ishmael, the son of Hagar, the Egyptian, was before Abraham his father in his place, and Abraham rejoiced and blessed God because he had seen his sons, and had not died childless.
Ge'ez
Sarah saw Ishmael playing and dancing while Abraham rejoiced with great joy, and she became jealous of Ishmael.
REF And Sarah saw Ishmael playing and dancing, and Abraham rejoicing with great joy, and she became jealous of Ishmael.
Ge'ez
She said to Abraham, 'Send away this slave woman and her son, for this slave woman's son must not inherit with my son Isaac.'
REF And she said to Abraham, 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.'
Ge'ez
The matter deeply grieved Abraham because of his son Ishmael. But God said to Abraham, 'Do not be grieved because of the boy and the slave woman. In everything Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants will be named.'
REF And the thing was grievous in the sight of Abraham because of Ishmael his son, and God said to Abraham, 'Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the boy and because of the bondwoman: in all that Sarah saith to thee, hearken to her voice and do what she telleth thee; for in Isaac shall thy seed be named.'
Ge'ez
Abraham rose early in the morning, took bread and a skin of water, placed them on Hagar's shoulders with the child, and sent them away.
REF And Abraham arose early in the morning and took bread and a bottle of water and placed them on the shoulders of Hagar and the child and sent her away.
Ge'ez
She wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. The water in the skin ran out, the child grew thirsty and could not continue, and he collapsed.
REF And she went and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba, and the water in the bottle was at an end, and the child was athirst, and could not go on and fell down.
Ge'ez
His mother placed him under an olive tree and sat down at a distance of about a bowshot away, saying, 'I cannot watch my child die.' And she wept.
REF And his mother took him and placed him under an olive tree, and she went and sat over against him at a distance of a bow-shot, for she said, 'Let me not see the death of my child,' and she wept.
Ge'ez
An angel of God, one of the holy ones, said to her, 'What troubles you, Hagar? Get up, take the child, and hold him. God has heard your voice and seen the child.'
REF And an angel of God, one of the holy ones, said unto her, 'What aileth thee, Hagar? Arise and take the child and hold him in thine hand; for God hath heard thy voice and hath seen the child.'
Ge'ez
She opened her eyes and saw a well of water. She filled her water-skin, gave her child a drink, and set out toward the wilderness of Paran.
REF And she opened her eyes and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled her bottle with water, and she gave her child to drink, and arose and went towards the desert of Paran.
Ge'ez
God was with the boy. He grew up in the wilderness and became an archer, and God was with him.
REF And God was with the lad, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness and became a shooter with the bow, and God was with him.
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)covenantal
Circumcision command clarified regarding its application
The JST footnote revises the circumcision instruction to clarify the scope or framing of the ordinance as a token of the covenant, consistent with how Restoration theology distinguishes the sign from the covenant itself.
Ge'ez
His mother chose a wife for him from among the daughters of Egypt.
REF And his mother took him a wife from among the daughters of Egypt.
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)covenantal
Age and applicability of circumcision further specified
Complements the revision at v. 11. The JST adjustments to the circumcision statutes in Genesis 17 are among the more granular legal clarifications in the JST footnotes, indicating Joseph Smith revisited the Abrahamic covenant texts with particular care.
Ge'ez
Abraham took Keturah as a wife, and she bore him sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah — six sons in one week of years.
REF And Abraham went and took Keturah for a wife, and she bare him sons: Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah — six sons — in one week of years.
Ge'ez
In the sixth year of the seventh week of this jubilee, Abraham called his son Isaac and instructed him, saying, 'I have grown old and do not know the day of my death, for I am full of years.
REF And in the sixth year of the seventh week of this jubilee Abraham called Isaac his son and commanded him, saying: 'I am become old, and know not the day of my death, for I am full of my days.
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)narrative
Man's approach to Jesus in the Transfiguration healing account clarified
The JST footnote revises details of the man who approaches Jesus after the Transfiguration to request healing for his son, harmonizing or adding precision to the account.
Ge'ez
I am one hundred and seventy-five years old, and throughout all the days of my life I have remembered the LORD and sought with all my heart to do his will and walk in his ways with my whole heart.
REF And behold I am one hundred and seventy-five years old, and throughout all the days of my life I have remembered the Lord, and sought with all my heart to do His will, and to walk in His ways with my whole heart.
Ge'ez
Prince Mastema came and said before God, 'Abraham loves his son Isaac and delights in him above everything else. Command him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering on the altar, and you will see whether he will carry out this command. Then you will know if he is faithful in everything you test him with.'
REF And the prince Mastema came and said before God: 'Behold, Abraham loveth Isaac his son, and he delighteth in him above all things else; bid him offer him as a burnt-offering on the altar, and Thou wilt see if he will do this command, and Thou wilt know if he is faithful in everything wherein Thou dost try him.'
Ge'ez
The LORD God knew that Abraham was faithful in all his trials, for he had tested him through exile from his country, through famine, through the wealth of kings, through his wife when she was taken from him, through circumcision, and through Ishmael and Hagar his servant when he sent them away.
REF And the Lord God knew that Abraham was faithful in all his afflictions; for He had tried him through his country, and with famine, and had tried him with the wealth of kings, and had tried him again through his wife, when she was torn (from him), and with circumcision; and had tried him through Ishmael and Hagar, his maid-servant, when he sent them away.
Ge'ez
In every test he was found faithful. His soul was never impatient, and he was never slow to act, for he was faithful and a lover of the LORD.
REF And in all that He had tried him, he was found faithful, and his soul was not impatient, and he was not slow to act; for he was faithful and a lover of the Lord.