Date of composition

• Scholarly guesses place it in 500 BC or later, with possible Christian editing.

Type of book

• Apocrypha

Length

• 5 double-spaced pages with 7 chapters.

Summary

• This book fascinating because it shows a clear Jewish origin with a later Christian interpretation. Chapters 1-6 present the Jewish original work, while chapter 7 includes the Christian commentary.
• Chapters 1-6: The book elaborates on the story of Jacob's Ladder in Genesis 28:10-22. He sees a ladder with twelve steps with faces carved into each one, upon which angels are ascending and descending. God spoke to him and promised the land he was sleeping on would be his descendants forever. Jacob believed that he was at the gate of heaven and created and sang a song of praise. An angel approaches him and tells him his name has been changed to Israel. The angels then make apocalyptic statements regarding the difficult times ahead, including slavery in Egypt, but share that eventually his descendants will live in peace in the land.
• Chapter 7 is probably a later Christian addition because it describes Christ. For example, 7:1: "In the last years there will be a man from the Most High, and he will desire to join the upper with the lower." He describes Jesus and ends with (7:35), "His own dominion and years will be unending forever."