Editing Swedenborgianism (section)

=== {{anchor|Pre-Biblical texts}}Pre-biblical texts ===
Swedenborg believed that sacred texts of an "Ancient Church" in the Middle East preceded Judaism, but the texts have been lost. Some, such as [[Book of the Wars of the Lord|''The Wars of Jehovah'']] (mentioned in Numbers 21:14–15)<ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|21:14–15}}</ref> and another book similar to those in the Prophets (mentioned in Numbers 21:27–30),<ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|21:27–30}}</ref> are quoted in the Bible (see [[non-canonical books referenced in the Bible]]).<ref>AC, n. 1664(12), 2686, 9942(5); DS, n. 102.</ref> Another work that Swedenborg believed belonged to the ancient church was [[Book of Jasher (Biblical references)|the Book of Jasher]], which is also quoted in the Bible (Joshua 10:12–13,<ref>{{bibleverse|Joshua|10:12–13}}</ref> 2 Samuel 1:17–18);<ref>{{bibleverse|2 Samuel|1:17–18}}</ref> according to him, this book still existed in [[Tartary]].<ref>AR, n. 11, and TCR, 266.</ref>

A Hebrew [[midrash]], {{transliteration|he|[[Sefer haYashar (midrash)|Sefer haYashar]]}} was published in Venice in 1625; an English translation was published in 1840. The Hebrew text was examined by the 19th-century biblical scholar [[George Bush (biblical scholar)|George Bush]] (a relative of the [[Bush family]]), who later became a Swedenborgian minister. Although the New Church has no official position on this Hebrew text, Swedenborg said that the first parts of Genesis were taken from the "Ancient Word"<ref>TCR, Index to Memorable Relations, 32.</ref> and are found in the book of Jasher.<ref>Swedenborg, Emanuel. ''The Divine Revelation of the New Jerusalem'', ed. by Theodore Webber, 2012, preface. {{ISBN|978-0-9857796-0-3}}.</ref>