Commentary for Avodah Zarah 49:1
(יהושע י, יג) וידום השמש וירח עמד עד יקום גוי אויביו הלא היא כתובה על ספר הישר מאי ספר הישר א"ר חייא בר אבא א"ר יוחנן זה ספר אברהם יצחק ויעקב שנקראו ישרים שנא' (במדבר כג, י) תמות נפשי מות ישרים
“And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Yashar” (Joshua 10:3). What is the book of Yashar? R. Hiyya b. Abba said in the name of R. Yohanan: It is the book of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who are designated as righteous, as it is said, “Let me die the death of the righteous” (Numbers 23:10).
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The book of Joshua mysteriously refers to a book known as “the book of Yashar.” According to R. Yohanan this is book is Genesis, the book about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who were called righteous by Balaam. Balaam asks to die the death of the righteous—the good death that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob died.
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