Non-Extant Books of a Canonical Nature

First, let us define what we mean. "A canonical nature" signifies that the books might have been considered canonical by ancient Jews. In fact, these books were cited as sources and references in our current Old Testament. Consequently, the information contained in them was regarded as generally accurate.

Alas, these books have not survived. Hence the term "non-extant." Had these books survived, it is quite possible that they might contain detailed information which is not found in our Biblical histories. What follows is a table of the titles of these non-extant books and where they are mentioned in the Bible:

Book of the Wars of Yahweh Num 21:14
Book of Jasher Josh 10:12; 2 Sam 1:18
Acts of Solomon 1 Kgs 4:32-3; 11:41
Book of Samuel the Seer 1 Chr 29:29
Book of Nathan the Prophet 1 Chr 29:29; 2 Chr 9:29
Book of Gad the Seer 1 Chr 29:29
Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite 2 Chr 9:29
Visions of Iddo the Seer Against Jeroboam the Son of Nebat 2 Chr 9:29
Story of the Prophet Iddo 2 Chr 13:22
Book of Yehu, Son of Hanani 2 Chr 20:34
Book of the Torah (or Code)?? Dt 31:24-26; 2 Kgs 22:8, 10; 2 Chr 34:14-16; Neh 8:1
Chronicles of (the Kings of) Judah 1 Kgs 14:29; 15:7, 23; 22:45;
2 Kgs 8:23; 12:19; 14:18; 15:6, 36; 16:19; 21:17, 25; 23:28; 24:5
Chronicles of (the Kings of) Israel 1 Kgs 14:29; 15:31; 16:5, 14, 20, 27;
2 Kgs 1:18; 10:34; 13:8, 12; 14:15, 28; 15:11, 15, 21, 26, 31
Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel [Israel and Judah] 1 Chr 9:1; 2 Chr 16:11; 24:27; 25:26; 27:7; 28:26; 32:32; 35:26-7
Acts of Uzziah by Isaiah, Son of Amoz 2 Chr 26:22
Book of the Kings of Israel (including the Acts and Prayer of Manasseh and words of seers)
[different from above?] 		2 Chr 20:34; 33:18
Sayings of the Seers 2 Chr 33:19
Lamentations of the Singing Women
(with Jeremiah's Lamentations for Josiah) 		2 Chr 35:25
Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Medea and Persia Est 10:2

NOTES:

  1. Nearly all of the books were sources for the Chronicles and were therefore extant c. 4th century BCE when the Chronicler compiled the volume.
  2. It is interesting to note that Numbers and Deuteronomy cite sources, indicating that at least one editor was involved in their development.
  3. The Book of the Code mentioned after Deuteronomy may have been a different book. By the time of Ezra, this may have been our Torah.
  4. Other books mentioned bear resemblence in title to canonical or apocryphal books. What relationship these may have is unknown.

Continue to a discussion of the Deuterocanonical Books, writings authored by Hellenistic Jews and which are accepted by various Christian groups as canonical.