Forming Jewish Identity by Formulating Legislation for Gentiles

The following paper explores the formulation of universal commandments for non-Jews within
the book of Jubilees and compares it with rabbinic traditions that also deal with Gentiles and
law observance. The discussion concerning commandments incumbent upon all of humanity in
Jubilees betrays a remarkable preoccupation with promoting the observance of particular laws
(e. g., Sabbath and circumcision) for Jews alone—universal law becomes a means for highlighting
Israel’s special covenantal status. The bitter opposition expressed in Jubilees against Gentiles
is best understood as a polemical response to events redefining Jewish-Gentile relations during
the second century B. C. E.