The Book of Jubilees is an anonymous Jewish religious text composed in the 2nd century BCE, during the Hellenistic period. It is not the work of a single known author but a pseudepigraphical work, meaning it claims an ancient, authoritative author—in this case, presenting itself as a divine revelation given to Moses on Mount Sinai. According to modern scholars, it likely originated within priestly or levitical circles that emphasized strict legal observance.

The book is a single comprehensive work that retells and expands upon the biblical narrative from the Creation to the Exodus. It is structured around a 49-year "jubilee" cycle. The original language was Hebrew, as confirmed by fragments found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The complete text survives primarily in an ancient Ethiopic translation, with additional fragments in Greek, Latin, and Syriac.

The Book of Jubilees is historically significant as a major example of "rewritten Bible," a genre that reinterpreted scripture to address contemporary theological issues. It strongly advocates for a 364-day solar calendar, a position that was influential within the Qumran community. The text highlights themes like predestination, the eternal nature of law, and the origins of evil, providing valuable insight into Jewish thought during the Second Temple period. Although not included in the Hebrew or most Christian biblical canons, it was preserved within the Ethiopic biblical tradition.