 | Everyday Life in Bible Times, Third Edition |
Source: Bought through Half.com.
Book Description from Back Cover:
Have you ever wondered what life was like in the days of the Old and New Testaments? What were the predominant occupations and trades? What types of homes did the people of the Bible live in? What social customs prevailed? The answers to these questions and many more are found in Everyday Life in Bible Times. Readers will gain valuable insight and information about the culture, society, and everyday lives of God's Old and New Testament people.
Each chapter contains dozens of specific references to passages in the Bible. Simple sketches and illustrations help depict commonly used equipment, materials, structures, and raw goods.
My Review:
Everyday Life in Bible Times is a Bible background book about everyday life in Bible times. It covered the time period of the whole Bible and contained scripture references (usually just the chapter and verse so you can look it up) that might make more sense after reading that section. The book is a quick, easy read, but it contained a lot of information. The book covered many subjects and described the steps of how each activity was done (based on ancient literature, archeological findings, and how similar cultures still do it).
This book covered the topics of hunting, fishing, herding (including shepherding), grain growing from sowing to harvesting, vineyards, orchards, types of food and drink and it's preparation, different types of homes and how they were furnished, various trades (weaving, spinning, dying, carpenter, potter, metalworker, tanner, tent making, stonecutter, day laborer), writing, music, time keeping, traveling, weights and measures, how they dressed, marriage ceremony, child upbringing, toys, festivals, burials, and more.
There were black-and-white line drawings of what the various tools, foods, and such looked like. This is a good, informative book, especially if you're interested in the actual steps of how an activity was done (though this isn't a do-it-yourself guide) rather than simply learning which activities were done. I'd highly recommend it.
If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.
Excerpt from page 142
Travel by Foot. Bible people made very long journeys on foot. This meant that the travelers had to carry with them everything they needed on the way--staff, cloak for protection during the night, bag, food for the journey, and a jar or dried gourd filled with water (Genesis 21:14). The bag, made of leather, might contain dried fruit, nuts, parched wheat, and perhaps a little bread.
Thus equipped, whole companies traveled together on foot to attend the festivals of the Passover, the First Fruits (Pentecost), and the Feast of Booths (Harvest). Those coming from Galilee would normally walk down the east side of the Jordan Valley, which was much easier than walking through the hills and valleys of Samaria. By doing this they also avoided the enmity of the Samaritans. They probably camped out at night, and perhaps rested during the noon hours during the warmer season of the year. Perhaps some women and smaller children rode donkeys.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment