Through the Ages - Biblical Palestine

Random facts

Our favourite Biblical names

Boys
Joshebbasshebeth
Zaphenathpaneah
Ximenes
Baalhanan
Gamaliel

Girls
Hammarlecheth
Ilzzabet
Djanet
Bat-Chemeche
Xuxa

Ancient coins were called
Beka
Pim
Shekel
Talent
Gerah
Mina

Schooltime
Children were taught by their parents and the lessons were all about a good relationship with God and how to get along with others.

Fathers would also teach their trade to their sons whilst mothers would teach household duties to the girls.

Take a note
People would have written on papyrus sheets or carved words and symbols into clay or stone. A sharpened reed with ink or a brush and paint were used to write with or a sharp piece of bone or a chisel were used for carving.

Furniture
There wasn’t much furniture in a biblical house. Perhaps a few chairs and a table or two. Curtains or mats were used instead of doors. Oil lamps were used and these were made out of pottery.

Set the table!
People sat on an animal skin on the floor and ate their food from that. Richer people would sit at a table or recline on a couch for meals.
The two main meals of the day were served at noon and in the evening.
Bread was often dipped into stews or soups that would be put in the middle of the table or floor for people to share.

Supper Time
Fish would have been eaten a lot as well as wild game. Vegetables and fruit were also plentiful. Savoury dishes would have been flavoured with honey. Salads would have a citrus fruit and honey dressing and olive oil would have been used in almost all cooking.

Transport
Horses, donkey’s and feet were what would have been used for transport. Fishermen had small boats but other commoners would not have used these as a rule. Some people would have had carts that were pulled by oxen but most people would have just walked around.

Medicine
People did use herbs and oils to relieve their pain and symptoms but most people would have relied on their faith to get them through. That and a little extra help from God in the form of miraculous healings at the temples.

Roman Influence
Of course everything changed once the Romans had made their way into Israel. Life was good for a lot of the rich folk of Jerusalem and they went along with what the Romans wanted just to maintain a nice quality of life.

You can find out more about the Romans in And Judas Had A Brother.