Daily Life in Biblical Times

includes index and biblioraphy

1. INTRODUCTION: THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE 1 The Land 1 The People 6 The Sources 10 2. RURAL LIFE 13 The Village 13 Physical Layout 14 Types of Villages 14 The House l6 Biblical Depictions of Village Life 21 Sociopolitical Structure of the Village 21 Village Government 21 The Family 22 Hospitality 22 Religious Practices 24 The Economy 25 Agriculture 26 Land Use 27 The Calendar 27 Field Crops, Fruit Trees, Vegetables, and More 28 Herding 29 Other Professions and Occupations 30 Pottery Making 30 Weaving 31 Tanning 32 Carpentry 33 Masonry 33 Metallurgy 34 Warfare: The Early Years 35 Ideology 36 Strategy and Tactics 37 Results of War 41 3. URBAN LIFE 43 The City 43 City Planning 44 City Types 44 Fortifications 46 Water Systems 49 Palaces and Other Accommodations 49 Population 52 Religion 54 The Economy 55 Trade and Commerce 55 Overiand Trade 56 Maritime Commerce 58 When the Kings Went to War 59 4. THE HOUSEHOLD AND LIFE CYCLES 63 The Israelite Diet 63 Food Resources 63 The Menu 65 Baked Goods 65 Dairy Products 66 Meat Dishes 67 Seafood 68 Fowl 69 Fruit and Fruit Products 70 Drinks 70 Other Foods 71 Spices and Condiments 72 Food Storage 72 Food Preparation and Consumption 73 Health and Sickness 74 Hygiene and Sanitation 78 Personal Hygiene 78 Sanitation 79 Life Cycles 80 Birth 81 Marriage 81 Death and Burial 83 5. ANCIENT ISRAEUTE ARTS 87 Performing Arts: Music and Dance 87 Biblical Music and Musical Instruments 88 Musical Notes 90 Musical Performance 90 Private Performance 90 Public Performance 91 Secular Occurrences 91 Religious Occurrences 92 Visual Arts 93 Ivory 93 Clay 94 Glyptic Art 96 Mixed Media 97 6. WRITING—PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL 99 Private 100 Official Writings 101 Correspondence 102 Record Keeping 103 Chronicles 104 Monumental Inscriptions 105 Miscellaneous Inscriptions 106 Creative Writing 106 7. A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE AHUZAM FAMILY 109