Residents of Israel and other Middle-Eastern lands enjoyed a variety of wines and other intoxicating beverages during daily meals as well as festive occasions..
The Bible writers describe the use the use of wine and intoxicating liquor on numerous occasions. The one were Jesus is described turning water into wine for wedding guests is well known, and other evidence abounds such as the Bible record in places like Deuteronomy 14:26 and Luke 1:15 which describe the use of wine and other "intoxicating liquors".
These liquors were not the gins and whiskys of modern distillers, however. This type of liquor we consume so much today came much later in human history.
The term "intoxicating liquor" mentioned in the Bible could also refer to to beer such as the barley beer of Mesopotamia apparently popular not only among the elite but also the poor people.
This alcoholic beverage was very popular in Bible times, as seem from the discoveries of clay models of breweries and brewers in Egyptian tombs and the remains of jugs with strainer spouts to keep drinkers from choking on the husks of the barley plant while drinking. These were discovered throughout Palestine in areas occupied by the Philistines as well as around ancient Babylon.
According to researchers beer seems to have been an everyday drink not only by Babylonian nobles but also the poor people.
So the term "intoxicating liquor" likely referred to such beers. While it was low in alcohol content it could still be intoxicating in drunk in any quanitity.
Or the term could also refer to other alcoholic beverages such as drinks made from applies , dates, figs, pomegranates and honey.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The Newt's Eye Regeneration Skills and Evolutions
The Bible says that, "God created" and the Newt's eye regeneration skills certainly prove that. Consider a few points about this and see what you think.
Scientists spent some 16 years studying the regenerative abilities of Japanese Newts. Although these small lizards can regenerate a variety of body parts such as their tail, organs, tissues and limbs these scientists from the University of Dayton Ohio concentrated on how one of these small creatures was able to regenerate its eyes lens over 16 years.
Over this 16-year-period scientists removed the eye lens from each of the news in the study 18 times. Each time it grew back -- a perfect copy of the original according toe biologist Panagiotis Tsonis, a member of the study team said "Even I was a surprised a little," beach the the the new lens was, perfect" he said.
Now what do you think. Do you really think that such an ability could have happened by chance as evolutionists would claim? Or would such an ability need a creator as the Bible says.
Scientists spent some 16 years studying the regenerative abilities of Japanese Newts. Although these small lizards can regenerate a variety of body parts such as their tail, organs, tissues and limbs these scientists from the University of Dayton Ohio concentrated on how one of these small creatures was able to regenerate its eyes lens over 16 years.
Over this 16-year-period scientists removed the eye lens from each of the news in the study 18 times. Each time it grew back -- a perfect copy of the original according toe biologist Panagiotis Tsonis, a member of the study team said "Even I was a surprised a little," beach the the the new lens was, perfect" he said.
Now what do you think. Do you really think that such an ability could have happened by chance as evolutionists would claim? Or would such an ability need a creator as the Bible says.
Friday, March 1, 2013
The Tools of Gallieen Fishermen
The equipment of these early fishermen was similar to that of many fishermen today.
Men like Peter and his brother Andrew, as well as some of the other disciples sailed these sometimes turbulent waters of the sea of Galilee in small but seaworthy wooden craft.
These fishing vessels were about 8.27 meter (78 feet) long and 2.3 meters( 7.5 feet) across;. Many had a mast and small cabin under the stern deck.
Type in: "Galileen Fishing boats'' and you'll come up with a number of excellent pictures of this type of vessel.
This size of boat could hold up to 15 persons but a typical fishing crew would be composed of up to 6 men with one steering the boat with the oar at the stern and managing the large rectangular on the center mast, while the other were kept busy either rowing when the wind had died down or working the fishing nets. These nets could be up to 30 meters (100 feet) long by 2.44 meters (8 feet deep with floats on the top and anchors strung along the bottom edges.
Out in deep water the fishermen would the ends to two boats. With the nets between the crews would then row in opposite directions in a circular pattern. When they met again they had created a huge circle with the nets, capturing shoals of fish.
In shallow water fishermen used a different techniques. In some cases one fishermen would stay near shore holding one end of the net while others in a boat with the dragnet attached to the stern would row out into the water and then circle and row back to shore
trapping fish in the net just as they had with two boats in deep water. Other fishermen might use a line with weighted hooks which he would cast into the water and still others used a small one-man net with weighted edges which he threw out over the water in front of him. The idea was to catch fish in the net as it sank to the bottom of the water like a webbed dome.
Among the fish caught by these first century fishermen caught was the talapia, a popular fish which formed a regular part of their diet in both fresh and dried and salted dishes.
Men like Peter and his brother Andrew, as well as some of the other disciples sailed these sometimes turbulent waters of the sea of Galilee in small but seaworthy wooden craft.
These fishing vessels were about 8.27 meter (78 feet) long and 2.3 meters( 7.5 feet) across;. Many had a mast and small cabin under the stern deck.
Type in: "Galileen Fishing boats'' and you'll come up with a number of excellent pictures of this type of vessel.
This size of boat could hold up to 15 persons but a typical fishing crew would be composed of up to 6 men with one steering the boat with the oar at the stern and managing the large rectangular on the center mast, while the other were kept busy either rowing when the wind had died down or working the fishing nets. These nets could be up to 30 meters (100 feet) long by 2.44 meters (8 feet deep with floats on the top and anchors strung along the bottom edges.
Out in deep water the fishermen would the ends to two boats. With the nets between the crews would then row in opposite directions in a circular pattern. When they met again they had created a huge circle with the nets, capturing shoals of fish.
In shallow water fishermen used a different techniques. In some cases one fishermen would stay near shore holding one end of the net while others in a boat with the dragnet attached to the stern would row out into the water and then circle and row back to shore
trapping fish in the net just as they had with two boats in deep water. Other fishermen might use a line with weighted hooks which he would cast into the water and still others used a small one-man net with weighted edges which he threw out over the water in front of him. The idea was to catch fish in the net as it sank to the bottom of the water like a webbed dome.
Among the fish caught by these first century fishermen caught was the talapia, a popular fish which formed a regular part of their diet in both fresh and dried and salted dishes.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Fishing on the Sea of Galilee
Have you ever wondered what it must have been like to fish on the Sea of Galilee during the time of Jesus?
If you love fishing and fishing stories you might want to visit this
land-locked sea (lake) some day. It is a beautiful lake actually some 20.92 kilometers or 13 miles long by 11.27 kilometers or 7 miles wide and had a thriving fishing industry during Jesus' day.
The area around this sea is quite picturesque but rugged. Like the Dead Sea it lies at the bottom of the Great Right Valley -- not quite as low as the Dead Sea which is 1400 feet below sea level -- but still quite deep at 690 feet below with rock shores surround much of it and Mount Hermon at its northern end.
Here the fishermen of Jesus day cast their nets either from boats or from the shore. Sometimes the water was calm but during the winter cold winds often whipped up choppy waves and in the summer powerful storms frequently roared down the slopes and across the warm waters creating havoc for unwary sailors as described in Mathew 8: 23-27 just as it does for fishermen and sailors in these waters today, although now of course they are much better equipped.
Next we'll take a quick look at some of the boats and equipment of these early fishermen.
If you love fishing and fishing stories you might want to visit this
land-locked sea (lake) some day. It is a beautiful lake actually some 20.92 kilometers or 13 miles long by 11.27 kilometers or 7 miles wide and had a thriving fishing industry during Jesus' day.
The area around this sea is quite picturesque but rugged. Like the Dead Sea it lies at the bottom of the Great Right Valley -- not quite as low as the Dead Sea which is 1400 feet below sea level -- but still quite deep at 690 feet below with rock shores surround much of it and Mount Hermon at its northern end.
Here the fishermen of Jesus day cast their nets either from boats or from the shore. Sometimes the water was calm but during the winter cold winds often whipped up choppy waves and in the summer powerful storms frequently roared down the slopes and across the warm waters creating havoc for unwary sailors as described in Mathew 8: 23-27 just as it does for fishermen and sailors in these waters today, although now of course they are much better equipped.
Next we'll take a quick look at some of the boats and equipment of these early fishermen.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The Center of Worship and Political Intrigue for Centuries
This ancient city situated in the central mountain range of Judea, about 34 miles from the Mediterranean Sea has been the center of worship and political intrigue for centuries -- from today all the way back to early Christian times (Much of the opening books of Acts takes place here) and to the time of King David of Israel.
This city is none other than the hilltop fortress of Zion captured and renamed Jerusalem by King David in 1070 B.C.E.
From this time on the city has grown to include such other areas as Mount Moriah, youi'll remember, is where Abraham tried to sacrifice his only son Isaac some 1900 years earlier.
David's son, King Solomon, looking for a central point for, political -- the Jewish Sanhedrin was located here -- as well as social and religious events made Mount Moriah a part of the city of Jerusalem with a temple he built on it.
Worshipers from many parts of the Mediterranean traveled here to sacrifice, worship and observe seasonal festivals such as the Festival of Booths and Passover in obedience to Jehovah's command at Deuteronomy 16:16: where he said: "Three times in the year every male of yours should appear before Jehovah your God in the place that he will choose." This was Jerusalem from the time of King Solomon -- at least until the temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E.
This city is none other than the hilltop fortress of Zion captured and renamed Jerusalem by King David in 1070 B.C.E.
From this time on the city has grown to include such other areas as Mount Moriah, youi'll remember, is where Abraham tried to sacrifice his only son Isaac some 1900 years earlier.
David's son, King Solomon, looking for a central point for, political -- the Jewish Sanhedrin was located here -- as well as social and religious events made Mount Moriah a part of the city of Jerusalem with a temple he built on it.
Worshipers from many parts of the Mediterranean traveled here to sacrifice, worship and observe seasonal festivals such as the Festival of Booths and Passover in obedience to Jehovah's command at Deuteronomy 16:16: where he said: "Three times in the year every male of yours should appear before Jehovah your God in the place that he will choose." This was Jerusalem from the time of King Solomon -- at least until the temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Buyers and Sellers During Bible Times
Both specialized retail and the problem of inflation began early in human history although much of the economy during Bible times was still based on farming, herding and bartering.
Still early predecessors to our shopping malls; Bible writers speak of such early markets situated at city gates as the Sheep Gate, the Fish Gate, and the Gate of Potsherds.
Nehemiah 3: 1,3 mention two of these gates, describing how "Eliashib the high priest and his brothers, the priests, proceeded to get up and build the Sheep Gate. They themselves sanctified it and went setting up its doors" And at Jeremiah 3: 1, and 3 Jeremiah is directed by God to go down to the Gate of the Potsherds to buy an earthenware flask apparently.
Inflation too had early roots in human history with prices that kept getting higher and higher. The actual price of merchandise naturally fluctuated throughout the centuries just as they do today and it is hard to pinpoint what something would have cost at a given date --but generally prices for got steadily more as we can see in the human slave trade;.
The information from ancient sources, including the Bible shows that this trade existed and that when slaves were sold to new masters inflation was a factor. Joseph, the son of Joseph, for instance was told by his brothers for 20 silver prices, (possibly shekels) in the 18 century B.C.E. according to Genesis 37:28.
Three hundred years later, however, the price had risen to 30 shekels -- by the 8th century B.CE. to 50 shekels according to Exodus 32:22 and 2 King s 15:20 -- and by 200 years after this, during the time of the Persian Empire, the price for a slave had risen to 90 silver shekels.
So neither specialized commercial centers or the problem of inflation are something new to the modern era.
Still early predecessors to our shopping malls; Bible writers speak of such early markets situated at city gates as the Sheep Gate, the Fish Gate, and the Gate of Potsherds.
Nehemiah 3: 1,3 mention two of these gates, describing how "Eliashib the high priest and his brothers, the priests, proceeded to get up and build the Sheep Gate. They themselves sanctified it and went setting up its doors" And at Jeremiah 3: 1, and 3 Jeremiah is directed by God to go down to the Gate of the Potsherds to buy an earthenware flask apparently.
Inflation too had early roots in human history with prices that kept getting higher and higher. The actual price of merchandise naturally fluctuated throughout the centuries just as they do today and it is hard to pinpoint what something would have cost at a given date --but generally prices for got steadily more as we can see in the human slave trade;.
The information from ancient sources, including the Bible shows that this trade existed and that when slaves were sold to new masters inflation was a factor. Joseph, the son of Joseph, for instance was told by his brothers for 20 silver prices, (possibly shekels) in the 18 century B.C.E. according to Genesis 37:28.
Three hundred years later, however, the price had risen to 30 shekels -- by the 8th century B.CE. to 50 shekels according to Exodus 32:22 and 2 King s 15:20 -- and by 200 years after this, during the time of the Persian Empire, the price for a slave had risen to 90 silver shekels.
So neither specialized commercial centers or the problem of inflation are something new to the modern era.
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