The Essential Companion to Life in Bible Times

by Silva, Moises

• ISBN13: 9780310286882
• ISBN10: 0310286883
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-08-16
• Publisher: Zondervan

Summary

Essential Companion to Life in Bible Times organizes material in thematic fashion and distills from the various articles the information that is most useful for appreciating the cultural background of the biblical writings.The book begins with a chapter on the family, describing what the Bible says about children, from their birth through their education, and discusses the roles played by men and women when they reached adulthood. The topics of sex, marriage, divorce, old age, death, and burial are also treated.From there, topics include:-The household---from house architecture and furniture to the subjects of food and water---and health and illnesses in biblical times.-Social life, including population, the calendar, economics, crafts, travel and trade, dress, and music.-Government in the towns, the larger cities, and the state; including the role of the king, as well as the function of elders and officials.-Israel's religious life---from the use of high places and altars, to the importance of the tabernacle and the temple, to role of priests and Levites.

Author Biography

Moiss Silva taught biblical studies at Westmont College, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conweli Theological Seminary. He is the author or coauthor of eight books and the revising editor of The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. 7
Abbreviations	p. 9
Family
Children	p. 11
Men's and Women's Roles	p. 14
Sex, Marriage, and Divorce	p. 16
Old Age and Death	p. 19
Household
Houses and Furniture	p. 23
Types of Food	p. 27
Food Preparation	p. 30
Prohibited Foods	p. 32
Water	p. 33
Health and Illnesses	p. 35
Work
Cultivation	p. 40
Livestock	p. 46
Woodworking	p. 48
Quarrying and Metallurgy	p. 49
Pottery Making	p. 54
Other Occupations	p. 54
Commerce and Economics	p. 60
Society
Societal Relations	p. 65
Population	p. 66
Slavery	p. 68
Dress	p. 72
Music	p. 77
Government
Towns and Cities	p. 80
Elders and Officials	p. 87
The King	p. 90
Law and Justice	p. 94
International Relations	p. 96
Warfare	p. 98
Religious life
Altars and High Places	p. 108
Tabernacle and Temple	p. 111
Priests and Levites	p. 118
Feasts	p. 120
Sacrifices and Offerings	p. 122
Ritual Purity	p. 127
Synagogue	p. 130
Scribes and Rabbis	p. 133
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