The world of JESUS

Palestine= Place; Israel = People

Palestine name given to the Land of Canaan

by the Greeks

Has 4 main regions Galilee Samaria Judea Idumea

Homeland of Jesus born in Judea, raised in Galilee

Israel no longer a name for the land, now

for the descendents of Jacob (except for the Samaritans)

Palestine Varied climate

A lot like California Many ecosystems – coastal, valley, mountain,

desert,

Water Scarcity a serious issue now and in Jesus’ time People dug wells strict rules governed the use of water

Vegetation wide variety and abundance juniper , oak common; olive and fig trees most valuable - oil and fruit Imported plants from various conquerors

Palestine Animals

Both wild and domestic animals were abundant

Among the common wild animals that Jesus would have know were boars, foxes, hyenas, wolves, leopards, bears, and lions.

Domestic animals included sheep, oxen, donkeys, cows, pigs, roosters, hens, geese, fish and birds.

Geographical Factions in Palestine

Judea. Region of central

PalestineIdumea

South of JudeaSamaria

North of JudeaGalilee

North of Samaria

Food and Meals Sharing a Meal: A Sacred Act

To “break a bread” was an outward sign of unity and friendship Sharing a meal showed that

Meat: on special occasions only considered a luxury available on a regular basis only to the wealthy.

Staples Bread most common; then fish Fish preserved by drying and salting fresh fish cooked over a charcoal fire

Dinner table Meals were often eaten in the open air and at flexible times of the day People ate in reclining position rather than a sitting position. ate with their hands, used bread as a “dipper” from a flattened metal cup rather than using forks, spoons, and plates.

The typical house Design and Construction

Most houses were neither large nor impressive. The majority of the people belonged to the lower class House- one room- divided in half with the people living on one side other room and their animals living on the other side. Only one door Some houses were built into the side of a hill Most houses were made of clay, sometimes baked into bricks. Only the homes of the rich were made of stone The roof was made of wattling- which consisted of poles bound together by reeds and grass and then covered with earth. People kept tools on the roof, spread lined there to dry after washing. People often slept on roofs in hot weather Quite common to sit on the roof during times of prayer and meditation.

Pictures are from a reconstructed village called Katzrin in modern Israel.

Common occupations Agriculture

Jewish people had a particular love for work related to earth.

Farmers Many people were farmers

and shepherds Fishers

Fishing was another common and respected occupation.

Traders This ranges from carpentry-

trade of Jesus and Joseph- to tent making- trade of Paul.