Synopses & Reviews
We know that John the Baptist ate locusts, but were they insects or sweet beans? Why did a fish swallow a coin that Jesus later used to pay the temple tax? How could walking beside a donkey have made Joseph a laughingstock? Good handling of biblical passages demands a working knowledge of the historical and cultural context from which it was written. This bestselling reference book contains colorful photography and artwork, as well as maps, diagrams and charts. Additionally, there are scripture and topical indexes for quick fact-checking. Bible students and laypeople who teach in the church will benefit from and be fascinated by the helpful features of The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times.
Synopsis
The expanded version includes detailed accounts of ancient customs regarding family, marriage, farming, government and more.
About the Author
RALPH GOWER (M.E., B.D., London Bible College; Ph.D., University of Liverpool) is currently the minister of Cornerstone Baptist Church, Ainsdale, in the north west of England. He has spent most of his life in the area of Religious Education as teacher, lecturer, researcher, administrator and inspector, and has written educational material for teachers and children. He has contributed articles to various Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias and is the author of The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times, Frontiers, Religious Education in the Junior Years, Religious Education in the Infant Years, and Life in New Testament Times. He has been a guide and tour leader in Israel. He resides in Lancashire, England.
Table of Contents
Part One- Family Life
Clothing
Dwellings
Domestic Activities
Food and Meals
The Family
Education
Agriculture
Collecting Food
Shepherding
Craftsmen and Traders
Part Two- Institutions and Customs
Towns and Villages
Journeys and Travel
Hospitality
Social and Political Groupings
Government and Society
Warfare
Leisure
Religion
Index
Scripture Index