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Bible Manners and
Customs
(APA Format)
Running Head: BIBLE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
Bible Manners and
Customs
[Author's Name]
[Institution's Name]
In the book Bible manners and customs G. M. Mackie has thrown
light on various manners and customs ranging from weather
to birth.
He has pointed out the significance of rain,
death, drought, naming, colours etc. Every year, without fail,
from June to August drought plagued the land of Palestine.
The temperatures rose significantly, sometimes up to 104 degrees.
This also allowed for outdoor life and acceptable climate
for the feast seasons (p. 8). Additional notes on Certain
Months are also given. (p. 9-10)
January was the coldest and darkest month,
with the heaviest rains. February saw showers and sunshine
alternate. March initiates high winds, but more sunshine.
April meant greenery and flowers, much more
beautiful than any other time of year; the sirocco winds begin
to stir, ruining much vegetation and flowers. In May, the
grass withers and the flowers fade as the rain ceases.
June meant that the land would be bare while
higher land wheat harvesting took place. July brought cooler
winds from the west. August is the hottest month of the year;
eighty-seven degrees in the shade at midday. September brought
siroccos increase winds to intensify the heat. He has also
talked about the night and day. In Palestine, the days began
and ended with the sunset. "Sunrise is a distinct moment,
bringing a swift and unmistakable change over the landscape"
since it set as quickly as it rose (p. 11). Atmosphere has
also significance. The horizons and skies over Palestine were
remarkably clear without mists or mines in Palestine (p 14),
so much so that the travelers could see their destination
for 25-30 miles. This also made the transmission of sound
more clear.
Colors have been discussed; according to
him Colors were very important in the minds of those in Bible
times. Orientals were very sensitive to the light and dark,
warm and cold values in a color. It is interesting to note
that all of the dye colors were taken from insects. References
to green seldom refer to the actual color when used in the
Bible, but to freshness and something new and blooming, and
sometimes is replaced by the other shades of green (e.g. yellow).
Babylonian princes, nobles and idols were
draped in blue many times (Merrill F. Unger, 1966) and because
of its close association to purple; it too was worn by the
wealthy and royal. Other times it was used emblematically
of the sky.
There is also a chapter about harlotry. Widows
were to be cared for lest they succumb to the temptation to
engage in prostitution, which was almost the only way for
women to make any money (Ralph Gower, 1987)
Daughters without fathers were targets of
cult prostitution. Though prostitution tends to be associated
with females, male prostitution was equally prevalent, to
be available for other men, and occasionally women. The Canaanites
believed that the gods would "bring about fertility in
their soil if they fertilized one another in places of worship"
and therefore equipped their sanctuaries with temple prostitutes.
The goddess of love, Aphrodite had more than 1,000 religious
prostitutes who lived in the temple, which supplied great
wealth to the city.
It is probable that "every woman was
expected to donate some of her time as a temple prostitute
for Venus" (Ralph Gower, 1987; William L. Coleman, 1984).
Shaving and hair cutting was it self an elaborate
process. One noted that Absalom cut his hair once a year,
including one measurement that his hair that weighed 200 shekels,
or 5 pounds. Hebrew men considered their hair and its styling
a very important ornament. Hebrews cut their hair as often
as men do today and barbers were prevalent in Jewish times.
Men were not to have long hair, considered unnatural and yet
baldness was considered a calamity. Tearing out or cutting
a beard was considered to be an expression of deep mourning,
as self induced suffering, and sometimes for persecution and
punishment. Women wore hair long and braided as they were
supposed to and it was considered shameful if they did not,
as some were identifying with the feminist tendencies in Corinth
and cutting their hair and even shaving it bald in rebellion.
This was a world-wide issue in that the Assyrian and Egyptian
women wore even more elaborate hair styles than the Hebrews.
Egyptians wore wigs, and pretend beards, while Hebrews preferred
to be clean shaven. Ancient Athenians might have punished
adulterers by plucking out the hair and covered the head with
hot ashes. Dances were included in festivals. Dancing as well
as the accompaniment of many musical instruments has led some
to feel that the accent on the rhythm reveals that dancing
was as important as the music itself. It was common for dancers
at pagan festivals in great houses to ask for rewards from
the company, who were usually drunk and willing to give much
to the seductive women.
Death has also been discussed; various customs
have been told including Mosaic Law and embalming. Some believed
that the state of the bodies determined the success of the
soul in the afterlife. The emphasis was to preserve the body
for as long as possible.
Apart from these, things like naming, traveling
and fishing are also discussed.
References
Coleman, William L. Today's Handbook of Bible Times and Customs.
Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1984.
Gower,
Ralph. The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times. Chicago:
Moody Bible Institute, 1987.
Mackie,
G. M. Bible Manners and Customs. New York: Revell, 1898.
Unger,
Merrill F. Unger's Bible Dictionary. Chicago: Moody, 1966.
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