Travel Distances

How distances are often measured in the Orient. In traveling in Bible lands, it is often customary to measure distances in units of time rather than in terms of space. One village is said to be three hours distant from another village, because it takes that long to travel from one to the other. In Old Testament days distance in traveling was similarly noted. It was "three days' journey," "seven days' journey," etc. (Genesis 30:36; 31:23). In New Testament times, "a day's journey" is mentioned, and also "a sabbath day's journey" (Luke 2:44; Acts 1:12). {Among the Jews a day's journey was twenty to thirty miles, but when there was a large company it would be only ten miles! A sabbath day's journey would be a little less than two miles. [Manners And Customs of Bible Lands]

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