Bible History
Bible History
Choose a Category

Ancient Israel

Ancient Israelite Marriage Customs

Though there are some cultures in the Ancient Near East which were matriarchal in structure, Israel's was not one of them. Israel's family life was dominated by the husband (Pedersen, p. 61). When a marriage occurred the husband took his wife from her home and "ruled" over her, following the pattern of Genesis 3:16: To the woman he said, "I will gr...

Read More

The Teacher in Ancient Israel

By Carl Schultz, Ph.D. Houghton College, Houghton, NY. My interest this morning is the role of the teacher in ancient Israel. Here the picture is not as clear as we might hope. The data are too limited, scholarly views too varied and what does emerge from all this is strange to our western, twentieth century educational models. But by incorporating...

Read More

Women And The Law In Ancient Israel

The importance of marriage to the Ancient Israelites is clear enough in the Bible, but nowhere is there any information on the ceremony itself and it is likely that custom varied from one locale to another. In Leviticus 18 there is a list of prohibited relationships (a man cannot marry his sister, etc.). These appear less concerned with the dangers...

Read More

Schools and Literacy in Ancient Israel

Schools and Literacy in Ancient Israel and Early Judaism. As a literary corpus, the birth and the transmission of the Hebrew Bible are directly linked to the use and the spread of writing among the people from whom it is born. The study of the role of writing, as well as that of the function and training of scribes in the society of ancient Israel...

Read More

Masada, Synagogue

The ancient fortress of Masada is located near the western shore of the Dead Sea about ten miles south of the town of En-gedi. Situated on top of a cliff rising over 1,200 feet above the surrounding desert, the fortress was originally constructed during the reign of Alexander Jannaeus (103""76 BCE) and later extensively expanded under Herod the Gre...

Read More

Theater at Beth Shean

This spectacular theater was built during the Roman period in the Decapolis city of Beth Shean, known also by its Greek name, Scythopolis. It was more than 360 feet in diameter and seated over 7,000 people....

Read More

Solomon's Gate at Gezer

Solomon's Gate at Gezer is an ancient archaeological site located in Israel. It is believed to have been built during the reign of King Solomon in the 10th century BCE. The gate is an impressive structure made of large stones and is a testament to the advanced engineering and architectural skills of the time. The gate is part of the larger city of ...

Read More

The Temple Podium, Caesarea Philippi

The reconstructed platform, or podium, near the cave at Caesarea Philippi was originally the base of a temple either to the Roman emperor Augustus or to Pan (or possibly both). The entrance to the Grotto (or cave) of Pan is seen to the left of the Podium. Niches in the cliff face originally held statues of Pan and other gods. The largest arched nic...

Read More

Temple Mount

Also known as Haram, Haram Ash-Sharif, Haram esh-Sharif, Mount Moriah, the Noble Sanctuary, Temple Platform. The present Temple Mount was constructed by Herod the Great beginning in 20 B.C. Construction on it continued for 83 years until 64 A.D. when a halt was called to the project and 18,000 workers were laid off (riots resulted). The Temple Moun...

Read More

Caesarea Amphitheatre

Caesarea Amphitheatre is an ancient Roman amphitheater located in Caesarea, Israel. Built in the 1st century AD during the rule of King Herod, this amphitheater is one of the most well-preserved and impressive Roman structures in the region. With a capacity of around 15,000 spectators, the Caesarea Amphitheatre was used for various events, includi...

Read More

61 Bible Translations

Popular Articles

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Bible History Online

Bible Study Tools

Top Tags