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Manners & Customs

Shelters of Clay and Stone: Temporary Dwellings of Old

In the long unfolding tapestry of human history, particularly within the lands of the Bible, the story of humanity is often written not just in grand edifices, but in the humble, temporary shelters crafted from the very earth beneath their feet. Before the age of kings and mighty temples, and even alongside them, people found refuge in dwellings bo...

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The Hospitality of Abraham and the Tents of the Patriarchs

In the dawn of time, when the world was younger and the footsteps of humanity left deeper imprints upon the virgin earth, there lived a man named Abraham, called by God to embark upon a journey of faith. His story, and that of his descendants, is inextricably linked with the ancient, profound custom of hospitality, particularly as it was practiced ...

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Of Hearth and Roof: The Homes That Hosted Travelers

In the ancient lands where patriarchs roamed and prophets spoke, the hearth and roof were more than mere shelter; they were emblems of life, community, and the sacred duty of hospitality. For the weary traveler, the sojourner far from kin, and even the messenger bearing tidings, the opening of a home's door was an act imbued with profound significa...

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Hospitality at the Gate: Welcoming Strangers in Ancient Times

In the annals of antiquity, when the sun beat down upon dusty roads and the shadows of great cities stretched long, a virtue most hallowed was practiced at the very threshold of dwelling and dominion: hospitality. This was not merely a custom, but a sacred trust, woven into the very fabric of life, a echoes of a divine mandate. Consider, if you wil...

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When the Door Was Opened: Nighttime Hospitality in Acts

And it came to pass in the days of the apostles, when the Spirit of the Lord moved mightily upon the earth, that hospitality was shown not only in the light of day, but also beneath the mantle of night. For the saints, scattered across the cities of the Roman world, opened their doors even when the hour was late and the path was long. In the book o...

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Places of Refuge for the Traveler and the Stranger

In the days of old, when the earth was yet young and the sons of men journeyed afar, the weary traveler and the stranger sought refuge beneath the sheltering hand of God’s people. For it is written, “Thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9). Thus, places of ...

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Hospitality in the Days of David and His Men

In the days when David fled before Saul, and his men gathered in the wilderness, there was a sacred law of hospitality that bound the hearts of strangers and friends alike. For in those times, the wayfarer was to be welcomed, the weary given shelter, and the hungry fed, as it is written, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some ha...

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Of Pillows of Stone and Wilderness Rest

In the days when the children of Israel journeyed through the wilderness, their path was fraught with trials and their nights oft spent under the vast expanse of heaven. The land was dry, the roads wearying, and yet the Lord was their refuge and strength, a shelter in the time of trouble (Psalm 46:1). It is written that Jacob, the patriarch, lay do...

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Under the Stars: When No Inn Could Be Found

In those days when the roads were long and the cities few, there came times when the weary traveler found no roof to cover his head, no inn to offer rest. As it was written of the holy night in Bethlehem, “And there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7), so too did many journeyers in ancient times lie under the vast expanse of heaven, their b...

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Lodging Houses and Caravanserais in the Ancient East

In the days of old, when the kings of the earth ruled and the caravans traversed the vast wilderness, there arose along the ancient roads a network of resting places for the weary traveler. These were the lodging houses and caravanserais of the Ancient East—havens where those journeying afar might find respite, sustenance, and safety beneath the wa...

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