In biblical times, water travel was often the fastest option. Check out the different types of water travel used in biblical times. Rafts, Boats, and Ships Small rafts made from logs and dugout canoes were the first boats used for traveling and fishing along the Mediterranean coast. Few trees… Read More

Traveling in biblical times wasn’t easy and it was often dangerous. This article explains some of the reasons people risked travel. Holy Travel The people of Israel traveled to special holy places such as Shiloh, Dan, Bethel, and Jerusalem to worship and celebrate religious festivals (1 Sam 1;… Read More

Family feuds are always messy. The Samaritans were related to the Jews, but they had distinct beliefs that separated them from mainstream Judaism. Another group mentioned a few times in the New Testament is the Samaritans. The ancestors of the Samaritans came from the ten Israelite tribes… Read More

Sometimes the truth is buried—literally. But as archaeologists sift through the deserted remnants of the past, they often have rediscovered truth attested to in the Bible. Archaeology has helped to confirm some of the events reported in the Bible. Although it cannot “prove” every detail found in the Bible (since… Read More

What was the average height of men in New Testament times? What kind of coins were used during the period of the exile? Archaeology helps us learn about daily life in biblical times. Some archaeological finds provide us with information on what life was like in biblical times in the… Read More

Exchange is inevitable whenever people meet. Check out this detailed list of Israel’s exchange with surrounding nations. Because Israel was at the crossroads between Mesopotamia, Syria, Asia Minor, and Egypt, it was only a matter of time before the people became involved in trading with other nations. Israel’s main… Read More

The Israelites constantly interacted with foreign nations. This article identifies Israel’s trade partners and examines the items they commonly traded. After the tribes of Israel were united under King David (around 1000 B.C.), international trade began to increase. Israelite rulers built storage cellars and warehouses to store wine, grain,… Read More

Donkeys or oxen? Rivers or seas? See what the logistics of trade were in biblical times. Throughout the biblical period, trading was usually conducted at the town gate or near the entrance to towns. As trading became more complex, market stalls were set up in central parts of cities. Read More

What did average people bring to the market in biblical times? Find out here. Ancient Palestine was largely an agricultural society. People traded farm products and animals from their flocks in the marketplaces. Farmers brought wheat and barley, grapes and wine, olives and olive oil, figs, dates, and nuts… Read More

Trading on foot is a tough business – you can only exchange what you carry. See how improved transportation changed the trade landscape. As trading between regions and countries became more important, so did travel. In fact, trade and travel link so completely that discussing one involves discussing the… Read More