DISCOVERING THE TRUTH, DWELLINGS

 
I loved hearing the Christmas story about Baby Jesus. The
Bible book of Luke 2 tells how Mary laid him in a manger. I 
think about how amazing it was for such a powerful person
to have such a humble beginning. He could have been born
in a temple, yet Baby Jesus was lying a manger. The mangers
were used for feeding cattle in Bible days. 


 A MANGER 

Archaeologist have  discovered  dwellings in towns mentioned in
the Bible. Italian diggers they were excavating  in Capernaum, on
the Sea of Galilee. They found a humble dwelling. This house was
made of rough walls and a roof made earth and straw.  The house
had a few rooms and a courtyard. The Bible book, Matthew 8 said
that Jesus lived in Capernaum. They wondered if Jesus could have 
lived in that area.

 DWELLING AT CAPERNAUM

  

EXCAVATED FLOOR PLAN OF A DWELLING AND COURTYARD

 


FLOOR PLAN FOR LARGE COMMUNITY DWELLINGS IN QUMRAN





Several caves have been found in Qumran. Scroll fragments
linen cloth, jars, and other artifacts were found inside.




ONE OF THE QUMRAN CAVES

There are over 70 scriptures in the Bible that talk about people
pitching or dwelling in tents. The book of Genesis mentions that
Sarah, Jacob, and Lot lived in tents.       





EXAMPLE OF TENT

Some Jews celebrate Holy Days called the Feast of Booths
(also called Feast of Tabernacle).  The celebration dates
varies and can last from September to October.  Meals are
eaten inside the booth.  Some Jews make sleep inside it
as well.  They gather together to have fellowship and 
rejoice before the Lord. The Bible book of Leviticus 23
and 24 give rules for how the celebration is to be carried
out.  The rules include doing no work, how to light the
lamps and how to prepare the bread.


 EXAMPLE OF BOOTH IN BIBLE DAYS

 

EXAMPLE OF MODERN DAY BOOTH

Numerous limestone tombs and caves have been excavated
in Jerusalem.  These tombs contain ossuaries which are bone
boxes. Around 2000 ossuaries have been discovered at various 
other locations including Cyprus and Alexandria.  Some of the 
ossuaries have inscriptions.



EXAMPLES OF OSSUARIES

 

EXAMPLE OF TOMB IN ALEXANDRIA

The Bible books of Mark 5, Luke 8, and Matthew 8 talk about a 
demon possessed man living in tombs.  The book of Genesis 23,
25, 47, 49, and 50 discuss the burial of the Patriarchs (Sarah,
Abraham, and his family)  in a cave in  Hebron.  


CAVE OF THE PATRIARCHS IN HEBRON, ISRAEL