Jensens survey of the old testament adam 336
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the summer months than that of Judea and
the south Jordan Valley. Hot desert winds
(sirocco) plagued the plateau lands east of
the Jordan. This was one of the main
reasons for sparse population there in
biblical times.33
Climate is distinguished from weather in
that climate is the prevailing atmospheric
condition over a period of time, whereas
weather is the condition at a particular time.
The accompanying weather map (Map I) of
the Bible lands shows the weather pattern
that prevailed there on the last of the
Passover (Pesah) week, April 22, 1978. The
weather on that day in the environs of
Jerusalem was typical for the date and
place: partly cloudy, mild (around 70° F.),
light wind. A high pressure ridge extended
from Egypt to Syria and blocked the frontal
systems (North Africa to Asia Minor) from
moving into Palestine. The Passover week is
in the transition between the cool, wet
winter and warm, dry summer seasons, and
so extreme weather is not the rule during
those weeks. The weather was very
supportive of the hundreds of thousands of
Jews who traveled to Jerusalem to worship
on Passover, the most important festival of
the year.
D. EVERYDAY LIFE IN PALESTINE
The New Testament was written by
Orientals about Orientals. People of Western
cultures need to keep that in mind to better
appreciate the Bible stories and testimonies
coming out of those ancient times.
Fortunately, the foundational doctrines, such
as man’s sinfulness and God’s holiness,
which are taught in that Oriental setting are
timeless and universal. So the Bible is not a
closed book to those not acquainted with
the everyday life of the inhabitants of
Palestine. But it can be sharper and clearer if
that setting at least is mentally visualized
and felt.
MAP I
Bible dictionaries and commentaries are
among the best sources for learning the
local settings of the New Testament text.
Also, there are books that speci cally
discuss this subject, such as A. C. Bouquet,
Everyday Life in New Testament Times; and
Fred H. Wight, Manners and Customs of Bible
Lands.34 It is beyond the scope of this
introductory chapter to describe in detail
the typical, everyday life in Palestine during
New Testament times. The following list is
