Life in Jesus’ Time
Places
Jerusalem – Holy City; David’s City
Temple
Rebuilt after Exile; expanded by Herod
Today – the Wailing (Western) Wall
Place of worship, sacrifice, pilgrimage, and governance
Synagogue – local place of worship; no sacrifice; Sabbath prayers, services
Times
Daily life – prayer 3 times daily (mostly personal, sometimes communal)
Shema – Hear, O Israel…
Sabbath
Set aside as a day of rest
Laws of observance
Dedicated to prayer and family
Jewish Year – communal celebrations/observances
Passover – spring (remembrance of Exodus)
Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement (fall)
Rosh HaShana – Jewish New Year (fall)
Pentecost – Feast of Weeks
Shevuot – Feast of Booths (June)
Groups
Sadducees – Jewish upper class; dedicated Temple; strong political force – had
ties to the Romans; did not believe in life after death
Pharisees – focused on the Law; connection between God and the people; wellEducated; believed that life after death was possible
Priests – made sacrifices in the Temple; high priest was very powerful politically and
religiously
Sanhedrin (AKA Great Sanhedrin) – council of elders of the Jewish community;
religious, political, and judicial body; made up of priests, high priest, many
Sadducees and Pharisees; located in Jerusalem
Zealots – wanted military overthrow of Romans; revolutionaries; often at odds with
Jewish leaders
Daily Life
Social classes
Few rich, many poor, no significant middle class
Middle class – artisans, carpenters, smiths, merchants (just less poor)
Slavery
Outcasts – lepers, sinners, heretics, criminals, adulterers, tax collectors
Family - basic, essential community of faith
Betrothal and marriage
Children – education important
Patriarchal
Food and meals
Laws of Kashrut (Kosher laws)
Sharing a meal very important
Typical foods: bread, wine, fruits, nuts, and fish
Meat – special occasions
Home – simple, only a few rooms; adobe
Clothing – robes to stay cool
Mikvah (ritual bath)
Work – mostly agriculture, some trades
Major crops: vines, barley, wheat, olives
Climate
Hot, arid, dry (especially in south – Jerusalem)
Water is always an issue
North (Galilee) – more green, more variety in crops
Political Situation
Greek empire – Hellenism
Romans – did not force religious conversion (smart politically) but demanded lots
Of taxes (Jews paid Temple tax, too)
Messiah – messianic expectations
Meshiach (Hebrew) = messiah = anointed one = Christos (Greek)
From David’s line
Warrior-king to free Jews from oppression
NOT divine – a human cannot be God