Village:
Most Judeans lived in small villages of about one hundred mud houses nestled in the side of a hill. The houses were connected with narrow unpaved alleys. In the center of the village there was often an open air market and a well where the women would come to draw water every day.
Work:
Each town had a handful of local craftsmen, usually including a carpenter, potter, weaver, blacksmith and leather-maker. Their small one room shops stood at the edge of the marketplace. Most of these craftsmen worked with the help of a young assistant, generally their own son, who they taught their trade. Young Jesus probably served as an apprentice to his father, Joseph the carpenter.
Every morning most of the men of the village went out to the fields to till, sow, or harvest their crops: lentils and peas, and wheat and barley to make bread. Most families kept a few sheep and goats for milk and wool. They would slaughter these animals during holidays in order to celebrate special feasts.
Housing:
The climate of Judea was hot which had an influence on the way that houses were built. A typical house was square and made of mud, bricks, and stone. It faced north and opened away from the heat of the sun. To keep the house cool, there were few windows. This left the interior dark, but the use of oil lamps made the houses light and comfortable.
The roof of the house was always flat, it could be used as an extra room after the sun had set. Made of branches and rolled clay, the roof could be broken open easily. We find an example of this in Mark 2:1-12. According to Mark, Jesus was in a house surrounded with people who wanted to be healed. The crowd was so thick that the roof had to be opened in order to lower a crippled man into the house to see Jesus.
Most houses had only one story, although rich people sometimes had an upper story or room. It was in one of these upper rooms that Jesus celebrated his Last Supper. Inside, houses had dirt floors and were sparsely furnished. People sat and also slept on mats on the floor. Tables were rare, but when they were used, they were low to the ground, unlike tables today. In comparison with the lives of many modern people, Jesus and the people of his time lived in a very simple way.
Clothing:
The climate of Judea also required the use of loose fitting clothing. Both men and women wore tunics, long pieces of material sewn up the sides with openings for the head and arms. A belt around the waist secured the tunic and made it look neater. Most people wore a head covering for protection from the heat of the sun. Jesus would have worn the head covering that was popular with men of his day. This consisted of a square piece of cloth that fell back over the neck and was kept in place with a circle of cord. Women wore veils. Such head coverings protected a person’s head, face, and neck from the sun.
Most people wore sandals because tight fitting shoes would have made their feet hot and sore and would have been unhealthy. However, wearing sandals meant that people’s feet got dirty very quickly. As a result people would often stop to shake the dust from their feet. A sign of hospitality was to wash the feet of those who came to your home for a visit.
Leisure Time:
Living a simple way of life did not mean that people could not have fun. One of the favorite pastimes in Jesus’ day was dancing, especially at celebrations such as weddings. This folk dancing was lively and high spirited. It was usually accompanied with music played on flutes, horns and drums. Jesus talked about music and dancing in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:25). Judeans also enjoyed sports, games, and story telling.
During Jesus’ time the Romans were introducing Roman style entertainment such as theatre and chariot-racing in large coliseums. Although exciting, Roman entertainment was foreign and pagan to the people of Judea.
Religion:
After dinner, the men gathered in the village synagogue for evening prayers. A Rabbi (“teacher” in Hebrew) would read a passage from the Bible, retelling the stories of their ancestors: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. During the day children would use the synagogue as a school. The Rabbi would teach them Hebrew, the language of the Bible. Outside of the synagogue most Judeans spoke Aramaic, but some were starting to speak Greek, like their Roman rulers. Larger towns often had a Scribe (religious-legal scholar) who could write copies of the Bible and interpret its laws and commandments for the community.
Spirits:
The ancient people of Judea believed in one God. But they also believed that the world was full of spirits. Everything had a spirit: people, animals, trees, rivers, the sun and the moon and stars. Some spirits were revered but others were feared.
