Ancient Civilizations: Daily Life in Ancient Israel

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Archaeology and ancient writings, especially the Bible, have given us a lot of information on the everyday lives of the ancient Israelites.

So, could you find out about them?

What kind of homes did they have?

Many Israelites lived in small houses made of clay and straw bricks, baked hard in the sun. Most houses had outdoor steps leading to a flat roof, which was like another room of the house, especially in hot weather. The family might even sleep on the roof during the hottest summer days!

Some people lived in a little village, where the homes would be gathered around some source of fresh water, either a well or a spring. The houses might have a small garden for growing food.

Other people lived in small cities, enclosed by a wall to protect them from enemy attacks.

What did they eat?

They would only eat meat on special occasions, not daily. When they did eat meat, it was meat from sheep, goats, or cattle.

Their everyday meals included bread, vegetables, fish, cheese, and fruit. The bread was made from barley or wheat and was often unleavened (meaning it did not have yeast to make it rise).

They had grapes, figs, pomegranates, and dates. They could dry the grapes and make raisins, which, along with dried dates and figs, could be stored to eat later. They grew olive trees and used the oil for cooking.

Fish from the Sea of Galilee could be dried and salted. This allowed it to be kept for later, carried on a journey, or sent a long distance to be sold.

They didn't have sugar but used honey to sweeten things. Like children everywhere, kids in ancient Israel probably loved to eat candy!

• Would you like to try their candy made of nuts, raisins, and honey?

What did they drink?

The Israelites made wine from their grapes but usually saved it for special occasions. For their everyday meals, they mainly drink water. They also drank goat's milk to make cheese and yogurt.

What did they wear?

The Israelites' clothing was made from wool or linen. The women woven cloth and made clothing for the family.

Men, women, and children wore similar garments: a long tunic reaching down to the ankles and a cloak covering the head and body to protect them from the sun and rain. They also used this as a blanket at night!

Their shoes were simple sandals.

Did they use money?

Early on, the Israelites used a barter system like other ancient people, trading one thing for another. Later, they used gold or silver to buy things. By 700 BC, they were using metal coins.

What kind of jobs did they have?

Here are some of the occupations a man might have in ancient Israel.

Priest

Only men from the tribe of Levi could become priests. They taught people the ways of God and administered religious ceremonies at the synagogues and temples in Jerusalem.

Scribes

Scribes were educated men who worked for the government. They kept records, wrote letters, and helped in collecting taxes.

Soldier

King Saul established the first standing army in Israel. The soldiers fought with bows and arrows that could shoot over 1000 feet, spears made of thick wood with a heavy-pointed metal end, and long iron swords.

Potter

Clay pots were essential to every household, so making them was an excellent business! Water was poured on clay, and people stomped on it to make sticky mud.

Some simple shapes were hand-molded, but most were made on a potter's wheel. They were then left to dry in the sun before being hardened in a kiln (a large outdoor oven).

Fisherman

Many Israelites lived by the Mediterranean Sea or the Sea of Galilee and lived by fishing. They went out on wooden boats and caught fish in their nets.

Many Israelites pickedled and ate small fish, called sardines. They also caught larger fish, such as tilapia. They often went fishing at night, which made the nets invisible to the fish!

• Would you like to go fishing at night?

Farmer

Farming was essential in ancient Israel; most people lived off the land. They grew wheat, barley, figs, grapes, and olives.

They had very wet winters and arid summers, so they planted in the late fall to let the crops soak in the winter rain and harvested in early summer before the heat killed the plants.

Since it's such a hilly country, they built stone terrace walls around their farms to help keep the rain and soil from running off.

How did they practice their religion?

The Israelites believed in one God, who had told Abraham to leave his home and come to the land of Canaan.

God gave them many laws to follow, from how to live a family life to caring for the poor and needy. He also told them how he wanted them to worship him. They worshiped first at scattered altars, where they would offer sacrifices.

Later, they built a place of worship called a Tabernacle. Only a priest could enter the Tabernacle and offer the sacrifice. Inside was a lampstand, a table where sacrificial bread was laid out, and an altar where incense burned.

Further inside, a large curtain closed a particular room. Inside this room was a box called the Ark of the Covenant. It contained the Ten Commandments on stone tablets. God told the Israelites that his presence would dwell with them in this place.

Later, God directed Solomon to build a grand temple in Jerusalem. As you learned in the previous Related Lesson, the Babylonians destroyed this temple. However, the Israelites rebuilt the temple when they returned from exile. The Romans destroyed the second temple.

Did the children go to school?

Boys went to a rabbi's school aged 5 to 13. Girls could go, too, but stopped at age ten and spent the rest of their school years at home, learning to take care of a home and family and preparing for the important job of being a wife and mother.

What did they do for fun?

The Israelites played board games such as chess, checkers, and backgammon. Pieces of clay, parts of bones, or pebbles were used as game pieces.

They also had athletic contests in wrestling, running, and discus throwing.

But their favorite pastime was probably storytelling! They had many stories to pass on about the history of their people and how God had taken care of them from the beginning.

Now, continue to the Got It? section to research another Israelite job and interview an ancient Israelite!