What was life really like in Bible times?

When we read the Bible, we encounter many manners and customs from the ancient world that the first readers of the Scriptures would have been familiar with. But being so far removed from that world, we modern readers often miss the full meaning--both literal and figurative--of biblical imagery.

This fully illustrated guide aims to restore clarity and vitality to these portions of God's Word in order to help us grasp the full meaning of Scripture. It covers a whole host of issues, imagery, and customs, such as

· anointing
· sacred days
· religious offices
· cleanliness laws
· burial of the dead
· divination
· family relationships
· social standing
· foods and eating
· agriculture
· warfare
· clothing


The cultural practices of the past are fascinating on their own, but even more so as they help us correctly interpret God's Word and apply it to our lives.


John A. Beck (PhD, Trinity International University) has taught courses in Hebrew and Old Testament for more than twenty-five years, many of those years teaching field studies in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt. Beck spends most of his year writing and is a permanent adjunct faculty member at Jerusalem University College in Israel. His books include The Land of Milk and Honey, A Visual Guide to Bible Events, The Baker Book of Bible Maps, Charts, and Time Lines, and The Holy Land for Christian Travelers.