Page 42 - Bible Study Methods-Textbook_Neat

The Olive Tree

Today one of the most valuable things in the world is OIL (not olive oil but fuel oil
or petroleum). The richest countries are those countries that have an abundance
of oil. In Bible times one of the most valuable things in the world was OIL (not
fuel oil but olive oil). Wealthy King Solomon gave King Hiram 20,000 baths of olive
oil (one bath equals about 7½ gallons) -- see 2 Chronicles 2:10.

What was olive oil used for, and why was it so valuable? Probably the most
important use of oil was its use as fuel in lamps. These oil lamps were very
important in Bible times. Remember, people did not have electric lights or flashlights in those days. No
oil meant no light (see Matthew 25:1-9).

Also, olive oil took the place of butter. Think of all the things you like to spread butter on. If you were
living in the days of Peter and Paul, you would use olive oil instead of butter. Olive oil was also used in
cooking or frying. Today we might put some butter or animal fat in our frying pan but in Bible times olive
oil was used. Of course, olive oil can still be used today for cooking and as a substitute for butter, and
many health experts believe it is a very healthy oil.

Olive oil was also used for grooming the skin, anointing the head (Luke 7:46) and for medicinal purposes
as in the application of olive oil on the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:34)

Dogs

Today we may think of a dog as "man’s best friend." Some people think of dogs as nice
household pets. In our day, dogs are looked upon favorably by some people.

This was not so in Bible times. In those days dogs were looked down upon as unclean and
filthy animals. Dogs would eat garbage, dead animals and even human flesh and blood (1 Kings 14:11;
22:38). They even had the disgusting habit of eating their own vomit (Proverbs 26:11; 2 Peter 2:22). The
only good thing said about dogs in the Bible is that they would sometimes watch the flock (Job 30:1).

In Revelation 22:15 the word "dogs" is used to describe people who are not allowed to enter the holy
city. This means that these people are filthy and unclean and impure. They have no concern about a holy
God. There will be no "dogs" in heaven!

Salt

Today we use salt to season food and make it taste good. When something is tasteless, salt may help
(see Job 6:6).

In Bible times there was another use of salt that was even more important. Salt
was used in preserving foods. What would happen if you were to leave the milk
or the hamburger meat out of the refrigerator? Would it go bad and spoil? In
Bible times people did not have refrigerators or freezers, but they did have salt.
Salted foods would not tend to spoil or become corrupt. Salt was used as a
preservative to prevent spoilage.

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