Page 118 - Biblical Backgrounds

Another notable detail in this era is the Jews’ forceful evangelism. As the Hasmoneans attempted to
expand their political boundaries, they forced Judaism on the victims. John Hyrcanus forced the
Idumeans to accept Judaism and be circumcised. This is the only known instance in all of history that
Jews were responsible for the forced conversion of other people to Judaism. 163

All in all, the feats achieved by the Jews in this troubling period, especially the freedom to practice their
religion, would be vital in the following century.

Social Backgrounds

Children often began helping in the fields or with the crafts as soon as they were able. Boys were
brought up to follow in their fathers’ occupations, though an apprenticeship to another craftsman could
be arranged.

By the end of the Hasmonean period, the rudimentary education of boys included at least training in
reading, writing, and arithmetic. The advancement of midwifery, even in small towns, afforded girls a
career.

The eldest son received a double portion of the inheritance. Often, younger sons received so little
inheritance that they were forced to work as day laborers. Jewish bridegrooms continued to pay a bride-
price, and the father of the bride provided a dowry for his daughter. 164

Hebrew slaves were never numerous and could be sold by a Jew only to a fellow Jew and only to his
creditor in payment for a debt. While the servant could change masters, the slave could not. The
advantage for the slave was that he could never become unemployed or die of hunger. Nor was he a
slave forever, for according to Mosaic Law, he had to be released after six years of service, unless he
declared that he loved his master and elected not to go free.

Notable changes in dressing can be observed in this era. Three developments characterize the clothing
of the period in Palestine. (1) Greek styles in the almost thirty Hellenistic cities influenced many among
the upper-class Jews. (2) Instead of an almost universal preference for wool fabrics in earlier periods,
many now chose linen. (3) With more dyes available and more dye works in operation, people
increasingly wore more showy, colored clothing than in previous periods. Apparently, the Mosaic Law
that forbade the mixing of linen and wool in the same garment (e. g., Deuteronomy 22:11) was obeyed.
Sandals consisted of several pieces of leather stitched together. 165

Housing was mainly influenced by two factors: Hellenization and socio-economic standing. Greek styles
of building were trending and would mostly be adopted by those who embraced Hellenism. Most Jews
chose to continue with their traditional way of erecting houses. In both groups, the larger houses built
with baked and expensive materials represented affluence.

163 Vos, H. F. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible manners & customs: how the people of the Bible really lived (p.
367). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson Publishers.

164 Ibid, p. 379.
165 Ibid, p. 378.

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