|
In
the Book of Ruth, when Naomi and the others returned to Judah, how long
was this journey and what road did they take? Was there not danger associated
with women traveling alone?
The
most direct route from Bethlehem to Moab would have taken them by way
of the Jericho Road to just north of the Dead Sea, where they could cross
one of the fords of the Jordan, then climb back up to the Hill Country
of the Amorites and turn south. This would take them to the tableland
of Moab, where the land was productive.
On the average, people traveled about 20 miles
a day, so that trip would have taken two to three days.
In that society, women traveling along the roads
alone were not in any particular danger and were generally not bothered,
as to do so went against the ethics of that day. In fact, in these more
primitive times, it was safer for women to travel along the roads than
it is today in 20th century America.
|
|
Why
is it that the people of the Bible have no last names?
Actually,
in ancient times, both inside and outside the Bible, no one had last names.
The concept of last names is of more recent origin, only beginning around
the Middle Ages in Europe. It probably became necessary for more detailed
identification for tax purposes, etc. But the general idea of last names
is merely a few hundred years old and does not date back to ancient times
in any society.
|