Mary And Joseph Lived With Relatives
Nuclear households were quite rare in ancient Judea. And Mary and Joseph were most likely raised in an extended family with uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, and other relatives. It was natural and traditional for a newly married bride to join her husband’s household, which was normally his parents’ realm. Experts say Joseph’s dwelling quarters were likely a warren-like structure with three or four modest huts overlooking a courtyard teeming with domestic animals. An oven, a cistern, and a millstone would have been shared amenities. Mary would have worked many hours a day in this atmosphere, cooking, cleaning, and washing for the entire family.
Mary And Joseph Lived With Relatives
Joseph Wasn’t A Carpenter
Many experts believe that Jesus’ earthly father was not a carpenter, as was previously assumed. The confusion appears to stem from a mistranslation of the Greek word tekton, which appears in Matthew 13. It more appropriately means “craftsman” or “builder,” and this re-examination of the word defies centuries of commonly held beliefs. Of course, carpentry is a particular sort of skill, and Joseph could have worked with wood. Though timber materials were sparse in ancient Judea, this is reflected in the largely stone-built buildings of Nazareth and surrounding areas. As a result, describing Christ as the son of a stonemason or even a basic builder may be more appropriate.
Joseph Wasn’t A Carpenter
